A Cumbrian village is, for the first time, in the finals of a national horticultural competition.

Following a two-year hiatus, the finals for the RHS Britain in Bloom, the UK's largest gardening competition, returns and will see 46 community gardening groups looking to wow the judges with their efforts to improve their local area this summer.

First time entrant Irthington in Bloom, in Carlisle, has its origins in the first lockdown when an enterprising horticulture student, Danny Poland, took over an abandoned school garden, growing fruit and vegetables for local people and sunflowers to help brighten moods and bring the community together.

The group now stands at six members with intentions to create more space for wildlife.

A spokesperson from Irthington in Bloom said: "Danny Poland has been behind the story to the present day, but it has been decided that from now on he'll be needing some extra help, so a community group has been put together which is affectionately called Danny and the Blooming Lovely Ladies.

"Our theme this year is Nature's Friends, which gives huge scope for each of us to choose what interests us the most and incorporate this into our own spaces, and around Irthington.

"The undeniable fact is that our wildlife is in desperate need of our help and for our own wellbeing, we need our wildlife.

"The RHS, RSPB, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, and people who appreciate nature all share the same hopes and aspirations.

"It is of the utmost urgency that we succeed, but no one can do it alone.

"It’s going to take each one of us to reach out a hand and hold another, in a magnificent chain of assistance, we could achieve bird song and buzzing, increase the numbers of nests, fledglings and insects, bats, butterflies and moths, so delicately linked, and triumph over decline.

"This is our aim, and in the process benefit ourselves and each other too."

Danny said: "I'm delighted that the village has been nominated for Britain in Bloom.

"All of our hard work has paid off and there can only be greater success room this point on.

"I'm looking forward to working with the phenomenal people in my community again this year, it's going to be even better than last."

For more information about RHS Britain in Bloom, visit: https://www.rhs.org.uk/get-involved/community-gardening.