Llandaff Fields is a large parkland spanning parts of

central Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object. Central may also refer to: Directions and generalised locations * Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...

and northern

Cardiff Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital and largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a Sir Caerdydd, links=no), and the city is the eleventh-largest in the United Kingd ...

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...

. The park is owned by

Cardiff Council Cardiff Council, formally the County Council of the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Cyngor Sir Dinas a Sir Caerdydd) is the governing body for Cardiff, one of the Principal Areas of Wales. The principal area and its council were established ...

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, which closed early 1990s. Features such as a fountain pool, rockery and fern dell were mentioned in the area in a gardening magazine in 1923, but have since gone. of the fields were used for allotments during the war.Pontcanna Fields and Llandaff Fields (pdf)
, Coflein.gov.uk. The 2008

National Eisteddfod The National Eisteddfod of Wales (Welsh: ') is the largest of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales. Its eight days of competitions and performances are considered the largest music and poetry festival in Europe. Competitors ...

was held on Llandaff Fields, the consequence of which was still a problem in April 2010 after a part of the fields remained waterlogged. 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 , image_name = Shield of Cardiff Metropolitan University.svg , image_size = 150px , motto = cy, Gorau Meddiant Gwybodaeth , mottoeng = The most valuable possession is knowledge , established = 2011 – Car ...

, 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 The genus ''Aesculus'' ( or ), with species called buckeye and horse chestnut, comprises 13–19 species of flowering plants in the family Sapindaceae. They are trees and shrubs native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere, with six species n ...

and

Lime Lime commonly refers to: * Lime (fruit), a green citrus fruit * Lime (material), inorganic materials containing calcium, usually calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide * Lime (color), a color between yellow and green Lime may also refer to: Botany ...

trees Cardiff Council: ''Countryside on your doorstep - Llandaff Fields''
/ref> 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.

Location

The fields, together with the adjacent Pontcanna Fields, form a large wedge of open space, situated on the west bank of the

River Taff The River Taff ( cy, Afon Taf) is a river in Wales. It rises as two rivers in the Brecon Beacons; the Taf Fechan (''little Taff'') and the Taf Fawr (''great Taff'') before becoming one just north of Merthyr Tydfil. Its confluence with the R ...

, stretching from the

city centre A city centre is the commercial, cultural and often the historical, political, and geographic heart of a city. The term "city centre" is primarily used in British English, and closely equivalent terms exist in other languages, such as "" in Fren ...

out to the west of Llandaff.

Sophia Gardens Sophia Gardens ( cy, Gerddi Sophia) is a public park in Riverside, Cardiff, Wales, on the west bank of the River Taff. International test cricket matches and county cricket matches are held in the Sophia Gardens cricket ground, the home of Gl ...

lies just to the south of the area and

Bute Park Bute Park and Arboretum () is a park in Cardiff, Wales. It comprises of landscaped gardens and parkland that once formed the grounds of Cardiff Castle. The park is named after the 3rd Marquess of Bute, whose family owned the castle. History and ...

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 The Taff Trail ( cy, Taith Taf) is a popular walking and cycle path that runs for between Cardiff Bay and Brecon in Wales. It is so named because it follows the course of the River Taff. Along much of its length, it follows the National Cycle ...

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 , image_name = Shield of Cardiff Metropolitan University.svg , image_size = 150px , motto = cy, Gorau Meddiant Gwybodaeth , mottoeng = The most valuable possession is knowledge , established = 2011 – Car ...

's Llandaff campus are located just beyond the northern boundary of the fields.

Facilities

The park has sport pitches designed for many different sports, as well as tennis courts and bowls facilities, and a playground. Llandaff Fields Tennis Club is based in the park. Changing rooms, toilets and parking are provided at Llandaff Fields.

References

External links

Cardiff Council Llandaff Fields
{{coord, 51.4906, -3.2074, type:landmark_region:GB, display=title Parks in Cardiff Tourist attractions in Cardiff Gardens in Wales Llandaff 1898 establishments in Wales Parks established in 1898