Rhiwbina green space could be permanently protected

Heol Llanishen Fach Children's Playground and Field in Rhiwbina is one of 11 parks and green spaces in Cardiff that could be permanently protected from future development if Cardiff Council plans get the go ahead.

Two other parks in our area, Hailey Park in Llandaff North and Rhydepenau Park in Cyncoed, are also included.

Subject to the results of a six-week public consultation, the council is proposing to enter into a legal agreement known as ‘deed of dedication' with Fields In Trust - an independent UK-wide charity dedicated to protecting parks and green spaces.

Fields in Trust legally  protects individual parks from development  and ensures they remain publicly accessible green spaces. Ten council-owned sites, including Llanishen Park and Heath Park, are already permanently protected under these arrangements.

Council leader, Huw Thomas, said: "Entering into this agreement with Fields In Trust will more than double the number of Cardiff's parks which are permanently and legally protected from development, ensuring they will continue to benefit generations to come and mean that 254,000 residents - 69% of the population - live within a 10 minute walk of a protected green space."

If agreed by cabinet at its meeting next week (16 May), a consultation will be launched in June on the protection of: Cemetery Park, Adamsdown; Craiglee Drive, Butetown; Trelai Park, Caerau; Sanatorium Park, Canton; Rhydypenau Park, Cyncoed; Fairwater Park, Fairwater; Hailey Park, Llandaff North; Parc Waun Fach, Pentwyn; Westfield Park, Pentyrch & St Fagans; Heol Llanishen Fach, Rhiwbina; Caerleon Park, Trowbridge.

The selected parks are focused in areas of the city where either the amount of green space is limited, where there are higher levels of poverty, or where there are no council-owned sites already protected by Fields In Trust.

The ten council-owned green spaces already protected from development in perpetuity by Fields In Trust are: Alexandra Gardens, Grange Gardens, Heath Park, Hywel Dda Open Space, Llanishen Park, Moorland Park, Pontcanna Fields, Pontprennau Fields, Roath Recreation Ground and Rumney Recreation Ground.

Two other green spaces in Cardiff, managed by local Community Councils are also protected by Fields in Trust: Creigau Recreation Ground and Old St Mellons Playing Field.

Photos from the official opening of the refurbished Heol Llanishen Fach Playground in June 2023 by Jayne Cowan.