Viewers in Wales have been treated to a landmark, four-part television series showcasing the enigmatic wildlife of The Land of the Wild, yet conservationists and naturalists know that the beautiful imagery hides a more worrying reality.

Now, Iolo Williams is taking to the screen tonight (Sunday) to discuss something very dear to his heart; the state of nature in Wales. Following a widely acclaimed, impassioned speech at the launch of the State of Nature report in Cardiff back in 2013, Iolo has compiled his concerns for Welsh wildlife into a one-off documentary which airs this coming Sunday.

"Wales looks stunning and people think it is full of birds, mammals and insects. Unfortunately the truth these days in very different." laments Springwatch presenter Iolo Williams.

Graham Horder has worked as a freelance wildlife cameraman for 30 years and has offered his own insight into the thought-provoking documentary which highlights the plight of many iconic Welsh species:

“Having travelled the world filming wildlife television I am always aware that I’m privileged to be experiencing the best habitats and wildlife that still exist. Very often, outside of the areas we are filming, the landscape and habitats are impoverished, hammered to within an inch of their lives by human demands. This is as true in Wales as it is in any part of the world."

Iolo: Saving the Land of the Wild is a documentary that I am proud to have worked on. It’s not just about wildlife, it’s about the health of the Welsh landscape. It’s an honest examination of how degraded our country has become in just a few decades."

The programme swiftly deals with pollution of rivers, decline of species familiar to many in Wales, loss of biodiversity, government policy, conservation, farming and Welsh heritage; exposing some ugly truths and offering pragmatic solutions.

"I wanted to make a programme that gives an honest portrayal of the state of nature in Wales today. It's not meant to point the finger in any way. Its sole purpose is to highlight what's happened to wildlife in Wales in my lifetime" adds Iolo.

The themes explored within the programme have far greater reach than Wales alone. The UK, Europe and the world beyond are all at various stages of intensification and habitat degradation. During a time of climate change protests and the publics’ changing views on the importance of the natural world, this programme highlights some of the simple ways that things can be altered for the better, with simply an altered mindset and approach to land use.

Iolo: Saving the Land of the Wild will be broadcast on BBC One Wales at 5:35pm today (Sunday). Viewers outside of Wales will be able to catch the programme on BBC iPlayer.