Cardiff's Roath Park has been awarded Green Heritage Site Accreditation for the first time, placing it among a small number of parks recognised not just for quality but also for how they protect and bring their history to life.
The new status, which is awarded alongside the internationally recognised Green Flag Award and supported by Cadw, is only given to parks that excel in conserving historic features and helping visitors understand and enjoy them.
Roath Park joins Bute Park as one of two Cardiff Council parks, and only 14 across the whole of Wales, to hold the accreditation.
Opened in 1894, Roath Park is one of Cardiff's most iconic green spaces. Its Victorian design includes the landmark lake, Scott Memorial lighthouse, historic promenades and formal gardens. These features can now be explored by following a newly launched Heritage Trail.
Cardiff also retained all 21 of its Green Flag Awards in 2026, maintaining its position as one of the UK's leading cities for high-quality parks and green spaces.
Cardiff Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism, Cllr Jennifer Burke, said:
“Roath Park is one of Cardiff's most treasured green spaces, so achieving this special heritage recognition is a proud moment for the city.
“To also retain all 21 of our Green Flag Awards this year shows the consistent quality of Cardiff's parks and green spaces and the huge amount of work that goes into looking after them every day. I'd like to thank all the Council staff, as well as the volunteers and community groups whose efforts make this possible.”
The Green Flag Award, delivered in Wales by Keep Wales Tidy, is the international standard for well-managed parks, assessing everything from environmental quality and maintenance to visitor facilities and community involvement.
Keep Wales Tidy Chief Executive, Owen Derbyshire, said:
“We are delighted to see so many green spaces across Cardiff recognised in this year's Green Flag Awards. From flagship parks and popular beauty spots to cemeteries, a wetlands area and community gardens, it is clear Cardiff prioritises ensuring all kinds of green spaces reach the highest standards so that they can be enjoyed by all.
“It is great to see three new Community Awards in Cardiff for Grange Medical Practice, Llandaff North Allotments and Trevithick Gardens, as well as the much-loved Roath Park being recognised for its commitment to protecting and promoting its unique heritage by being awarded the Green Heritage Site Accreditation for the first time.
“Green spaces play a vital part in supporting the health and wellbeing of communities and we would like to thank everyone involved in caring for these sites for their unwavering commitment to nurturing inclusive green spaces.”
The 21 Green Flag standard sites managed by Cardiff Council are:
- Bute Park
- Cardiff Bay Barrage
- Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve
- Cathays Cemetery
- Cathays Park
- Flat Holm Island
- Forest Farm
- Grange Gardens
- Hailey Park
- Heath Park
- Hendre Lake
- Llandaff Fields
- Maltings Park
- Parc Cefn Onn
- Parc Tredelerch
- Roath Park
- Rumney Hill Gardens
- Thornhill Cemetery
- Victoria Park
- Waterloo Gardens
- Western Cemetery
Cabinet Member with responsibility for Bereavement Services, Cllr Ed Stubbs, said:
“It's great to see three of Cardiff's cemeteries once again recognised with Green Flag status. These green spaces are incredibly important to residents, and the awards reflect the care and professionalism of the teams who maintain them.”
St Fagan's National Museum of History, managed by Amgueddfa Cymru and Dŵr Cymru's Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoir site also achieved full Green Flag awards.
Green Flag Community Awards were made to:
Ainon Baptist Church, Canolfan Beulah Garden, Chapter Community Garden, Coed Y Felin, Dusty Forge Garden, Forest Farm Community Allotment, Global Gardens Project, Grange Medical Practice, Grow Well Riverside, Howardian Local Nature Reserve, Lansdowne Surgery Garden, Llandaff North Allotments, Llwynfedw Gardens, Old St Mellons Community Playing Fields and Park, Maes y Coed Community Garden, Nant Fawr Community Woodlands, Pengam Pavilion Allotments, Railway Garden, StarGarAllot Community Allotment, St Mellons Community Garden, St Mellons Pantry Garden, St Peters Community Garden, Trevithick Gardens, Whitchurch Community Garden.
Speaking about the Community Awards, Cllr Burke added:
“Across the city, community groups do so much for local green spaces. It's lovely to see their work recognised and so many Green Flag Community Awards granted in Cardiff once again this year.”
