Rugged Wales

Iolo Williams presents Rugged Wales - exploring landscapes that have been enjoyed and exploited for centuries, and where wildlife thrives. Wales has been shaped by both nature and man, and Iolo will be exploring his choice of some of the best wild and industrial landscapes and highlighting the wildlife that lives there. Iolo Williams explores the rugged landscapes of Wales. In this episode, Iolo discovers landscapes created by water and by the exploitation of mineral wealth. With the help of others, he explores a hidden gorge in Snowdonia, kayaks the dramatic River Wye, visits Wales's version of the Everglades on the outskirts of Swansea and goes underground in an impressive disused slate quarry that, at its height, employed 500 men. He also meets a wildlife expert to see how lapwings are thriving amongst one of the largest industrial sites in south Wales, discovers how the now-abandoned railway lines and canals of the industrial era are wonderful wildlife habitats, and learns how one of the huge estates, built with industrial wealth, is now home to a family of tawny owls.

Iolo Williams presents Rugged Wales - exploring landscapes that have been enjoyed and exploited for centuries and where wildlife thrives. Wales has been shaped by both nature and man, and Iolo explores his choice of some of the best wild and industrial landscapes and highlights the wildlife that lives there. In this episode, Iolo visits his pick of the best lowland and upland landscapes, meeting people who share his love of these magnificent places. Coed Crafnant oak woodlands, managed by the North Wales Wildlife Trust, provides Iolo with a rare chance to view the song flight of a wood warbler just back from Africa. Joining a local cockle fisherman on the Dee estuary, Iolo discovers how they work alongside seals and wading birds in this rich habitat. He explores the Rhinogau mountains to hear ring ouzel and whinchat singing, and learns more about prehistoric man's use of this rugged terrain. In Coed-y-Brenin, a large commercial forest, Iolo visits huge wood ants' nests and he finds out how - because of the restricted use of the Eppynt Army Range for soldier training - there is a diversity of wildlife to be found.