Forest Farm Nature Reserve and Hailey Park have been awarded prestigious Green Flags for the first time, meaning 14 parks and green spaces managed by Cardiff Council now hold this this coveted international accolade.
Bute Park, Cardiff Bay Barrage, Cardiff Bay Wetlands, Cathays Cemetery, Flat Holm Island, Grange Gardens, Heath Park, Parc Cefn Onn, Roath Park, Rumney Hill Gardens, Thornhill Cemetery and Victoria Park have all retained their existing awards.
The awards are judged by green space experts against a range of strict criteria including: biodiversity, community involvement, maintenance, presentation, cleanliness and environmental management.
Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, Cllr Peter Bradbury, said: “Cardiff now has more Green Flag standard spaces than anywhere else in Wales and to have added two new spaces this year, at a time when at stages during this pandemic, our workforce has been reduced by as much as 50% as staff isolated, shielded, or were redeployed to other areas to assist in the council’s Covid-19 response, is a testament to the commitment and hard work of the team.”
“Friends Groups and volunteers make a significant contribution to parks across the city – nowhere is that more true than at Forest Farm and Hailey Park – and I’d like to thank them for the work they have put in to help us achieve the high standards needed for Green Flag status.”
In celebration of the city’s Green Flag success, which also includes 14 Community Awards and a Full Green Flag Award for St Fagan’s Natural History Museum, Cardiff City Hall and the Barrage sails will be lit in green this evening.
Penny Bowers, Chair of the Friends of Hailey Park said: “”Following many years of the group receiving a Green Flag Community Award for their meadow project on the park, we are so pleased to be part of winning the main Green Flag for the whole park. This wouldn’t have been possible without the enthusiastic help of our Community Rangers, members of the group, volunteers in the local community and everyone who uses this wonderful park.”
Martin Chamberlain, Secretary of Friends of Forest Farm said: “The Friends Of Forest Farm are delighted that the reserve has achieved Green Flag Status in their 30th Anniversay Year.This is a reflection of the hard work of the Community Park Rangers and the manyhours of volunteering undertaken on the reserve each year.”
The Green Flag award programme is delivered in Wales by environmental charity, Keep Wales Tidy, with support from Welsh Government.
Lucy Prisk, Green Flag Coordinator at Keep Wales Tidy, said: “The pandemic has shown just how important high-quality parks and green spaces are to our communities. For many of us, they have been a haven on our doorstep, benefitting our health and well-being.
“The 224 flags flying this year, including the 14 Cardiff Council flags are a testament to the hard work of staff and volunteers who have maintained excellent standards under the most challenging circumstances. I’d like to congratulate and thank them all for their outstanding commitment.”
A full list of award winners can be found on the Keep Wales Tidy website www.keepwalestidy.cymru
