The south Wales valleys are at a turning point in their history, caught between the industrial heritage of the past and the enterprise culture of the 21st century. In Valleys a brand new series, BBC Wales explores the extraordinary landscape in which these changes are taking place.

The south Wales valleys were once great structures of industrialisation, now hidden by nature. They were the heart of the coal industry, but today, the valleys are regarded as something of the past with communities accepting a stereotype of the valleys which has been shaping and defining attitudes since the 1930s.

The five-part series, narrated by Huw Edwards, Valleys: The Neath Valley, sets out to contend that these areas of south Wales are now more beautiful than ever, and that the communities who live there are strong and dynamic.

The series demonstrates the energy, vision and complexities of these communities in transition, and celebrates the magnificent landscape in which they live.

In the first programme, heritage consultant Richard Keen, takes a trip to Neath, a place for which he holds particular fondness.

Richard believes that in order to look towards the future, an understanding of the past must be achieved.

A flagship of industrial Wales, Neath was the former site of the Aberdulais Mill where iron was worked for the first time in the country.

The site was first occupied by a copper-smelting furnace in 1584 and in the following years the waterfall was used to power an iron forge, a corn mill, a tucking mill and tinplate manufacture.

In 1991, a project was set up by the National Trust, with European and Government funds and major industries in the Swansea area to once again use the power of water at the site. This hydropower project installed a water wheel to generate electricity for the property and for export to the National Grid.

Today the area is an important well-maintained visitor attraction for the National Trust, but equally historical nearby Briton Ferry is, sadly, neglected.

Briton Ferry is home to a dock designed by Isambard Brunel, who was responsible for the design of the South Wales Mineral Railway. It was built in the 1850s for steel and, like Aberdulais, tinplate exports.
Another expert on Neath, Howard Rees, is also a dab hand at salvaging things. Where hell fire and brimstone used to be proclaimed from the pulpits of Welsh chapels, they now lie empty and dismantled in Howard's yard. For the past two years he's been reclaiming Wales' heritage for new uses - salvaging innards of chapels to be re-housed in themed pubs and the like.

Other valleys featured later in the series include the Afan and Llynfi valley, Rhondda valleys, Merthyr valley, and the Rhymney and Sirhowy valleys.

Valleys is an Element Production for BBC Wales.