On Friday 21, October 2011 at 3.00pm the new Bute Park Education Centre will be officially opened.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Rodney Berman, Chief Executive Jon House and Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Nigel Howells will be attending the event.
They will be joined by Executive Member for Education and Lifelong learning, Cllr Freda Salway and Jennifer Stewart, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund, Wales.
The brand new facility will be the hub of educational activities within the park and will give people an insight into the Council’s impressive horticultural operation which supplies the whole city with its colourful floral displays.
The centre, set behind a new garden wall, plays on the concept of a ‘secret garden’ and is accessed through a large, beautifully carved oak door. The panels of the door were specially designed by local wood carvers as part of the ‘’Peoples Door’’ competition and help tell the parks’ history through imagery.
The competition winners will also be attending the event and will help cut the ribbon to commemorate the opening.
Schools, families and special interest groups as well as Cardiff Council’s award-winning horticultural scheme can all use the centre as an educational resource. Members of the public can also drop in to discover more about the park’s heritage and wildlife, and pick up a variety of guided trails and activities to go explore for themselves.
The centre boasts excellent learning and conference facilities, which include a classroom and archive room to house a variety of resources on park heritage, natural history and environmental themes. New interpretation panels will be installed along the internal glazed street to lead people through the park’s rich history.
Large windows situated at the back of the centre allow people to look out over the working part of the nursery where plant propagation and distribution takes place.
Other features include a timber exterior, grass roof, solar panels, free WiFi and a quality catering outlet called the All Season’s Kiosk open to both passers-by and centre users.
The building is set sympathetically within its landscape and has characteristics including a new formal planted border, climbing roses, new picnic benches, additional bike stands and a new footpath providing an access route to the centre.
On Thursday 27, October between 11 and 4pm, the centre will be officially opened to the public during a family fun day event.
Families are encouraged to come along and discover what the facility has to offer whilst enjoying one of the many activities throughout the day. There will be interactive ‘meet and greet’ opportunities with some nocturnal friends from the Owl Sanctuary and children can try their hand at becoming a Wildlife Detective. There will also be have-a-go art and crafts, stalls and for the grown-ups a gardener’s surgery is planned where Bute Park gardeners and horticultural apprentices will hold question and answer sessions. The Bute Park Friends Group will also be taking part and providing information about the group and how to join them.
Cllr Berman said: “This new facility will provide a unique opportunity for people to gain an understanding of the work that goes into creating the floral displays across our city.
“It will also provide an extensive resource for people and educational groups to learn about Bute Park’s rich history and environment.
“The Bute Park restoration project aims to protect and enhance one of Cardiff’s most cherished and popular attractions and the new Education Centre will be a real asset to this beautiful, historic landmark.”
Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Nigel Howells said: “This new facility is a hugely exciting part of the Bute Park restoration project.
“It is a great new venue for schools, community groups and the people of Cardiff where they can learn more about the park and its environment, while also getting a new insight into the fantastic behind-the-scenes work that goes into colouring the city in flowers and shrubs.
“Bute Park plays an important part in the history of Cardiff and is an invaluable recreational space. The new Education provision will be the centre of city horticulture and will be an asset that creates many new opportunities.”
Jennifer Stewart, Head of HLF in Wales, said: “One of the aims of the restoration project is to help tell the story of Bute Park and the new education centre definitely succeeds in doing so, in a fun and interactive way. Local people and visitors who enjoy coming to this magnificent park now have the chance to find out more about its history, from the iconic Animal Wall to the park’s wildlife.”
The Bute Park Education Centre is part of the Bute Park restoration project which is part funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Cardiff Council.
For more information please visit www.cardiff.gov.uk/butepark
