Bright designs needed for Enfys cycle network

Posted by Now Cardiff on Sep 25, 2012

Budding artists and designers should get themselves down to the Morgan Quarter between September 28 and October 14 for an exciting new competition which asks people to design artwork which will be replicated on BT and Virgin media cabinets.

The aim of the artwork is to promote Enfys the new cycle network in Cardiff and designers are asked to incorporate cycling within their design.

Over the next five years, the Council will be investing in the new cycle network which will make it easier and quicker to cycle around the city.

Along the Enfys network there are a number of utility cabinets which BT and Virgin Media have given permission to be used as public art.

Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Highways, Traffic and Transportation, Cllr Ralph Cook, said, said “It’s very apt that we are asking for colourful designs along the appropriately titled cycle network Enfys or Rainbow.

“This is a great opportunity for the public to design public art, whilst also promoting cycling within the city.

“As a Council we are investing heavily into cycling in the city and through each step we have heavily involved the public, including the naming of the new cycle network. The public art competition is an extension of the relationship we have had with the public in creating the cycle network.

“I am looking forward to seeing what people come up with and would like to thank Virgin Media and BT for allowing us to utilise the cabinets in this way.”

People of all ages can enter the competition and the workshops at the Morgan Quarter provide the perfect opportunity for all the family to come along and take part.

The Designs should be bold, colourful and simple and should be on A4 or A3.

For those who are unable to come along to the workshops can still enter by sending in their design to Cardiff Council, Cycling Team , Room 301,Cardiff Bay, Cardiff,CF10 4UW

Olympic medallist Hannah takes it to extremes

Posted by Now Cardiff on Aug 16, 2012

Excitement is mounting on the waterfront of Cardiff Bay in anticipation of the traditional finale to the Cardiff Festival, but this year the Cardiff Harbour Festival (Aug 31 – Sep 2) has gone to extremes, as it welcomes the Extreme Sailing Series – the UK leg of the world’s most exciting inshore racing series to Cardiff Bay which features Welsh Olympic silver medallist Hannah Mills competing for Team Wales, and Windsurfing silver winner Nick Dempsey.

This free event runs across the weekend, enabling visitors to view some spectacular action at close range from around Cardiff’s famous waterfront. Cardiff Harbour Festival also features popular annual attractions such as the British Fish Craft Championships where tons of fish go under the knife as the country’s top fishmongers compete for the prized crown of British Fish Craft Champion 2012. Cardiff Bay will also host a Continental Market, live music on the Bandstand, alternative end of pier attraction The Last Resort and spectacular Aerial Entertainment.

Olympic silver medallist and one half of the successful British 470 women’s duo Hannah Mills will be flying the Welsh flag as part of the wildcard entry Team Wales. Hannah said: “The last few weeks have been amazing, a complete whirlwind! Now I am looking forward to my next challenge; racing with Team Wales at the Extreme Sailing Series in Cardiff. It will be awesome to return to my hometown as an Olympic medallist and race on the Extreme 40 catamarans- a completely new experience for me. It looks to be a great event and hopefully there will be more winning and more celebration! “

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Classic day out in the bay

Posted by Now Cardiff on Aug 10, 2012

Those who like to travel in style whether by land or by sea are in for a treat this weekend at the Classic Car and Boat Rally in Cardiff Bay.

The event is free and runs from 10am until 4.30pm on Sunday, August 12.

Approximately 40 classic boats from the Classic Motor Boat Association of Great Britain (CMBA) will be on display on the Harbour Pontoons at the bottom of Roald Dahl Plass in this annual event.

Spectators will also be able to view spectacular boat displays along Cardiff Bay as CMBA members take to the water.

Cabinet Member for Sport, Culture and Leisure, Cllr Huw Thomas, said: “This is a great event for boat and car enthusiasts to look at some great vintage cars and power boats.

“The bay provides the perfect location not only for the boats to take to the water but to showcase these beautiful classic cars. The show attracts many enthusiasts and also catches the attention of those strolling around the bay on a Sunday morning.”

It’s the first time that Glamorgan Classic Car Club has displayed their cars in the show and they will bring an array of superb vintage and retro vehicles to Roald Dahl Plass. Cars on display include the Cortina 1600E used in the recent film ‘Made in Dagenham .

Last year hundreds of people came down to see the classic cars and watch the boats take to the waters against the spectacular Cardiff Bay setting.

The Classic Car and Boat Rally is a part of the Cardiff Festival, which runs until September 2. Further details can be found at www.cardiff-festival.com

Walk this way to the new Wales Coastal Path

Posted by Now Cardiff on May 2, 2012

Enthusiastic ramblers, avid walkers, keen runners and gentle strollers will soon have a brand new route to enjoy when the Wales Coastal Path is officially opened next month.

On Saturday 5, May from 11am Cardiff will host a celebratory event in Roald Dahl Plass, Cardiff Bay to mark the opening of the longest continual coastal path around the country.

The 870 mile path will provide a walking route around the whole of Wales from the outskirts of Chester in the north to Chepstow in the south.

It will encourage and enable more people to enjoy physical recreation at the coast and will help Cardiff and the rest of the country to become an active and healthy nation.

It will also allow both locals and visitors to enjoy the coastal path whilst exploring and discovering the stunning coastline of Wales.

The path has something to offer everyone, from those looking for a short stroll, a diverse running route or those wishing to undertake the whole route in one trip.

Walking has several health benefits including achieving weight loss, improving lung capacity and lowering cholesterol, blood pressure and stress.

It is also great for maintaining an active lifestyle which in turn promotes health and wellbeing.

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Circle of Life – Cardiff Bay Salmon Release

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jul 5, 2011

On Wednesday 6th July, three Cardiff Primary Schools will return to Cardiff Bay to see the young salmon they have nurtured from eggs safely returned to the River Taff.

Gladstone, Lakeside and Thornhill Primary Schools have participated in the Salmon Coming Home Project; as part of the Cardiff Harbour Authority’s environmental education programme run by the Cardiff Bay Water Activity Centre.

Since February 2011, the school classes have each looked after the precious eggs, monitoring the water temperature and gaining an understanding of nature whilst in the classroom.

Responsible for checking the equipment and daily inspections, each school has been successful in safely monitoring the eggs. Once the eggs hatched in to the Alevins, they were then collected and taken to Cynrig Hatchery, supported by the Environment Agency, for specialist feeding for a few months, to build up their strength prior to being released.

Tomorrow they will be released into the rivers as Salmon Fry and each class will be on site to see them as they swim free for the first time.