Thousands of poppy seeds were sown on Saturday as part of a national commemoration of the start of World War I.

Teasel, a countryside conservation group, organised the event in Stotfold at Millennium Green and Stotfold Watermill and Nature Reserve.

The poppy seeds are the latest in a long line of seeds to be sown across the UK ahead of the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the Great War in August 1914.

Members of the Stotfold and Arlesey branch of the Royal British Legion were in attendance alongside Stotfold town councillors and pupils of St Mary’s Academy.

Stotfold Town Council mayor Brian Collier described how the war affected everyone in the area and told the story of his 21-year-old uncle Frank who died in the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

Pamela Manfield, secretary of Teasel, said: “This was a very moving morning. All of us enjoyed the seed sowing, but we were also very aware of the tragic reason why this was being done – in memory of so many who gave their lives for their country.”

Sam Bishop, headteacher of St Mary’s Academy, added: “Sowing the poppies was a lovely way for the children to be involved in the commemoration of the start of World War I, and to be able to begin to understand the sacrifices others made so long ago. We look forward to watching the poppies grow.”