Three Penarth parks retain Green Flag awards

Alexandra Park, Windsor Gardens and Belle Vue Park have all been recognised in the Keep Wales Tidy Awards.

Belle Vue Park - the Vale's first awarded green space - has now won the award for the 12th year running.

Alexandra Park and Windsor Gardens have both been successful for the third year in a row.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the scheme which is seen as a mark of quality park or green space.

The Vale has received awards for seven green spaces since the scheme started.

It is delivered with support of the Welsh Government and this year 161 parks and green spaces in Wales have been recognised in the Green Flag Award or Green Flag Community Award.

It is judged by green space experts, who volunteer their time to visit applicant sites and assess them against eight criteria, including horticultural standards, cleanliness, sustainability and community involvement.

Councillor 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.

“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."

Lucy Prisk, Green Flag coordinator at Keep Wales Tidy added: "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 of our health and wellbeing, and local economy."

"All the flags flying this year are a testament to the efforts of the staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain the standards demanded by the Green Flag Award."