Bute Park is a major park in the city of Cardiff, capital of Wales. It comprises 130 acres of landscaped gardens and parkland that once formed the grounds of Cardiff Castle. The park is named after the 3rd Marquess of Bute, whose family owned the castle.
The Castle Green was landscaped in the late eighteenth century by Capability Brown, but the park itself was laid out from 1873 on by Andrew Pettigrew, Head Gardener to the 3rd Marquess. The 5th Marquess of Bute presented the park to the Council in 1947 and the park is still owned and managed by Cardiff Council.
Along the east bank of the?River Taff?and adjoining?Cardiff Castle, the park offers a combination of arboretum, flower gardens and recreation grounds. Most of the park is laid to grassland but there is an abundance of woodland and tree-lined avenues.?Sophia Gardens?and?Pontcanna Fields?are on the opposite side of the river, reached by two footbridges. Sophia Gardens is home to the?Glamorgan County Cricket Ground, where?test matches?are played, and to the?Sport Wales National Centre.