The hard work of a group of dedicated local residents has ensured that the prestigious Green Flag flies for the first time at Manorbier Community Garden, after Keep Wales Tidy recently announced 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 was granted to Manorbier Community Garden in recognition of environmental efforts, excellent visitor facilities, and community involvement. Around 50 local people gathered at the Garden to celebrate the achievement with food and drinks, and watch the raising of the Green Flag.

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.

The development of Manorbier Community Garden began in April 2024 and what has been achieved in just over 2 years is remarkable.

Led by local couple Ollie and Sian Cromwell, a formidable group of local residents have constructed a number of raised beds from re-purposed materials and filled them with an extensive range of vegetables and plants, all provided by locals.

Pick-A-Pumpkin days have been organised for local children. All plants are grown organically, free from pesticides and herbicides.

A protected pen with six chickens has been constructed. Keep Wales Tidy donated food and orchard packages, a metal toolshed and a small polytunnel. The latest addition is a larger polytunnel, again made from donated materials and assembled by Sian, Ollie and the team.

Sian said: “We are absolutely delighted to have received the Green Flag Award, it means so much to our community and celebrates what can be achieved when a community comes together with a shared vision.

“Just over two years ago, this was simply scrub land and today it is a thriving, welcoming space rich in biodiversity and bursting with life, from fresh vegetables for everyone to share, to flowers, free-range chickens, a mud kitchen for children, and space to play and connect.

“The garden belongs to the whole community. We are incredibly proud of how far we’ve come, and we warmly invite everyone to be part of its sustainable future.”

Nearby, Saundersfoot’s St Issells Old Cemetery gained the award for the first time; whilst Tenby’s Edible Community Garden, New Hedges’ Village Hall and Play Park retained the accolade from previous years.

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.