Latest news with #Iolo'sRiverValleys
Powys County Times
10-05-2025
- General
- Powys County Times
Iolo Williams spots wild beaver in Powys during BBC filming
Welsh wildlife presenter Iolo Williams described a beaver spotted on the River Dyfi in Machynlleth as 'one of the best wildlife things I've ever seen'. In his new series, naturalist and presenter Iolo Williams described seeing a wild beaver on the banks of the River Dyfi in Machynlleth as a 'hugely significant' spot, with wild beavers having been extinct in Wales for hundreds of years. The BBC series Iolo's River Valleys was filming near Machynlleth along the River Dyfi in search of beavers that had reportedly been spotted in the area, with the crew waiting through days of torrential rain to catch a glimpse of the animal. Going out again on the first dry day, the BBC crew were able to film a wild beaver on the Powys river bank. Spotting the animal, Iolo said: 'We've got a beaver. It's on the far shore, about 20 metres away from me. How fantastic is that? 'The last wild beavers in Wales were hundreds of years ago, but one is over there. It's quite cool and quite calm. It's eating Japanese knot weed of all things. It then came out onto the water. 'There's a very well wooded bank with lots more Japanese knot weed where it's disappeared into. It's gone back onto the bank dragging more Japanese knot weed with him. 'This is phenomenal honestly. This is one of the best wildlife things I've ever seen in Wales.' The wildlife presenter was stunned by the sighting as Beavers disappeared from Britain around 400 years ago after being hunted to extinction. Only in the past two decades has the animal been making a comeback as the animal has gradually been reintroduced to the country, including a number of projects in Wales. The first beavers reintroduced to the wild in Wales were the group released into an enclosure at the Cors Dyfi Nature Reserve in Powys to help manage crucial peat bog habitats. The second episode of Iolo's River Valleys focusses on the Dyfi Valley, with the presenter travelling to Machynlleth to search for wild beavers. While searching he said: 'Usually with a mammal this rare we'd keep the location a secret. But so many of the locals know that it's been seen regularly on this stretch.' Speaking after spotting one, he added: 'I'm just delighted, absolutely delighted that they're here, back where they should be.'
Wales Online
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Iolo Williams reveals he has encountered a career first
Iolo Williams reveals he has encountered a career first The Springwatch presenter has opened up about the 'career highlight' he experienced when filming his new series Iolo Williams is hosting a new series called Iolo's River Valleys (Image: BBC ) TV star Iolo Williams has revealed a career first as his new BBC series begins. Iolo is back on our screens for a new four-part series called Iolo's River Valleys which follows him as he explores the hidden stories and natural wonders of four river valleys across Wales. In the series he'll be uncovering the incredible wildlife of the Rheidol Valley, the Dyfi Valley, the Conwy Valley and the Vale of Clwyd. Throughout the episodes, Iolo will be met with sightings of rare birds and elusive mammals. He even encounters a career first on his journey. Ahead of the series' release, Iolo said that the biggest moment of the series was when he saw his "first ever wild beaver in Wales". "This was a real highlight, not just of the series, but of my 27 years working within TV. A real highlight," Iolo said. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter "I wasn't actually expecting to see one. The researchers had done their work and they'd said there were rumours to be wild beaver, and I knew myself that there were rumours of wild beavers in one or two locations as well. "We went out and we had a look one evening, and the weather wasn't great, we didn't see anything. But then we went out again when the rain had cleared up and sure enough there it was, this beaver, eating Japanese knotweed of all things. Article continues below "I'll be honest, nobody knows where the beaver has come from, they've been there for about two years, possibly three and it's quite well known locally. But I'm absolutely delighted because this is an animal that we should have back in the wild." Iolo said that spotting the beaver "topped everything" that happened in the series. He added that he also "achieved a childhood ambition" by seeing a pine martin in daylight. Iolo's River Valleys is a four-part BBC Cymru Wales series, produced by Aden. The series was produced and directed by Osian Griffiths and the executive producer is John Gwyn. Speaking ahead of its release, he said: "For the first time we're following four different rivers. We usually confine the series to specific areas but this time we took four different rivers and follow the river valleys from sea to source. I thought I knew Wales quite well, but one or two of these river valleys I hadn't explored for a very long time. "People moan that it rains a lot in Wales, but it's because of that rain that we have such stunning river valleys, streams and waterfalls. Article continues below "Each and every one of them has a different character and each and every one of them is beautiful from source down to sea." Watch Iolo's River Valleys on BBC Two, BBC One Wales and BBC iPlayer from Tuesday 6 May
