The hard work of dedicated volunteers has ensured that the prestigious Green Flag Community Award will fly for the first time at Sirhowy Hill Woodlands, as Keep Wales Tidy announces the winners of the 2026 Green Flag Awards.
A record 330 parks and green spaces across Wales have reached the high standards required to fly the coveted Green Flag for 2026. This includes 93 sites which achieved full Green Flag Award status and 237 who received a Green Flag Community Award. Fourteen of these sites also achieved the supplementary Green Heritage Site Accreditation, supported by Cadw, for demonstrating a commitment to preserving and promoting their unique history.
The Green Flag Community Award flag was awarded to Sirhowy Hill Woodlands in recognition of its environmental efforts, excellent visitor facilities, and community involvement.
Green Flag Community Awards celebrate high-quality, volunteer-run spaces such as community gardens and local nature reserves.
For the third year running, Wales retains the honour of holding more Green Flag Community Awards than any other country delivering the scheme, with 237 Community Awards, up 14 from 223 last year.
Sirhowy Hill Woodlands CIC is a community interest company that manages 210 acres of mixed woodland in Tredegar and Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent. The woodlands is a much-loved public space, providing walking, volunteering and nature-connection opportunities for thousands of local people in one of Wales’s most deprived areas. The CIC was established in 2019 (from a friends group formed in 2015) to protect and restore the woodland for community and ecological benefit. We manage the woodlands for the benefit of ecology and the community, promote the teaching of green skills, green woodworking, run Community gardens and tree nursery sessions and host school and third sector visits whilst holding free community events.
We are so proud that we’ve reached the high standards needed to achieve the internationally renowned Green Flag Award. Achieving Green Flag Wales status has been a team effort, it’s all down to our incredible volunteers! Thank you to everyone involved. Our community visit us for various reasons from nature watching, dog walking, to attending activities. Visitors state that the woodlands helps them with their mental and physical health. We have also seen an increase in biodiversity and have species of insects and plants that are of local and national significance due to following an ecological management plan to increase biodiversity. This award may help us attract visitors from further afield and help bring in more money for the local economy. Tredegar and Ebbw Vale deserve to be recognised for this special woodland that sits in its boundaries.
The Green Flag Award scheme was founded 30 years ago and recognises well-managed parks and green spaces in more than 20 countries around the world.
In Wales, the awards scheme is run by Keep Wales Tidy. Owen Derbyshire, Keep Wales Tidy Chief Executive said:
“Wales is truly setting the standard when it comes to outstanding green spaces, with 330 places recognised in this year’s Green Flag Awards. From flagship parks and vibrant woodlands to historic sites and community spaces, Wales has shown year after year that it has an unwavering commitment to nurturing inclusive green spaces that can be enjoyed by everyone.
“We are especially proud of all our Green Flag Community Award winners which reach the award’s high standards due to the hard work and dedication of volunteers who give their time and skills to ensure these special places thrive and can be enjoyed by many others. Green spaces play a vital part in supporting the health and wellbeing of communities across Wales and we’d like to thank everyone who plays a part in that.”
A full list of award winners can be found on the Keep Wales Tidy website www.keepwalestidy.cymru