Careful planting has created a daffodil wonderland that is attracting walkers in a Banburyshire village

People taking a short cut through the churchyard at All Saints' Church have been stopping to look at the daffodils coming into flower since January.

The bulbs were chosen as a particularly early variety and were planted on the south side of the church building to take advantage its shelter and the winter sun. Our photograph was taken by All Saints' vicar, Rev David Thompson.

As they have established themselves over the years they have flowered earlier and earlier - welcome harbinger of spring.

The Banbury Guardian's Middleton Cheney correspondent, Paul Montegue, says residents are brightening their daily exercise by incorporating the churchyard on their walks.

In October last year more daffodils were planted, selected from new varieties that may flower around March. The UK now produces 90 per cent of the world’s daffodils from 26,000 varieties.

Turning back to historic native varieties, some Denby daffodils which have pale lemon coloured flowers and grow wild in South Wales, have also been planted in the new wildflower patch. They may need two to three years before they flower, but should eventually naturalise beautifully.