Care and Repair North East Wales are delighted Dee Park Community Woodland in Shotton, Deeside has been recognised with the Green Flag Award for the first time. We are proud to be flying the Green Flag Award after being named in the 2026 Green Flag Awards.
Keep Wales Tidy announced today that a record 330 parks and green spaces across Wales have reached the high standards required to gain a 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 full award was awarded to Dee Park Community Woodland in Shotton in recognition of being safe and secure, well-maintained and clean, having excellent environmental management, and being a welcoming place. The 330 sites across Wales include parks, university campuses, community woodlands, cemeteries and housing estates.
Receiving this award is a fantastic achievement and reflects our ongoing commitment to enhancing biodiversity, protecting the natural environment, and creating high-quality green spaces for the local community to enjoy. Dee Park Community Woodland provides an important place for people to connect with nature, improve their wellbeing, and experience the benefits of a well-managed natural environment.
This recognition is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the team who care for the woodland throughout the year. Their commitment, passion and expertise ensure that the site is maintained to an exceptionally high standard while continuing to improve habitats for wildlife and opportunities for local people to enjoy the space.
The Green Flag Award is an internationally recognised benchmark for well-managed parks and green spaces. It celebrates sites that are welcoming, safe, well maintained, environmentally sustainable, and managed to the highest possible standards for the benefit of both people and nature.
The judging panel praised the excellent management of Dee Park Community Woodland, commenting on the high standard of maintenance and the care taken to protect and enhance the site. Their positive feedback highlights the significant effort invested in ensuring the park and woodland continues to thrive as a valued community asset.
Wendy Bowden, Chief Executive said:
“We are absolutely delighted that Dee Park Community Woodland has been awarded a Green Flag Award. This recognition reflects our commitment to increasing biodiversity and continually improving our green spaces for the benefit of the local community. It is also a wonderful acknowledgement of the dedication of the staff team and volunteers who work tirelessly throughout the year to care for the park and woodland. We are incredibly proud of what they have achieved, and it is especially rewarding to receive such positive comments from the judging panel on the high standard of management across the site.”
We look forward to continuing our work to enhance Dee Park Community Woodland, ensuring it remains a welcoming, thriving and sustainable green space for both wildlife and the community for many years to come.
The awards are recognised in more than 20 countries and reward the very best parks and green spaces, so visitors know wherever there is a Green Flag, they’re visiting an exceptional place with the highest standards.
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.
“Green spaces play a vital part in supporting the health and wellbeing of communities across Wales and we’d like to thank all the staff and volunteers who play a part in ensuring these special places thrive and can be enjoyed by all.”
A full list of award winners can be found on the Keep Wales Tidy website www.keepwalestidy.cymru