LLANFYLLIN Women's Institute (WI) marked 100 years since its foundation with a delayed tree-planting occasion last week.

The group marked its centenary during the Covid-19 pandemic, but was unable to mark it with a special occasion due to Covid-19 restrictions.

But last week, the group got together to mark the centenary by planting trees in their town, while member Ruth Weston was named as the new president of the group.

She believes the WI is still hugely important today, as it was when it was founded 100 years ago.

"The WI was set up to nurture women's leadership and presence in public life, and to upskill them in skills," she said.

"That is as needed now as it ever was. It might be needed in different ways as the expectations women have in life are very different to what they were 100 years ago.

"Women still need a network of support and still need nurturing.

"We still struggle to get women into certain leadership roles, and women's concerns and voices are still needed to be heard in the world today.

"It is as needed as ever."

The 100th anniversary was celebrated with the planting of two damson trees at Cae Bodfach, in partnership with the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust.

Ruth is looking forward to taking on the role of president at the group which has such rich history in the town.

She said: "Some of our members have been here for as long as the WI has been in existence in the town – our oldest member is 98.

"We have a group of people who we are also nurturing who hold the memory of the town with them."