A DISPLAY of more than 1,000 poppies has been created outside a church in Pocklington ahead of the town’s First World War themed flower festival.

It will be held from tomorrow to Tuesday and will commemorate the end of the war. Entitled Remember Rejoice 1914-18, it will take visitors on a journey through the years before and during the conflict.

As part of the festival, 1,400 plastic poppies have been attached to the railings outside Pocklington’s All Saints Church. In addition, two life-size silhouettes of World War One soldiers have been erected in the churchyard.

Festival committee chairman David Brown said: “We’re very excited about it. It has been 18 months in the planning.

“The Parochial Church Council agreed we would have a flower festival.

“Andrew Grisewood the festival designer was approached by the former vicar Geoff Hollingsworth, who is retired now, and asked if he would put on a flower festival for us.

“Andrew has brought in the best arrangers from the North of England and further afield.

“Fourteen people formed a committee who have been working on the festival for 18 months.”

Copmanthorpe sculptor Alisa Ord, is making a ‘war horse’ sculpture for the festival to portray the use of horses in the war. This will be on display outside the church, along with a First World War original pole wagon.

Meanwhile, Heslington arranger George Smith is creating a display that will express the pre-war opulence of Edwardian England.

A total of 60 arrangers are expected to be involved in the festival.

Six coaches will be bringing people from Yorkshire flower clubs to Pocklington for the festival.

The preview evening, which has sold out, starts at 7pm today and will be hosted by the Archdeacon of York, The Venerable Sarah Bullock.

The festival at All Saints Church will be open from 9am to 5pm, tomorrow, Monday and Tuesday, and from noon to 5pm on Sunday. There will be a service at 10am on Sunday with the theme Remember Rejoice.

A concert will take place tomorrow at 7.30pm arranged by the church organist Michael Cooper and friends. It will feature music, poetry and readings. Admission to the festival is £5 at the door.