Self-confessed nature lover Iolo Williams has been given the opportunity of a lifetime - an opportunity he's been dreaming of since he was a young boy - to take to the air and majestically fly. But there is an added bonus for him as he gets to fly alongside one of his true loves, the red kite.
In a one-off programme for BBC Wales, 'Iolo Williams Flying with Kites' sees the intrepid presenter venture to new heights in an unique, exhilarating and also dangerous experiment alongside the national bird of Wales.
"I've watched kites ever since I was a young boy, even before I can remember. They are truly magnificent, majestic animals and the one thing that I have always wanted to do is take to the air and fly like them," says Iolo.
Iolo's passion for the red kite has played an important role in the fight to bring these animals back from the brink of extinction. Be it spending hours watching nests to ensure that eggs remain safe to nursing injured animals back to health, Iolo has dedicated a huge amount of time and effort to this majestic animal.
And now viewers will follow Iolo as he ventures on the often difficult and dangerous path to take flight alongside three red kites.
"It's not often you get to do something truly unique. But doing this programme gave me the perfect opportunity to do that. It's not often you find me speechless, but the rush you get when you finally take off is truly amazing. I was lost for words - it's something I'll never forget."
Whilst the team at The Black Mountains Falconry Centre near Abergavenny train the red kites to fly alongside the glider, Iolo learns how to master one of the most extreme of ariel sports - paragliding.
It's not only Iolo who has a lot of learning to do as the red kites have flying lessons to get them used to flying freely in the open without their training harnesses on. Having been bread in captivity they don't fear man, but accepting a massive paraglider alongside them is a different matter.
It's a long, hard process that at times proves frustrating. At the mercy of the weather, and with Winter approaching, the window of opportunity grows smaller for the team and the race is on.
The tension mounts as the final opportunity to fly with the kites arrives and the team hopes that the birds will have the courage to fly with Iolo. It's a nerve wracking time and as Iolo soars high above the mountain his first attempts to coax the kites closer fail. But as they become more familiar with the bright red shape billowing above them their confidence grows and Iolo finally gets his wish.
"It was a case of taking a chance and hoping that everything would work out. It was our last chance to get into the air with them. After ten weeks I was a happy man. I've fulfilled my ambition," says Iolo.
Iolo Williams flying with Kites, Wednesday, March 1, BBC One Wales, 7.10pm. This programme was first shown on BBC 2W on 26 December 2005.
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your comments
Michele and Chris Lloyd, Kerry, Newtown
As residents of Kerry we would like to inform Iolo of proposed 15m high 132KV electricity pylons running across Kerry Ridgeway,thru Kerry Vale and LLANDYSSIL.Scoping reports are being studied and discussed by Powys County Council. We are concerned re destruction of wildlife habitat and landscape. If you would like to know more please contact us.
Tue Nov 11 13:33:29 2008
Margaret from Pontypool
Can you repeat this programme I missed it. I would dearly love to see it. margaret
Mon Jun 30 11:42:34 2008
Derek Price, Abbey Cwm Hir
Amazing - but typical of Iolo - played rugby with him at Newtown in early '90's although I was the silver-haired winger for the 2nd team and he was the 1st team centre.Need to contact him to see if he can do an opening ceremony for the new primary school at Crossgates, Powys. - Why I think of him is the the school has just completed a 'breathing spaces' project planting a large amount of trees, establishing a bee and butterfly garden, constructing a pond area with appropriate plants, and several other themed areas joined by a meandering stoned path. I'm sure he'd appriciate the efforts and coupled with his personality would be ideal for the task.
Fri Jun 20 16:51:44 2008
Martin Reddy from Solihull
A DVD of the show has been produced and is available from the Black Mountain Falconry Centre, Abergavenny. I purchased one on a recent vist there and at £9.99 it is brilliant value.
Fri Jun 6 10:23:40 2008
Desiree Rosier form the Netherlands
I would love to see Flying with kites, being a student parapilot. I am trying to set up a meetng between Dutch falconers and Dutch paragliding schools and it would be lovely to show the Scott Mason movie (that I ordered and received) but also this material. Can you help me obtain this material?
Mon Jan 28 08:03:06 2008
Gemma Hughes, Bargoed
This programme was amazing. He filmed in my village wish I was there to see it. Am going to vist the kite feeding centre with my camera.
Sat Jan 26 16:52:35 2008
Lyn Morrison, Glasbury near Brecon
Is it possible to obtain a tape/dvd of the Iolo Williams Flying with Kites programme?
Thu Nov 23 09:59:49 2006
Mike Armitage from near Wrexham
I'm a keen birdwatcher. It is a great pity that, although I live in Wales, I cannot get BBC Wales reception. As luck would have it, I was at my parents house and they have satellite, so I did see it. It was excellent. When will the rest of the UK be able to see it? And when will I be able to get free BBC Wales without having to spend £150 on satellite to get it, please?
The Moel Y Parc transmitter which broadcasts a signal to a large part of North East Wales is fully digital. All main transmitters in the UK are broadcasting digitally, however most of the smaller relay stations (such as the Wrexham-Rhos transmitter) are not. Not because of any unwillingness on the BBC's behalf, but rather due to technical restrictions. At present, it is impossible to further expand the digital coverage, as the power of the existing digital transmitters is held back by the need not to interfere elsewhere with the analogue services. This is also the reason why no new sites can be converted.
This situation will change when the existing analogue signals in your area are switched off as part of the process called "digital switchover" in order to create a digital-only terrestrial television network in the UK. The Culture Secretary, the Rt. Hon. Tessa Jowell MP, has now confirmed that this process will take place between 2008 and 2012 by ITV region, starting in the following years:
2008 – Border 2009 – West Country, HTV Wales, Granada 2010 – HTV West, Grampian, Scottish Television
2011 – Yorkshire, Anglia, Central
2012 – Meridian, Carlton/LWT (London), Tyne Tees, Ulster
The frequencies released by withdrawing analogue television will enable digital transmissions to be extended across the UK. If you have web access, you can read more about the timetable for your area, and how to prepare, at www.digitaluk.co.uk or alternatively you can call 0845 6 50 50 50 for more information. We hope this information is of use to you and thank you for taking the time to contact the BBC.
Fri Mar 3 03:42:38 2006
Stella from Lampeter
This programme was truly awe-inspiring. Wonderful locations, marvellous work by all those training the young kites, and brilliantly presented by Iolo. Please can you repeat this programme, and network it throughout the UK so others can be equally entertained and inspired?
Thu Mar 2 10:10:52 2006
Mark Wilkinson Devon
Please show this programme nationwide
Thu Mar 2 10:03:05 2006
Katrina from Abergavenny
I can't beleive I've missed it again! Is there any way this will be shown again?
Wed Mar 1 20:04:23 2006
Neil Lewis from Pontypool
Where can a copy of this fantastic programme be obtained & will it be repeated?
Sun Jan 8 21:56:11 2006
Wilma Gaywood from Croespenmaen
Where can we get a copy of this show?
Sat Dec 31 13:25:19 2005
Steve Walde from Oxford
As keen birdwatchers, who are particularly interested in red kites, and paraglider pilots my wife and I were very upset to find this fantastic sounding program was only shown in Wales. When will the rest of the UK be able to see it.
Fri Dec 30 09:13:27 2005
Elizabeth Bigg from Mayford, Surrey
I hope this will eventually be shown in the rest of the UK - it sounds wonderful. When will the repeat be shown - I'll then be able to watch it at a friend's house, as she has Sky.
Wed Dec 28 10:38:20 2005
wayne lewis, caerleon
Fantastic programme.....must be shown nationwide. Kites were amazing.
Tue Dec 27 19:05:48 2005
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Powys presenter and wildlife expert Iolo Williams fulfills a lifetime ambition when he takes to the air alongside three birds of prey. The programme will be shown at 7.10pm on BBC One Wales on Wednesday 1 March. 
