Green Heart

Urban public parks, first created in Britain’s cities during the mid-1800s in response to the industrial revolution, provided free green spaces where people could escape hardships of daily life and reconnect with nature promoting physical and mental well-being. 

Today, Cardiff’s publicly gifted Bute Park remains an escape from modern life. However, in recent years the park has been under threat. The Covid-19 pandemic saw an increase in park visits, causing overuse and revenue loss from canceled events. In 2021, mass vandalism destroyed trees and saplings, while the ongoing climate crisis continues to impact the park’s landscape. 

Despite these challenges, communities are continuing to safeguard the park. Friends of Bute Park volunteers collaborate with Park Rangers to maintain its biodiversity. The Bute Park Community Orchard, created by the Secret Garden, celebrates and protects fruit tree saplings to promote new growth and strengthen the community and Cardiff’s One Planet Strategy invests in improving the park’s quality and sustainability as part of global Net Zero standards. Groups such as Park Run and Outdoor Fitness host weekly events and classes promoting physical fitness and mental well-being 

With a personal connection to the park – a space where I grew up exploring and playing – portraits of the public reflect what the park means to these individuals and comments on how the space is used in contemporary life. 

This photo essay is an observational exploration into the state and how the park is treated, highlights the importance of the space to the local population and acknowledges the communities who selflessly fight to keep the green heart of the city alive.