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Friends help park win flag

Friends help park win flag

Jul 29 2008

 by

Peter Collins

, South Wales Echo

A VICTORIAN park in central Penarth has been recognised for afourth successive year in a national award scheme.

The Green Flag Award recognises the best green spaces in thecountry, and Penarth’s Belle Vue was judged to be welcoming,safe and well maintained, with a strong involvement from the localcommunity.

The park is managed by Vale of Glamorgan Council’s parks andgrounds maintenance division with the support of a dedicatedFriends of Belle Vue Park organisation.

Councillor Geoff Cox, the council’s cabinet member forvisible and building services, said: “The award is a tributeto the marvellous partnership work of parks staff, the Friends andthe community park keeper.”

As a community association the Friends have raised money to carryout a range of improvements to the park, including a new play area,dog-proof fencing and new beds with flowers, trees and shrubs.

Sibling care appeal

A NEW initiative to recruit foster carers to help keep brothers andsisters together has been launched.

Bridgend Foster Care, which is part of Bridgend Council, has beensuccessfully recruiting and training new foster carers but there isstill a significant shortage of carers who can look after siblings.

Foster care team manager Diana Nyomtato said: “We try as muchas possible to make sure brothers and sisters are kept together butit can be problematic finding carers with homes large enough tocater for more than one child.”

Bridgend Foster Care can be contacted on 01656 642349.

Biggest cheese

HIS year’s Big Cheese Festival in Caerphilly town centre wasa record- breaker as crowds flocked to the site to enjoy the funand blazing sunshine.

As the temperature soared at the weekend, so did visitor numbers,with an estimated 100,000 attending.

Council leader Lindsay Whittle said: “A lot of hard work goesinto organising this major weekend festival and I would like tothank the event team and our sponsors for their continuedsupport.”