One of the St Albans area’s most historic churches will be alive with colour this weekend at its annual community flower festival.

St Leonard’s Church, in Sandridge, will be celebrating its harvest festival weekend with more than 40 floral arrangements from local organisations and people.

The Sandridge knitted village – which features hand-knitted models of local buildings and landmarks - will also be at the church to fascinate visitors to the beautiful 900-year-old church.

Rev Peter Crumpler, associate minister at St Leonard’s, said: “The flower festival is a major event in the church and village’s calendar. We expect to welcome hundreds of people through our doors over the weekend.

“People of all ages, from seven to over 90, have made arrangements, with the local school, residential homes, Heartwood Forest, the Brownies and numerous other local groups and organisations taking part.”

The theme of this year’s festival is “journeys and adventures”.  

The festival opens on Friday from 10.45am until 5pm, on Saturday from 10am until 5pm, and on Sunday from 11.15am until 5.30pm.

The event will be opened by county councillor Annie Brewster at 11am on Friday, with children from Sandridge School taking part.

Home-made cakes and other refreshments will be available to the visitors expected across the weekend.

St Leonard’s will be holding its harvest festival services on Sunday, with worship for all ages at 10am, and a harvest communion service at 6pm.

The church will be collecting money for the Bishop of St Albans’ appeal to help poor communities in the Philippines, as well as collecting goods for the Feed foodbank in St Albans.

The Village Voices community choir will be performing their harvest concert in the church on Saturday evening at 8pm. Admission is £5 on the door, with proceeds going to the church.