New analysis carried out by independent charity Fields in Trust, in collaboration with Cardiff Council, has found that 19% of the city is publicly accessible parks and green spaces - an area of 2682 hectares (the equivalent of 3756 football pitches).

1073 hectares of green space in Cardiff, is owned and managed by Cardiff Council, providing communities with important social spaces, offering opportunities for play, sport and recreation, contributing to biodiversity, allowing easy access to nature, and helping mitigate the impacts of climate change.

The council has already protected 113 hectares of this land in perpetuity with the charity, through a legal agreement known as a ‘deed of dedication.'

Once entered into, the agreement means that permission for any future development or disposal needs to be granted by the charity, which is dedicated to the protection and promotion of parks and green spaces.

The new analysis will be used to help inform the council's approach to the future protection of council-owned green spaces.

Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, Cllr Peter Bradbury, said: "The pandemic has clearly demonstrated just how vital Cardiff's parks are for our communities - they also have an important role to play in combatting the nature and climate emergencies we all face.

"We have already ensured that 113 hectares of Cardiff's valuable green space are fully protected from any future development by designating them as Fields in Trust, and the encouraging findings in this new analysis will form a strong basis for our future work with Fields in Trust, as we look to identify further parks and spaces which could be placed under the charity's permanent protection."

Fields in Trust Chief Executive, Helen Griffiths, said "Urban Parks provide places for play, relaxation and enjoyment of the natural world. These green spaces help mitigate the worst effects of climate change, boost air quality and support biodiversity. Multifunctional green spaces delivering multiple advantages. Which is why we need to future-proof our parks for current and future wellbeing. We hope that Cardiff Council will now join Liverpool, Wrexham Edinburgh and many other UK cities to protect more of their precious green spaces for good."

The ten council-owned green spaces already protected from development in perpetuity as Fields in Trust are: Alexandra Gardens, Grange Gardens, Heath Park, Hywel Dda Open Space, Llanishen Park, Moorland Park in Splott, Pontcanna Fields, Pontprennau Fields, Roath Recreation Ground and Rumney Recreation Ground.

Two other green spaces in Cardiff, managed by local Community Councils are also protected by Fields in Trust. They are Creigau Recreation Ground and Old St Mellons Playing Field.