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Iolo's Wales

• Caeathro

  I'm a real mongrel. I was born in Llanfair-y-muallt and moved to Biwla, Brecknockshire and Eglwys Wen, Pemmbrokshire before settling in Llanwddyn when I was five years old. My father was a farmer's son from Cwmtwrch and my mum was from Caethro near Caernarfon. When we were children we used to visit Caeathro quite often and my grandfather, Owen Williams, would tell me to go out into the fields and look for bird's nests. This was my great delight as a child, and I learned to respect nature back then.

• Llanwddyn

  It was my upbringing in Llanwddyn, where my Father was a primary school headteacher, that sew the seed of my love for nature. It was a great area to find wildlife. From rare birds like the black grouse and hen harrier, to plants, mosses and rare grasses. I was one of four children and back then, it was a close knit community, but it's lost some of it's character by now.

• Llandysul
  near Montgomery

  This has been my home for years and the heart of my life. The nature of my job means that I'm away filming often but I always try to aim for home on weekends to spend time with Ceri, my wife and the boys, Dewi, 11 and Tomos, 8. I've been helping train the Newtown under 13's rugby team since I retired from playing two years ago and I always try to watch the team play. Spending time with the boys and Ceri and enjoying home life is very important to me.

• Newtown

  This is where my career in nature and conservation started. It's where I got my first full time job with the RSPB. I learned so much about Wales and birds while conducting surveys of rivers, forests and highlands all over the country. I didn't intend to work in the media but television and radio called me when they had a story about Red Kites or other rare birds and the work developed from there. I've been lucky to get work that follows my hobby and getting the to go caving, paragliding and diving. In Tir Cymru, I've had a look at the mysterious underwater world of the Welsh coast and I realise how many striking species - from dolphins and porpoises to anemones and sea turtles - that are drawn to the coast of Wales.

• Snowdonia

  Snowdonia has always been an inspiration for me as a naturalist and Cwm Idwal, especially, is close to my heart. Charles Darwin went there to study the Ice Age remains that have shaped the valley. There's nowhere better than our little country to enjoy such a variety of different habitats. One part of Snowdonia I hadn't seen before I started filming Tir Cymru was the slate works near Cnicht mountain in Croesor Valley. Being underground for seven hours in pitch darkness was quite an adventure. The more I travel the world, the more I appreciate Wales. Snowdonia is a special place -you can get an idea of the different landscapes but it's also a good place rest your soul.