Bute Park

The character of Bute Park is dominated by the nineteenth century plantings of mature trees which have been supplemented by subsequent development of Bute Park Arboretum and the memorial tree donation scheme. The setting of Cardiff Castle, when viewed from the park, is characterised by the foreground of mature Magnolias which have been extended over the years. The central open lawns of Cooper's Fields form the venue for many of the city's major concerts and outdoor events. The grounds are further enhanced with massed bulb planting beneath the tree canopies, and the herbaceous border, established in the 1950s provides a riot of summer colour. The main ornamental grounds terminate around the walled garden, constructed at some time between 1906 and 1913. This was originally used for fruit and vegetable production for the estate and is currently used as the Council's production nursery for bedding plants and floral decorations as well as providing storage for shrubs and trees before planting elsewhere in the city. North of the walled garden is the Blackweir Playing fields. Originally Blackweir farm, some of the original field pattern is still preserved in the layout of the fields. Further north, the park narrows and becomes less formal in character, but still retains some spectacular tree planting, particularly the grouped Metasequoia (Dawn Redwood) and Fagus Sylvatica 'Purpurea' (Copper Beech). At this point, the Taff Trail follows the line of the park through Gabalfa Woods up to Gabalfa.