Twenty parks and green spaces managed by Cardiff Council have been awarded prestigious Green Flags including for the first time, Cathays Park in Cardiff’s historic civic centre and the newly refurbished Maltings Park in Splott.
Recently upgraded as part of a £3 million programme of investment into Cardiff’s parks, Maltings Park now features a natural play area, skate park and multi-use games area, alongside new trees and meadow planting. Historic images of Splott, an area of the city with some of the highest levels of deprivation and lowest levels of green space per person, have also been incorporated into the design of the park.
At the historic heart of the city, Cathays Park which includes Alexandra Gardens, Gorsedd Gardens, and the new Parc Mackenzie– named in honour of Wales’s first female professor Millicent Mackenzie – also achieved the coveted international mark of quality for the first time.
The awards, which recognise parks and green spaces in 20 countries across the world, are run in Wales by environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy and judged independently against a range of strict criteria, including: biodiversity, community involvement, cleanliness and environmental management.
Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Events, Cllr Jennifer Burke, said: “To have 20 Green Flags flying in Cardiff is a fantastic achievement. There’s so much work that goes into maintaining and improving these spaces – our dedicated council teams are out their rain or shine, working alongside some incredible friends’ groups and volunteers. They all deserve a massive thank you.
“Good quality green spaces are really important for the health and wellbeing of communities – and I’m particularly pleased that Maltings Park in Splott, has been successful in gaining a Green Flag for the first time, alongside Cathays Park in Cardiff’s always impressive civic centre.”
18 other Council managed green spaces in Cardiff – including three cemeteries, an island, and two nature reserves, also retained their existing Green Flags.
Cabinet Member with responsibility for Bereavement Services, Cllr Norma Mackie, said: “The Green Flag awards for Western, Cathays and Thornhill Cemeteries are well-earned recognition for all the hard work, care and attention that goes into keeping these important spaces for calm reflection at their best for residents and visitors.”
The full list of Cardiff Council managed sites awarded a Green Flag this year is:
Bute Park, Cardiff Bay Barrage, Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve, Cathays Cemetery, Cathays Park (Alexandra Gardens, Gorsedd Gardens and Parc Mackenzie), Flat Holm Island, Forest Farm, Grange Gardens, Hailey Park, Heath Park, Hendre Lake, Maltings Park, Parc Cefn Onn, Parc Tredelerch, Roath Park, Rumney Hill Gardens, Thornhill Cemetery, Victoria Park, Waterloo Gardens and Western Cemetery.
Green Flag Coordinator for Keep Wales Tidy, Lucy Prisk, said:“We’re thrilled to see that 20 green spaces managed by Cardiff Council have achieved the prestigious Green Flag status, which is testament to the dedication and hard work of hundreds of staff and volunteers.
“Quality green spaces play a vital role in the physical and mental well-being of people across Wales, and to be recognised as among the best in the world is a huge achievement – Congratulations!”
Cllr Burke added: “I’d also like to congratulate all the community groups across Cardiff, whose commitment to their local green spaces has seen 23 Green Flag Community Awards made in the city this year.”
Cardiff’s other Green Flag awards
St Fagan’s Natural History Museum, managed by National Museum of Wales, also received a full Green Flag award, as did Dŵr Cymru’s newly re-opened Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs.
Community groups across the city were also successful in securing Green Flag Community Awards. Awards were made to: Canolfan Beulah Garden, Chapter Community Garden, Coed Y Felin, Dusty Forge Garden, Forest Farm Community Allotment, Global Gardens Project, Grangetown Kitchen Garden, Grow Well Riverside, Howardian Local Nature Reserve, Lansdowne Surgery Garden, Llwynfedw Gardens, Old St Mellons Community Playing Fields and Park, Maes y Coed Community Garden, Nant Fawr Community Woodlands, Pengam Pavilion Allotments, Plasnewydd Community Garden, Railway Garden, Riverside Community Garden, StarGarAllot Community Allotment, St Mellons Community Garden, St Mellons Pantry Garden, St Peters Community Garden, and Whitchurch Community Garden.
