Hendre Lake

Hendre Lake Park

St Mellons

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Cardiff CF3 0RG

Hendre Lake is a 6 acre lake located in  Hendre Lake Park St Mellons, The country park spans 143 acres which makes it bigger than Bute Park 130 acres  and makes it one of the biggest parks in Cardiff.

Hendre lake forms part of the Gwent Levels an area of outstanding beauty and a fascinating ecosystem for wildlife and plants. The lake was created in the 1970s to protect the new proposed housing of St Mellons from flooding. The lake is 40,000 square meters in size and upto 2m deep. Hendre Lake Park benefitted from European funding in the 1990s to enhance the area.

The area is steeped is history with much of the drainage system being linked back to Roman times with the creation of farmland and the reen system of the levels . The Welsh word Hendre comes from the word hen, meaning "old" and dre, meaning "farmstead"

The area is extremely popular with dog walkers, fisherman, birdwatchers and families alike all taking advantage of the natural environment.  An 800m path runs  around the lake providing a great route for walkers .

Hendre Lake Birds - the lake and surroundings are home to mute swans, mallard ducks, tufted ducks, great crested grebes, black headed gulls, moorhens , coots & kingfishers.

WWI War Memorial - hand carved granite memorial overlooking the lake remembers the thousands of soldiers including the 38th Welsh Division, who lost their lives during  World War I .

Hendre Lake Bees & Butterlies - 

look out for butterflies and bees feeding off the beautiful wildflower displays in Spring & Summer. You may even spot the rare Shrill Carder Bee. 

Fishing is available here with a permit, details are available from the local fishing club. Fish include roach, perch, tench , carp, bream and pike. The lake is well stocked and has recorded carp catches weighing over 30lbs.

The area is a wildflower haven with plants such as great willowherb, common knapweed, meadowsweet, hogweed & common ragwort. Beautiful yellow flag iris can be found along the margins of the lake in Spring/Summer. Look more closely and you will also find some rare wildflowers.

Hendre Lake Circular  Walk - the trail takes you around the lake, through a wooded area, past a Grade II listed Farmhouse, alongside the historic reens and over a bridge. Relatively flat 2.7km long and takes about 32-45 minutes. Mixed terrain that can be wet/muddy in certain areas due to it being a country park and part of the Gwent Levels.  

Conservation Volunteers of St.Mellons & Trowbridge C.V.S.T

Wildflower planting, wildlife monitoring,  path clearance, hedge cutting, woodland management