Environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy has unveiled this year’s Green Flag Award winners – the international mark of a quality park or green space.

Meadow Street Community Garden and Woodland in Treforest has achieved the coveted Green Flag Community Award in recognition of its high environmental standards, cleanliness, safety, and community involvement.

The land on Meadow Street in Treforest lay unattended and overgrown for almost 8 years, before being re-acquired by Pontypridd Town Council. At the beginning of 2021, work began in earnest to clear the space that was also severely impacted by flooding from Storm Dennis. 

Two years on, Meadow Street Community Garden and Woodland is thriving and provides a safe and welcoming place where people from all walks of life can come and enjoy the benefits of nature, homegrown produce and have opportunities to share and learn new skills.

Meadow Street Community Garden and Woodland aims to engage with the residents of Pontypridd in activities that support health and wellbeing, by empowering people through knowledge, skills, and experiences. It is hoped that the space will inspire people to enjoy green spaces and nature, increasing their access and enjoyment of the local environment.

Dawn Parker, Meadow Street Community Garden’s Volunteer Coordinator said,

“We’re delighted to be awarded a Green Flag Award. This award is in recognition of all the hard work undertaken by staff and volunteers and the commitment from Pontypridd Town Council and partners and the wider community. We are grateful for the recognition and hope this will enable us to continue to thrive and provide a vital green space for the health and wellbeing of the community and nature.”

180 community managed green spaces across the country have met the high standards needed to receive the Green Flag Community Award.

Now in its third decade, Green Flag recognises well-managed parks and green spaces in 20 countries around the world.

In Wales, the awards scheme is run by Keep Wales Tidy. Lucy Prisk, Green Flag Coordinator for Keep Wales Tidy said,

“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.

“News that a record number of community managed green spaces in Wales have achieved Green Flag status is testament to the dedication and hard work of hundreds of volunteers. We’re delighted to be able to celebrate their success on the world stage.”



A full list of award winners can be found on the Keep Wales Tidy website www.keepwalestidy.cymru