THREE Ripon artists have come up with an evocative way to commemorate this year's 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

Their installation, Fields of Mud, Seeds of Hope, will be on display in Ripon Cathedral in the approach to Remembrance Sunday on November 11. The artwork contains millions of poppy seeds deep within a mix of soil from a former British military base and earth from Passchendaele.

This weekend, for one day only, Sunday, September 9, people can make donations towards the installation or order boxed segments of soil including seeds (see fieldsofmud.co.uk) to be planted in gardens or window boxes.

A proportion of profits raised will be donated to charities supporting those affected by conflict.

The artists are Dan Metcalfe, Jeanne Mundy and Joe Priestley. The work is being carried out with support from local councillors and businesses.

Wet soil from the site of a large military camp that was based in the Ripon area will be incorporated with earth transported from Flanders where millions of soldiers sacrificed their lives.

As the soil dries, cracks will reveal five battle weary silhouettes returning from the front. The dormant poppy seeds represent hope and the resilience of life.

When the artwork is decommissioned, segments of soil will be made available to the public to plant or incorporate into other remembrance works so that the legacy of the piece can continue.

Said Dan Metcalfe: “We have used mud, something very familiar to so many First World War soldiers and deeply symbolic of struggle and sacrifice, and sought to form it into an artwork that looks to the future and has hope at its core." The installation will be in Ripon Cathedral from October 3 to November 14. For more information contact dan@fieldsofmud.co.uk or call 07760751890.

The artists are seeking financial support via sponsorship and the Kickstarter page where people can order segments of mud and poppy seeds.