The Coasts in Mind project set out to document and preserve our coastal heritage while exploring how communities can build resilience in the face of change. Working with partners across four distinct sites: Sefton Coast, the Taw Torridge Estuary, Poole Harbour and the Swale Estuary, Squeaky Pedal were commissioned to create a short, impactful film to introduce the project and inspire people to explore its wider digital platform.

Our approach combined cinematic new footage with evocative archival photographs, postcards and animated overlays to highlight the changing coastlines. Just as importantly, we brought in the voices of local people, whose stories and memories reveal how communities have lived with, adapted to and celebrated these environments over time.

The resulting 60 second film was designed for social media: visually striking, concise and accessible, with subtitles to ensure inclusivity. Alongside stunning drone imagery, it carried a strong call to action, encouraging audiences to connect with the Coasts in Mind platform and contribute their own experiences of the coast.

By weaving together heritage, lived experience and environmental urgency, the project demonstrates how film can capture both the beauty and the fragility of our coastline, reminding us all why protecting these places for the future matters so deeply.