Iolo's Borderlands
Just watched the first two episodes of this programme from BBC Wales. Iolo Williams explores the border of Wales/England from south to north. Well worth watching this excellent wildlife presenter, fantastic knowledge and brilliant photography. It's repeated on BBC2 England on Friday evening's for those who can't get BBC Wales, also on iplayer.
Comments
-
He's an excellent guide and so enthusiastic no matter what he is watching or talking about. We've been to some of the sites, particularly here in North Wales and it's surprising to find them in such an industrial area but nature is great at reclamation.
It has been an enjoyable watch.
3 -
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001ksb9
Here's the link.
0 -
Watched the first and thought it brilliant. Love watching and listening to Iolo. I feel.his of the same cut as David Attenborough, just gentle.
Typing this as I sit in a sheltered spot listening to the larks above. What a difference 24 hours make to the weather! Glorious sun, chilly wind but lovely in the sheltered spots. Dog having a ball sniffing the headland and enjoying her morning too.
I feel like Iolo 🤣🤣🤣🤣
2 -
Have known Iolo for ever (so probably biased) and his presentations, off the cuff makes far better viewing than the autocue readers on the other so called canned wildlife programmes. Makes you wonder why the BBC has to fly in a presenter from South Africa when there are better people here on the doorstep.
0 -
Thanks for the link, brue. Iolo is an all round good egg. Ornithologist, environmentalist, conservationist, supporter of rewilding, a qualified paraglider, PADI Divemaster and a keen rugby player having played for most of his life and by all accounts still turns out on occasions. I wonder what position he plays, back row?
Couldn't disagree with any of this!
https://www.nhbs.com/blog/an-interview-with-iolo-williams0 -
Me neither, as long as their credentials and intentions are complimentary to the cause.
I too didn’t understand that reference to a South African ‘personality’.
Still to watch this series but I am looking forward to it with interest.
0 -
I didn't mention a country in my comments Micky, I think you are referring to someone else and I intend to enjoy the programmes as they emerge..
A few years ago we enjoyed a visit to the reserve at Newport and that end of the "Borderlands" along the Severn Estuary holds a lot of interest. Hoping to explore more in the future.
0 -
Sorry, should have made clear that the second paragraph was related to another comment from elsewhere.
Have briefly visited some of the Severn Reserves , they, like my beloved Humber are suffering from very similar challenges. Thankfully much of the wildfowling which was prevalent during my youth has gone. Much of this due to the conservation work of those who we now ‘stand on the shoulders’ of.0 -
Just watched the latest edition( may not have been aired yet on other regions)> He is pragmatic and a realist. He can see that there is a need to control raptors, foxes, etc if we are to save the remnants of our ground nesting birds. Pity the other zealots on our TVs accepted the truth.
0 -
Here is the Link, Fish. Excellent series.https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001ksb9
A consummate presenter, proper ecologist and advocate of rewilding. In my opinion he has produced the very best definition of this concept which should be read by those who, for what ever reason, misguided or otherwise, have difficulty understanding it.
0 -
Well worth watching and listening to this man. He shouts it out and clear!
Every bit of help counts, from gardens, National Parks, local landowners and farmers he advocates we should all be doing our bit. That’s all of us then!
0 -
Why would I want the link when I stated we had seen the programmes here in wales before general BBC.I notice you do no comment about the realistic way of protecting ground nesting birds. Fortunately we in the countryside do that already to give them a fighting chance against the dictat of the armchair environmentalists. Out this morning at 6.30 am and we took down two foxes killing lambs
0 -
Sorry Fish, thought I was being helpful not just for you but others who would enjoy Iolo’s series as it’s only available on iplayer for those outside Wales. After all he is a fantastic advocate of rewilding. As for ground nesting birds I’m all for protection and restorative work on their natural habits to aid their recovery. We upset the balance and we cause much of these issues you refer to. One of the biggest causes of disturbance to ground nesting birds is the clearance of their natural habitat to support shooting. Another is dogs not under control who, with their owners stay onto nesting areas.
Not sure who these armchair environmentalists are and what they are doing so effectively to cause such significant and negative issues but if it is they that have uncontrollable dogs let’s hope they remain firmly in their chairs.0 -
With all due respect, you’ll have to do better than that for us to understand your words, what on earth does proper country folk mean ? Are they everybody else? I’ve lived all my life as a proper country boy, raised and bred! Just like Iola and I totally agree with his stances on all such matters, He is a true ambassador of the causes I hold dear! This series supports these notions!
0 -
People who actually work in the country year round. Not the recent country incomers who want to change everything the day they arrive. Not the 2 week holiday maker. The city Gents with mansions as a tax haven and country shoot to extend their networking.. The so called celebrities the arm chair environmentalist slaver over. Enough? Dont start me on the public sector people who want to tell me what to do, when and how, despite my life long experience.
0 -
The reason for my post was to bring this excellent programme to the attention of members other than in Wales who may have missed it. I am saddened to see it hijacked by others engaged in "virtue point scoring", But such is the way of this chat room. Hey ho.
2 -
Same here Scoutman, all I attempted to do was widen the viewing by extolling the virtues of this presenter and how those outside Wales can view his program. Unfortunately whenever many of those topics covered in the series are discussed we get the same old derogatory labeling and categorisations trotted out by ‘some’. It’s happened to often in similar threads over the years. In the wise words of Iolo we need to keep at it and not succumb to such attacks and behaviours.
He did a superb job in helping the cancellation of the M4 relief road by doing exactly that. A true fighter for ecology and rewilding! Last words!
0
