The very best of Mid Wales’ wildlife and nature will be brought into living rooms across the UK in a few weeks’ time as BBC Autumnwatch broadcasts from the Centre for Alternative Technology.

The environmental education centre near Machynlleth has been chosen as one of four live bases for the series, where for two weeks Mid Wales’ own Iolo Williams will present alongside Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Gillian Burke from their respective locations.

Peter Tyldesley, Centre for Alternative Technology CEO, said: “We are very excited to have been invited to host the Wales branch of this year’s Autumnwatch.

“The woodlands, gardens, ponds and meadows of CAT are home to a rich variety of species, from dormice to dippers and from lesser horseshoe bats to greater spotted woodpeckers.

“At CAT we are focused on positive solutions to the climate and biodiversity crisis; solutions that can help both people and wildlife to thrive.

"Our centre offers the opportunity for visitors and students to immerse themselves in beautiful natural surroundings whilst learning about the ways that we can work together to tackle these big environmental challenges.

“We’re really looking forward to sharing some of the sights and sounds of CAT and the Dyfi Valley with Iolo and all of the Autumnwatch viewers in a few weeks’ time.”

This year many of us have appreciated the natural world more than ever before, and in May and June the BBC Springwatch crew helped us take a closer look at some of the wildlife on our doorsteps.

Broadcasting from a range of locations, with smaller teams to allow social distancing, they highlighted how nature has provided moments of joy and solace during challenging times.

In October they return to our screens to share the best of autumn. Whilst Iolo broadcasts live from CAT, Michaela will be in Tentsmuir Forest in Fife, Gillian in the RSPB Old Moor in South Yorkshire, and Chris close to his home in the New Forest.

As always, nature will be the real star of the show, with the wildlife of Mid Wales taking centre stage.

The area surrounding CAT is home to lesser horseshoe bats, dormice, pied flycatchers, wood warblers, yellowhammers, red kites, buzzards, otters, polecats and peregrine falcons, as well as rare species of mushrooms and a wide diversity of mosses, ferns and trees.