'From the moment that these waters were given back their beavers, I knew that I would never wish to return to the time when they were without them . . .'

In November 2021, in a major moment in Scotland’s history, a family of beavers was spared a death sentence and relocated to a Perthshire farm. Their arrival at Argaty, Tom Bowser's home, paved the way for a new era in human–beaver relations.

In this deeply personal account, Tom tells of his attempts to save these incredible animals, of the support and opposition received and of the unimaginable gains that beavers ultimately brought to his home. He also explores the wider themes of rewilding and nature conservation in Scotland, meeting some of the leading lights of this exciting movement, highlighting the work they do, the challenges they face and showing why ecological restoration is so important for the future of our planet.

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'a beautifully written and deeply personal book...Waters of Life offers a vital insight into the frustrations, politics and hopes behind Scotland’s beaver reintroduction efforts'

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'a captivating tale of successful nature conservation in Scotland'

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'A thought provoking and inspiring account of one man's efforts to further the interests of beavers in Scotland. This book makes a significant contribution to an important discussion about what natural Scotland should be'

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 'a story of hope triumphing over despair and bureaucracy'

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'The deeply personal book offers a passionate account ... In a time of climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and political paralysis, the beavers of Argaty offer proof that healing the land is still possible – if we make room for the right kind of wild

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'this book is a must for anyone interested in wildlife or rewilding of the countryside'

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'An unvarnished and persuasive journal of the impact beavers have had on Bowser’s land and on him'

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'an emotive and raw account of the author’s experience of being the first landowner in Scotland to legally relocate beavers'

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'a story of immense personal courage'

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'This is a great read, taking in nature as a whole'