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We are delighted to announce that the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) will be welcoming Iolo Williams and the BBC team back to our Mid Wales eco centre later this month for this year’s Winterwatch.
The BBC team will bring a much-needed dose of nature into our living rooms as they help us to celebrate the magic of the wildlife on our doorsteps for two weeks from Tuesday 19 January.
Following a fantastic fortnight of Autumnwatch last year, Iolo will be sharing the sights and sounds of a wild Welsh winter, with Chris Packham, Megan McCubbin and Gillian Burke broadcasting from elsewhere in the UK.
Introducing CAT to millions of people across the UK during Autumnwatch, Iolo said:
“Here at the Centre for Alternative Technology in Mid Wales, it’s all about forward thinking. This is a place with the future survival of our planet at its very core.”
Nestled in the foothills of Snowdonia, in the UNESCO Dyfi Biosphere Reserve, CAT offers a space where people can connect with nature whilst working together on solutions to the climate and biodiversity emergency.
The CAT site is a living example of what can happen when people step in and give nature a helping hand.
What was once a barren slate quarry has been transformed over 50 years into a rich tapestry of habitats, providing a home for a wide range of species. Several types of bat, rare hazel dormice, hedgehogs, hawfinches, woodcock, willow tits, pine martens and many more species have found safe haven in CAT’s woodlands and wild spaces.
On arriving at CAT last year, Iolo said:
“There is such an abundance of wildlife in Mid Wales and it’s great to see it flourishing at a site that was once an industrial slate quarry.
“But even where wildlife is thriving, we know that the effects of climate change are already having an effect on biodiversity in the UK. We need to take action now, as a nation, or some of our wildlife could be lost forever.”
In the past year many of us have appreciated the natural world more than ever before, and programmes like Springwatch and Autumnwatch have really helped us to get to know the wildlife on our doorsteps.
Peter Tyldesley, Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) CEO said:
“We can’t wait to welcome Iolo and the team back to CAT to share the wonderful Mid Wales wildlife with viewers across the UK.
“Learning to appreciate our amazing natural world is often the first step towards protecting it; programmes like Winterwatch can really help spark that essential love of nature.
“Last year’s Autumnwatch gave us a fascinating insight into a wide range of species, and we’re looking forward to seeing what the changing seasons will bring to CAT and the Dyfi Valley.”
CAT is currently closed to visitors in line with Welsh Government COVID rules, but – thanks to Winterwatch – you can enjoy a virtual visit and experience the magic of Mid Wales wildlife from your living room.
Follow CAT for all the latest as we prepare to host #Winterwatch and keep an eye on our Winterwatch web pages – we’ll be sharing all the richness and solutions that nature has to offer.
Winterwatch at CAT
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