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The Update: 19 November 2024
Here is your Tuesday update, covering:
- Bringing the National Forest to Six Cardiff Schools through Trees for Cities collaboration
- Update on plans to protect key heritage buildings in Cardiff
- Public support for plans to permanently protect 11 parks in Cardiff
- Llanrumney skatepark construction to begin
Bringing the National Forest to Six Cardiff Schools through Trees for Cities collaboration
Six Cardiff primary schools are set to have their playgrounds transformed into nature-rich learning environments as part of the Healthy Playgrounds programme.
Delivered in partnership with environmental charity Trees for Cities and the Council, Ysgol Y Wern, Greenway Primary, Ysgol Glan Ceubal, Springwood Primary, Pencaerau Primary, and Trelai Primary will benefit from the scheme which integrates the National Forest for Wales into school grounds, allowing children to enjoy greener, healthier places where they can foster a lifelong connection with nature.
Among these additions are "Tiny Forests" planted using the Miyawaki method, a Japanese approach that accelerates forest growth and biodiversity in urban areas.
Developed in collaboration with Earth Watch Europe, each Tiny Forest includes 600 trees, with the potential to attract over 500 species within just three years.
Update on plans to protect key heritage buildings in Cardiff
An update on plans to protect key historic buildings in Cardiff including The Mansion House on Richmond Road, The Old Library on the Hayes, and the Merchant Place/Cory's Buildings in Cardiff Bay has been issued by Cardiff Council.
A Cardiff Council spokesperson, said: "These buildings help define Cardiff's history and character and as their custodians, the Council are taking steps to protect and preserve them for future generations."
"Following the Council's intervention, the refurbishment of Merchant Place and the Cory's Buildings is well underway and these important heritage buildings will soon be brought back into use at no cost to the taxpayer. Now the Council are looking to secure a sustainable long-term future for the historic Grade II listed Mansion House, by beginning a process aimed at securing capital investment on the open market.
"Subject to agreement by Cabinet and all other parties, the Council will also take the opportunity offered by Virgin Money's proposed early surrender of their lease on a ground floor unit of the Old Library, to help accelerate the Royal Welsh College of Drama's plans for investment in the building."
According to a report, due to be discussed by Cardiff Council Cabinet at a meeting on Thursday 21st November, work to transform the Marchant Place/Cory's Buildings into a new educational facility for Cardiff Sixth Form College is due to be completed in summer 2026.
Public support for plans to permanently protect 11 parks in Cardiff
11 parks in Cardiff could be permanently protected after a public consultation found overwhelming public support for the plans put forward by Cardiff Council.
The eight-week consultation found that 95% of respondents were in favour of plans to enter into a legal agreement known as a ‘deed of dedication' with Fields in Trust, an independent UK-wide charity dedicated to the protection of parks and green spaces.
A recently published report recommends that the Council now begins the necessary work to complete the dedication of the following parks as Fields in Trust:
- 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)
Ownership, management and maintenance of the sites would remain with Cardiff Council.
Llanrumney skatepark construction to begin
Skaters in Cardiff will soon have a new ‘destination' skate park to enjoy.
Work on the approximately 1,000m2 skatepark next door to Eastern Leisure Centre in Llanrumney is scheduled to begin before Christmas.
Designed by award winning consultants VDZ+A and Newline Skateparks in consultation with the local skateboard community, the new skatepark features a series of ramps, hips, curbs, ledges and rails as well as a quarter pipe and will be suitable for all ages and abilities.
Built from concrete, the new skatepark will provide a higher quality, more inclusive, lower maintenance and lower noise facility than the existing timber-framed skatepark it replaces.
