FROME residents are invited to a special screening of a new documentary exploring the return of beavers to Britain and their impact on local ecosystems.

A screening of Balancing the Scales, a documentary by award-winning filmmaker Nina Constable, will take place at the Merlin Theatre on Friday, September 19 at 7pm. The event is organised by Frome Town Council and Frome Beaver Watch.

The preview screening, ahead of the film’s online release in October, will be followed by a Q&A session with Cllr Sara Butler Bartholomew, Dr Rob Needham, Restoration Manager at Beaver Trust and a featured expert in the film, along with Sophie Ricardo from Frome Beaver Watch and Martin Blain from the Frome & District Angling Association.

Balancing the Scales is a visually stunning and timely exploration of the complex relationship between beavers, fish migration, and wider ecosystem health. Through candid interviews with leading experts, the documentary sheds light on the opportunities — and challenges — that come with beaver reintroduction.

Sophie Ricardo from Frome Beaver Watch said: “In Frome, we’ve already seen that where beavers thrive, life flourishes. It’s never been more important to bring nuance to the conversation about these incredible ecosystem engineers.”

Dr Rob Needham of Beaver Trust said: ‘This documentary demonstrates that beaver-driven habitat restoration and conservation of migratory fish populations need not be at odds. By exploring the latest research in Britain and learning from on-the-ground experiences in countries like Norway and North America, ‘Balancing The Scales’ helps us understand how we can move beyond conflicts and work towards healthier, more resilient ecosystems together.’

The event aims to encourage discussion about coexistence and conservation as beavers become more common in local waterways.

Tickets for the screening are just £5 per person and can be booked via The Merlin Theatre at www.bit.ly/balancingthescalesscreening