Investing in the future of cricket across Cardiff Parks

Investing in the future of cricket across Cardiff Parks

Cardiff Council has secured £76,560 through the ECB Grass Pitch Improvement Fund (GPIF) to deliver targeted improvement works across key strategic cricket sites in its parks: Llandaff, Pontcanna and Blackweir. The investment is helping to improve the quality and sustainability of the facilities and create a stronger foundation for the future of cricket across Cardiff.

The ECB Grass Pitch Improvement Fund is designed to improve access to high-quality, safe grass cricket facilities, with investment targeted particularly at addressing inequalities in access. The fund supports improvements to cricket squares and outfields, as well as more sustainable approaches to site management which supports Cricket Wales’ strategic ambition to grow the game and develop the facilities that underpin participation and performance. High-quality, well-maintained playing facilities are fundamental to providing positive experiences for players and creating opportunities for more people to participate.

The investment followed PitchPower Reports undertaken on the Council’s cricket pitches at Llandaff, Pontcanna and Blackweir. The reports provided an evidence-based assessment of the condition of each site, together with recommendations for the short, medium and long-term work required to improve and maintain pitch quality.

This gave the Council a clearer understanding of where investment was needed and helped identify the works that could have the greatest impact on the quality and sustainability of the playing surfaces.

The £76,560 investment has supported a programme of targeted improvement works across the sites, including:

• Outfield decompaction: Helping to relieve soil compaction caused by regular use, improving the movement of air, water and nutrients through the soil. This supports healthier grass growth and creates a more resilient and consistent playing surface.
• Fraise mowing: Removing unwanted surface vegetation and organic material from the cricket squares as part of the renovation process. This creates a stronger foundation for new grass growth and helps improve the consistency and quality of the playing surface.
• Seed and fertiliser applications: Supporting the establishment of new grass and improving coverage across the playing surfaces. Fertiliser provides essential nutrients to encourage healthy growth, helping to create stronger and more resilient grass cover.

Together, these works are designed to improve the condition of the pitches, support more consistent playing surfaces and help the sites withstand the demands of regular use.

Each of these sites support a significant amount of cricket activity, providing playing opportunities for clubs, teams and communities from diverse communities throughout the season. More than 200 league games were played across the sites during the 2026 season, alongside social cricket, recreational activity and other use of the facilities. The scale of activity highlights the importance of maintaining the quality and resilience of these sites.

Investment in the playing surfaces is not simply about improving individual pitches; it helps protect the opportunities for people to play cricket that take place on them. This is particularly important as cricket continues to grow among women and girls and as the sport seeks to ensure that high-quality facilities are available to support that growth. The focus also aligns with the objectives of the GPIF, which seeks to address inequalities in access to good-quality grass cricket facilities and prioritise investment that can benefit groups including women and girls and diverse communities.

Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism, Cllr Jennifer Burke, said:

“The additional investment we’ve been able to make at three of our key strategic sites for the sport, thanks to the ECB Grass Pitch Improvement Fund, has allowed us to upgrade the pitches far more quickly than would otherwise have been possible.

That’s really important because we know that having access to high-quality facilities really helps encourage participation in sport, and ultimately that’s what we want – more people moving more and enjoying all the mental and physical health benefits of an active lifestyle.”

The PitchPower Reports have also helped the Council review and refine its approach to maintenance. Since receiving the reports, the Council has been able to ensure resources are targeted towards areas where they can have the greatest impact, while also identifying priority areas for improvement and better planning future maintenance works. The Council’s grounds team already delivers an extensive annual maintenance programme across its sports facilities and the PitchPower Reports have complemented this existing work by providing additional evidence to support a more targeted and strategic approach to maintenance and investment decisions. Going forward, the findings will continue to inform maintenance priorities, helping to maximise the benefit of available resources and improve the quality and sustainability of Cardiff’s cricket facilities.

The project highlights the value of partnership between Cardiff Council, Cricket Wales and the ECB in improving local sporting infrastructure. For Cardiff Council, the scale of this renovation programme would not have been possible through the Council’s existing operating budget alone. Without the additional funding, the Council would have needed to undertake a more limited programme of works within its existing budget, particularly with significant financial pressures facing local authorities and therefore the necessary improvements having to be delivered through a scheduled approach over several years. The external investment has therefore enabled the Council to bring forward a more extensive programme of renovation and improvement and address a greater number of priorities in a shorter timeframe.

Lucy King, Cricket Wales Club Development Partner said,

“This project demonstrates the value of investing in PitchPower Reports, collaborative work and targeted investment in strengthening the facilities that underpin the game. By improving these heavily used sites, we are protecting playing capacity and supporting opportunities for people to play and develop. We have been able to further develop our relationship with Cardiff Council and as a result have been able to align our works to ensure that we are all progressing the development of cricket in Cardiff.”

Continued collaboration between the Council, Cricket Wales, the ECB and local cricket clubs will be important in identifying future facility needs, establishing priorities, attracting further investment and combining knowledge and expertise to support both the facilities and the organisations that use them.

John Court, Parks and Green Spaces Manager, said:

“This investment will deliver lasting benefits across Cardiff’s cricket facilities, helping to enhance the quality of playing surfaces, increase capacity for cricket activity and improve the resilience of sites that are used extensively throughout the season. The renovations and improvements will provide more consistent playing conditions, support increased usage, and help reduce the impact of wear.

“The outcome will be more opportunities for clubs, schools, and community groups to play and enjoy cricket at some of the city’s most beautiful venues. By investing in the quality and sustainability of these facilities, we are protecting the long-term future of cricket in Cardiff and ensuring that future generations have access to high-quality places to participate in sport.

“The investment will leave a legacy by protecting some of Cardiff’s most important cricket facilities and ensuring they remain capable of meeting future demand. This aligns directly with Cardiff Council’s vision for sport by delivering high-quality, accessible facilities that encourage participation, improve health and wellbeing, and strengthen communities through sport.”

This project demonstrates how PitchPower Reports, targeted investment and partnership working can come together to protect important community sporting infrastructure. By identifying where investment was needed, securing external funding and delivering targeted improvements, Cardiff Council has been able to strengthen strategic cricket sites and support the playing opportunities that take place across them. The investment provides a foundation for the continued development of cricket across Cardiff, helping ensure that clubs, teams, schools, community groups and players have access to quality facilities both now and in the future.

If you would like to learn more about how a PitchPower Report can benefit your club, or how to secure funding to undertake recommendations identified through the process, please speak to your Club Development Partner.