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Cymraeg
2024 - 2025

Keep Wales Tidy Impact Report

Interim report (March to September 2024)

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A message from Owen

At Keep Wales Tidy, we know that incredible things happen when communities come together. This interim impact report, covering April to September 2024, provides a snapshot of the outstanding achievements we’ve supported across Wales by uniting our dedicated team with our brilliant network of volunteers, supporters, and partners.

Our team are doing an incredible job tackling the challenge of LEQ in communities across Wales, however their efforts are set against the backdrop of a worrying increase in litter, which presents a significant challenge for us all. Our latest LEAMS surveys revealed a staggering 286% increase in the number of worst-graded ‘D’ streets since last year— Welsh streets with unacceptable levels of cleanliness. These are some of the worst results we’ve seen in 17 years of surveys, and unless decisive action is taken soon, the situation will only deteriorate further.

But it’s not all bad news —in fact, there’s plenty to celebrate.

Our Local Places for Nature project brought nature into the heart of hundreds of urban communities across Wales. This year, we’ve awarded a further 444 community gardens, from food-growing spaces to pollinator-friendly havens. These gardens are making a tangible difference, transforming our communities and creating vibrant green spaces for all to enjoy.

I’m also thrilled to report that Wales continues to lead the world in flying more Community Green Flags than any other country. This achievement is a testament to the incredible community effort and the love and pride people have for their local green spaces.

And that’s not all—we’re hitting major milestones with our work to empower young people. This year marked the 30th anniversary of Eco-Schools, and we celebrated by announcing the wonderful news that Wales is the first country in the world to meet UNESCO’s Green Education Partnership target, with 50% of schools in the nation now holding an environmental education accreditation.

While there is still work to be done, with the ongoing support of our partners, we can build on this momentum, address the challenges of litter and waste, and safeguard the places we cherish for generations to come.

It would be remiss of me to not take this opportunity to express our deepest gratitude to our funding partners, whose contributions have made our successes possible to date. A special thank you goes to the Welsh Government for their continued support, The National Lottery Heritage Fund for backing our new Urban Long Forest initiative, and to the Garfield Weston Foundation and the Swire Trust for supporting our Local Environment Quality work in often underserved communities. Additionally, we are grateful to the Local Authorities who have provided funding through the Shared Prosperity Fund – your support has had a clear impact.

Thank you for being part of this journey. I look forward to continuing to work with you to create a cleaner and greener Wales.

Diolch yn fawr,

Owen Derbyshire CEO, Keep Wales Tidy

Beautiful Wales – Our strategy for the decade

Keep Wales Tidy takes action to make a positive difference to local environments across Wales.

We deliver practical action, environmental education, and set the standards for parks and beaches as well as being policy and research experts, supporting government, public bodies and organisations in environmental issues.

Our work is focused on four key areas:

Eradicating litter and waste

We are proud to have worked with all local authorities across Wales to set up our biggest ever initiative to eradicate litter and waste.  

Caru Cymru (a Welsh phrase meaning ‘love Wales’) continues to inspire people to take action to care for the environment. Caru Cymru is an ever growing programme which supports nationwide Litter Picking Hubs, Litter Champions, Litter Free Zones and litter picking events like Spring Clean Cymru as well as a number of behaviour change campaigns.

Creating and restoring green spaces

We know that quality green spaces are essential for both people and wildlife, offering vital havens for relaxation and biodiversity.

Local Places for Nature is transforming urban communities across Wales by bringing nature into the heart of these areas. The project creates community gardens such as food-growing spaces and pollinator-friendly havens which are having a real impact.

Hedgerows support a wide variety of species and serve as wildlife corridors. Many are at risk from neglect and inappropriate management, so we have re-established a Long Forest project to protect and restore hedgerows in in Cardiff, Caerphilly, Neath Port Talbot and Wrexham.

Together, these initiatives are restoring and creating green spaces that benefit both nature and the people of Wales.

Setting standards for environmental excellence

Environmental quality sits at the core of our purpose.

We set the standards high for green spaces, beaches, marinas and tourism in Wales through our range of international awards including, Green Flag, Blue Flag, Seaside and Coast Awards.

When you visit one of our award-winning sites, you can be sure that you are visiting a world-class destination that has the highest possible environmental standards.

 

Empowering young people

We know that through prioritising youth engagement we can ensure an early understanding of the long-term impact of their behaviour and support the creation of custodians for the future of Wales and the planet. 

At Eco-Schools Wales we offer expert guidance, training and resources to deliver environmental education for teachers and learners in a programme which supports the national curriculum with modules on topics like climate change and biodiversity loss.

We continue to work with young people beyond school years, and our Youth Board provides a platform for 16-25 year olds to voice their opinions on environmental issues, challenge our assumptions and put forward new ideas.  

Our vision as a charity is for a beautiful Wales cared for and enjoyed by everyone. Beautiful Wales, our strategy for 2022-2030, outlines our ambitious plans to deliver this vision, working closely with volunteers, government, corporate and local institutions.

Read our strategy.

Local authority reports

Click on a local authority area to view the impact report for this area.

AngleseyBlaenau GwentBridgendCaerphillyCardiffCarmarthenshireCeredigionConwyDenbighshireFlintshireGwyneddMerthyr TydfilMonmouthshireNeath Port TalbotNewportPembrokeshirePowysRhondda Cynon TafSwanseaTorfaenVale of GlamorganWrexham AngleseyView reportBlaenau GwentView reportBridgendView reportCaerphillyView reportCardiffView reportCarmarthenshireView reportCeredigionView reportConwyView reportDenbighshireView reportFlintshireView reportGwyneddView reportMerthyr TydfilView reportMonmouthshireView reportNeath Port TalbotView reportNewportView reportPembrokeshireView reportPowysView reportRhondda Cynon TafView reportSwanseaView reportTorfaenView reportVale of GlamorganView reportWrexhamView report
View report

Case studies

Our work ranges far and wide – from practical action and environmental education, to setting standards for parks and beaches. Here are some of the successful projects that we have delivered this year.

Eradicating litter and waste with The CoStar Partnership

Leading the way to a cleaner, wase-free local environment

Read Case Study

Creating and restoring green spaces with Hope St Mellons

Creating and caring for a green space which provides a haven for local people and wildlife.

Read Case Study

Setting standards for environmental quality with Penllergare Valley Woods

Setting the bar really high at an award-winning Green Flag site.

Read Case Study

Empowering young people at Ysgol Gynradd Cwmfelinfach

A showcase of how they are making positive changes for the future.

Read Case Study

"Creating a healthier environment is vital for the well-being of both current and future generations. Keep Wales Tidy's work exemplifies the spirit of the Cymru Can strategy, driving progress toward net zero and nature-positive goals by 2030. By nurturing a culture of care for our natural world, they are building a more resilient and healthy Wales that will benefit generations to come."

Derek Walker, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales
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