In this programme Iolo looks at the landscape of Wales – from mountain to sea.
Windfarms have changes the landscape on many of the mountains of Wales.
This is Nant Ffrancon in Snowdonia – one of Wales’ wild landscapes. There were very many trees here at one time but man has cut down the trees to make room for animals. Two of the birds of this area are the wheatear and the raven.
These are Clogwyni Eglwyseg near Llangollen. This is the home of the jackdaw that lives in holes in the rock.
The mountains of Bannau Brycheiniog are sandstone. Pen y Fan – the highest mountain of the Beacons – is home to the purple saxifrage. This Arctic-Alpine plant has been here since the Ice Age.
This is Llyn Cowlyd in Eryri – Snowdonia . This is Wales’ deepest lake – it is over 70 metres.
Pumlumon – this is where Afon Gwy starts. It’s a very small river at the beginning but it becomes a large river on its way towards the sea.
The rivers of Wales are full of life. They are home to birds such as the kingfisher, dipper and grey wagtail. In December salmon swim up a number of Welsh rivers.
Pistyll Rhaeadr, Powys is Wales’ highest waterfall. It is about 73 metres and higher than Niagara Falls! Moss grows like a green carpet on the stones around the waterfall.
The native trees of Wales are trees like the oak. They are home to birds such as the chaffinch, marsh tit and woodpecker. The redstart comes here from Africa in spring.
There are very many conifers in Wales today. They are home to all kinds of animals such as the squirrel, deer and goshawk.
Hedges are good places for wildlife. Birds nest here in spring and in autumn they are full of berries. One of the birds of the hedges is the waxwing that comes here from Europe in winter.
Wetlands are good places for wildlife. This is Malltraeth, Anglesey; today it is home to water birds such as ducks, wild geese, the little grebe and coot.
There are a large number of reservoirs in Wales. This is Llyn Clywedog near Llanidloes.
Wildlife has moved into people’s buildings. This is Raglan Castle that is home to birds such as the jackdaw, starling and dove.
This stoat has made its home in a smallholding. Its favourite food is rabbit.
This is the estuary of the river Mawddach. This estuary was deep like the fjords of Norway but about 7000 years ago the sea level rose and filled the estuary with sand and mud.
This is Traeth Lafan near Llanfairfechan. There was a valley here too before the sea level rose. It is home to thousands of birds.
The coast of Wales is very long – over 1600 miles. It’s a landscape of sand dunes, long beaches and dramatic rocks which are home to the fulmar, kestrel and rock pipit.
