To most people in Cardiff, Newport Road is just some houses, B&Bs and run-down hotels. Then some out-of-town shops and then a road leading to (as the name suggests) Newport. Many don’t even know that hidden behind the superstores is an oasis of woodland, wildflower meadow, ponds and reedbeds.
Howardian Local Nature Reserve (HLNR) in the lower Rhymney valley Penylan, Cardiff was created when in 1973 Cardiff City Council (as it was then) asked the Natural History Society of Howardian High School if it would like to manage 6 acres of scrub/grass/woodland, adjacent to the school, as a nature reserve, thus began 17 years of involvement by the pupils with the Reserve until the Schools closure in 1990.
During this time the Reserve was gradually extended to 30 acres. Much of the Howardian Local Nature Reserve site was a disused domestic rubbish tip. The Friends’ Group was formed in 1989, by an enthusiastic group of local residents, who worked with Cardiff County Council to further improve the reserve. A network of paths now weave between the great variety of habitats that are packed with interesting flora and fauna. Works continue today to improve the reserve for its wildlife interest and public enjoyment.
The Reserve now consists of 32 acres in the lower Rhymney valley Penylan, Cardiff and is only a mile and a half from Cardiff City centre. It is a wildlife oasis of woodland, wildflower meadow, ponds and reedbeds. Remarkably the reserve was a domestic refuse tip in the early 1970’s. Although a large proportion of the site had been used as a landfill site, much of the relict estuarine vegetation still exists and forms a major feature within the Reserve.
Access
A comprehensive network of paths run throughout the Reserve. Paths are a mixture of stonedust or grassed/bare ground. Some sections can be narrow and involve short gradients.
Getting There
Location – Between Eastern Avenue (A48) and Southern Way (A4161) and North and West of The David Lloyd Leisure Center on Ipswich Road off Newport Road, Cardiff.
By foot – Two entrances to the Reserve are located alongside the David Lloyd Leisure Centre on Ipswich Road close to Newport Road where there are a range of leisure and retail facilities. The other entrance, on Hammond Way, is next to Colchester Avenue Allotments, The Howardian Education Centre and UWIC on Colchester Avenue are nearby.
By bus – Howardian LNR is within easy walking distance of bus routes stopping on Colchester Avenue and Newport Road. Details of regular bus routes can be found at www.cardiffbus.com. Cardiff Bus routes 1/2 (Canton – Heath Hospital – Albany Road – Tremorfa) and 101/102 (Central Station – Ely – Pentrebane – Heath Hospital – St Mellons and Llanrumney) stop at UWIC on Colchester Avenue. Busses from Cardiff town centre which stop nearby on Newport Road are 44/45 (Central Station – St Mellons) and 49/50 (Central Station – Llanrumney).
By train – There is no railway station close to the Reserve. However, Cardiff Central and Queen Street Stations are near bus links (Westgate Street and Churchill Way) where connections can be made with the local 44/45 & 49/50 bus routes which go to Newport Road. Details of train services can be found at www.nationalrail.co.uk
By car – All three entrances to the Reserve have adjacent on-street parking. Two entrances to Howardian LNR are located next to the David Lloyd Leisure Centre on Ipswich Road, close to Newport Road where there are a wide range of leisure and retail facilities. Colchester Avenue Allotments are adjacent to the Hammond Way entrance to the site and The Howardian Education Centre is nearby.
For more information visit the Howardian Local Nature Reserve website at http://www.howardianlnr.org.uk/
