Crickhowell Choral Society celebrated its 40th anniversary this year, with a number of events to mark the milestone.

Its latest celebration has been to donate 40 trees to the Welsh charity Stump Up For Trees (SUFT) which aims to plan one million trees in the Brecon Beacons.

On Saturday, December 11 members of the choir joined SUFT volunteers to plant 750 native broadleaf saplings on land adjacent to the A479 in Cwmdu, owned by Kate Falkner and Steve Ham.

The planting fulfilled a long-held wish of Kate’s father to see trees growing on this land. Species included hazel, silver birch, downy birch, beech, rowan, hawthorn and oak, which were planted in such a way as to eventually replicate the natural distribution of trees on the opposite valley.

In overall charge was co-founder and project manager of SUFT, Rob Penn, known as the presenter of BBC Four’s Tales from the Wild Wood and best-selling author of The Man Who Made Things Out of Trees.

Members of the choral society and volunteers were given a demonstration of tree planting and then set off with spades and saplings to dig and plant, resulting in a productive and enjoyable day for all.

An earlier celebration in late November was the choir’s first concert in nearly two years in St. Edmund’s Church in Crickhowell, aptly entitled ‘Gloria!’ which attracted a capacity socially-distanced audience. The choir is used to practices wearing masks and wrapping up warmly to counter open doors and chilly winter draughts, so it was especially wonderful to be allowed to sing massless and to have an audience to share the special occasion. The concert featured the choir’s newest choral scholars, who sang solos with clarity and expression.

Provisional dates for 2022’s diary include a concert on Saturday, March 5 in which the choir will be sining Welsh favourites to celebrate St. David, and the Crickhowell Music Festival from Friday, April 29 to Monday, May 2, for which there is an exciting line-up of soloists.

Further information will soon be available on the choir’s website at crickhowellchoralsociety.org as well as on its Facebook page and in local publicity.