Awen Cultural Trust is proud to announce that Bryngarw Country Park has won the prestigious Green Flag Award for the tenth consecutive year, marking a decade of excellence in environmental efforts, visitor facilities and community involvement.

To celebrate this achievement, here are 10 facts you may not know about the award-winning park, located in Brynmenyn near Bridgend:

1. There are over 41 species of tree growing in the park.
2. Bryngarw is 113 acres which is around 80 football pitches in size.
3. The Japanese Garden was created in 1910 and many of the original trees are still standing today.
4. There are four unique woodlands, each made up with a different composition of trees that would have served a specific purpose for Bryngarw House back in the 19th Century.
5. There are three wildflower meadows which equates to six acres in the park. Since the 1930s, the UK has lost 97% of its wildflower meadows and is now considered one of the rarest habitats in the UK.
6. Bryngarw Country Park has an on-site garden centre called B-Leaf, which provides a training facility for local adults with learning disabilities.
7. Bryngarw Country Park is the start of Cycle Track 884 (Sustrans)
8. The park is part of Welsh Government’s National Forest of Wales.
9. Bryngarw House was used as a Red Cross Auxiliary Hospital in the First World War.
10. Since 2015, Awen has operated the park on behalf of, and in partnership with, Bridgend County Borough Council. Together we have accessed funding to invest almost £1 million in the park’s visitor centre, new education facilities, infrastructure, interpretation signage and accessible play equipment.

Now in its third decade, the Green Flag Award 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:

“We’re thrilled to see 315 green spaces in Wales achieving the prestigious Green Flag status, which is testament to the dedication and hard work of hundreds of staff and volunteers.

“Quality green spaces play a vital role in the physical and mental well-being of people across Wales, and to be recognised as among the best in the world is a huge achievement – Congratulations!”

Richard Hughes, Chief Executive at Awen Cultural Trust, added:

“This award is a tribute to the hard-working ranger team, volunteers, B-Leaf trainees and colleagues and other partner organisations who look after and enhance this vital green space for over 200,000 people who visit Bryngarw Country Park each year.

“Working in partnership with Bridgend County Borough Council, we recognise Bryngarw Country Park a key tourism destination and thriving community asset for the area. To be recognised by Keep Wales Tidy for ten years in a row reflects our joint commitment to sustainability, inclusivity, conservation and biodiversity, and helping people connect with nature.

“With the school summer holidays just around the corner, we look forward to welcoming lots of visitors to the park to enjoy our brand-new Junior Rangers programme, outdoor theatre events, and story and craft sessions with Awen Libraries.”

Cllr Paul Davies, Bridgend County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and the Environment, said: Congratulations to everyone at Bryngarw Country Park for achieving a Green Flag for the 10^th consecutive year. This is no mean feat and reflects the park’s high level of community engagement and environmental excellence.

“It’s fantastic to work in partnership with Awen Cultural Trust to provide spaces that can be enjoyed by all the local community and it’s clear that they play a key role in benefiting both the physical and mental health of visitors.”