TV presenter Iolo Williams visited a popular nature reserve near Whitchurch recently as part of a BBC series on nature and wildlife along the Welsh-English border.

The presenter visited the Fenn's Whixall and Bettisfield Mosses as part of the BBC series Iolo's Borderlands where he travels along the Welsh Marches.

Mosses reserve manager, Nathan Brake was delighted to have Iolo visit.

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He said: "Iolo is such an important figure in the natural world at the moment. He is up there with Chris Packham and David Attenborough.

"He is a really nice guy and down to earth.

"Iolo was really knowledgeable and was happy to meet all the team.

"It was a really good experience."

Nathan added: "It is nice to get some publicity and show the wider public what an amazing nature reserve is on the doorstep of Whitchurch and the surrounding area."

During the programme, Iolo came across rare species in the area.

Nathan said: "As a reserve, we have species like the white-faced darter dragonfly which are scarce across the UK.

"There are a number of other species in the site.

"It is just good to have the site highlighted for these important species.

"We are not a very well-known reserve.

"We are still fighting a corner for these species which need every bit of land they can to hold on." 

Recently, there the area saw the Marches Mosses BogLIFE project which was supported by an EU LIFE grant to restore the UK's third-largest lowland raised bog and the visit came at an important time.

Nathan said: "It certainly is an important time.

"Now with the project finishing we will be managing the reserve going forward and maintaining that hard work we have put in over the past six years.

"The EU-supported project of the last six years has been a big influence for the whole team here."

Nathan spoke about the benefits which is provided by the reserve.

He said: "We are the third largest peatbog in the UK. And that is massive for carbon sequestration and the storage of it.

"If the reserve had been left in less favourable condition, the potential to capture carbon would not have been the same.

"The longer the restoration goes on, when we keep the water level at the desired level, the better ability the reserve will have to mitigate against climate change."

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