Pennod 3 Gwlad Moc

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-Over the last 80 years...

-..the riverbank has been

-like a second home to me.

-My fishing rod comes out almost

-every day to catch a few fish.

-Some are bigger than others!

-But I'm sure I've caught

-thousands of fish in my time.

-Having said that...

-..if I'm not fishing

-on the riverbank...

-..I'm walking in the countryside...

-..enjoying the wealth of wildlife

-that Wales has to offer.

-I've had the privilege...

-..of meeting an array of colourful

-characters, both young and old.

-Twenty five years ago...

-..I met with the wildlife expert,

-Iolo Williams.

-He's now a superstar in his field.

-For the first time in years, we're

-at one of Iolo's favourite places.

-It's a nature reserve

-that's very close to his heart.

-Today, we're at the

-RSPB Ynys-hir nature reserve...

-..that sits between Machynlleth

-and Aberystwyth.

-It's a very special reserve.

-It boasts forests, an estuary

-and a mountainous area...

-..so this place is thriving

-with various wildlife.

-I was last here a year

-and a half ago with Springwatch.

-Thanks to Springwatch...

-..this site is well-known

-in Britain and the world.

-These types of habitats

-are being lost in our countryside.

-Yes, these sites

-are very rare nowadays.

-We're so lucky that places

-such as this one still exist today.

-So lucky.

-Were you working with the RSPB

-20 years ago?

-Yes, I was a young man with a

-full head of hair that wasn't grey!

-Yes, I worked for the RSPB

-from 1984 to 1998.

-I worked there for 15 years before

-entering television and radio.

-And a star was born!

-And a star was born!

-

-It's all thanks to you, Moc.

-Take hold of its legs first.

-That's it. Come here.

-They are so pretty.

-Shall I hold it?

-Hold it at the back, Moc.

-Watch out for its legs.

-They are the dangerous part.

-The beak is fine

-and you're rarely bitten with it.

-Let me take it from you.

-I want to put the ring on

-without harming the bird.

-The tags are interesting.

-This year, the male birds...

-..have a blue tag in the left wing.

-It has a good and caring mother.

-She is a good mother.

-She isn't here as these

-are old enough to be left alone.

-She's hunting for food

-at the moment.

-If she comes back, she will attack.

-Is she fierce?

-Is she fierce?

-

-Yes, very fierce.

-Iolo is obviously

-an ornithologist at heart.

-We start our morning

-at the Domen Las Hide.

-Those are strangers, Iolo.

-They have come

-all the way from Canada...

-..and some would prefer it

-if they stayed in Canada!

-The Canada goose has been

-in this country for 150 years.

-They were primarily introduced

-for the shooting season.

-These days,

-they have increased in numbers...

-..and especially

-in the last 20 years.

-I remember coming here

-when there were some geese...

-..but there are hundreds

-of thousands here now.

-Conservationists claim that they are

-pushing the other birds out...

-..and are quite vicious.

-There's also a little family

-of birds on the edge of the water.

-As a fisherman, I know

-that you love these birds, Moc.

-In Welsh, it's a hwyaden ddanheddog

-or goosander.

-When I think of all the birds...

-..I think the goosander is one

-of the best mothers to be had.

-She raises a large family

-which is unfortunate for fishermen!

-Yes, she is a good mother.

-If we take a look over there,

-we can see thirteen of them.

-I suspect it's a mother

-with twelve ducklings.

-They are excellent mothers.

-They nest in holes in the trees.

-As soon as the eggs hatch...

-..they jump out and

-lead the ducklings to the water...

-..and stay with them

-for four months.

-Look at the Canada geese flying by.

-They are so noisy, Moc.

-I often find myself

-fishing on a lake.

-Everything is peaceful

-and I'm watching the fish...

-..and these fly overhead

-with their cacophonous cries.

-I can tell

-that you don't like them, Moc.

-I know what you mean but when I'm

-having a cuppa outdoors at home...

-..and I see a flock of these birds

-flying overhead in a V formation...

-..I prefer to see them

-than nothing at all.

-Oh, a heron.

-Oh, a heron.

-

-Look at that.

-A young heron.

-A young heron.

-

-I call it a crychydd cam.

-It flew straight passed us.

-Oh, it's landed.

-It's a youngster.

-The black and white pattern

-hasn't developed...

-..so it doesn't look like

-a proper heron yet.

-Now that's what I call a fisherman.

-Oh, yes.

-It enters the water

-as if it's walking on eggshells.

-It walks along gingerly.

-All of a sudden,

-it plunges its head into the water.

-It has caught a fish.

-People think the kingfisher

-reigns over hunting fish...

-..but this is the true king.

-I know that some fishermen

-don't like these birds.

-I think it's jealousy.

-The fisherman can't catch a thing

-but the heron always gets his fish!

-It's jealousy, Moc.

-We've known each other for years

-but we don't agree on everything!

-The Ynys-hir nature reserve

-covers 600 hectares.

-It's full of rare

-and wonderful habitats.

-Our next location is found

-on the other side of the reserve...

-..and it has changed a lot

-in the last 20 years.

-It's wonderful to walk here, Iolo.

-Let's look to the side.

-Would you call this a lowland?

-Yes, it's a lowland heath.

-When I first came here

-over a quarter of a century ago...

-..it was very different.

-At that time, this section

-was nothing but thick rhododendrons.

-They kill everything in their wake.

-They kill everything in their wake.

-

-Yes, everything.

-There was nothing else here.

-When I say thick,

-I really mean thick.

-Everything underneath had died.

-Yes, but thank heavens for the RSPB.

-They cut back every plant.

-It's a long-term process.

-You have to come back every year

-for about seven years...

-..before everything has gone.

-Today, it's a clear, lowland heath

-which is a rare habitat in Wales.

-We only have to look behind us...

-..and we find a cemetery of trees.

-That's a wonderful description

-of this area, Moc.

-These have died...

-..because the wardens have broken

-the bark around the trunk.

-The bark is made up of living cells.

-They carry water

-from the ground upwards...

-..and food from the leaves

-to the roots.

-Break that and the tree dies.

-They kill them off

-to stop them from spreading.

-In no time at all, this

-lowland heath would be a forest!

-It isn't necessarily a bad thing but

-this site is already full of trees.

-The lowland heath is a rare habitat

-that needs preserving.

-However, they didn't remove

-the trees but have kept them...

-..because they are also

-an excellent habitat for beetles...

-..who provide sustenance for birds

-such as the woodpecker.

-They also provide food

-for an array of fungi.

-When I was a boy, I remember

-a botanist telling me about the oak.

-It's the king of trees.

-He said that the oak

-takes three centuries to grow...

-..three centuries to live

-and three centuries to die.

-They are at their most valuable

-to wildlife when they are dying.

-And that is what will happen here.

-Everything that is dying here

-will help to sustain the future.

-Yes, definitely.

-It will be left in this condition.

-During a storm,

-the trees will fall and decompose.

-The lowland heath will expand

-to the other side of the walkway...

-..giving a rare habitat

-that is full of wildlife.

-It's wonderful to sit down

-and admire the surroundings.

-One phrase springs to mind.

-"I am the lord of the glen."

-The place is glorious.

-It's truly wonderful.

-I first came here as a

-six-year-old boy with Mam and Dad...

-..and I've come back every year.

-I think Ynys-hir isn't just

-my favourite place in Wales...

-..but in the whole world!

-What are your hopes now?

-You've travelled across Wales and

-know it better than anyone I know.

-What are your hopes for the future?

-I'd like us all

-to appreciate these sites more.

-This is one site

-where the RSPB has been successful.

-They have educated people,

-especially children...

-..about the importance of wildlife

-and these sites.

-I really hope

-that after I am dead and buried...

-..that the generations to come can

-still enjoy sites such as Ynys-hir.

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-Wales boasts

-some wonderful rivers...

-..but nothing beats the River Towy

-on a fine August morning.

-Iolo and I have returned to meet an

-old friend called Spencer Edwards.

-He usually fishes

-on the River Teifi...

-..but has travelled west

-to join us for a special journey.

-It's been almost 20 years...

-..since Spencer and I

-came to the River Towy...

-..and bumped into Iolo

-on the riverbank.

-This river has changed a lot

-during those 20 years.

-And it hasn't been for the better.

-Yes, I'd agree with Spencer because

-the river is highly polluted.

-You know that the number of fish

-has dropped...

-..but there is some good news.

-Walkers believe that otters are more

-popular than they were 20 years ago.

-Some things have changed

-for the better.

-When you travel down the river

-and look from the boat...

-..it's very different to looking

-into the river from its banks.

-Yes, that's right.

-When you're on the river,

-you're a part of nature.

-I don't think

-you frighten the birds as much.

-Yes, you're quite right

-and you see a lot more.

-You move quietly

-and gently over the water.

-We've seen some sand martins

-flying past.

-They nest in holes along the river.

-This is a great river for them.

-Do you remember passing under the

-bridge in Llandeilo 20 years ago...

-..and we saw thousands

-upon thousands of march brown?

-Why do you get

-these kind of explosions, Iolo?

-It's all about timing.

-If they appeared

-in dribs and drabs...

-..the fish and birds

-would eat every one of them.

-But when there's this explosion...

-..you know that some of them

-are going to survive...

-..to lay eggs

-and raise the next generation.

-It's a tactical move to ensure

-that some of them will survive.

-It's mid-morning

-and we take a break from the boat...

-..in the shadows of Dinefwr Castle.

-This section of the river

-is very beautiful...

-..and is synonymous with

-an old friend called David Benjamin.

-He was a legendary figure

-in fishing circles.

-Every river

-has its own character, Iolo.

-Fishermen use a specific fly

-for each of the different rivers.

-The fly that is very famous

-in this area...

-..is called the Dai Ben.

-It's an easy fly to make

-and you can help me.

-Let me show you.

-This feather

-has come from a cockerel's neck.

-Next, we have the hook.

-This is the hook.

-We also need some thread or wire

-which is attached to the hook.

-Next, we need some fur

-taken from a hare's ear.

-Place it by the hook....

-..and wrap the thread around it.

-This forms the body of the fly.

-You can see it all

-coming together now.

-It gives off a little glint.

-A little glimmer

-to catch the fish's eye.

-You'd make an excellent fisherman.

-Next, we tie it together.

-Can you give me the feather

-that you're holding?

-It has an important job to do.

-Let's get rid of the messy parts.

-Did you know that the feathers

-from the neck of the cockerel...

-..are worth 50?

-Are they really?

-Are they really?

-

-Yes, that's right.

-Jimmy Carter once told me...

-..about one of his neighbours

-in Georgia...

-..who had made his millions.

-His name was Mr Metz.

-He bred roosters.

-Wrap the feather around the hook.

-Yes.

-And that's it for you.

-The fly is complete.

-It's the Dai Ben.

-David Benjamin

-gave his name to the fly.

-That's great. It looks great.

-It'll help you catch a lot of fish.

-Well...

-Yes, I hope so. I really hope so.

-Our journey down the Towy

-was almost over.

-And these three wise men...

-..had enjoyed a memorable morning

-in the boat.

-We're travelling down the river.

-We've spotted things we'd never see

-from the riverbank.

-It gives

-a totally different perspective.

-I've enjoyed looking around...

-..but you can also gaze

-into the water and see the fish.

-I love that.

-There was a wren's nest

-on the rocks.

-Yes, all sorts of things.

-If you float along slowly,

-you'll spot old nests....

-..and you might even see

-an otter one day, Moc!

-What about you, Spencer?

-This brings back a lot of memories.

-Some of them are fond memories...

-..whilst there are others

-that I'd rather forget!

-Do you remember what we said at

-the end of our journey 20 years ago?

-We'd completed a dozen Welsh rivers

-so I asked, "Where next?"

-Do you remember your answer?

-Yes, I said we should go down

-the Amazon but we've never been.

-Let's make a pact now.

-In 20 years, we'll sail

-down the Amazon in this boat.

-I look forward to it.

-Which river

-shall we travel along next?

-How about the River Seiont

-in Caernarfon?

-I think the Amazon

-would be much better.

-We'll be alright

-if the boat gets up the Amazon.

-Is that in the west?

-Is that in the west?

-

-Yes, that's right!

-I couldn't leave the Towy Valley...

-..without visiting the beautiful

-Dinefwr Park near Llandeilo.

-It's over 200 years old...

-..and is currently owned

-by the National Trust.

-The park's grounds are

-a major attraction for visitors...

-..from all over the country.

-Iolo, you've travelled the world

-and seen some beautiful places...

-..but I can't think of a better

-thing to do in an afternoon...

-..than to sit here

-and admire the deer.

-Dinefwr Park is a wonderful site

-for an array of reasons.

-There's Newton House

-and the White Park cattle...

-..but the best attraction for me

-is this herd of Fallow deer.

-There are some in the distance

-by the trees...

-..in the field and over the hill.

-There's about 150 in total.

-The people I bring here don't know

-that deer are dark and pale colours.

-They do vary in colour a lot.

-We can see a classic coloured deer

-that's chestnut with white spots.

-There are some dark ones too.

-There are some dark ones too.

-

-Yes, that's right.

-They can be very dark and

-almost black or pale or even grey...

-..so it does vary.

-But these are Fallow deer.

-They aren't native to Britain but

-were introduced by the Normans...

-..such as William The Conqueror.

-They couldn't hunt the Red deer

-as they were too wild.

-They didn't like hunting the Roe

-deer because they were too small...

-..so they brought these with them

-from France and kept them in parks.

-These were hunting parks.

-To this day, you will find

-large numbers of deer in the wild...

-..close to the parks such as Dinefwr

-Park, Gelli Aur and Margam Park.

-This is why I like these parks.

-What large animals do I see

-when I go for a walk at home?

-Cattle, sheep and nothing else.

-When I walk here,

-I see wild animals such as a deer.

-I really like that.

-You've travelled the world, Iolo...

-..but we have something

-very special in Wales.

-There's no doubt about it, Moc.

-I've been very lucky.

-I've been incredibly lucky

-to travel the world...

-..and see some amazing things.

-But that, more than anything else...

-..and these two days with you...

-..have reminded me that

-we're so lucky to live in Wales.

-Look at what we saw at Ynys-hir.

-We had the estuary, woodlands,

-wetlands and mountains.

-We saw all that wildlife

-from the river.

-And one or two fish.

-And one or two fish.

-

-Yes, one or two fish.

-At Dinefwr Park, we had the deer,

-the ancient trees and red kites...

-..and we've only scratched

-the surface of it all, Moc.

-We are very lucky.

-And I've been very lucky

-to be joined by you.

-I've got one wish.

-I hope that it isn't another

-20 years before we meet again!

-I hope not, Moc.

-Thank you for your company.

-When I started working

-in broadcasting some 30 years ago...

-..I never once thought...

-..that I'd meet so many

-colourful and talented characters.

-Returning to the archives

-has made me realize...

-..that I've been very fortunate

-over the years...

-..to roam and fish in the most

-beautiful locations in Wales.

-It's been a wonderful journey...

-..but there's still some fish

-out there left to be caught...

-..and my fishing rod

-will not be packed away...

-..for quite some time yet.

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