Iolo's Borderlands

Iolo Williams explores the Welsh Marches, the borderlands with England, discovering amazing wildlife in this surprisingly diverse area.

Iolo Williams explores the borderlands of the old county of Radnorshire. He begins his journey along the banks of the Wye between Hay-on-Wye and Glasbury, where he discovers nesting little-ringed plovers and oystercatchers. Further upriver at Llyswen, he finds spawning sea lampreys - extraordinary metre-long jawless fish.

Iolo Williams explores North Radnorshire and Montgomeryshire. Iolo begins his journey on a beautiful pasture at Tylcau Hill near Llanbister bursting with colour from wildflowers and rare butterflies. Next stop is Dolfor near Newtown, one of the last remaining strongholds for the curlew in Wales. Along the ancient and historic landscapes of the Kerry Ridgeway and Offa's Dyke, he discovers stunning male linnets singing on the gorse. Further north near Welshpool, Iolo finds some lovely old meadows full of colourful orchids and insects. This leg of the journey ends on the Montgomery canal which is a great place for dragonflies.

Iolo Williams explores the borderlands of north east Wales. Iolo begins his journey on a moor near Llangollen to see hen harriers, one of our most threatened birds of prey. He sets his alarm for 4am to catch one of the best wildlife spectacles in Britain – the black grouse lek. Next stop is an important nature reserve on a bog with an astonishing mix of wildlife including raft spiders, dragonflies, and hobbies, a bird of prey that migrates from Africa.