Actual rating: 3.5 / 5

Thoughts on the new Netgalley Shelf:

This was my first time reading something through the new Netgalley shelf app and it was a very smooth experience. Not pleased that it gives you a limited time to read certain arcs though as it throws me back to the stressful time trying to read via my pc. The generous 50 (?) days is a good amount of time though and I guess it insights you to read these books promptly, but I feel stressed seeing the time go down.

Now on to actual relevant book thoughts:

I was excited to see this come up to request because it's a topic that interests me particularly having studied conservation on my animal management degree, I've always had an interest in how species help the environment, the stigma around certain species in relation to their decline in numbers and how to help, and where safe to do so, the reintroduction of species.

Reading how they were hunted and killed nearly to extinction, particularly during the Medieval Ages, was so barbaric and cruel. Yet to see how they've fundamentally always had an essence... a spirit so to speak throughout Europe felt almost magical.

It read almost like a story (at times a bit pretentious) and because of that it was very moreish. I read so many pages without realising how long I was sitting there, being absorbed. It was easy to read and was basically a history of beavers, their extinction within certain areas and their reintroduction. It could almost be read like a hero tale. I loved it and believe that it could be quite accessible with the average consumer, but maybe not so much for people who specialise in reintroduction and perhaps require or prefer more scholarly texts. It was also pretty funny.

I enjoyed the little illustrations between each chapter.

There were a lot of appendices which I was excited for, but quickly found that unfortunately there was no simple way to jump back and fourth to the affect as turning a physical books page would do. Because of this, I had to wait until the completion of the main body of text and so expecting to be hazy on the context, when finally reading the appendix notes, I was happily surprised to see it was just a list of references and not full on additional notes, which I had thought it would be.

The epilogue read so beautifully. The whole piece was lovely to read but here I felt the author felt free to be a little poetic and it left a lasting impression.

I'm fortunate enough to live within walking distance of an urban beaver dam and enjoy viewing "Justin Beaver" and his family throughout the year. I'll enjoy those visits even more now that I've learned more about how beavers benefit our ecosystem. This was an enjoyable read and I'll be recommending that my local library purchase it.

This is a fairly short but entertaining and illuminating account of efforts to restore the beaver to its rightful place in British ecosystems. Gow irreverently explains how conservation and environmental management in the UK often end up working (or don't, as is often the case), gives us a whistle-stop tour of the entwined cultural history of beavers and humans, introduces us to a few particular characters (human and beaver), and makes a passionate and reasoned case for why the beaver matters to us as well as to other species. I was charmed by Gow's unabashed love for beavers; he was not afraid to say that beavers "love" their babies, and for that alone I commend him.

A slightly quirky but good addition to the shelf of any rewilder, environmentalist or amateur naturalist. My one qualm is that of the three women mentioned in the book, one is described as "pretty" and another has an "ample front" (none of the many men in the book are described as "handsome"). Not appropriate, and I hope this will be edited out before the book's publication.

*With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy, in exchange for an honest review*

A brief, well-written and researched piece of conservation about a beavers who are one of the necessary key species of the world. It was gut-wrenching how they were killed to almost extinction because of their pelts but glad somehow they bounced back. Beavers should be left alone for what they do for the environment.

I thought I knew a lot about beavers but I learned more than before. A necessary book for the future of the plane and to sustain the ecosystem. I really appreciate Gow's enthusiasm for this adorable animal. I would be interested in adding this to my animal bookshelf to own after publication. Fantastic insight into the world of beavers. Recommended for any animal lover and/or someone interested in conservation.

Thanks to Netgalley, David Gow, and Chelsea Green Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 9/30/20

I had no idea there were beavers anywhere other than North America. Ever! I mean reading American history books, one would have thought it was miraculous beavers survived in the new world at all with the way their pelts were being shipped back to Europe! Just as surprising is the fact that we still have any woods at all, but that's a whole other issue. Kudos to Derek Gow for bringing this issue to light! Subversive, yet soooo necessary.I enjoyed reading his book, very informative and down to earth read. I get so worn out by the writings of the "professionals.'" Sometimes it's just right that someone who actually lives the life ought to be writing about it from their perspective.

Sometime you read a book where the passion of the author and the beauty of the language is so immersive that you reach the end feeling that you’ve been on an incredible journey. This is a multi-faceted book; an historical exploration of the beaver within Britain and across Mainland Europe; a glorious description of the countryside , wildlife and the atmospheres it provokes but most of all this is a love story to a forgotten and neglected native species and the trials and tribulations to return the beaver to its rightful place in the British landscape. The frustrations and “brick walls” encountered along the way from ill-informed and biased organisations and Government departments is quite frightening when we consider the fragility of the planet and ecosystems. However the perseverance and bloody- minded tenacity of Derek Gow and compatriates finally provides some ray of hope for the future. From a wildlife enthusiast who knew little about the beavers within Europe, this a stunning book- full of fascinating facts blended with comical events and the challenges encountered by Derek. This is a book to be enjoyed but more importantly helps to broaden all of our knowledge about the battles that are to be met when trying to bring a balance back to nature that has been destroyed by man’s greed and short-sightedness. After recent global events,, this book shines a light on the potential that mankind can achieve if it works together.Thank you, Derek , for a beautiful and moving book .