Two city parks proposed as candidate sites for Centenary Fields initiative


Cardiff Council's Cabinet will consider plans to nominate two of the city's parks as candidate sites for the Centenary Fields initiative.


If agreed, Grange Gardens and Alexandra Gardens could be put forward to become secured recreational spaces in perpetuity to honour the memory of the millions of people who lost their lives in World War I.


Centenary Fields is promoted by Fields in Trust (FIT) in partnership with the Royal British Legion and calls on all landowners, including local government, to nominate green spaces that contain a war memorial that has some significance to World War I 1914-1918.


By participating in the initiative, the Council will enter into a Deed of Dedication, a legal binding agreement which requires the Council consult the public before reaching a final decision.


Grange Gardens meets the criteria due to its War Heroes Memorial which was unveiled in 1921 and contains the names of those who lost their lives in World War I and their names of the committee members who were responsible for its installation.


Alexandra Gardens within Cathay's Park is home to the Welsh National War Memorial which was unveiled by the Prince of Wales in 1928 and commemorates those servicemen that lost their lives in World War I. It also features a commemorative plaque for those who lost their lives in World War II.


Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, Cllr Peter Bradbury said: "The Centenary Fields initiative aims to protect parks and green spaces as well as promote their use for recreation, social cohesion, health, well-being and community benefit.


"We are proud to have more green spaces per person here in Cardiff than any other UK core city and by nominating both Grange Gardens and Alexandra Gardens as candidates for Centenary Fields, reinforces their historical importance and invaluable use as community assets. Importantly, it would also establish the parks as honouree sites, recognising the significance of those from local communities who lost their lives in conflict."