Parks and open spaces in Cardiff have been awarded more prestigious Green Flags than anywhere else in Wales.

The flags are presented every year by the charity Keep Wales Tidy in recognition of well-kept public areas. At an awards ceremony today in Cheltenham City of Cardiff Council were awarded a record ten green flags.

Flags were awarded to Bute Park, Cardiff Bay Barrage, Cathays Cemetery, Flat Holm Island, Grange Gardens, Parc Cefn Onn, Roath Park, Rumney Hill Gardens, Thornhill Cemetery and Victoria Park.

Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Bob Derbyshire said:

“I am delighted that our fantastic parks and green spaces have yet again won so many Green Flags. We have retained Green Flag status at nine locations and secured an additional flag for Flat Holm Island for the first time. It is testament to the dedication and hard work of Council staff and stakeholder groups and I am sure that regular visitors will agree with me that we are lucky to have so many beautiful green spaces in our city. I am especially pleased that Flat Holm Island is recognised by Keep Wales Tidy. This beautiful limestone island provides a rich habitat for many nesting seabirds and moving forward the Council will be looking at various measures to increase visitor numbers to its shore.”

Green Flag Coordinator at Keep Wales Tidy, Lucy Prisk said:

“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 well-being, and local economy. Cardiff Council’s ten Green Flags are a testament to the efforts of the staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain the standards demanded by the Green Flag Award. It is thanks to them that we have so many fantastic facilities available on our doorstep.”