FIVE new trees have been planted to mark the meeting point of five Monmouthshire parishes.

The meeting point of the boundaries of the parishes of Cwmcarvan, Mitchel Troy, Penallt and Trellech at Lydart was traditionally marked with five trees, with one for each parish and one at the central point.

The majority of the original trees which were planted some 200 years ago have died over the years, leaving only two sycamores which are suffering from decay and have been severely cut back in the interest of safety.

A boundary stone with a plaque was erected in the 1980s when some remedial work was carried out on the site but this did not fully address the fact that the trees were reaching the end of their lifespan. 

To restore the trees, Trellech United Community Council (TUCC) recently resolved to buy five new British native trees for the site, as MCC’s budget could only stretch to keeping the existing trees in a safe state.

The new trees were planted on 24th November by staff from Monmouthshire County Council’s Grounds department, with TUCC councillors in attendance, meaning the five trees boundary has thus been reinstated for future generations.