FAMILIES planted trees in an arboretum to mark the former home of a Monmouthshire maternity hospital.

Visitors with memories or a connection to Cefn Ila maternity hospital gathered in Cefn Ila Woodland, near Usk, on Sunday to help the Woodland Trust commemorate the site's past.

The hospital was destroyed by fire in 1973, and the grounds - which also include a Victorian orchard - were bought by the Trust in 2007.

Specimen trees, including monkey puzzles, magnolias and cedars, were planted by about 30 guests to ensure the arboretum - which the hospital looked out upon - remains for generations to come.

Amelia Lake, the Trust’s community development officer, explained: "This arboretum hasn't been planted since it was originally 150 years ago, so we are trying to restore it to its former glory.

"These are not native trees, either coming from the Far East or Pacific North West, and are being planted to replicate the trees that were planted here long ago.

"It is fantastic to be able to invite people to help us do this, and for many it is a very emotional process, with many personal connections to this site."

The Cefn Ila estate was developed as a hunting lodge, and then medieval manor house with surrounding lands. Bought in the mid-Victorian era by Edward Trelawney, the gardens were remodelled into pleasure gardens, before new owner Joseph Lister employed architect Alfred Waterhouse to rebuild the property as a picturesque large cottage manor house.

Following a period under the ownership of Frenchman Gustavus Ducarel, the estate became a hospital in 1925, a child evacuation centre in 1939, a military hospital soon after, and then a maternity hospital in 1947.

Nichola Lewis was born at Cefn Ila maternity hospital in December 1956.

She added: "It was so snowy that winter that my father had to walk up to the hospital.

"Obviously, I don't remember much about it but I wanted to help the Woodland Trust restore the beauty of this area. I hadn't realise that you can walk in this area too."

Rachel Thompson, who lives close to Chepstow, helped to plant a magnolia.

The 58-year-old said: "I came because my great grandparents for the Lister family in the house here, so I was interested to see what the area was like. It feels like catching up with your history."