A HOST of Gwent’s parks and green spaces have been awarded Green Flag status.
Welsh environmental charity, Keep Wales Tidy (KWT), today announced the results of the Green Flag Awards for parks and green spaces in Wales, with no less than 20 selected from across the area.
The awards recognise excellent facilities and a commitment to delivering great quality green space for communities.
Minister for Natural Resources, Culture and Sport, John Griffiths, said: “The Award helps to ensure communities have top quality green space to enjoy and experience the outdoors, which are fundamental to the wellbeing and quality of life of our communities in Wales.”
Receiving awards were Newport’s Belle Vue Park, Torfaen’s Garn Lakes, Pontypool Park and Cwmbran Boating Lake, and Monmouthshire’s Caldicot Castle and Country Park, Castle Meadows and The Old Station Tintern.
Also Caerphilly’s Parc Cwm Darran, Cwmcarn Forest, Morgan Jones Park, Nelson Wern Park and Waunfawr Park Crosskeys.
The Green Flag Award recognises and rewards the best parks and green spaces in the country as well as helping to drive up the quality of green space.
Also being given out were Green Flag Community Awards, which recognises sites that rely on volunteers to maintain high standards and great facilities.
Blaenau Gwent’s Beaufort Hill Woodlands, Garden Festival Parklands, Gelli Grug Community Garden, Parc Nant y Waun and Trevor Rowson Park won this award.
Also Caerphilly’s St Catherine’s Church Garden and The Roger Lewis Woodland Garden, and Torfaen’s Belle Vue Community Garden.
Keep Wales Tidy works with volunteers and communities across Wales, providing expert training and knowledge so individuals can take an active role in improving their local environment and green space, while learning new skills and helping care for their community.
KWT Green Flag co-ordinator Joanna Friedli said: “It’s great to see so many local authorities and volunteers in Wales striving for the best possible standards, contributing to tourism and the economy of Wales.”
Visit keepwalestidy.org
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