There are over twenty sculptures to discover throughout the park. They were created by various artists, often using dead trees from within the park and wood from fallen trees in other Cardiff Parks.
Rear of Nursery, south of Blackweir playing fields
Chris Wood
2018, to celebrate 70 years of Bute Park being opened to the public. There are 2 hands holding posts featuring 19 different leaves (the Gingko is featured twice).
Sculpture
Location
Artist
Concept
Acorn seat
Top of Blackweir Playing fields under large oak tree
David Lloyd
Reference to the oak tree in this location
Horse chestnut ‘kissing’ seat
Copse of trees on upper Blackweir playing fields
David Lloyd
Reference to the horse chestnut trees in this location and provision for users to sit and watch sports and bird life in this area of the park.
Walnut seat
Woodland adjacent to woodland balance trail
David Lloyd
Reference to the black walnut tree in this area and provide a seat for people, e.g. while children use balance trail.
Coracle seat
River bank on herbaceous border
Mark Folds
Historic record of people fishing using coracle boats on the river Taff e.g. Lucas family.
Blackfriars tomb stone bench
Adjacent to Blackfriars site
Mark Folds
Bench references key items found during the 19th century archaeological excavation of the Blackfriars site. Also provides the names of the last known Blackfriars to occupy the site and the dates of the friary occupation
Picture frame seat
Southern end of Gorsedd Lawn near the old gallery footings
Mark Folds
Picture frame designed in an ornate style references the third Marquess of Bute’s abandoned art gallery project, the foundations of which are visible from this location. The piece also frames an iconic landscape view within the park and taking pictures of people within the frame has become an attraction within its own right
Leaf Bridge
South of the path leading to the water taxi stop
Tom Harvey
Piece can be walked over and crawled under. Treads of bridge steps show images and names of some common leafs within the park. Piece references the old bridge that used to cross the River Taff in this area. Footings of the old bridge can be seen when stood at the water taxi stop looking south
Otter and salmon
North of the path leading to the water taxi stop
Tom Harvey
Piece can be climbed on and crawled through. References the salmon run that occurs up the River Taff each year and the presence of otters along the river within Bute Park
Frog and fly
Adjacent to Old Man’s Wood path to the south of the Summerhouse
Tom Harvey
Piece can be climbed on and a simple seat is provided nearby e.g. for parents to sit on while their children ‘ride’ the frog. Artist worked with a local primary school and ran a workshop where children made clay models. The idea for the frog came out of their session on what animals may live in the park
Stag beetle
Woodland behind Summerhouse Cafe
Tom Harvey
Piece can be climbed on. Reference to woodland mini beasts. Artistic licence used on species of beetle because of its aesthetic qualities
Hollow orchard log
Orchard Lawn near picnic benches
Tom Harvey
Piece can be climbed in and crawled through. Reference to historic record of orchard planting in this area, hollowed out log turned up on it’s end features relief carving of orchard trees and fruit
