A new documentary highlighting inspiring nature restoration projects across the UK has been released.

Sea, Land and City tells a hopeful story of projects already in place to restore nature, tackle environmental crises and improve mental health.

It follows filmmaker Mairead Cahill as she travels across sea, land and city to explore impactful nature-based solutions in action. From replanting lost saltmarsh and seagrass meadows to the reintroduction of beavers, the film highlights efforts to revive the environment in an adventure across Southwest England.

Cahill is the founder of multimedia company Wonderoom, which has co-produced the documentary with partners and supporters Rubber Republic, Triodos Bank, The Crown Estate, Blue Marine Foundation and West of England Combined Authority.

She said, “I wanted to make this film to bring to life the opportunity we have to get behind incredible nature-based solutions across the country and reconnect with nature in ways that support our mental health and wellbeing and the health of our economy and climate.”

Sea, Land and City features inspiring people working to make change happen, whether they are restoring city waterways with floating pontoons or revitalising coastlines to benefit wildlife and communities.

For example, Rich Stockdale, founder of Oxygen Conservation, leading efforts to restore rainforests. Cahill visits one of Oxygen Conservation's projects, the Leighon Estate, in Devon, to explore how it is enhancing biodiversity while paving the way for a future shaped by a nature-connected economy.

Another story is the reintroduction of beavers, where Cahill joins Megan McCubbin, zoologist and Beaver Trust ambassador, on a canoe trip down the River Avon. Together, they discuss the incredible impact of beavers as ecosystem engineers, particularly in flood management.

Also featured is the Solent Seascape Project, a partnership of 10 organisations, including the University of Portsmouth, which restores and reconnects coastal habitats while working with local communities.

Professor Joanne Preston from the university's Institute of Marine Sciences said: “With so much negative news about the decline of nature and our changing climate, this film gives a message of hope.

"It showcases projects that are seeking to change our relationship with nature; communities coming together and acting for positive and powerful change across land, city and sea.”

The documentary estimates that such habitats can provide up to £2 billion of value a year across the region, through carbon, nitrate and phosphate removal, and also points out the potential to scale across the UK, as well as improve biodiversity and abundance of species.

“Many people do not realise the range of wildlife they have on their doorstep”, says marine biologist Theo Vickers who took Cahill to see seagrass meadows in the water around the Isle of Wight. “It’s about saying, well – look what we've got! Get out there and explore it. Take pride in it!”

Sea, Land and City can be watched now on the WaterBear streaming platform.