A CENTURY on from the end of the First World War, there will be a corner in a Ledbury field that will be forever France.

In particular, local residents will be able to admire an oak tree that can trace its heritage back to Verdun, the scene of one of the most costly battles of the war.

And the very special gift to the town is down to the Ledbury in Bloom campaign and the kindness of the Leominster in Bloom team, which donated the tree.

Ledbury in Bloom chairman, Clive Gunn said: "Amidst all the tension of the recent visit of the judges from Heart of England in Bloom, a simple ceremony took place in honour of the end of The First World War.

"Senior judge Mark Wiltshire presented Ledbury with an oak sapling grown from the acorns of a tree in Leominster, which is directly related to the famous ‘Verdun Oak’.

The citation reads: “This young oak was grown from an acorn collected by the Leominster Brownies in 2017 to perpetuate the legacy of the Mayor of Verdun. He sold acorns and conkers to raise funds for the injured after the First World War, and Leominster still has one of the best specimens in front of the Priory Church.”

In a simple ceremony at The War Memorial, the Chairman of Ledbury Town Council, Cllr Nina Shields, accepted the tree from Ledbury in Bloom Chairman Clive Gunn.

She thanked Leominster for "this wonderful gesture".

Cllr Shields said: "I am delighted to accept this oak tree sapling on behalf of the town. To know that it was grown from an acorn gathered in Verdun adds to the special nature of planting such a tree. I hope future generations will be able to enjoy its beauty. Many thanks to Leominster in Bloom for their kind gift."

Mr Gunn added: "The next issue is where to plant it once it has grown to a suitable size for planting out.

"Suggestions include The Walled Garden and Queens Walk but the current favourite is a quiet corner of the new cricket field."

The Battle of Verdun raged from February to December 1916 and was the largest and longest clash between French and German forces.