AN Abergavenny meadow has been named as one of the top green spaces in Wales.

Castle Meadows, which will host the 2016 Monmouthshire and District National Eisteddfod of Wales, was awarded the coveted Green Flag award from the environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy.

The award is one of only three such awards given in the county. The others were awarded to Tintern’s Old Station and Caldicot Castle and Country Park.

The Monmouthshire council-owned site is managed by the Friends of Castle Meadows’ volunteers who work in co-operation with the council’s Countryside Services to conserve the meadows as an important natural habitat.

On Saturday, members of the Friends’ group were joined by the Countryside Head Warden, Mark Langley, countryside services’ volunteers and local councillors to unfurl the flag in the Castle Copse at the meadows in celebration.

The Mayor of Abergavenny, councillor Maureen Powell, congratulated their team for their work in retaining the award.

The meadows, a 20-hectare floodplain for the River Usk, are popular with walkers, cyclists, families and dog-walkers. They feature small copses, streams and ponds, and are home to a wide diversity of wildlife and plants.

Next year will see a major transformation when Castle Meadows become the Maes, the main venue for the Monmouthshire and District National Eisteddfod to be held between July 29 and August 6. The event last came to Abergavenny in 1913.

Although there had been concerns about the effect that the festival could have on the landscape, flora and fauna, Helen Trevor Davies, Chair of the Friends’ group said that the land was resilient.

“Other sites for the Eisteddfod have all recovered, and what an honour it is to have such a prestigious event here. Let’s hope we can be open to the opportunities this event will afford, and we would welcome any enhancements such as hedging once the restoration of the meadows takes place.”

Last week, the Friends’ group met with Huw Aled Jones, head of technical services for the National Eisteddfod, to discuss the timetable for the temporary transformation.

Work in Castle Meadows is due to start in June to build a temporary service road and walkways to create the Maes with its main pavilion, a yurt, an open-air stage and tents for concerts, performances and exhibitions showcasing the best in Welsh literature, music art, song and dance.

The main entrance for visitors during the event would be from Byfield Lane and Mill Lane.

For details about the Meadows visit www.friendsofcastlemeadows.wordpress.com