Nature reserve hidden between two busy roads in Cardiff that you’d never know was there

Cardiff is well known for its stunning parks — from the tree-lined walks of Bute Park to Sophia Gardens and Parc Cefn Onn — but tucked away in one of the city’s busiest corners is a secret pocket of calm that many residents drive past every day without realising it exists.

Nestled between Newport Road and the A4232, the Howardian Local Nature Reserve offers a peaceful escape from urban life. Despite its location beside two of Cardiff’s main arteries, this 32-acre reserve feels a world apart — a quiet sanctuary where wildlife thrives thanks to decades of community care and dedication.

The story of Howardian Reserve began in the early 1970s, when pupils from the former Howardian High School took on the challenge of restoring a neglected patch of land. Working alongside Cardiff Council, the school’s Natural History Society started what was intended as a small environmental project. Over the next 17 years, their efforts transformed the area into a flourishing 30-acre reserve. When the school closed in 1990, local volunteers continued the work, preserving and expanding the space into the much-loved natural refuge it is today.

For such a compact site, Howardian boasts a surprising variety of habitats. A small stream winds through the woodland, cutting into clay to expose an outcrop of Silurian Wenlock rock — the most southerly example of its kind in Wales — before cascading into a mini waterfall, one of the reserve’s most tranquil hidden spots.

The ponds and reedbeds are alive with activity, attracting herons, kingfishers, and sedge warblers, while grass snakes, frogs, and toads slip through the damp vegetation. In summer, the meadows burst with colour as buttercups, bee orchids, and butterfly orchids bloom — creating a paradise for pollinators and visitors alike.

Howardian has also earned some well-deserved recognition. It appeared on BBC’s Countryfile in 2019, when botanical artist Annette Townsend showcased how the reserve’s flora and fauna inspire her intricate nature illustrations.

Each June, the Friends of Howardian Local Nature Reserve host an annual Orchid Walk, a relaxed two-kilometre guided stroll starting from the Ipswich Road entrance near the David Lloyd club. The event offers visitors a chance to spot the reserve’s delicate orchids and enjoy the onset of summer surrounded by natural beauty.

Woodland areas planted with over 25,000 trees and shrubs provide food and nesting sites for countless bird species, as well as safe corridors for dormice and other small creatures.

Hidden in plain sight, Howardian Local Nature Reserve stands as a testament to how local passion and care can transform forgotten land into one of Cardiff’s most peaceful and ecologically rich landscapes.