Since 1990, the Tidy Wales Awards have given us the opportunity to shine a light on unsung environmental heroes across the country.
Wednesday 19 April saw the return of the Tidy Wales Awards at the prestigious Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. The event was even more special as it marked the end of a year in which we have celebrated 50 years of working with volunteers and partners to make Wales a more beautiful place to live.
Our winners came from communities across Wales and are delivering a whole range of environmental work. Every day, these volunteers, schools, businesses and organisations show up, roll up their sleeves, and get to work improving the local environment. They plant trees, pick up litter, restore habitats, and so much more. But their impact extends far beyond the physical changes they make to the landscape. Their work strengthens communities, it brings people together around a common cause, and it inspires others to take action.
The Tidy Wales Awards 2023 winners are:
Valley Veterans
Award for Nature’s Heroes sponsored by Transport for Wales
Friends of Barry Beaches
Beautiful Coast Award sponsored by EdenTree
Rhondda Litter Pickers and Environment
Caru Cymru (‘Love Wales’) Community Award sponsored by Helping Hand Environmental
Jobs Growth Wales Plus (Coleg Cambria)
Caru Cymru (‘Love Wales’) Business Award sponsored by Berry Global
Cefn Glas Infant School
Eco-Schools Innovation Award sponsored by Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water
RE:MAKE Newport
Circular Economy Innovation Award sponsored by Euroclad
The Hive Garden Community Group
Community Food Growing Award sponsored by NPTC Group of Colleges
Pengam Pavilion Allotments
Community Transformation Award sponsored by DS Smith
Rob Curtis
Volunteer of the Year Award sponsored by Wales and West Housing
The winner of our Outstanding Achievement Award 2023, Rhondda Valleys’ ‘Valley Veterans’ provides support to vulnerable ex-Armed Forces members, serving personnel and Reservists in some of South Wales’ most deprived areas. They have transformed a former colliery railway track into an incredible accessible green space with a meadow, apple trees and raised beds designed to improve drainage and provide essential habitats for pollinators all of which is open to local residents to enjoy.
Paul Bromwell from Valley Veterans collected the award on Wednesday. Speaking after the ceremony, Paul said:
This award for outstanding achievement is not just for me but for everybody that has been involved over the past couple of years. To be here today to take this award home is amazing. I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart.
Paul Bromwell Valley Veterans
Our new Chief Executive Owen Derbyshire had the honour of selecting the overall winner and spoke at the ceremony.
A lot has changed over the past half century; but what has remained constant is the passion and determination of the individuals, groups, schools, businesses, and other partners Keep Wales Tidy have the honour of working with. They show us all what's possible when we work together towards a common goal, and I am so proud that we are part of this impressive movement of people who care deeply about our planet and are taking action to protect it.
Because, let's be honest: the challenges we face are immense. Climate change, biodiversity loss, plastic pollution, and other environmental crises threaten our way of life and the planet as we know it, but I look at the award finalists and I’m filled with hope – hope that we can create a more sustainable, resilient, and beautiful Wales. Hope that we can inspire others to make a difference. Hope that together, we can build a better future for generations to come.
Owen Derbyshire Keep Wales Tidy Chief Executive
We have again this year been fortunate to enjoy award sponsorship from a number of partner organisations including Transport for Wales; EdenTree; Helping Hand Environmental; Berry Global; Euroclad; NPTC Group of Colleges; DS Smith; Wales & West Housing; and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water. We’d like to thank them for their support.
