Ebbw Vale’s Festival Park Outlet Shopping & Leisure has been awarded a Green Flag Community Award, having been recognised by Keep Wales Tidy for the high standards maintained in managing the outlet’s surrounding green spaces.

The Green Flag Award was established to highlight the best parks and green spaces in the country, as well as drive up the quality of green space and among other things, the Garden Festival Parklands were commended for their beautiful views, ease of access, excellent visitor facilities, safety, cleanliness and commitment to biodiversity.

Festival Park boasts 70 acres of surrounding parkland, as well as a fishing lake. More than 50 birds of prey - including owls, hawks, falcons and buzzards - are housed within the Festival Park Owl Sanctuary.

General manager Gareth Thomas said: “We’re very fortunate to be situated within such beautiful surroundings and work hard to maintain the highest standards, liaising closely with the residents’ forum to continuously seek to improve and regenerate the park.

“We’re delighted to be honoured for these efforts and will very proudly fly the Green Flag!”

Joanna Friedli, Green Flag Co-ordinator for Wales, said: “Success of community sites is due to the commitment and dedication of local volunteers and it is thanks to them that we have fantastic community facilities available on our doorstep. I would like to pass on our congratulations to all those receiving the Green Flag Community Award 2014/15 and hope that together we can continue to raise the standards of parks and green space in Wales.”