In this programme Iolo is following the paths of Wales. He looks at the landscapes and the wildlife.
A tree lined lane in spring is a good place to see and listen to birds. Near Wrexham there are birds such as the bluetit and the robin.
A tree lined lane is also home to flowers such as primroses, wood sorrel and violets. It is also home to lizards and the adder or viper.
Y Ffordd Ddu, Gwynedd is a very old path in the mountains. It was a busy road about 1800 because this was the drover’s road .
There are a number of ruins on this road and one old pub. One of the birds of this area is the wheatear.
There are many Roman roads in Wales. One went from Segontium (Caernarfon) over the mountains to Caerhun on the bank of the River Conwy. Here, near Llanfairfechan heather and gorse have grown over the old road.
It’s a good place to see birds such as the stonechat and skylark.
Where the old paths crossed a river, people built bridges. A number of the old stone bridges are here today – like this bridge in Dyffryn Ardudwy.
By about 1800 the canals were carrying thins like coal and iron. This is the canal between Neath and Swansea. Today the canal is quiet and is home to dragonflies and also to the fen raft spider.
This is Pontcysyllte – the aqueduct that carries the Llangollen Canal over the River Dee near Llangollen. The canal carried coal and iron.
The Mongomery Canal carried limestone from Llanymynech to Welshpool and Newtown. They used the lime on the farms of the area. The canal also carried wool from the farms to the big towns in England. Today it is quiet and is home to animals such as the grass snake; it likes to swim in the water to look for food.
By 1900 the railway had come to every part of Wales. The Heart of Wales Line runs from Shrewsbury to Swansea. This is the Cynghordy Bridge between Llandovery and Llanwrtyd.
Many of Wales’ railways have closed since the 1950s. Today old railways are a good place to see wildlife. The line near the old Dryslwyn station is home to the squirrel and birds such as the willow warbler and jay.
Building railways through Wales was difficult and very expensive. The 25 miles from Bala to Blaenau Ffestiniog were very difficult. There were over 70 bridges on this line and the Cwm Prysor area was very, very difficult. Today butterwort, moss and ferns grow here.
Today, trees grow on the old Cwm Darren line near Merthyr Tydfil. This is the home of the woodpecker and tawny owl.
There are many big new roads in Wales today. The A55 crosses Anglesey from the Britannia Bridge to Holyhead. At the side of the road small animals such as mice live. In the sky the kestrel looks for food at the side of the road.
The bridge that carries the A40 over the Grwyne Fawr River near Abergavenny is home to the dipper. The food of this bird is larva in the river.
This is the M4 near Newport. It is a very, very busy road; traffic comes and goes throughout the day and night. There’s not much wildlife here – for now.
