The Mystery of the Missing Marsh

Our short documentary follows the community-led restoration of Farway Marsh and the reconnection of the Kit Brook to its historic floodplain. Using natural flood management (NFM) and nature-based solutions, the project team worked with landowners, ecologists and local volunteers to raise the river bed, create scrapes to hold and slow floodwater, hinge trees to mimic natural woody debris dams and generally restore wetland habitat for fish, insects and plants, all the while increasing carbon storage in the floodplain.

The film celebrates collaboration, practical conservation and the power of local action in the River Axe catchment. It also highlights how wetland restoration can improve biodiversity, support species such as trout, water crowfoot and even freshwater leaches, to create resilient landscapes in the face of climate change – following the brief for a lighthearted approach and navigating the challenge of camera-shy ecologists and perpetually busy farmers!