A PONTRHYDFENDIGAID community woodland has won a Green Flag after being praised for its facilities and the work put into making it a quality green space.

The Green Flag Awards celebrate community managed green spaces and honours sites that have met high standards thanks to the effort of volunteers.

Coed y Bont is one of the 112 Green Flag winners with representatives of the community group saying they were thrilled to have won the accolade.

Chis Harries, the chair of Coed y Bont, said: “We are again absolutely delighted to receive this award. It is a well deserved recognition of what a wonderful place we have created for the community.

“It has taken a lot of hard work and commitment by dedicated volunteers, backed up by considerable support from Natural Resources Wales and the local community and financial assistance from many grant funders, but it has all been worthwhile.”

Jim Cowie, a volunteer with Coed y Bont, said: “Volunteering in Coed y Bont is such a rewarding experience. The woodland is a lovely environment to work in.

“We get involved in many different tasks, some strenuous, some less so, but we all benefit from healthy exercise in the fresh air.

“There is always a good camaraderie and at the same time we know that we are doing something that benefits the woodland and the people who visit it. It’s good to have our efforts recognised once again by the Green Flag award.”

See this week’s south editions for the full story, in shops and online on Wednesday