Green Flag raised as Aberystwyth University celebrates green campus award

Raising the Green Flag

Aberystwyth University’s Penglais Campus has become the first University campus in Wales to achieve the Green Flag Award.

Members of the University’s Estates Development Team were joined by Vice-Chancellor Professor April McMahon and Alaw Ceris from Keep Wales Tidy to raise the Green Flag on the University’s Penglais Campus on Wednesday 21 October.

The Green Flag Award is a UK-wide partnership, delivered in Wales by Keep Wales Tidy with support from Natural Resources Wales, and is the mark of a high quality park or green space.

It is judged by green space experts who visit applicant sites and assess them against eight strict criteria, including horticultural standards, cleanliness, sustainability and community involvement.

A record-breaking 110 parks and green spaces in Wales have met the high standard needed to receive the Green Flag Award or the Green Flag Community Award this year.

Director of Estates Development at Aberystwyth University, Mark Taylor said: “It is pleasing to see the hard work of everyone involved rewarded, in particular our Grounds Team, and the University estate recognised as a safe, green and enjoyable space for students, staff and visitors. We will seek to further enhance our grounds and built estate in a more integrated manner within our future revised estates strategy.”

Aberystwyth University Grounds Manager Paul Evans, added: “It is a great honour to receive this award and extra special with it being the first university in Wales to do so.”

Lucy Prisk, Green Flag Coordinator at Keep Wales Tidy said: “We are delighted to be celebrating a record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award scheme. All the flags flying this year are a testament to the efforts of the hundreds of men and women, both staff and volunteers, who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.”

The University has plans to expand the scope of the Green Flag Award to its other sites including the Llanbadarn Centre and Gogerddan.

These developments will reflect the University’s strategic objective, as outline in its 2012-2027 Estates Strategy ‘Building our future’, of providing a high-calibre and fit for purpose environment for students, staff and the local community.

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