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The Brecon Beacons was the last of Wales' national parks to be so dedicated and was established in 1957.

It's name derives from the ancient practice of lighting signal fires or 'beacons' which were used to warn the locals of attacking English armies.

The area of the park is vast, covering 519 square miles of upland moors, mountains, woodland, forest and valleys from Hay-on-Wye in the east to Llandeilo in the west.

The Beacons is famed for its walking and a firm favourite amongst ramblers who come here from all over the world to walk up Pen y Fan - South Wales' highest mountain.

Other nearby summits include Corn Du, Cribyn and Fan y Big. The area also has lakes, reservoirs and waterfalls - including the 27-metre Henrhyd waterfall and the falls at Ystradfellte.

The landscape has changed vastly over the last 1,000 years or so and the forests have all but gone - cut down for farming. Most of the National Park is now bare, grassy moorland grazed by Welsh mountain ponies and Welsh mountain sheep.

The National Park are however addressing this issue and attempting to restore parts of the park back to their former glory. Helicopters now fly in large bales of hay to inaccessible upland areas where the peat bogs have dried up.

The hay bales are used to block off ditches and help trap water in place. Gorse mulch is used to re-populate areas with flowering grasses.

These grasses help prevent flooding as they absorb the water and provide vital new habitat for species such as water vole, dragonflies and other animals.

One of the most noticeable species at home in the park are Welsh mountain ponies, but there are many other, smaller animals of great interest.

Birds of prey such as peregrine falcons, red kites, sparrowhawks, buzzards and merlins are relatively common, but you may also see hen harriers.

Other bird species include the wheatear, whinchat, red grouse and ring ouzel.