Members of the Holywell community have been helping the vicar of Abergavenny Canon Mark Soady plant a yew tree in the Abbot’s Garden at St Mary’s Priory Church.

The special tree, supplied by the Woodland Trust and Agincourt 600, commemorates the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt, when the Welsh archers and men at arms joined Henry V’s troops.

Thanking the Woodland Trust for their involvement - represented on the day by Paula Keen - Fr Soady said the yew was an appropriate choice because it was regarded as sacred and closely associated with churches and churchyards.

“We have been working closely with Agincourt 600 Wales Legacy as they develop an Agincourt Trail this winter,” he said.

“Trees are being planted by Woodland Trust at sites across the region associated with the Agincourt story.

“We are building on this year’s anniversary and will be telling more of the compelling story of how this area played a part in the story of Agincourt and 15th century history to school children and the general public.”

The Abbot’s Garden at St Mary’s was once used by the monks living in the priory to grow vegetables and herbs for cooking and in medicines.

In medieval times an enclosed garden was a sacred area and in paintings of the Blessed Virgin Mary she is represented holding lilies. Many Welsh names of flowers and plants are named after her.