12 Welsh heritage sites achieve double Green Flag status

Keep Wales Tidy is proud to announce that 12 sites across Wales have been awarded the prestigious Green Flag Heritage Site Accreditation for 2024.

The award recognises the commitment of local communities, volunteers, and staff to preserving the historical significance of these green spaces, alongside maintaining the highest standards of environmental quality and accessibility.

One of the newly awarded sites, Penllergare Woods, Swansea, received a special visit from the Deputy First Minister of Wales and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, on Wednesday 4 September.

The Cabinet Secretary met with staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to care for the site. Penllergare Woods, steeped in local heritage, joins an important group of sites that actively promote and preserve their historic features while providing recreational opportunities for the public.

Congratulations to everyone at Penllergare Valley Woods that’s flying the coveted Green Flag again this year. This is also one of twelve Green Flag sites in Wales to be awarded the extra Heritage Accreditation. Green Flag sites are so important – enabling people to have access to quality green and open spaces. It’s such great news that we have plenty of Green Flag locations to choose from in Wales – with more community-awarded green flag sites than any other country in the world.

Huw Irranca-Davies
Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs

The Green Heritage Site Accreditation is awarded to green spaces that not only achieve the Green Flag Award standards but also demonstrate excellence in the care and promotion of the heritage elements that make them unique. Sites do not need to be listed on The Register of Historic Parks and Gardens in Wales but typically must be over 30 years old. The accreditation is endorsed in Wales by Cadw and is offered to sites in Wales, England, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland.

Penllergare Woods joins 11 other sites receiving the Green Hertitage Accreditation for 2024, including; Bute Park in Cardiff, Bryngarw Country Park in Bridgend, Wrexham Cemetery and University of Wales Trinity St David Lampeter Campus.

As a Green Flag judge, I’m thrilled to see one of our award-winning green spaces receive the additional Green Flag Heritage Accreditation, celebrating the applications of the skills, knowledge and experience of all the staff and volunteers at the site. The Green Flag Awards are all about connecting people with the best green spaces, and Penllergare, alongside the other 11 accredited sites this year are shining examples of this.

Andrew Stumpf
Keep Wales Tidy Chair of Trustees and Green Flag judge

The Trust is delighted to have been awarded Green Flag Heritage status and retained our Green Flag for another year. This recognition is a real credit to the amazing work of our volunteers and team here at Penllergare. We are proud that our work to restore this historic site and tell its fascinating story has been celebrated.

Paul Baker
Penllergare Woods Chair of Trustees