News

Keep Wales Tidy has unveiled this year’s Green Flag Award winners and an impressive 15 green spaces and parks in Caerphilly county borough have achieved the international mark of a quality. Once again CCBC’s facilities have impressed the judges and the Green Flag will be flying proudly at;

• Brithdir Cemetery
• Cwmcarn Forest
• Morgan Jones Park
• Parc Cwm Darren
• Penallta House
• Waunfawr Park Crosskeys
• Ystrad Mynach Park

These sites have been recognised for their excellent visitor facilities, high environmental standards, and commitment to delivering great quality green space.In addition to the authority run facilities, a number of our community groups are also celebrating a well-deserved award.

• Aber Valley Community Allotment
• Coed-y-werin Caerphilly
• Eco Park Cefn Forest
• Michael Williams Memorial Garden
• Morgan Jones Community Allotment
• Shingrig Road Allotments
• St Andrews Community Churchyard
• St Martins Church
• St Tyfaelog Community Garden
• Trethomas Community Allotment
• Taraggan Educational Gardens
• Waunfawr Community Garden
• Windy Ridge Allotment

Cllr. Nigel George, Cabinet Member for Waste, Public Protection & Street Scene, said, “I am absolutely thrilled that we have so many award winning spaces in our county for residents to enjoy. Coupled with the sterling efforts of our community groups who have also managed to create award winning spaces, we continue to create healthier spaces to enable people to lead healthier lives.”Our award winning spaces make up almost 10% of those across Wales who have also received the prestigious Green Flag Award and Green Flag Community Award – from country parks and formal gardens, to allotments, woodlands and churchyards.The Green Flag Award programme is delivered in Wales by environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy, with support from Welsh Government. Independent green space experts volunteered their time in early autumn to judge applicant sites against eight strict criteria, including biodiversity, cleanliness, environmental management, and community involvement.

Julie James, the Welsh Government’s Minister for Climate Change, said: “Green spaces are vital for mental and physical well-being and throughout the pandemic we have seen how important these spaces have been for local communities.  “Wales still holds more than a third of the UK’s Green Flag community sites and it is fantastic to see more places in Wales receiving Green Flag Award and Green Flag Community Award.  “These landscapes play a vital role in delivering rich ecosystems and vibrant and resilient communities, and I congratulate all of the sites for providing excellent, year-round facilities and events for people in Wales.”Lucy Prisk, Green Flag Coordinator at Keep Wales Tidy said, “The pandemic showed us just how important high-quality parks and green spaces are to our communities. With more visitors than ever enjoying our green spaces, I’d like to congratulate the hard work of staff and volunteers who have maintained excellent standards at these sites.”