Three sites in Barry and Penarth have been awarded Green Flag status.
Three sites in Barry and Penarth have been awarded Green Flag status.
The Merthyr Dyfan and Penarth cemeteries have been recognised, along with the West House Garden, for high environmental standards, including maintenance and visitor facilities.
But ten green spaces and parks, managed by Vale Council, have lost their status after the local authority decided not to enter this year's awards.
The Porthkerry and Cosmeston Lakes country parks are among those who have been stripped of their titles, as well as the Knap Gardens in Barry and the Windsor Gardens in Penarth.
A spokesperson for Keep Wales Tidy said: "The Vale of Glamorgan Council have made the decision not to put their sites forward this year, we hope this is something that they will revisit and are keen to work with them in the future."
Bro Radio News has contacted the county council for a response.
Of the three successful sites, the Merthyr Dyfan cemetery is managed by Barry Town Council while the Penarth Cemetery and the West House Garden are both overseen by Penarth Town Council.
Another 18 green spaces in the Vale were awarded Green Flag Community Awards including gardens, orchards and nature reserves.
The Arcot Triangle in Penarth and Our Health Meadow at Llandough Hospital were both recognised for the first time.
The other community award winners from the Vale are:
- Barry Community Garden
- The Bridge Between Community Garden, Barry Uniting Church
- Bee Loud Glade, near Dyffryn
- Birchgrove Woodlands
- Cwm Talwg Local Nature Reserve
- Elizabethan Orchard
- Friends of Victoria Square, Penarth
- Goldsland Farm
- Lanlay Orchard, nr Peterston-super-Ely
- Little Hill Brock Street, Barry
- Nightingale Garden, Dinas Powys
- Old Hall Gardens, Cowbridge
- Upper Orchard Field, Wenvoe
- Welsh Orchard, Wenvoe
- Wenvoe Community Orchard
- Wenvoe Wild Orchard
Despite the fall in the number of full awards in the Vale, there are now a record 291 Green Flags at parks and green spaces across Wales, including 199 community sites, ranging from university campuses and housing associations to farms and allotments.
Keep Wales Tidy says the award benchmarks green spaces, so that visitors know they're visiting an exceptional place with the highest standards.
Huw Irranca Davies, the newly appointed climate change secretary, said:“I am delighted that Wales now has more community-awarded green flag sites than any other country in the world! "
"We are already ranked as the second best recycling nation in the world and today's news is another example of how Wales is leading the way and we are working towards a stronger, greener nation."
"The standards required to achieve Green Flag status are very high, so I'm extremely pleased to see an additional 31 sites achieving this goal and want to congratulate all of the sites recognised for providing excellent facilities to local people and visitors alike."
“Our local green spaces play a vital role in connecting us to nature, supporting biodiversity and providing opportunities for healthy recreation.”
Owen Derbyshire, chief executive of Keep Wales Tidy, added:“We're thrilled to see a record number of 291 green spaces in Wales receive prestigious Green Flag and Green Flag Community Awards, recognising the hard work of all involved in maintaining these sites."
“In particular, we're so proud to see Wales is home to even more community awarded sites, ensuring accessibility to high quality green space for everyone, with our sites playing such an important role in the physical and mental wellbeing of communities across Wales.”

Vale entrepreneur wins national Innovate UK award for sustainable construction technology
Cardiff Airport retains top accessibility rating as regulator reports record demand for assistance
Open Doors event to showcase hidden world of Glamorgan Archives
New details have emerged of a new tree-lined public square that will replace a traffic dominated junction. v.1
Dyffryn Gardens’ Edwardian rose garden blooms again after decade-long restoration
Barry’s Own Daniel White to Walk 190 Miles Back to Where His Round Table Story Began
1,300 people attend Flying Start Family Fun Day
Dispersal order put in place to tackle anti-social behaviour
Interim Chief Executive Appointed at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Cardiff Theatre Marks 50 Years of Service for Long‑Standing Staff Member
Council to review use of GP letters as evidence for disability claims
Plans have been put in place to redevelop a complex with more than 20 flats
Vale Council Reaccredited Under White Ribbon Scheme as Part of Ongoing Work to Tackle Violence Against Women and Girls
Two Vale Restaurants Among Those Set to Close as Whitbread Shuts Brewers Fayre and Beefeater Chains
Vale Council Issues Safety Warning After Gas Canisters Found in Household Recycling
Cogan Primary School Praised for its Inclusive Culture and Strong Leadership in Estyn Inspection
Senedd Members Call to Tackle Substance Use Stigma
Calls for Welsh Government to Match England's Pub Business Rates Cut
Caerdydd Penarth MS backs campaign to make rail station more accessible
Comments
Add a comment