A crematorium has one of the longest-running Green Flags in Bridgend County. Coychurch Crematorium has now held the award for 17 consecutive years — one of seven green spaces across the county borough recognised by Keep Wales Tidy this year.
Bridgend County Borough Council says the streak reflects the standards maintained at the site, and the peaceful, well-kept environment it provides for bereaved families and visitors.
The Green Flag is the national benchmark for parks and green spaces, judged on upkeep, environmental management and community involvement.
Bryngarw joins an exclusive club
Bryngarw Country Park has gone one further. It now holds Green Site Heritage Accreditation — recognition of work to protect and promote the park’s history — making it one of just 14 sites in Wales to hold the status.
Two more of the 14 are next door. Gnoll Country Park earned its first heritage award this year, joining a second Neath Port Talbot site on the list.
Bryngarw is managed by Awen Cultural Trust in partnership with the council.
The volunteers behind the flags
Maesteg Welfare Park also kept its Green Flag. The council manages the park with the support of the Friends of Maesteg Welfare Park voluntary group.
Four community-run spaces retained their Community Awards: Spirit of the Llynfi Woodland, Ogmore Vale Fire Station, Tremains Wood and Coed-yr-Hela.
The council says those awards recognise the local people who look after the spaces themselves.
Cabinet member for climate change and environment Cllr Eugene Caparros said the awards reflected the quality and range of green spaces across the county borough.
“To see Coychurch Crematorium achieve its 17th consecutive Green Flag Award is a fantastic accomplishment and reflects the dedication of the staff who work so hard to maintain such an important site,” he said.
A record year across Wales
The awards come in a record year. Keep Wales Tidy chief executive Owen Derbyshire said 330 places were recognised across Wales in 2026, as the Green Flag scheme marks 30 years.
“Green spaces play a vital part in supporting the health and wellbeing of communities across Wales,” he said, thanking the staff and volunteers behind them.
Bridgend’s seven join winners across the region — nine parks and green spaces kept their flags in Swansea, alongside 13 volunteer-run community spaces there. The full list of winners is on the Keep Wales Tidy website.
