Llanwrtyd Wells is to be honoured for its part in the rescue of more than 100 Czech children during World War II.

A native oak tree will be planted at the town’s Dolwen Field in January as part of a nationwide campaign to mark the 80th anniversary of the Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR) - the national charity providing social and welfare services to Holocaust refugees and survivors in the UK.

The 80 Trees for 80 Years project will see native oak trees planted around Britain in honour of people and places that symbolise the enormous contribution made to every walk of British life by refugees who escaped from Nazi Europe.

Llanwrtyd Wells has been chosen because it offered a home in the Czech School, to 120 Jewish Czechoslovakian children, part of the Kindertransport organised by Sir Nicholas Winton (pictured).

Known as the Bitish Schindler, London banker Nicholas Winton, brought more than 120 children, aged from just eight years old to safety from Hitler’s murderous regieme in Eastern Europe

Their new home in Britain was to be in heart of Wales at Llanwrtyd Wells – where the Czech School was set up in the Abernant Hotel.

Although the children all went on to forge lives for themselves in their adopted country, they never forgot the small mid Wales town.

As adults the children returned to put a seat in the town, plant a maple tree and erect a plaque saying “Llanwrtyd Wells, the smallest town in the land, remains the greatest in our hearts” and in 1985 they bought the first solid gold link for the mayoral chain, presenting it to the then mayor Bryn Jones.

At the same time all the children were given the Freedom of the Town.

The tree which will be planted in the New Year has been sponsored by Ellen Petzall in memory of her late husband and because she was inspired by the proposal of combining the planting of much needed trees with the 80th anniversary of the AJR

“As well as helping to mark the heritage of our members and a place of historic interest associated with them, the planting of this tree enables the AJR to give back to and create a living legacy within the country that became home to the Jewish refugees,” said AJR CEO, Michael Newman OBE.

“Britain’s native oak trees are in decline and new trees are desperately needed. We hope these 80 special trees will be appreciated by future generations and provide natural habitats for other native species for many decades to come.”

Llanwrtyd Wells Town Council, on behalf of the residents of Llanwrtyd are extremely proud and honoured to have been chosen as one of the three locations in Wales to plant one of the 80 trees.

The tree at Dolwen Field, Llanwrtyd Wells will act as a platform for telling the story of Britain’s Jewish refugees and celebrating their remarkable contribution to British life.

It will also form part of The Queen’s Green Canopy - the unique tree planting initiative which will mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, whose organisers have adopted the AJR’s project as a “wonderful initiative”.