Take a drive or a walk along Whitepark Road in Portrush and you will see a sight to behold – sunflowers, sunflowers and more sunflowers.
Earlier this year, local farmer Archie Linnegan, a parishioner of Holy Trinity Parish Church, Ballywillan, (Portrush) planted 10 kilos of sunflower seeds on a half acre plot running lengthwise along the roadside.
They took a little longer than anticipated to bloom, but the sunflower field is now in its full glory, and local people as well as international visitors are stopping by to take in the scene.
Former glebewarden Archie planted the sunflowers as a fundraiser for Holy Trinity Church building fund and the Liver Support Group at the Royal Victoria Hospital.
Since the field opened last week, select vestry members and parishioners have been on site to speak to visitors about the project.
Those who stop have the opportunity to make a donation to the building fund and the charity in an honesty box.
Archie and his wife Pearl say the project has been great fun. “As well as raising funds, it is great for the environment, you should see all the birds and bees the sunflowers have attracted,” Pearl said.
“It is just lovely, when you walk through the field and the sun is shining you would think you were in the south of France!”
Among the passers-by to call in were a couple who had just been wed – the sunflower field providing a lovely setting for an impromptu photo shoot!