Council celebrates Green Flag success
THE Vale Council is celebrating after receiving 10 Green Flag Awards, with only Cardiff – a much bigger council – getting more.
Cosmeston and Porthkerry country parks both received the accolade, along with Romilly Park, Alexandra Park and Windsor Gardens, Barry Island Seafront and Friars Point, Belle Vue Park, Central Park, The Knap Gardens, Victoria Park and Gladstone Park.
These were: Barry Community Garden, Bee Loud Glade, Birchgrove Woodlands, Cwmtalwg Local Nature Reserve, Elizabethan Orchard, Victoria Square, Goldsland Farm, Lanlay Orchard, Little Hill Brock Street, Nightingale Garden, Old Hall Gardens, Upper Orchard Field Wenvoe, Welsh Orchard Wenvoe, Wenvoe Community Orchard and Wenvoe Wild Orchard.
Elsewhere in the county, 15 sites received Community Awards.
Cllr Kathryn McCaffer, the Vale Council cabinet member for Leisure, Arts and Culture, said: “I’m absolutely delighted that the Vale has once again excelled in gaining so many Green-Flag parks. Given our resources compared to other authorities, this is a truly remarkable achievement and testament to the hard work put in by our parks staff.
“I would like to add special thanks and congratulations to the volunteer and community groups who have also been recognised for their dedication and hard work.
“The standard required to achieve Green Flag status is extremely high and a great deal of effort is put in behind the scenes to ensure residents have so many fantastic outdoor areas to enjoy in the Vale.”
Parks must apply each year to keep their award, and winning sites are eligible to fly a Green Flag for 12 months. The Green Flag Award programme is delivered in Wales by environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy, with support from the 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.
A full list of award winners can be found on the Keep Wales Tidy website
