A group of Powys children took place in a mass tree planting ceremony as anticipation builds for the Urdd Eisteddfod.

With two months to go until the 2024 National Urdd Eisteddfod, a group of local children have celebrated the Eisteddfod coming to Montgomeryshire by planting 40 trees at the festival site on Wednesday (March 27).

Rather than the traditional turf-cutting event, a tree planting ceremony was held to mark the beginning of preparations at this year’s Urdd Eisteddfod field and celebrate a new partnership between Urdd Gobaith Cymru and Coed Cadw (the Woodland Trust), the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity.

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The trees planted by the local children are native to the area and were gifted by the Woodland Trust. The charity is also sponsoring the Urdd Eisteddfod’s “Arddorfa”, a wild garden that is now part of the festival site.

Llio Maddocks, Director of the Urdd Eisteddfod, said: “We are looking forward to visiting Montgomeryshire for the first time since 1988 and our volunteers and members are busy preparing to welcome everyone to the area.

“We are extremely grateful to Coed Cadw for sponsoring this year’s Arddorfa and in doing so, helping us inspire Welsh youth to engage with their cultural roots while fostering a deep appreciation for the natural world.”

  • Don't miss this week's paper for our picture special featuring local children's Urdd Eisteddfod competitions.