Once hunted to extinction, the Eurasian beaver is now making a long-awaited return to England, bringing with it a wealth of benefits for English rivers, wetlands, wildlife and people. Hope For Our Rivers is a short documentary that explores how this one species can transform degraded landscapes, reduce flooding, support biodiversity, and reconnect people with the natural world.
Through expert interviews and captivating wildlife footage, the film traces the history of the Eurasian beaver disappearance and reintroduction, highlights the ecological benefits they can bring to our landscapes, and addresses common fears and misconceptions about them. Hope For Our Rivers encourages viewers to see the beaver not just as a returning species, but as a catalyst for a wilder, more resilient future shaped by coexistence alongside nature’s ecological engineers. At a time when nature recovery is more urgent than ever, the film offers a hopeful vision of how working with wildlife can support both people and the planet, inspiring support for wild beaver reintroductions across the country.
For the post film Q&A, we will be hosting Elliott Kean, Wilder Engagement Officer with Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. Elliott leads tours of Nottinghamshire's beaver project and is one of the contributors featured in the film. The Q&A is open to all but will focus on mythbusting and building support for wild releases of beavers in Nottinghamshire.
The creators of the film, sisters Eleanor and Abigail Salisbury, will also be available to answer questions about the film, how the project came to be, and the filming process.
