The Green Coast Award is a symbol of environmental excellence, established to acknowledge, promote and protect the environment of rural beaches in Wales.
The aim of the Green Coast Award is:
‘To acknowledge those beaches which meet Guideline water quality and are prized for their natural, unspoiled environment’
The Award is unique in that it recognises Guideline water quality (Guideline is the EU designation for excellent water quality) as well as Best Practice in environmental management for beaches, which may not have the facilities associated with resort beaches. It is managed in Wales by Keep Wales Tidy.
The Green Coast Award is awarded to beaches which, are managed with the involvement of the community, for the benefit of visitors and the environment. It places a strong emphasis on community and environmental activities. Community involvement may include, among others; a Coastcare Group, Beachwatch and Community Councils.
The Green Coast Award was piloted in Wales in 1998 following demand for recognition of rural beaches with Guideline Water quality but did not have the infrastructure required to meet Blue Flag or Seaside Award ’ Resort’ status
Dwr Cymru Welsh Water had invested £650 million in capital works around the coastline and helped set up a Non-identified Bathing Water sampling program which allowed an additional 101 beaches to be tested for water quality. As bathing water quality improved around the Welsh coastline, local authorities were encouraged to apply for Blue Flag Awards. As increasing value was placed on awards, there developed a demand for recognition of rural beaches with Guideline water quality. The current Seaside Award Rural only required the lower Mandatory standard.
The Green Seas Initiative began to develop a new award, which became known as the Green Coast Award.
A list of criteria was produced, similar to that of the Seaside Award Rural. However, after further investigation, it was decided that due to the nature of these remote rural beaches, strict criteria were not flexible enough to account for the enormous variations between them and so the scheme became objective-led.
Following its pilot phase in Wales in 1999 where there were 8 award beaches, the scheme received EU funding in 2001 to expand to Ireland, working in partnership with Wexford County Council.
Since then the Award has grown in popularity and has received additional EU Interreg IIIA funding to expand to other counties in Ireland and Wales with Irish partners An Taisce.
For the list of Green coast Award winners for 2012 click here