Love Parks week – 23-31 July 2011

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jul 19, 2011

Butterfly strolls, blooming meadows, tree trails, and bat detecting are all on the bill this summer as part of Love Parks Week 2011.

Love Parks Week is a national campaign which supports and celebrates parks and green spaces and aims to encourage people to use their local parks and discover what they have on offer.

In support of the national campaign, Cardiff Council is running a fun and exciting programme of events to appeal to all the family, taking place at a number of the city’s parks.

Many of the events are free and include wildlife trails, art activities and games for children, a bat discovery walk and a heritage walk to learn about the history of one of the largest Victorian cemeteries in Britain.

Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Nigel Howells said: “We are extremely fortunate that Cardiff boasts more than 56 formal parks and gardens across the city, seven of which are proud winners of the prestigious Green Flag Award.

“They are free resources that are vital in promoting healthy, active and happy communities.

“Our green spaces are beautiful and I encourage people to support Love Parks Week and learn what your local park has to offer.”

Love Parks Week is organised by parks charity GreenSpace. Founded in 2006, the campaign has grown steadily and is now established as a major event that is celebrated in parks across the country. Each year hundreds of events take place enabling thousands of people to get out and enjoy their parks and help put forward the case for reinvestment.

For more information about Love Parks Week please visit www.loveparksweek.org.uk and to learn more about events in Cardiff parks please visit www.cardiff.gov.uk/parks

5X60 Sport initiative takes off in Victoria Park

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jul 12, 2011

Victoria Park is set to be transformed into an exciting hub for sports this Saturday (July 16) between 12 and 4pm as Sport.Cardiff deliver a free community event.

Sport in the Park aims to promote a series of sport and leisure opportunities whist signposting adults and children to clubs and groups where they can take up sport and activities in their local community.

There will be a huge choice of traditional and non-traditional sports for people to have a go at, including cricket, basketball, freestyle football, BMX and street-dance.

The action packed day will also showcase local sports clubs and leisure providers, making local people aware of the facilities and sports opportunities that they have access to in their local community.

The event has been organised by the Sport.Cardiff 5X60 sports development team.

The 5X60 initiative aims to make young people in Cardiff more active by taking part in 60 minutes of exercise five times a week.

It comprises a variety of different activities from which the children choose what they want to participate in. Activities include competitive, team and individual sports as well recreational activities such as climbing, dance and swimming.

Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Nigel Howells said: “This unique event is set to inspire people of all ages to embrace sport and leisure activities whilst strengthening and supporting local clubs.
“Sport and leisure are essential in maintaining healthy and active lifestyles and what better place to discover what Cardiff has to offer than in the outdoor setting of one of the city’s most beautiful and popular parks.”

Follow the path to Cefn Onn

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jun 30, 2011

A new pathway at Parc Cefn Onn has been officially opened to the public.

Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Nigel Howells was joined by the Friends of Parc Cefn Onn to reopen the pathway.

The project has improved access along the main footpath in the park, which was highlighted as needing attention. Following a survey, the poor footpath was one of the biggest issues for park users.

The new improvements allow better access for wheelchair users and pushchairs to certain areas of the park such as the goldfish pond in the upper section of the park.

The work has been achieved after the Friends of Parc Cefn Onn and Cardiff Council secured a £134,900 grant from the Landfill Community Fund, through Resource Efficiency Wales.

The successful works were carried out by the Council’s landscape design team and contractor Griff Davies, and were completed in April this year. Further improvements are planned for the site as part of a long term restoration programme, developed in partnership with the Friends of Parc Cefn Onn.

The Friends group was set up in 2010 with the aim to help improve the environment and facilities of the park.

The group are pro-active and hold monthly work sessions under the guidance of Community Park Ranger, Alec Stewart.

Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Nigel Howells said: “I am delighted that work has been completed on the pathway in order to improve access to the wonderful park.

“Park Cefn Onn is a valuable and much loved asset to the city and this is shown through the passion and dedication of the friends group who work alongside park staff to ensure the environmental, botanical, and historical features of the park are maintained and restored.

“The new pathway will mean that more people can safely and conveniently visit the park and enjoy all that it has on offer.”

Chairman of Friends of Cefn Onn, Gareth Thomas, said: “The new path is a great asset to the park and all of the Council and contractor staff involved in the planning, design, and construction of it deserve congratulations for the excellent work they have done.

“We have had lots of extremely positive comments from a wide selection of park visitors that it has really opened up the park and helped make it a beautiful place to visit.”

Parc Cefn Onn is a country park on the northern fringes of Cardiff. It contains a magnificent collection of native and exotic trees set within an intimate valley. Visitors enjoy the stunning scenery and the calm, relaxing atmosphere.

The streams, ponds, woodlands and other planting make this a rich haven for wildlife. Visitors regularly return to enjoy the park in different seasons. Train access, bike & car parking, toilets and a network of paths are provided.

The Friends of Parc Cefn Onn are looking for members of the community to join and support them with future projects. For further information, news, and photos of the development of the new path please visit the website at www.friendsofcefnonn.org.uk

Chance of a “Good Life” in Ely Farm with new allotment announcement

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jun 29, 2011

Cardiff Council’s Park Services have announced new allotment plots are now available at Ely Farm, Cardiff.

A total of 32 additional plots have been marked out at the site and prospective tenants on the waiting list are currently being contacted.

Eight plots have already been allocated to new tenants keen to grown their own fruit and vegetables.

The plots have been provided on an area of the allotment site which has not previously been cultivated.

These new plots have been introduced as part of the Council’s allotment strategy which aims to reduce waiting lists and accommodate the growing interest in allotment gardening.

Further plots across five other allotment sites are due to be released by the end of the financial year. In the region of 300 extra plots will be made available for use.

Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Nigel Howells said; “The Council recognises the importance of allotment gardening and the significant contribution it makes to health and social agenda.

“Due to the significant interest in allotment gardening the Council has made a commitment to reduce waiting lists by bringing previously redundant areas of allotment land into use.

“The allotment strategy has enabled further improvements to be identified and implemented and this has been cemented by the new plots being made available in sites such as Ely Farm.”

Cardiff Council has 26 allotment sites across the city covering approximately 190 acres.

Notes to Editor:

Photo from left to right: Chairwoman of Ely Farm Allotments Jan Moore, Cllr Nigel Howells, Secretary of Ely Farm Allotments, Terry Webb and Treasurer, Joe Moore

Lord Mayor to open most southerly pub in Wales

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jun 22, 2011

The Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Cllr Prof Delme Bowen will open Wales’ most southerly pub on Friday, June 24. The Gull and Leek is the new addition to amenities on Flat Holm Island, which already includes accommodation, and a gift shop.

Part of the Islands Victorian Barracks have been turned into a pub offering a selection of local beers, ales and wines.

Day trippers and overnight visitors can now enjoy their favourite tipple whilst taking in the spectacular scenery of Flat Holm Island.

During his visit to the Island the Lord Mayor will also be shown around the new Flat Holm Farm shop, which offer’s fresh Flat Holm vegetables when in season and the Island’s very own eggs.

Executive Member for Sport, Culture and Leisure, Cllr Nigel Howells will also join the Lord Mayor on his visit to the Island and attend the official opening of The Gull and Leek.

Flat Holm, once a sanctuary for monks and also home to Vikings, Anglo-Saxons, silver miners and smugglers over the years, is now a mix of ruins from bygone eras and modern sustainable living. On the Island you will find wind turbines, solar panels, WWII gun embattlements and an isolation hospital from the 1800s. It’s perhaps most famous for receiving the first ever radio message across water by Marconi in 1897, and has even featured in the BBC TV series Torchwood.

The Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Cllr Prof Delme Bowen, said: “I am delighted to open the new pub on Flat Holm, this is the first time I have ever opened a pub! The Gull and Leek is a great new amenity for both day visitors and overnight guests to enjoy. I can’t think of anything better than a sunny day on the island drinking an ice cold drink of your choice.”

Executive Member for Sport, Culture and Leisure, Cllr Nigel Howells, said: “Flat Holm is already a great place to relax and unwind and the Gull and Leek adds to the Flat Holm experience and will provide the perfect venue to get away from all the hustle and bustle.”