MADAM,

I loved reading about Professor Girardet this week (Renowned ecologist: ‘The Wye Valley is my oasis’) - what a wise man! I liked his idea of encouraging young people to challenge us about their future. Likewise, I enjoyed the article about the National Trust Wales’ ambassadors: mountain-running Finlay Mitchell is my kind of hero and it’s gratifying to read that despite all his travels, “nothing can beat the landscape that’s in our own backyard.”

Reading about the success of the Open Doors initiative and the news of Rockfield Community Centre’s Sensory Garden also lifted my spirits, and many other stories besides.

Your team are to be congratulated on producing a really full paper with lots of interesting items to read. It’s just great to have our eyes opened to all the healthy, inspiring and community-minded things going on right on our doorstep. Please keep up the good work.

Rachel Jupp

(Monmouth)