Llandaff Fields
Encyclopedia
Llandaff Fields is a large parkland spanning parts of central
and northern Cardiff
, Wales
.
The park is owned by Cardiff Council
and managed by its Parks department. The parkland is highly visible and accessed from local communities. The parkland is lined with avenues of trees and large grassed areas. The park is also used for sporting events.
In 1860, an extension of the park northwards for athletic purposes was announced, and took place in 1879, merging with Pontcanna Fields. Development of the park took place between 1899 and 1901. Three cricket pitches, a hockey pitch and a tennis court were added. Plans were submitted for a swimming pool, but this never happened.Features such as a fountain pool, rockery and fern dell were mentioned in the 70 acres (283,280.2 m²) area in a gardening magazine in 1923, but have since gone. 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of the fields were used for allotments during the war.
The 2008 National Eisteddfod was held on Llandaff Fields, the consequence of which was still a problem in April 2010 after a part of the fields remained water logged. Cardiff Council has since announced £400,000 redevelopment plans for the pitches with under-soil drains.
In July 2010 Cardiff Council rejected an application for a car park outside the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff
, citing that it would harm the character and appearance of the Llandaff Conservation Area, result in the loss of open space in the city, and worsen traffic congestion on Western Avenue.
The park is an area of mown grass crossed by a network of tarmac walks, bounded by roads on all sides but the east, where most recreational facilities are found.
, stretching from the city centre
out to the west of Llandaff. Sophia Gardens
lies just to the south of the area and Bute Park
is located on the other side of the river.
Access by foot to the park is from the surrounding streets in the respective communities. The Taff Trail
cycle route runs through the nearby Pontcanna Fields, just to the north of Llandaff Fields. Bus services run along Cathedral Road and Cardiff Road, to the south and east of the park.
WJEC
's headquarters and the University of Wales Institute Cardiff's Llandaff campus are located just beyond the northern boundary of the fields.
Cardiff city centre
Cardiff city centre is the central business district of Cardiff, Wales. The area is tightly bounded by the River Taff to the west, the Civic centre to the north and railway lines and two railway stations - Central and Queen Street - to the south and east respectively...
and northern Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
The park is owned by Cardiff Council
Cardiff Council
The County Council of the City and County of Cardiff is the governing body for Cardiff, one of the Principal Areas of Wales. The council consists of 75 councillors, representing 29 electoral wards. The authority is properly styled as The County Council of the City and County of Cardiff or in...
and managed by its Parks department. The parkland is highly visible and accessed from local communities. The parkland is lined with avenues of trees and large grassed areas. The park is also used for sporting events.
History
Llandaff Fields were purchased for Cardiff Council from the mill-owning Thompson Family in 1898. The park is located on a historically important route between the city centre and Llandaff.In 1860, an extension of the park northwards for athletic purposes was announced, and took place in 1879, merging with Pontcanna Fields. Development of the park took place between 1899 and 1901. Three cricket pitches, a hockey pitch and a tennis court were added. Plans were submitted for a swimming pool, but this never happened.Features such as a fountain pool, rockery and fern dell were mentioned in the 70 acres (283,280.2 m²) area in a gardening magazine in 1923, but have since gone. 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of the fields were used for allotments during the war.
The 2008 National Eisteddfod was held on Llandaff Fields, the consequence of which was still a problem in April 2010 after a part of the fields remained water logged. Cardiff Council has since announced £400,000 redevelopment plans for the pitches with under-soil drains.
In July 2010 Cardiff Council rejected an application for a car park outside the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff
University of Wales Institute, Cardiff
Cardiff Metropolitan University is a university situated in Cardiff. It operates from three campuses: Llandaff on Western Avenue, Cyncoed, and Howard Gardens in the City Centre. The university serves over 12,000 students...
, citing that it would harm the character and appearance of the Llandaff Conservation Area, result in the loss of open space in the city, and worsen traffic congestion on Western Avenue.
Landscape
The park is made up of a mixture of vast mown grass land and woodland areas home to wildlife. The park is situated in the valley of the River Taff. Mature trees are frequent throughout the park, such as the Horse Chestnut and Lime treesThe park is an area of mown grass crossed by a network of tarmac walks, bounded by roads on all sides but the east, where most recreational facilities are found.
Location
The fields, together with the adjacent Pontcanna Fields, form a large wedge of open space, situated on the west bank of the River TaffRiver Taff
The River Taff is a large river in Wales. It rises as two rivers in the Brecon Beacons — the Taf Fechan and the Taf Fawr — before joining to form the Taff north of Merthyr Tydfil...
, stretching from the city centre
Cardiff city centre
Cardiff city centre is the central business district of Cardiff, Wales. The area is tightly bounded by the River Taff to the west, the Civic centre to the north and railway lines and two railway stations - Central and Queen Street - to the south and east respectively...
out to the west of Llandaff. Sophia Gardens
Sophia Gardens
Sophia Gardens , currently known as SWALEC Stadium under a naming rights deal, is a cricket stadium on the west bank of the River Taff in Cardiff, 1.6 kilometres north of Cardiff Arms Park. It was named after Lady Sophia Rawdon-Hastings...
lies just to the south of the area and Bute Park
Bute Park
Bute Park in Cardiff, Wales, is an extensive area of mature parkland easily accessible from the city centre. Flanked by the River Taff, Sophia Gardens, Pontcanna Fields and Cardiff Castle, Bute Park is a very popular 'green lung' full of historic and wildlife interest. Few cities have such a...
is located on the other side of the river.
Access by foot to the park is from the surrounding streets in the respective communities. The Taff Trail
Taff Trail
The Taff Trail is a popular walking and cycle path that runs for between Cardiff Bay and Brecon in Wales. It is named so because it follows the course of the River Taff...
cycle route runs through the nearby Pontcanna Fields, just to the north of Llandaff Fields. Bus services run along Cathedral Road and Cardiff Road, to the south and east of the park.
WJEC
WJEC
WJEC is an examination board that provides examinations, assessment, professional development, educational resources, support for adults who wish to learn Welsh and access to youth arts activities...
's headquarters and the University of Wales Institute Cardiff's Llandaff campus are located just beyond the northern boundary of the fields.