More Green Flags Are Flying In The Vale Of Glamorgan

The Vale of Glamorgan Council has again been recognised for its commitment to providing clean, green spaces. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

At this year’s Green Flag Awards, the Council’s Parks Department continued its trend of increasing the number of parks to be awarded with a Green Flag Award. In this year’s awards, Barry Island Promenade became the latest green space in the Vale of Glamorgan to be recognised as one of the best in the country, achieving high environmental standards. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The first Green Flag Awards were awarded in 1997 and since then, the Vale of Glamorgan has received awards for seven green spaces, including the latest award. It is regarded as the benchmark, against which parks and green spaces across the UK are measured. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Judging takes place in April and May each year and the winners are announced in July. Parks must apply each year to keep their Green Flag Award, and winning sites are eligible to fly a Green Flag in the park for a year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Parks and green spaces are judged against eight criteria, before being awarded the coveted Green Flag Award. The criteria include cleanliness, safety, standard of maintenance, community involvement, sustainability, management, conservation and heritage. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The other Green Flag locations in the Vale of Glamorgan are Penarth’s Belle Vue Park, which was the Vale’s first award winner, and has been held for 12 years. Barry’s Victoria Park has held a Green Flag for 8 years. Romilly Park, Central Park and Alexandra Park/Windsor Gardens have each held theirs for 3 years and Knap Gardens, for the past 2 years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Green spaces managed by volunteer and community groups, were also in the awards. The Green Flag Community Award (formally Green Pennant Award) was awarded to four new locations in the Vale of Glamorgan this year. Barry Community Garden, Birch Grove Woodlands, Old Hall Gardens and Elizabethan Orchard were the new additions. They join Upper Orchard Field, Wenvoe Community Orchard and Cwm Talwg local nature reserve, which has held its Green Flag Community award for the longest, being successfully awarded every year since 2004. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Gwyn John, Cabinet Member for Visible and Leisure Services, said: “Our Parks Department have done it again! I am absolutely delighted that another of our parks has been awarded with a Green Flag Award and it is down to the hard work of our team, who keep them looking fantastic all year around. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Congratulations also, to the volunteer and community groups who have been recognised for their on-going hard work in this year’s awards. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The standards required to achieve Green Flag Awards are very high and it is pleasing that our residents and visitors have so many green spaces of this quality to enjoy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​