Llandaff Fields – one of Cardiff’s great green spaces – pictured are two of my favourite trees – sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) on the left and lime (Tilia cordata) on the right
I’m not getting far in my attempts to visit all the local parks and fields for exercise during the Covid-19 lockdown. So far in nine weeks I have visited only two! I feel so fat and unfit, spending all day working at my desk. Anyway, this is the second excursion, to Llandaff Fields on May 6 – doesn’t time fly?
I started my circuit at the corner where Pen-hill meets Cardiff Road and heads on up to Llandaff. That way I first skirted the hedgerows along the edge of the rugby pitches, walking on grass with no proper path.
Most of the hedgerow flowers were white…
Elder flowers (Sambucus nigra)
I think this is a dark-leaved elder but most of those have pink flowers, so I’m not sure
Cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris)
Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
I think this is hogweed but not the giant sort, so it could be the one also called cow parsnip (Heracleum sphondylium)
I’m thinking viburnum but I’m probably wrong
Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
Then there are splashes of colour…
Bluebells – probably Hyacinthoides × massartiana, the hybrid between our native bluebell and the Spanish bluebell
Daisy (Bellis perennis) and dandelion (Taraxacum)
Buttercup (Ranunculus)
Lady’s smock (Cardamine pratensis)
Slightly unwelcome was this small patch of Japanese Knotweed (Reynoutria japonica – I think)
Looking up from the hedgerow you can see the houses overlooking the fields as they rise up Cardiff Road to Llandaff
But the biggest feature of Llandaff Fields is the trees…
A species of maple (Acer)…
…and a different maple – I think Norway maple (Acer platanoides)
A row of mature turkey oaks (Quercus cerris) by the park exit on to Cardiff road…
…the leaves blowing in the strong breeze that day
Assorted trees – I call the one on the right the recidivist tree…
…because most of the tree is variegated but on one side the leaves are solid green…
…these are the variegated leaves – I have no idea about the species
Copper beech (Fagus sylvatica purpurea) surrounded by cow parsley…
…the leaves are glorious
A pine tree…
…developing pine cones
Blackbird (Turdus merula) singing on a dead branch
Another favourite tree – golden ash (Fraxinus excelsior aurea)…
…the leaves are lovely at this time of year but in autumn they will be a beautiful golden yellow
At the top end of the fields, by Western Avenue, there begins a pathway lined by many big trees, including old horse chestnuts (Aesculus hippocastanum)
This one was in full flower…
…but the strong winds lately had broken off some blooms
This chestnut had a small maple or sycamore seedling growing in a hole
This is the smaller red horse chestnut (Aesculus × carnea)…
…pretty pink flowers
Everyone was taking advantage of the fresh air and sunshine – especially the dog owners – and there was plenty of room for everybody
Take care, everyone – and grab a little piece of nature wherever you can…
The Squirrelbasket 
On Monday we can, go and walk. Not yet IN green spaces, but ‘stay on the pavement’. I would love a copper beech if the garden was much bigger.
The lockdown is being handled so differently in various countries. Here in the UK it is hard to know what we can and can’t do as in Wales we have decided not to relax the rules as much as they have in England…
Indeed, copper beeches are HUGE! We have several here in our suburb that have been fought for when developers have tried to tear them down when turning big old city mansions into apartments.
All the best 🙂
Japanese knotweed is a horrible invasive weed! Currently I’m trying to track down records of it in South Dakota. Hopefully I won’t find many. I’m not that familiar with it, aside from specimens and photos, but your photo does look like it with the zig zag stems. For some reason, we call it Fallopia japonica here.
I think it has several Latin names. On the council we just call it JKW.
We are responsible for treating it and I have handled several reports this week and passed them on to our Parks department.
In the UK it is such a big problem that there are laws about allowing it to spread from your land into the wild.
If you do not have a problem with it, you are lucky!
All the best 🙂
I can smell the elder blossom simply by looking at your picture of it!
How delightful, the sycamores / maples growing in a chestnut bowl.
And it smells of pee! But I do love elderflower presse mixed with pink wine…
As for the seedling – they get everywhere, don’t they?
Look after yourself – although I am not sure you will be taking advantage of the new freedoms Boris has given you in England! Here in Wales we are being much more cautious.
Have you seen the huge crowds on the beaches at Durdle Door and in Bournemouth?
Kisses 🙂