Bute Park Education Centre Celebrates its First Birthday

Posted by Now Cardiff on Oct 19, 2012

This month Bute Park will celebrate the first anniversary of its Education Centre.

The unique facility, which was officially opened last year, provides a venue for a range of educational and nature-based craft activities, and also lets families pick up a variety of guided trails and activities to go out and use in the park itself.

Cabinet Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Huw Thomas said: “In the last 12 months the Education Centre has already reached out to large numbers of people in the community, giving them the opportunity to understand more about the park’s rich history and wildlife.

“As well as being a venue where schools, community and educational groups can further their learning about the park, it also gives an insight into the work that goes into creating the floral displays across our city through its views out over the Council’s working plant nursery.. .

Unsurprisingly, it has also proved to be a popular and distinctive venue for organisations and businesses to hire as an inspirational alternative to regular meeting rooms and conference centres.

“The Education Centre has been a welcome addition to Bute Park and already has established itself as an important facility which will continue to be well used by the people of Cardiff.”

The centre, set behind a new garden wall, plays on the concept of a ‘secret garden’ and is accessed through a large, beautifully carved oak door. The panels of the door were specially designed by local wood carvers as part of the ‘’People’s Door’’ competition and help tell the park’s history through imagery.

Cardiff Council’s award-winning horticultural apprentice scheme also uses the centre as a training resource for staff and visiting students.

Over 35 different groups and organisations have chosen to use the centre for a diverse range of functions including workshops, team building, training sessions, meetings, book launches, conferences and children’s events, all of which help sustain the free public use of the facility.

Regular events include the Friends of Bute Park’s Wildlife days, talks and lectures on the history or wildlife of Bute Park, as well as botanical art classes. ‘Painting in the Park’ is run by local artists Christine Wilson and Louise Young and offers people the chance to improve their technique in botanical illustration in the park’s beautiful setting.

Louise said: "The Education Centre is beautifully situated for classes like ours, surrounded by the park and looking out on the plant nursery.

“The peaceful atmosphere of the building encourages creativity and learning and having the lovely cafe close at hand is much appreciated by our students.”

Over 3000 members of the public have utilised the facility since it opened its doors free of charge on weekends and school holidays last February.

Mansion House opens door to key events in Cardiff’s history

Posted by Now Cardiff on Oct 9, 2012

The story behind one of Cardiff’s much loved buildings will take place later this week in a series of public talks about the city’s famous Mansion House.

Held at the Grade II listed building, the three talks will explore the history of the house, which used to belong to local businessman James Howell, and look at how one of the world’s richest men, the 3rd Marquess of Bute, became Mayor of Cardiff in 1890. The third talk will examine the influence of the huge influx of people into Cardiff in the 19th Century.

The talks will be presented by specialists from the Mansion House, Cardiff Castle and the Cardiff Story Museum.

Cabinet Member for Sport, Leisure & Culture, Cllr Huw Thomas, said the talks had been organised in response to increasing interest in the history of the city.

He added, "The success of the Cardiff Story Museum, which has seen tens of thousands of people visit and the popularity of the recent Open Doors events supported by the Council, clearly demonstrates the appetite for people to find out more about our great city.

"These talks will delve a little deeper into the story behind one of our most recognised and celebrated building in the city, and  provide some context to how Cardiff grew into the thriving  Welsh capital city we know today.

"I know that many people are curious about the Mansion House, and this is the perfect opportunity to come inside and find out more about its place in the history of city."

The three talks are:

• October 10 – What’s the story behind the Mansion House – Cardiff’s hidden gem  with David Clay from the Mansion House.
• October 18 – "Cardiff recognises true nobility": Lord Bute as a Victorian Mayor, with Matthew Williams, Cardiff Castle Curator.
• October 31 – Creating Cardiff – how our city was made” with Victoria Rogers from The Cardiff Story.

Cardiff company fined after flouting planning rules

Posted by Now Cardiff on Oct 4, 2012

A company that built and rented out six flats in Cathays has been sentenced today at Cardiff Crown Court after failing to comply with certain conditions.

Cadogan House Ltd had been given planning consent to construct six flats in Minny Street, subject to conditions which sought to protect the amenities of the building’s tenants and neighbouring residents.

The company failed to comply with some of the conditions but went on to rent out the flats anyway, in breach of the original consent.

Despite previously being prosecuted for the same offence, the company still failed to comply with the planning conditions, so a second prosecution was brought.

Cadogan House Ltd was fined £500 and ordered to pay costs of £3,370 for non-compliance with a Breach of Condition Notice.

An application for a Confiscation Order was also made to the court under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 on the basis that the company had benefited from letting the six flats.

The Court made a Confiscation Order in the sum of £18,820, which was the value of the rent the company had received whilst the flats were being occupied in breach of the original planning consent.

Councillor Ralph Cook, Cabinet member for Strategic Planning, Highways, Traffic and Transportation, said: “It is hoped that the case will serve as a deterrent to other developers who avoid complying with the requirements of planning control.

“There are a small number of habitual offenders within Cardiff who appear intent to breach planning requirements imposed to protect the public.

“Breaches continue despite prosecutions proceeding against them as these developers are apparently comfortable in the knowledge that the levels of fine the Court may impose are a fraction of the income they will receive.

“As a result the Council will be looking to apply for Orders again in the future to ensure that illegally gained assets are confiscated.”

Groups benefit from grant scheme

Posted by Now Cardiff on Oct 4, 2012

Community buildings across the city are to benefit from grants awarded by Cardiff Council.

Voluntary groups were invited to apply for a grant, under the Council’s Community Building Grants Programme.

A total of 15 grants were awarded under this year’s programme and will help local groups across the city to improve community buildings and provide better facilities.

Around £50,000 will go towards paying for a wide range of improvements including toilet refurbishments, window replacement, new heating systems, health and safety improvements and access improvements for disabled users.

One of the groups to benefit is St Fagans Village Hall, which received a grant for a new disabled toilet. Frances Lewis of the Village Hall said: “We are very pleased with the Community Building Grant, which will help us to further enhance our building and offer services to an ever wider number of people in the local community.”

Cardiff Council’s Community Building Grants Programme has been running for over ten years for the purpose of supporting local voluntary groups in providing and improving community buildings.

Councillor Lynda Thorne, Cabinet Member for Communities, Housing and Social Justice, said: “The Council recognises the important role that voluntary sector organisations play in running community buildings across the city. We are delighted to be able to help so many groups carry out improvements for the benefit of the people and communities that use them.”

Bute Park through to the final of Lottery Best Heritage Project awards

Posted by Now Cardiff on Sep 25, 2012

Cardiff’s very own Bute Park has succeeded in getting through to the final of the 2012 National Lottery Award under the category Best Heritage Project, but it needs your help to win!

The National Lottery Awards are an annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects and aim to celebrate and recognise the difference that those projects have made to people, places and communities all across the UK.

Cabinet Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Huw Thomas said: “For the Bute Park Restoration Project to make the final for this national award is fantastic news both for those working in the park as well the people of Cardiff.

“Lottery funding has helped transform the park into a must-visit destination at the heart of Cardiff’s city centre and it is a great tribute to the many people who are working hard to transform Bute Park into a place of heritage, education and enjoyment.

“This is a great achievement for the city and I would like to encourage people to vote for this project –it’ll only take a few clicks online. This puts Cardiff on the map and recognises what a fantastic attraction we have at the heart of our city.”

The Bute Park Restoration Project is one of only three projects to make it through in the Best Heritage Project category as a result of public votes, in the annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects.

The final will be televised on the BBC One National Lottery Draw Show.

Please support Bute Park by voting. Either call 0844 836 9711 or log on to www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards. Voting ends at midnight on Sunday 28 October.

The Bute Park Restoration Project has transformed Cardiff’s largest city centre park into a place celebrated by the city’s residents and visitors alike.

The project, supported by a new flourishing friends group, has preserved the park’s unique heritage while creating educational and recreational opportunities.

The project has enhanced the parks historical features, provided new facilities, widened access and has helped tell the park’s stories.

Bute Park has a listed building, famous listed boundary wall, historic waterways and a scheduled ancient monument; the park’s medieval Friary site, all of which are being restored and interpreted as part of the project.

There are also many opportunities for community involvement and examples of several great projects to date including the work of the park’s regular litter champions, clearance of invasive species by volunteer groups, and clearance of litter from the park’s waterways.

Exciting new facilities developed through the project support in-house training of horticultural staff and apprentices, offer educational visits, provide a wealth of guides and information for family and tourist visits to the park, and provide refreshments and toilet facilities.

Lottery funding has helped restore the iconic Animal Wall, build a new outdoor eatery echoing the style of an old park Summerhouse, build a new education centre and transform the old park keeper’s lodge into a tea room, gift shop and art gallery.

Improved pathways, benches, bins and signage have also been provided through the project.