Howardian Local Nature Reserve
🏟 Playground & park · Penylan, Cardiff
Howardian Local Nature Reserve
Wildlife-rich nature reserve in Penylan with a small children's playground at the Hammond Way entrance, ponds, meadows and woodland trails to explore.
🕑 Opening & entry
🌱 Open to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; no charge for admission · Free · No booking needed
About Howardian Local Nature Reserve
Howardian Local Nature Reserve is a 13 hectare reserve in Penylan, in the east of Cardiff, managed by Cardiff Council on the site of a former landfill that has been transformed into a wildlife haven. It brings together woodland, meadow, wetland and ponds, providing homes for more than 500 species of wildlife, from herons and kingfishers at the water features to dormice in the woodland and bees and butterflies in the meadows. For families, there is a small children's playground at the Hammond Way entrance, next to the Colchester Avenue allotments, giving younger visitors somewhere to play before or after exploring the reserve. An extensive network of footpaths winds through the different habitats, and there is a Wildlife Explorer Trail designed especially for younger children, making it a good spot for nature discovery close to the city. Access is pedestrian only, with a small car park at the Hammond Way entrance, and the Howardian Education Centre lies nearby. The reserve is open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with no charge for admission, and it is valued by local people as a quiet, green retreat full of wildlife.
⭐ What makes this place special
- 13 hectare local nature reserve with woodland, meadow, wetland and ponds
- Habitat for more than 500 species of wildlife
- Extensive footpath network and nature trails
- Wildlife Explorer Trail for younger visitors
- Howardian Education Centre nearby
🏞 Facilities
- Free entry
- Parking: Small car park at the Hammond Way entrance
- Accessibility: Pedestrian access only, served by an extensive footpath network across varied terrain
- Dogs: Dogs permitted on the reserve paths; under control to protect wildlife
🧒 Ages & play
- Small children's playground at the Hammond Way entrance
- Fixed play equipment
📍 Nearby places to play
- Roath Park · approx 1.0 miles · Roath / Cyncoed
- Splott Park · approx 1.1 miles · Splott
- Bute Park · approx 1.9 miles · City Centre
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❓ Frequently asked questions
Is Howardian Local Nature Reserve free?
Yes. Howardian Local Nature Reserve is a free nature reserve managed by Cardiff Council, open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Is there a playground?
Yes. There is a small children's playground at the Hammond Way entrance to the reserve, giving younger visitors somewhere to play.
What wildlife can we see?
The reserve is home to more than 500 species, including herons and kingfishers at the ponds and wetlands, dormice in the woodland, and bees and butterflies in the meadows.
Is there parking?
Yes. There is a small car park at the Hammond Way entrance, next to the Colchester Avenue allotments. Access within the reserve is on foot.
Where is Howardian Local Nature Reserve?
It is off Hammond Way in Penylan, in the east of Cardiff, near Colchester Avenue, CF23 9LB.