Keep Wales Tidy has unveiled this year’s Green Flag Award winners. The scheme recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces.

Cwmbran Boating Lake, Garn Lakes Local Nature Reserve, Panteg Park and Pontypool Park are the four sites in Torfaen to achieve the status.

Councillor Mandy Owen, executive member for the environment, said: “We are very proud of our parks and open spaces in Torfaen, and we are delighted that four of our sites have been awarded Green Flag status.

“Wherever you see a Green Flag you know you’re visiting an exceptional place with high standards. It takes pride and dedication to achieve this status so well done to everyone who made it possible which includes volunteers.

“Being outdoors enjoying the fresh air, and getting some exercise is great for body and mind, so I would like to encourage everyone to visit our award-winning green spaces and let us know what you think of them.”

248 parks and green spaces across the country have received the Green Flag Award and Green Flag Community Award – from country parks and formal gardens, to allotments, woodlands and churchyards.

The Green Flag Award programme is delivered in Wales by environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy, with support from Welsh Government. Independent green space experts volunteered their time in early autumn to judge applicant sites against eight strict criteria, including biodiversity, cleanliness, environmental management, and community involvement.

Julie James, the Welsh Government’s minister for climate change, said: “Green spaces are vital for mental and physical well-being and throughout the pandemic we have seen how important these spaces have been for local communities.

“Wales still holds more than a third of the UK’s Green Flag community sites and it is fantastic to see more places in Wales receiving Green Flag Award and Green Flag Community Award.

“These landscapes play a vital role in delivering rich ecosystems and vibrant and resilient communities, and I congratulate all of the sites for providing excellent, year-round facilities and events for people in Wales.”

Lucy Prisk, Green Flag Coordinator at Keep Wales Tidy said: “The pandemic showed us just how important high-quality parks and green spaces are to our communities. With more visitors than ever enjoying our green spaces, I’d like to congratulate the hard work of staff and volunteers who have maintained excellent standards at these sites.”

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