Bridgend County Borough

Composition

Bridgend County Borough was formed on 1 April 1996 under the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994. It includes all of the former Ogwr borough apart from the communities of Wick, St Brides Major and Ewenny, which went to Vale of Glamorgan. Bridgend County Borough is divided into 20 communities: Brackla, Bridgend, Cefn Cribwr, Coity Higher, Coychurch Higher, Coychurch Lower, Cornelly, Garw Valley, Laleston, Llangynwyd Lower, Llangynwyd Middle, Maesteg, Merthyr Mawr, Newcastle Higher, Ogmore Valley, Pencoed, Porthcawl, Pyle, St Bride's Minor and Ynysawdre. The communities of Brackla, Bridgend and Coychurch Lower make up the town of Bridgend.

Governance

The region is governed by Bridgend County Borough Council, a principal council which has its offices in Bridgend.

Since 2024, Bridgend County Borough is within three UK Parliament constituencies – Aberafan Maesteg, Bridgend, and Rhondda and Ogmore, and two Senedd constituencies – Bridgend and Ogmore.

Schools

Main article: List of schools in Bridgend

Parks and green spaces

Bryngarw Country Park is the largest (113 acres) country park in the county borough. It offers many amenity based areas including an adventure play area, barbecue and picnic areas, car park, cafe, visitor centre and toilets; as well as a patchwork of woodland, grassland and freshwater habitats. Bryngarw Country Park is a Grade II listed Historic Park and Garden and has been designated a 'Green Flag' Park since 2010. The Oriental Garden in the park has been noted as a 'Visit Wales Sustainable Tourism, Historic Gardens Centre of Excellence' by the 'One Historic Garden, Centre of Excellence'.

Kenfig National Nature Reserve with Glamorgan's largest natural lake, Kenfig Pool, is set on the edge of this area, with views from Sker beach across Swansea Bay to Gower. It is one of the finest wildlife habitats in Wales, and one of the last remnants of a huge dune system that once stretched along the coast from the River Ogmore to the Gower peninsula. The reserve is home to unique wild orchids, as well as insects and wildlife. Kenfig is one of the most important sites in Britain for nature conservation.

Parc Slip Nature Reserve is an environment of wetlands, woodlands and meadows at the Parc Slip Nature Park where there is a wealth of wildlife. After a century of coal mining on the site, the Wildlife Trust began to manage the land for nature in the late 1980s. Varied habitats have since been created and the park supports an increasing diversity of wildlife.

Notable people

Main article: Category:People from Bridgend

Freedom of the Borough

The following people and military units have received the Freedom of the Borough of Bridgend:

Individuals

Military units

• The Royal Welsh: 30 August 2008
• 2 Company 1st Battalion The Welsh Guards: 11 May 2011

Demographics

Ethnicity

As of the 2021 United Kingdom census, the county borough's ethnic groups are as follows:

Religion

As of the 2021 United Kingdom census, the county borough's religious make-up is as follows:

References

References

1. "Democracy and elections".
2. {{UK subdivision statistics citation
3. (19 January 2023). "How life has changed in Bridgend: Census 2021".
4. "2023 Parliamentary Review - Revised Proposals {{!}} Boundary Commission for Wales".
5. "Election Maps: Great Britain". Ordnance Survey.
6. "Welcome to Bryngarw House, Brynmenyn, Bridgend". Bryngarwhouse.co.uk.
7. "Country Parks".
8. "Country Parks".
9. "Country Parks".
10. "Freedom of the Borough - Bridgend County Borough Council".
11. (11 May 2011). "Hero soldiers honoured in freedom march of Bridgend".
12. "Bridgend Local Authority".