More of Cardiff’s green spaces are to become wildflower meadows, providing important sources of food and habitat for pollinators, like bees and butterflies.
An additional 110 hectares of nature-friendly green space, where the grass is not mown until September have been proposed by Cardiff Council this year. Mowing these areas once a year allows wild plants and flowers to bloom all spring and summer, and gradually over time, wildflower meadows to flourish.
In total, the proposals will see 197.7 hectares, an area the equivalent in size of 439 football pitches managed under this more relaxed mowing regime – an increase of 125% compared to last year.
Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Events, Cllr Jennifer Burke, said: “Nature is in crisis globally and this significant increase in the amount of green space which is not mown until September is one way that we can provide valuable support to the nature on our doorstep here in Cardiff.
“Nature isn’t neat, but paths will be cut to maintain accessibility and ensure there is still plenty of space available for children and families to have a picnic or kick a football around, and over the years the changes we’re making now will gradually allow wildflower meadows to become established.”
Signage explaining the changes, and the benefits they bring for wildlife, will be installed at all new sites.
The new more nature friendly spaces will be at:
- Sovereign Chase Open Space (Penylan)
- Sandpiper Close Tree Buffer (Pontprennau/St Mellons)
- Limewood Close Tree Buffer (Pontprennau/St Mellons)
- New Road Open Space (Rumney)
- Cemaes Park (Trowbridge)
- Crumlin Drive Open Space (Trowbridge)
- Orchard Park (Trowbridge)
- Whitchurch Common North (Whitchurch/Tongwynlais)
- Heol y Gors Open Space (Whitchurch/Tongwynlais)
- Tongwylais Recreation Ground (Whitchurch/Tongwynlais)
- Gwynlais Open Space (Whitchurch/Tongwynlais)
- Hamadryad Park (Butetown)
- Trelai Park (Caerau)
- Parc Rhydypenau (Cyncoed)
- Archer Road Oval (Ely)
- Rosedale Open Space (Fairwater)
- Bellfields Open Space (Fairwater)
- Coronation Park (Grangetown)
- Llanishen Park (Llanishen)
- Gilder Field (Llanishen)
- Newport Road Reserve South (Llanrumney)
- Hartland Road Open Space (Llanrumney)
- Thornhill Park (Lisvane/Thornhill)
- Parc Coed Y Nant (Pentwyn)
- Hollybush Road Open Space (Pentwyn)
