Elegy For a River is a conservationist's hopeful and charming study of our endangered riverbanks and the creatures that call it home. Picture a riverbank and you will most likely imagine the gentle sweep of a willow tree, the plop of an otter, the splash of a trout, the gentle lapping of the river at its bank. Few will picture the havoc that wreaks beneath the murky surface; the signal crayfish who ravage species and cost the tax payer millions, the mink who are free to prey on helpless water voles, or the pesticides that decimate species of otters. Our rivers are disappearing. Our careless lack of foresight has jeopardised the rivers and the lives of the creatures for whom it is home. But our losses are not irretrievable. There is hope. Tom Moorhouse shows us how years worth of research, fieldwork, patience and pragmatism – not to mention many bitten fingers - can restore our rivers to their natural abundance. He invites us to be a part of this project. Elegy for a River is a deeply personal and concerned love letter to the riverbank.

Through passionate, lively prose and expert knowledge, Tom Moorhouse shows us the peril these rivers face and the glimmers of hope that still dance on their surface. This is a book for nature lovers and fresh-water fans and promises to not only give us a glimpse into the sex lives of water voles, but also the beauty and fragility of our rivers. A funny and impassioned look at the natural world rather than simply being another dose of “we’re doomed” gloom. Tom Moorhouse’s writing reflects the years he’s spent beside rivers, fens, canals, lakes and streams researching British wildlife. A captivating, exquisite and utterly charming read written by a champion of British conservation, it is fascinating, moving and full of heart and although it addresses the changes in wildlife in Britain it doesn't do so in such a melancholy fashion as other similar books. It isn't often those considered experts in their field write and publish their thoughts, experiences and ruminations on the future of conservation, but when they do this is the result — an unforgettable, warm and almost magical read. Highly recommended.

Elegy For a River is an enjoyable, entertaining book about conservation field work, dealing with the day-to-day hands-dirty practicalities but also discussing conservation policy and funding issues. I found myself getting more interested in water voles than I had imagined I would be!

There were lots of footnotes and digressions which worked well with the chatty style of writing. I think they'd be fine with a physical edition of the book, but might cause a problem if your ebook reader doesn't format footnotes well.

A recommended read for everyone, unless you really hate footnotes.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing a review copy in exchange for honest feedback.

Thanks to Random House UK and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book.

An Elegy for a River is a lovely exploration of two species of our rivers: water voles and white clawed crayfish, with an emphasis on the former. Tom takes us through the lives of water voles and his efforts through research to save them.

I really liked Tom's easy writing style and he was very likable. He has a clear passion for these animals and the environments they inhabit. This is sadly set against the back drop of a lack of funding for conservation and an incredible lack of will at the very top to make the changes necessary to sustain life on earth.

The only niggle I have with this book is the excessive use of asterisks (which felt like they were on nearly every page). I'm not sure if this is just a pre-release kindle thing but the formatting for the book meant these sections did not flow properly. They were often mixed up into different paragraphs in the book which required back and forth re-reading to figure out their follow on.

Overall though, I sped through this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in nature and our natural world.

Hats off to you Tom Moorhouse, and a bow from every conservation scientist, enthusiast and nature lover on a truly amazing book!

The authors personality shines through his writing and what is a very witty, funny and honest account of life in conservation. I could tell I was going to love this book from the first page. From the first sentence I was hooked and could effortlessly read on and on and on and just watched the chapters fly by. It’s a very effortless read and so so entertaining.

This book actually made me belly laugh and I was so in solidarity with the author in his experiences of field work, having been there too. It made me proud to be a scientist and avid conservation supporter. It definitely struck a cord and it was just overall, a joy to read. I also love it when authors use footnotes for humour so the book gets an extra 5 thousand stars for that (seriously so funny. I defy anyone to read this book and not break out into laughter - which will get you funny looks if you are in a public place..)

It was beautifully written and flows so well. This is one of those books that you can just effortlessly read and watch the time go by. I hated putting this book down as I just wanted to keep reading!

Throughout the fun anecdotes, authors experiences and tales and conservation insights though, there is an important message that the author so delicately and expertly portrays. That our nature is in danger.

I learnt a lot, I am a self proclaimed water vole expert now after reading this book. I’ve always had a soft spot for these little blighters and was already aware of their plight of sliding off into the dark oblivion of extinction, but now I really have a whole new appreciation for them. The book also delves into the authors experience with crayfish conservation and I can safely say my knowledge of crayfish has sky rocketed from a prior 0% to a solid upper increase.

I loved walking through the authors experiences with him, through adventures on fieldwork, starting PhD studies and ultimately working in a conservation field. The book also shed a very important light in the struggles, pitfalls and difficulties of conservation.

I’d recommend anyone to read this book, whether you are a nature enthusiast, conservationist, armchair water vole lover or avid reader of non fiction of the natural world, it’s a fantastic book and one that’s sure to be enjoyed once read!