Green Flag for park (From Penarth Times)

Green Flag for park

PENARTH'S Belle Vue Park is celebrating after being named for the second successive year as a national award winner.

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by the Civic Trust, is the national standard for parks and green spaces.

Winners vary from Victorian parks and town centre gardens to nature reserves, country parks and cemeteries.

Sites must be judged to be welcoming, safe and well maintained with the strong involvement of the local community.

The Penarth park is managed by the Council's Parks and Grounds Maintenance Division with the support of a dedicated Friends organisation, who foster a sense of community among users and help make it safe and attractive place.

Vale Cabinet Member for Visible Services Cllr Geoff Cox said: "We are delighted to retain this award which is recognition of the marvellous partnership efforts of parks staff, the Friends of Belle Vue and the community park keeper.

"The partnership with the Friends has proved to be an excellent way of working with the local community to improve facilities for the park."

The record number of winners across England and Wales - 322 - represents a 26 percent increase on awards given last year, and is yet more evidence that the quality of our parks is continuing to climb.

The scheme's programme manager, Paul Todd, said: "As a charity concerned with urban renaissance, the Civic Trust is delighted to once again announce such a rapid growth in winners.

"It is the hundreds of dedicated parks staff and local societies, friends' groups and passionate individuals who are making this happen.

"Well done to all those people who have put so much hard work into providing these vital green spaces - they are helping to make better places for everyone."

All winners were awarded their Green Flags at three regional ceremonies which took place simultaneously at London's Guildhall, Manchester's Town Hall and Swansea's Brangwyn Hall.

The scheme is funded in Wales by the Countryside Council for Wales.