The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal has been awarded Green Flag status by Keep Britain Tidy,

Glandŵr Cymru, the Canal & River Trust in Wales, made the announcement, as part of 736 miles of its canal and river navigations that have been awarded the prestigious status.

The nation’s canal charity has held all its existing miles of Green Flags, with waterways across England and Wales maintaining the standard required for the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.

Richard Parry, chief executive at Canal & River Trust, said: “Our canals span 2,000 miles across England and Wales, and Green Flags have been awarded the length and breadth of the network, demonstrating the benefits these historic navigable waterways continue to bring to the 21st century. They offer free, accessible green space to millions of people across the country, provide vital homes for wildlife, and support the nation’s nature recovery, as well as being navigated, as they have been for centuries, by thousands of boats.

“These Green Flags are testament to our colleagues and volunteers who work hard to keep our canals clean and welcoming places for local communities and visitors. Caring for a 250-year-old canal network is a challenge, with our ageing waterways vulnerable to changing weather patterns, daily wear and tear, and perennial problems like litter and encroaching vegetation.

“We are redoubling our efforts to keep canals alive, working with funders, partners and our growing volunteer support. We have also started the dialogue with the new government about the role our network can play – in part illustrated by these Green Flags – to so many communities across the country.”

Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, said: “We know that staff and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that these spaces maintain the high standards of the Green Flag Award, everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.”

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.