An oak tree was planted on Holocaust Memorial Day on land that once hosted a Jewish refugee camp.

Yesterday's ceremony took place outside Innovation House at Discovery Park, which had the Kitchener Camp for those who had fled Nazi Germany.

The event was led by the owners of the site in Sandwich and representatives from the Association of Jewish Refugees.

With them were Lord Northbourne, Deputy Lieutenant who represented the Lord-Lieutenant of Kent, senior figures from Kent County Council and Dover District Council plus community groups.

The event, delayed from last year due to Covid-19 restrictions, was part of the AJR’s 80 Trees for 80 Years campaign to mark the social, welfare and care work of the charity.

Mayer Schreiber, chief executive of Discovery Park, said: “It was important to reflect on the role the Sandwich community played as darkness fell across Europe when the medieval town became home to more than 4,000 Jewish refugees.”

Most of the site of the former refugee camp is now within the 220-acre science, technology innovation site.

The refugees were housed on the outskirts of Sandwich just before the Second World War in a former First World War camp.

They built or refurbished 42 accommodation huts, a shower and toilet blocks alongside a synagogue, a medical centre, post office, shops and even a 1,000-seat cinema.

The AJR is a national charity supporting Holocaust refugees and survivors.

Florina Harapcea, from the group, said: “While this might be one of the lesser-known acts of refuge provided by Britain at the outbreak of the war, it saved 4,000 lives.

“Each of the 80 trees celebrates the remarkable impact that has been made by Jewish refugees to every walk of British life.

"Thanks to Discovery Park, we have a greater opportunity to reflect on the courage of the refugees and compassion of the people of Sandwich.”

Ms Harapcea told those at the ceremony how the oak tree's sponsor, Holocaust survivor Fred Kalb, had escaped Nazi oppression in Austria as a baby thanks to the bravery of his parents who made it to Sandwich.

The campaign 80 Trees for 80 Years also forms part of The Queen’s Green Canopy.

This is the tree planting initiative that will mark the Platinum Jubilee and its organisers have adopted the AJR project.