Castle Woods received the Green Flag Community Award, a sign that the site is a well- managed and welcoming place, central to the local community.  A high-quality green space in the village.

Castle Woods is one of a record number of parks and green spaces receiving the Community Award this year, ensuring that even more of us now have access to well-managed, high-quality green spaces.

In 2011, 1,288 parks and green spaces will fly either the Green Flag or Community Award, a sign that the value of green space is widely acknowledged as vital to our communities.

 Robin Bonham, Vice Chairperson of Mumbles Development Trust said:

“This is a reward for the hard work our volunteers have put into the site over the last year, making it a valuable community asset.”

Phil Barton, Green Flag Plus Partnership chairman said: “I would like to congratulate this year’s winners, who have worked hard throughout the year to keep their parks and green spaces at a high standard and ensure they are pleasant and enjoyable spaces for the whole community.

“The Green Flag Award Scheme, and its growth, is essential in driving up the standards of our parks and green spaces.  Access to quality green space is something we all desire and the scheme plays a key role in providing it.

“In these challenging financial times it is heartening that the number of Community

Awards continue to grow.  As the value of green space and the role it plays in our communities strengthens, we must ensure these high standards remain.”

All award-winning sites now have the chance to receive a further award from the Green Flag Plus Partnership, the People’s Choice Award.  This award is voted for by the public, so if you want to see your local park receives a national accolade as the People’s Choice, then visit the Green Flag Award website now to register your vote.

An area of wild flower meadow has been created within the Community Orchard of Castle Woods, Mumbles, planted by pupils from all four Infants years at Oystermouth Primary School with teachers Caroline Morgan and Sue Penn, together with green volunteers from Mumbles Development Trust.

The Orchard was cleared and prepared for the planting by HSBC Community Volunteering Team, organised by co-ordinator Debbie Evans. Mumbles Development Trust led the project to create the meadow, which will encourage biodiversity as the wild flowers attract insects and butterflies to the Orchard and surrounding area. Grants for purchase of plants and equipment were provided by The Co-operative HQ in Manchester, and seeds were donated by The Co-operative Membership Group, Welsh Region.

Robin Bonham for MDT said: “Large areas of Castle Woods were derelict and overgrown less than a decade ago, with many allotments fallen into disuse and large tracts of the woodland inaccessible, but with previous grants from public bodies such as the Forestry Commission Cyd Coed scheme and the enthusiastic work of green volunteers, the Woods have returned to full use and enjoyment by the community as a whole. Oystermouth’s green-fingered Infants will be able to see the meadow they planted growing and developing in future years!”