Green Flag Award Success For Caerphilly Parks

Five Caerphilly county borough parks have earned the right to fly the prestigious Green Flag, having been announced as Green Flag Award winners by Keep Wales Tidy today (Thursday 21st July). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Morgan Jones Park in Caerphilly, Waunfawr Park Crosskeys, Wern Park Nelson, Parc Cwm Darran and Cwmcarn Forest have all been announced as Green Flag Award winners in recognition of their excellent facilities and commitment to delivering quality green spaces. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In addition, a further three sites in the county borough, Morgan Jones Community Allotment, Shingrig Road Allotments and St Andrews Community Churchyard received the coveted Green Flag Community Award. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Nigel George, Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services said, “We’re thrilled that five of the county borough’s parks have earned the right to fly the prestigious Green Flag. These awards are the international mark of a quality park or green space and we’re very fortunate to have such high quality facilities on our doorstep”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Ken James, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Sustainable Development added, “Congratulations must go to everyone involved in ensuring these parks and open spaces are high quality facilities for the community to enjoy. With the summer holidays now upon us, I’m sure people from across our county borough and beyond will be keen to enjoy all our parks and open spaces have to offer”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Green Flag Award scheme, which is delivered in Wales by Keep Wales Tidy with support from the Welsh Government. It is judged by green space experts, who volunteer their time to visit applicant sites and assess them against eight strict criteria – including horticultural standards, cleanliness, sustainability and community involvement. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This year, 161 parks and green spaces across Wales met the high standard needed to receive the Green Flag Award or Green Flag Community Award. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Lucy Prisk, Green Flag Coordinator at Keep Wales Tidy said, “We are delighted to be celebrating another record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award scheme. Our parks and green spaces play an important role in our communities, but their benefits are often taken for granted. As well as providing havens for wildlife, having accessible, high quality green space can have a big impact on our health and wellbeing, and the local economy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“All the flags flying this year are a testament to the efforts of the hundreds of staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain the standards demanded by the Green Flag Award. It is thanks to them that we have so many fantastic facilities available on our doorstep”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​