Green-fingered enthusiasts in East Morton joined thousands of other gardening groups in a mass planting to celebrate 50 years of RHS Britain in Bloom.

Volunteers from Morton in Bloom had received a packet of 40 sunflower seeds, which they encouraged members of the public to plant at last Thursday’s Morton Meet session. Some residents are looking after their planted seeds themselves, while the Morton in Bloom team is taking care of the rest. The group intends to plant the developing sunflowers on the village recreation ground later this year.

The seeds, provided by the Royal Horticultural Society, are among half-a-million sunflower seeds being sown across Britain throughout the year. Among the members present at the planting last week were Morton in Bloom chairman, John Crowther, and administrator, Jo Dix.

Ms Dix said: “We’ve got a good cross-section of the population here, from very young people to older residents. It’s been going well. We should have all the seeds planted by this afternoon.”

She and her colleagues are competing in the Yorkshire in Bloom contest and have already had their spring judging visit. People wanting to support Morton’s Bloom efforts to enhance the village environment can meet its volunteers at 10am at the village green on the first Saturday of each month.