Forty four Welsh beaches are in the list of rural beaches recognised by a National Jury for their natural beauty, clean environment and for having reached the highest bathing water quality.
The Green Coast Award was developed in Wales in 1999 by environmental campaigners Keep Wales Tidy and a few years later the award was extended to Ireland.
Award winning beaches are prized for their natural, unspoilt environment, but do not have the built infrastructure necessary to meet the land based criteria associated with other national and international awards.
For the Green Coast Award emphasis is placed on local community involvement in the ongoing and long term care of the award beach. This will include the removal of litter from their beach, identifying sites of ecological and historical interest and ensuring that the highest environmental standards are maintained sustainably.
Tegryn Jones, Chief Executive of Keep Wales Tidy commented.
“Due to the world wide economic climate we are told that 2009 is going to be a bumper year for the tourism industry in Wales. This announcement confirms that the discerning beach visitor will be well catered for when they arrive. Visiting the award winning Green Coast Award locations, they will enjoy a beach experience far removed from the intrusions normally associated with the traditional and more urban beaches.”
The Green Coast Awards are administered in Ireland by An Taisce under the banner of the Clean Coast Project and the Irish winners will be announced in June.
The award winning Welsh beaches are:
- Traeth Mawr, Aberffraw –Anglesey
- Broad Beach, Rhosneigr – Anglesey
- Silver Bay, Rhoscolyn – Anglesey
- Borth Wen Rhoscolyn – Anglesey
- Traeth Lligwy-Dulas – Anglesey
- St Davids-Red Wharf Bay – Anglesey
- Porth Nobla-Llanfaelog – Anglesey
- Traeth Crigyll-Rhosneigr – Anglesey
- Porth Tyn Tywyn, Llanfaelog – Anglesey
- Porth Tywyn Mawr-Sandy Beach – Anglesey
- Porth Trwyn-Llanfaethlu – Anglesey
- Cemlyn – Anglesey
- Red Wharf Bay – Anglesey
- Traeth y De Aberaeron South – Ceredigion
- Llangrannog Cilborth – Ceredigion
- Llanrhystud – Ceredigion
- Mwnt – Ceredigion
- Sandy Cove Kinmel Bay – Conwy
- Pensarn Abergele – Conwy
- Porth Neigwl/Hell’s Mouth – Gwynedd
- Abererch/Glan Don – Gwynedd
- Harlech – Gwynedd
- Bennar, Llanenddwyn – Gwynedd
- Machroes – Gwynedd
- Barafundle – Pembrokeshire
- Freshwater East – Pembrokeshire
- West Angle – Pembrokeshire
- St Brides Haven – Pembrokeshire
- West Dale – Pembrokeshire
- Glen Beach – Pembrokeshire
- Broadhaven South – Pembrokeshire
- Manorbier – Pembrokeshire
- Cwm Yr Eglwys – Pembrokeshire
- Abereiddy – Pembrokeshire
- Priory Bay Caldey – Pembrokeshire
- Caerfai Bay – Pembrokeshire
- Marloes – Pembrokeshire
- Martins Haven – Pembrokeshire
- Druidston Haven – Pembrokeshire
- Penally – Pembrokeshire
- Mewslade – Swansea
- Torbay – Swansea
- Limeslade – Swansea
- Rhossili – Swansea
Keep Wales Tidy is a registered Environmental Charity working for the improvement of Wales’ local environments. Visit their website for more information; www.keepwalestidy.org
