The Inspirational Iolo Williams - An Honest Interview

In this video I have the pleasure of interviewing Iolo Williams - an inspirational man and a cornerstone of conservation.
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#IoloWilliams #Springwatch #Wales #Nature #Conservation #Interview #JoelAshton #WildYourGarden #Autumnwatch #Winterwatch #ChrisPackham #MichaelaStrachan

[@lyndalambert9639]

what a wonderfully natural interview Joel. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment. Yolo is brilliant and I agree with him and you about so many aspects of conserving nature. I share his open rage over plastic grass , it needs to be banned! Keep these great interviews going, I love them. 😊💚

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Really glad you enjoyed this Lyn, Iolo is so easy going, genuine and very engaging, has gravitas and his honesty is very refreshing - nature is his boss I think ;) Thank you for the encouragement and support, as always - hope you have had a good weekend. Best wishes, Joel

[@petervincent4461]

just watched Iolo series of the nature of the Welsh/English boarder on BBC i player - brilliant. Not enough of Iolo presenting series

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Couldn't agree more Peter, I could have sat chatting with Iolo for a few hours more, easily! Engaging, witty and very honest, a perfect interviewee :) Best wishes, Joel

[@flowerfairy1950]

Thanks Joel a very interesting interview. Being in Oz since 1971, I don't know the gentleman or programmes (have seen the odd Springwatch). What I do find interesting are comments from various U-Tubers in Wales who say how poor Wales is for the environmenr. Very little interest from people in the environment and apparently a lot of opposition from farmers re proposed rewilding.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

@@flowerfairy1950 Thank you! Sorry I missed your comment, and so glad this interview and the wonderful Iolo made it to Australia! You're right, there's been so much habitat destruction across the UK, without the latest fad for artificial turf etc.... Best wishes - Joel

[@UkAmphibians]

Great video Joel Loving the interview 🐸💚🐸

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it - a long one but a necessary one, Iolo puts everyone at ease and he's very entertaining, aside from knowledgeable :) Best wishes, Joel

[@31Blaize]

Great interview! Love watching Iolo. Also: one of the biggest problems with the grouse shooting industry is the old boys club (think back to the Covid enquiry where we found out that those at the very top were more invested in how to keep shoots open than schools...)

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Absolutely, absolutely this! What I love about Iolo the most I think is his conviction, honesty and gravitas - he really does ensure nature has a voice :) So glad you enjoyed this, it was a lengthy interview but worth every second - best wishes, Joel

[@double531]

Incredible interview Joel, lolos childhood reminds me of mine, watching birds, trout in pools and catching newts etc and at 65 I’m still crawling about the woods and countryside looking and loving wildlife.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

So glad you enjoyed this, I keep repeating myself but I really could have spoken to Iolo again for days on end. He's a natural naturalist for sure, so glad this brought back some childhood memories and that you're still knee-deep in wildlife 😄 Best wishes, and thanks for the encouragement and support - Joel

[@lisasmith1850]

Lots of food for thought. I love that vocation Naturalist. You guys are truly blessed. Thanks so much for sharing.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

You're very welcome Lisa, so glad that you enjoyed this. I could talk to Iolo for ages and I love his honesty and conviction. Best wishes, Joel

[@CheshireCat6639]

Great interview Joel. Look forward to more!... Iolo is a fantastic role model for younger folk who have a passion for nature.Schools should have more regular nature walks in between the academic studies. My 5 year old Grandson loves nature,I stayed at my Gran /Grandads farm in the Fens every 6 weeks in the summer..i loved it...Ty for sharing 🎉

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hello! I hope your grandson is able to watch it, it's pretty long but worth every second, guess whether I could have spoken to Iolo all day! Totally agree re expanding more regarding wildlife in schools and nature walks, I do know many schools are changing and including this in their own curriculum, here's hoping the enthusiasm spreads :) Very best wishes, Joel

[@eywasdaughter]

Love this interview! Big fan of Iolo; a very humble and wise man and very passionate about our native wildlife. 🙂🌿🐣

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hey there! So glad you enjoyed this, I knew you'd like it and it was so good to catch up with him again properly. I've seen an email from you, we're just trying to catch up after Easter break but am not ignoring you! Best wishes, as always - Joel

[@nickiramsay2421]

Another amazing interview., really enjoyed every minute. I could listen to Iolo’s voice for hours and always catch his BBC Wales series on iplayer. Wales is a very special place for me and I’ve experienced so many memorable wildlife experiences there. Saw my first wild dolphins sitting on a cliff at Mwnt, my first chough on the coastal path between Gwbert and Mwnt and had a peregrine whizz past my head about 5 minutes after. Also saw ospreys for the first time at Dyfi (after having tried to see them at Loch Garten years before and found they’d migrated the day before I arrived 🤦🏼‍♀️😂). I’m now totally addicted to all the UK osprey nest cams and had the privilege of taking part in a Q & A with Iolo a couple of years ago that was organised by Glaslyn Osprey Project. He is definitely a wildlife legend even if he doesn’t consider himself one and I so agree with him about the plastic grass. Thanks for organising this Joel 👏🏻

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you Nicki, he's just great and I agree re being able to listen to him for hours. This interview actually went really quickly and it was only at the end we realised how long we'd been chatting, worth every moment though. I'm really glad you enjoyed this ❤😃

[@kingfisher3011]

Lovely to hear the Welsh accent again and the Yorkshire one 😂 I spent 5 years in Swansea and did a fair bit of conservation work with BTCV and Princes Trust on The Gower

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

😆🤣I'm aware of your relentless efforts for nature, and I salute your work Kev

[@wildlifegardener-tracey6206]

Another excellent interview Joel. Thank you. Always admired Lolo for his enthusiasm and his skill of presenting with such joy his passion for wildlife.Thank goodness he survived those scary episodes with his heart. A great natural interview. Plus the occasional distraction of the amazing Red kite sky dancing in the background, just brilliant.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thanks Tracey, agree with everything you've said. Iolo was an absolute joy to interview. Well done on noticing the red kites behind us, I'd not noticed them at the time and didn't see until I was editing the video. Hope you and yours had a brilliant long weekend - best wishes, Joel

[@jelee5240]

An absolute joyful interview. What a wonderful person.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

He certainly is, an absolute joy to interview and I could speak to Iolo for days on end and not get bored 😊 So glad you enjoyed this, best wishes - Joel

[@muddyboots2531]

I love the way you are making friends Joel, because nature needs a strong, united front. I like to think of all the people that watch you as a "friend base" too, not just a fan base. 🧑‍🤝‍🧑🧑‍🤝‍🧑🧑‍🤝‍🧑

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you, so much. I've known Iolo for a long while now but with all his work abroad too, it's so difficult to keep up but he's always been supportive of the work I've been doing. I really like your description of a friend-base, I hope the channel continues to grow and that more and more people think about helping wildlife in their own gardens, wherever in the world they may be. Thanks ever so much for your support and encouragement, it makes a huge difference :) Best wishes, Joel

[@petervincent4461]

Brilliant interview

[@D-H-D]

Fantastic interview. I was smiling all the way through - what a charismatic chap with some cracking stories.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Agreed! Loved every minute he spared for me, and so glad that you enjoyed this, thanks so much for the support - best wishes, Joel

[@iforester4449]

A really interesting interview - you asked brilliant questions and got wonderful replies.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

What a compliment, to us both - really grateful, thank you

[@dcvariousvids8082]

The thought of the Beeb turning up on location, with a single tent big enough to swing a trapeze in, really made me chuckle. As to this presentation - having both you and Iolo together and his reminiscents has been great. Both passionate, both down to earth and both so knowledgeable. Thank you.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you, I'm so glad you enjoyed this. There's always a guaranteed laugh with Iolo around! When I started all these interviews I really wanted it to be without scripts, and to be free-flowing so the viewer could almost feel part of the conversation, rather than a list of questions reeled off. It of course helps when both people know the subject so I'm not saying all interviews can be like this, and it does mean the interviews are longer than most - but the beauty of YT is that these can be watched in digestible chunks 😄Thanks for your support and encouragement, best wishes as always - Joel

[@geo.m1639]

Very intresting interview so far!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hope you managed to watch to the end, rather epic but so much to talk about with Iolo and he's very entertaining :) Best wishes, Joel

[@elaineholden1988]

Born in Mauritius lived in England @ love u guys x

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Wow - I know which country I'd rather be in right now! Thanks so much Elaine, appreciated ❤

[@markosullivan6444]

A wonderful interview, Joel! I have a short attention span so often watch long videos in several sessions. This one, I watched all in one go. Iolo is such an inspirational guy, I really enjoyed this!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you Mark, thankfully these interviews can be watched in chunks, but I know exactly what you mean... I could have spoken to Iolo for days on end. I've said it already but feel it's worth reiterating that Iolo is down-to-earth, speaks with utter conviction, has gravitas and really does give a voice to nature wherever and whenever he can. So glad that you enjoyed this, I know he'll be so pleased to read these comments, thank you again. Hope you had an enjoyable long weekend, best wishes - Joel

[@george-1961]

Got to say Joel, I totally enjoyed this insightful interview with Iolo. Saw the chiffchaff at the beginning of the video 👌😊

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

So glad you got to see it George, and really pleased you enjoyed it. Better, you now know not only what a Chiffchaff sounds like, but you'll be able to ID them too.

[@matthewwakeham2206]

He's a great storyteller! This video deserves more views.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thanks Matthew, I of course absolutely agree re Iolo's ability to be himself, he's no one's fool and is refreshingly honest and I hope this video will reach more people. I find that with the interviews they're slow-burners and then one day they just seem to pick-up. Thanks for the encouragement and support. Best wishes, Joel

[@Hunter-type]

Volunteering is such a great way to gain experience feel like you're doing something very worthwhile ... I got a job as a Drugs worker, only because I volunteered for the same organisation first.... zero experience other than life experience. Great interview, love Iolo.

[@janestringer7225]

What a treat! Really enjoyed this interview with Iolo, so interesting to listen to you both . A great channel, Joel 😊

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you Jane, that means a lot, it really does. Such an engaging man and so approachable and down-to-earth and it really was good to catch up again with him properly. Hope you've had a good long weekend, best wishes - Joel

[@mrsrabbitsmoments8854]

Fascinating 🌿

[@oldgold1100]

Thoroughly enjoyed this interview, Thank you.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

So good to hear this, I really enjoyed interviewing Iolo if it's not clear in the video! I could have spoken to him for days and it was so good to catch up with him and know that he's the same gentleman... honest, knowledgeable and a joy to be around. Thank you, best wishes - Joel

[@TheDavcoll]

Best youtube video I have seen in a very long time.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you, so much. That really does mean a lot. Iolo is a fantastic interviewee, down-to-earth, knowledgeable and he's no-one's fool. As someone else rightly said, he needs to be on TV more :) So glad you enjoyed this. Best wishes, Joel

[@1965Ady]

Best video I’ve watched in a long, long time on you tube.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thanks Ady, I really appreciate this. I don't need to say that Iolo is just great to be around - conviction, honesty and so very amiable. I'm really glad you enjoyed this. Very best wishes - Joel

[@missloz1234]

An amazing interview! I love Iolo! I am the exact same person as him I can relate to the bird nests, I have been fascinated from a young age and can spot them anywhere.😊 birds are my passion x

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Glad you enjoyed this - am hoping that when Iolo gets a chance he can see some of the wonderful comments about him here, he certainly deserves all the praise! Best wishes, have a good weekend and I hope you get to see lots of birds busy making nests for new ones :) Best wishes, Joel

[@missloz1234]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton thanks Joel have a fab weekend!

[@twotonenavy]

This was a fascinating interview. What an inspirational man! A wonderful lifetime of conservation and sharing with others! I wish we had Spring Watch, Autumn Watch, or Winter Watch here. I love his emphasis on planting NATIVE to help wildlife! Keep up the great work, my friend! I can't wait for the next interview (would love to see you interview Isabella Tree! Her book Wilding was fantastic! I also would love to see something with Douglas Tallamy.) Well done, again! Best wishes - John

[@SisterDogmata]

Hey Joel! I could have listened to him talking for hours! You both seemed so relaxed, it was like watching two people chatting. (Rather than an interview!) I'm definitely with you both on fake grass! Not very impressed with fake climbing plants either. Lovely to see the whales, right place right time! We're very lucky to have Kites here in Staffs, always a joy to see and hear them. Best wishes.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thanks so much for this, I knew you'd enjoy it! I could have talked for many more hours, in fact we did afterwards and it was a joy to catch up properly and to share the conversation with everyone. I always intended these interviews to be relaxed and without any script, and just as you say, allowing the viewer to be part of the conversation almost, or watching two people having a good chat. I have to say Iolo is the most amiable and down-to-earth person, it's clear that conservation and nature are his boss and his honesty was much appreciated. I took some photos of our local garden centre selling that plastic "climbing" stuff for trellis and privacy and it just makes me wonder how people can look at that and think it's a better investment than a natural climber.... hopefully more and more people will realise but there's a lot of people to convert yet. I'm just grateful for all the viewers here, knowing that the numbers are increasing daily and so many more habitats are being made. Great re the Kites and Swifts, really good to hear. Very best wishes to you and yours - Joel

[@SisterDogmata]

I think you're doing a great job converting folk to a better way of looking after their gardens. I was so glad to find your channel when I wanted a wildlife friendly garden and so nice you have so many followers who feel the same. The interviews and tours are an added bonus I always enjoy. Best wishes@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you, it's been a pretty hard day today, so I really appreciate your continued encouragement and support, messages like yours keep me going :)

[@lotus.b.lazuli2020]

Ah, I see what you mean now! Yes, those experiences are so sacred. It's just being allowed into their world for a moment, even if it's only a matter of seconds or minutes; nature still teaches you so much if you're paying attention.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Absolutely they are - hope you enjoyed this with Iolo, such a brilliant person to interview :) Best wishes, Joel

[@lotus.b.lazuli2020]

​@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton It's a great longform interview/casual garden chat. Allowed you both to talk about things in greater detail. What a bloke!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

@@lotus.b.lazuli2020 Thank you, I agree, I could chat to Iolo for days on end!

[@flowerfairy1950]

Thanks Joel a very interesting interview. Being in Oz since 1971, I don't know the gentleman or programmes (have seen the odd Springwatch). What I do find interesting are comments from various U-Tubers in Wales who say how poor Wales is for the environmenr. Very little interest from people in the environment and apparently a lot of opposition from farmers re proposed rewilding.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Glad you enjoyed this :) I'm afraid a lot of the UK is like this, there are people continuing to fight for the environment and nature of course but with the news that surrounds us it seems an ongoing and increasing battle. Best wishes, Joel

[@flowerfairy1950]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton I have no idea how you guys stay strong and positive 💪

[@coletterobertson2035]

Fantastic video! Was so excited when I saw you were interviewing Iolo 😊

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Imagine what I was like once I'd tracked him down and arranged it! Seriously though, so glad you enjoyed this - so engaging, so down to earth, so honest... so Iolo! Thanks Colette, so much - best wishes, Joel

[@Paula-he7qe]

Fantastic thank you so much Joel Lolo is the last King of wales. Just a heads up Alans book The thin green line in paperback selling on amazon for £3.99 so far a very good book thanks again Joel.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you Paula, so much. I have to agree with you re Iolo! I bought the books directly from Alan to support him, I got 3 different ones and all signed with a personal message, he posts them out really quickly too :) Very best wishes, and thank you again - Joel

[@ChopsyMiche]

What a beautiful chilled out interview. This was so very interesting. I loved this💜 I definitely had my heart strings pulled when Lolo talked of his childhood. I took a wander down memory lane, I too spent my childhood surrounded by nature. I had to immerse myself every single day. I am so glad that seed was sown in such early years. It is with me for the rest of my days. That wonderfully deep feeling you get when you feel at one with nature, that is the seed I am talking of. It was wonderful to see the passion radiating from you too guys. I really felt that, it was beautiful. Thank you so much for this🌻

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

So glad you managed to get time to see this Miche, I've not got out into the garden this weekend due to the storms, but I bought something pretty special for the front garden yesterday... hoping next weekend I can get them in and do a video when it's a lot less windy but I know it's going to be considered controversial for "usual" gardeners! Hope you've had a good weekend, best wishes - Joel

[@ChopsyMiche]

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Ooooh, this sounds exciting. Can't wait to see what it is🪻

[@hannahhartley579]

What a man Iolo Williams is ❤️ brilliant video!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

He certainly is Hannah, an absolute joy to interview and no-one's fool 😃 So glad you enjoyed this, best wishes - Joel

[@hannahhartley579]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton enjoy all your videos!! I’ve learned loads from you your a true inspiration keep up the good work 😊

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

@@hannahhartley579 Thanks so much again Hannah, after a pretty hard day your message was just what I needed! Really appreciate you taking the time, it makes a difference and I'm so glad the channel is helping more people help more wildlife 😃

[@hannahhartley579]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 😊❤️

[@sharonbell7335]

Really enjoyed the interview. I love Iolo.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thanks Sharon, hope you made it to the end - he's a great guy and we need to see more of him! Best wishes, Joel

[@sharonbell7335]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton I did watch it all! Thanks

[@blue2mato312]

Something is going on with your sound on the latest videos. Or perhaps it’s intentional? In the birdbox long video the sound was only coming from one speaker (the right for me) and in this it’s weirdly stereosplit so Mr. Williams only comes through on the right and you only on the left.

[@blue2mato312]

Since this took my attention away I started the video over and your intro music presents normally through both speakers. It’s just the rest that is off.

[@UkAmphibians]

@@blue2mato312sound was fine for me 🐸💚🐸

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Sorry about that - I just watched a few seconds with ear-pods to test and it seems fine.... Thank you for letting me know though :)

[@curious9801]

Wonderful, interesting interview! 👍 so sorry to hear ot lolos health issues.heart related, and a clot! . just a thought, did he have the COVID injections???😳

[@kingfisher3011]

Some other folks you could interview Dave Goulson Derek Gow Isabella Tree Jan Miller

[@jane9875]

I'm from Iolo's neck of the woods diddorol iawn

[@Hunter-type]

Joel I see a Meadow there waiting to happen....

[@Ronnie-ci3nq]

Can definitely recommend full face snorkel mask 👍

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thanks Ronnie - wish I'd known this whilst in Panama, I'm yet to upload the footage of that part of the journey but hopefully soon and I know for next time! Thank you, best wishes - Joel

[@Ronnie-ci3nq]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Just make sure you get one that shuts at the first sign of being submerged otherwise you’ll get a mouth full of sea water! 😂. Cracking interview by the way, Iolo is an absolute national treasure and would love more content like this with him, keep up the great work 👍

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

@@Ronnie-ci3nq 🤣you should see the out-takes from Panama! But good advice. Glad you enjoyed the interview, he's a great guy and I enjoyed every moment, could speak to him for days. Thanks ever so much for the support and encouragement, I have another interview booked for July and can't wait to share it with you all, it will also involve the Beagle, Darwin's ship... just to add to the intrigue! Best wishes, Joel