FARMING life heads indoors this weekend for a North Yorkshire church flower festival.

Organiser Liz Heath said the flower ladies - and "flowering assistants" - of Sand Hutton and Claxton, outside York, had worked all week preparing unusual floral creations for their festival.

The Country Living-themed event at St Mary's Church, Sand Hutton, will include a pig farm, country kitchen window, milk churns and butter churns, all created from traditional flowers and greenery.

"The whole church will be done out in green and white, and then we will have the colours coming through in the arrangements," said Liz.

"Implements from a bygone era are being used to create the displays.

Tickets for tonight's preview evening and concert, which starts at 7.30pm, cost £6.

The festival will be open tomorrow from 10am to 4pm, and, from 2pm to 6pm, on Sunday, with cream teas available. On Monday, viewing will be from 2pm to 5pm. Entrance costs £1 and all proceeds will go towards the church.

Flower arrangers from Acomb Flower Guild have been busy preparing for the annual festival at Holy Trinity Church, Goodramgate.

The York-based group's display will be on from 10am to 6pm from today until Monday. Admission is free, but all donations will be towards the upkeep of the historic building.

Meanwhile, at Holy Trinity in Stockton-on-the-Forest the preparations have started early. The village is holding a Brides, Blooms And Baptisms event, showcasing bridal gowns and christening gowns from every decade since the 1920s. The event starts on Friday June 27, with a preview evening at 7.30pm, and then the display is on Saturday and Sunday from 10.30am.

Updated: 08:43 Friday, June 13, 2003