National treasures – This phrase has been applied to humans lately rather than buildings or possessions and on the whole, the recipients do not appreciate it as they just want to get on with what they do best.

Actresses like Dame Judi Dench do not like to think themselves as old and in need of preserving but rather what challenging role can they do next.

Captain Tom shot to fame as a national treasure but he handled it with great aplomb as was so wonderfully expressed in the Magician poem read by his granddaughter at his funeral.

We do care about our national buildings and have been most upset about how long it is taking to get Big Ben back into striking good health.

We who live quite far away from the country’s fine cities do not often get the chance to view our national treasures, and so I would like to suggest that each small community thinks hard about what their most important community treasure is.

It will prove to be a place where many of us visit and enjoy for different reasons. In our small community I would like to name the Derwen.

It is first and foremost a garden centre with a wonderful selection of plants and trees, but it is not just that, it is the ambience, the friendly family atmosphere and the meeting up with faces old and new.

Secondly, the restaurant provides quality food in a gracious space such a service for the lonely and those who cannot cook.

Thirdly there is the farm shop which provides the very best in natural healthy foods. To me this is a community treasure which we would greatly regret losing.

It would leave a huge hole in our lives and the village horizon. at present under Welsh lockdown rules, they are closed whilst nearby English garden centres are open.

We the public are in the season for rethinking our gardens, planning and purchasing now. I want to say that the Derwen can offer Click and Collect at this moment in time.

So, if you can be precise with what you wish to purchase, you will be able to start your plans and at the same time help to save your community treasure. All they want to do is to keep doing what they love and what they do best.

Whilst I have lived here, I have supported the cottage hospital when that was threatened and most suffered closure, I have supported the Orthopaedic hospital when that was threatened when the Telford hospital was built and now, I am supporting The Derwen which I have supported since its conception and I hope that lots of you will do as well.

Dr Ann Hutchinson

Address supplied