New Green Flags for green spaces in Cardiff

A ‘Green Flag’ will fly above two more green spaces managed by Cardiff Council this year, after Parc Tredelerch in Rumney, and Western Cemetery in Ely, were both awarded the coveted international mark of quality for the first time.

Sixteen other Cardiff Council managed sites retained their full Green Flag awards, meaning the city now has eighteen Green Flag standard parks and green spaces. The Keep Wales Tidy awards are judged independently against a range of strict criteria, including biodiversity, community involvement, cleanliness and environmental management.

The Cardiff Council managed sites to be awarded a full Green Flag this year are:

Bute Park, Cardiff Bay Barrage, Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve, Cathays Cemetery, Flat Holm Island, Forest Farm, Grange Gardens, Hailey Park, Heath Park, Hendre Lake, Parc Cefn Onn, Parc Tredelerch, Roath Park, Rumney Hill Gardens, Thornhill Cemetery, Victoria Park, Waterloo Gardens and Western Cemetery.

Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Events, Cllr Jennifer Burke, said: “Green Flags are the benchmark for parks and green spaces so to have eighteen of our sites holding full Green Flag awards is fantastic”.

“It’s testament to the dedicated teams working for Cardiff to maintain and improve its green spaces, with the support of Friends Groups and volunteers, that independent judges, and ‘mystery shoppers’ have found them to reach the highest standards, and rank amongst the best in the UK.”

“I’d also like to congratulate all the community groups across Cardiff, whose commitment to their local green spaces has seen 22 Green Flag Community Awards made in the city this year.”

Cabinet Member with responsibility for Bereavement Services, Cllr Dan De’Ath, added: “Cemeteries provide important spaces for calm reflection, and I’m delighted that the quality of the grounds at Western Cemetery in Ely have been recognised for the first time this year, alongside Cathays and Thornhill Cemeteries.

“The awards are well-earned recognition for all the hard work, care and attention that goes into keeping these open spaces at their best for residents and visitors.”

Green Flag Coordinator for Keep Wales Tidy, Lucy Prisk, said: “I’d like to congratulate all the staff and volunteers in Cardiff on their Green Flag success. Free access to safe, high quality green space has never been more important. Our award-winning sites play a vital role in people’s mental and physical well-being, providing a haven for communities to come together, relax and enjoy nature.”

Parc Tredelerch

A former waste tip on the banks of the River Rhymeny, Parc Tredelerch is now home to a variety of habitats including native woodland and scrub, reens, ditches, meadows and ponds. At its heart is a four-hectare lake bridged by a wooden boardwalk and eagle-eyed visitors may be luck enough to spot wildlife including water voles, bitterns and herons, as well as the orchids and other wildflowers that have made the park their home in recent years.

Western Cemetery

Opened in 1936, Western Cemetery in Ely is the third of the city’s cemeteries to be awarded Green Flag status. Home to Commonwealth War Graves, a Jewish prayer house, a Muslim burial area, and a unique ‘Dear Mum’ gardendesigned to help young children cope with the loss of a loved one and provide a place of remembrance for parents.

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.

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, Chris McGuigan Memorial Garden, Dusty Forge Garden, Forest Farm Community Allotment, 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.