Twenty-Seven playparks in the Vale, including those in Penarth, will benefit from additional grass cutting during the winter, thanks to a Community Benefits Agreement with the Vale of Glamorgan Council's grass-cutting contractors.

Countrywide Grounds Maintenance currently undertake the Council's amenity grass-cutting.

As part of their contract, they have pledged to offer staff and machinery free of charge to help maintain the playpark grounds during the off-season.

This will ensure that the sites are still usable for families and children throughout the winter.

Milder climates mean that grass no longer stops growing during the winter. However, Council resources traditionally limit the grass-cutting season to between March and October.

The Community Benefit scheme ensures that any contract put out by the council asks for any 'added value' that the contract would bring to the authority and community, above the basic work that is being undertaken.

Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services and Transport, Cllr Peter King, said: "The service that Countrywide provides is a valuable addition to the year-round work our Parks team undertakes and we are incredibly grateful to them.

"Many of our parks have benefitted from state-of-the-art upgrades in recent years, and the service will help ensure that these green spaces can be enjoyed all year round."