Parks and green spaces in Gwent win Green Flag awards

Across Wales, 248 parks and green spaces have received the prestigious Green Flag Award or Green Flag Community Award, which recognise that a park or green space boasts the highest possible environmental standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent visitor facilities.

Caerphilly saw 20 parks and green spaces recognised – the highest in Gwent – with seven being given the Green Flag Award and 13 getting the Green Flag Community Award.

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In Monmouthshire, four parks or green spaces received a Green Flag Award, while nine received the Community Award.

Four Torfaen won the Green Flag Award, with three getting a Community Award, and in Newport, three parks and green spaces won each award.

Blaenau Gwent saw two parks or green spaces win a Green Flag Award, and three win a Community Award.

Julie James MS, 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.”

The Green Flag Award programme is organised by 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.

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.”

Here is the full list of Gwent winners:

Caerphilly

Cwmcarn Forest.

• Brithdir Cemetery (Full Award)
• Cwmcarn Forest (Full Award)
• Morgan Jones Park (Full Award)
• Parc Cwm Darren  (Full Award)
• Ty Penallta  (Full Award)
• Waunfawr Park Crosskeys  (Full Award)
• Ystrad Mynach Park  (Full Award)
• Aber Valley Community Allotment (Community Award)
• Coed-Y-Werin/Caerphilly (Community Award)
• Eco Park Cefn Forest (Community Award)
• Michael Williams Memorial Garden (Community Award)
• Morgan Jones Community Allotment (Community Award)
• Shingrig Road Allotments (Community Award)
• St Andrews Community Churchyard (Community Award)
• St Martins Church (Community Award)
• St Tyfaelog Community Garden (Community Award)
• Trethomas Community Allotment (Community Award)
• Taraggan Educational Gardens (Community Award)
• Waunfawr Community Garden (Community Award)
• Windy Ridge Allotment (Community Award)

Monmouthshire

Caldicot Castle. Picture: Catherine Mayo

• Caldicot Castle and Country Park (Full Award)
• Castle Meadows (Full Award)
• Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal (Full Award)
• Old Station Tintern (Full Award)
• Bailey Park (Community Award)
• Crick Woodland (Community Award)
• Crick Meadow (Community Award)
• Crucorney Allotments (Community Award)
• Goytre Community Garden (Community Award)
• Incredible Edible Usk (Community Award)
• Laurie Jones Community Orchard (Community Award)
• Mardy Park (Community Award)
• The Cornfield (Community Award)

Torfaen

Cwmbran Boating Lake has been awarded a Green Flag Award. Picture: Roslynne Eaton

• Cwmbran Boating Lake (Full Award)
• Garn Lakes (Full Award)
• Panteg Park (Full Award)
• Pontypool Park (Full Award)
• Blaen Bran Community Woodland (Community Award)
• Henllys LNR (Community Award)
• Llanfrechfa Grange Walled Garden (Community Award)

Newport

Beechwood Park. Picture: Mel Dowler

• Beechwood Park (Full Award)
• Belle Vue Park (Full Award)
• Gwent Crematorium (Full Award)
• Lysaght Institute (Community Award)
• Maindee District (Community Award)
• The Laundry Room (Community Award)

Blaenau Gwent

Bedwellty House and Park.

• Bedwellty House & Park (Full Award)
• Bryn Bach Park (Full Award)
• Beaufort Hill Woodlands (Community Award)
• Parc Nant y Waun (Community Award)
• Trevor Rowson Park (Community Award)