Churches across England will be growing poppies in their grounds in memory of those who served and fell in the Great War.

Pupils at Church of England schools will also be joining in the campaign to grow 1,000 poppies for the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. 

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York will lead the way in the nationwide poppy planting on April 30, and some dioceses have sent out packets of poppy seeds to all their churches and schools to encourage them in their efforts.

In an Instagram message, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby invited people to plant poppy seeds "to remember the terrible events of the First World War and as a sign of our hope in Jesus Christ for peace in the future".

Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu will be planting seeds in the grounds of his official residence, Bishopthorpe Palace.

"I encourage parishes and church schools across the country to join together to make many thousands of flowers bloom as a tribute to the sacrifice of past generations," he said.

The Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales is among those that have sent out seeds to their churches.

Bishop-Designate of the diocese, the Right Reverend Nick Baines, said the centenary was as much about the future as the past.

"I'm delighted that churches and schools across our new diocese will be planting poppies, both recognising the past, while looking to the future," he said.

"A century is not a long time, but only 100 years ago the world fell apart in the most violent way. This simple act of growing poppies reminds us of our past and is a very visual way of pledging ourselves to serve together in the future."

Downloadable resources have been made available at the Church of England website