Pens of the Earth’s book Wild Seas, Wilder Cities launched on 21st October 2024 at the Portsmouth Guildhall’s Lens Studio. Jackie Green reports.
Environmental events can be a hard sell but Pens of the Earth’s launch night for their book Wild Seas, Wilder Cities was anything but. This event – held in the Guildhall’s wonderfully intimate Lens Studio and expertly compered by Vin Adams – brought together writers, poets, environmental speakers, activists, crafters and even an amazing rubbish monster under the Pens banner. It was a huge celebration of both the publication of their collective works and the dedication of Helen Salsbury and the team who made it happen.
The tone of the evening was set by Helen’s opening words, ‘Every oak tree started out as a couple of nuts who stood their ground.’ (Henry David Thoreau) Helen stressed that there were many different voices in Wild Seas, Wilder Cities, and that people had been hugely generous with their time and talent in inspiring and shaping the book.
The night started with an introduction by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Jason Fazackarley, and was followed by a chorus line of poets and short story writers who created cameos of ordinary people doing extraordinary things – group beach cleans, children discovering the simple wonders of beach life, finding mermaid purses and exploring the ways of sea creatures. We heard about women arguing over how they could help phase out single use plastics, and Alison Habens’ poem ‘Southsea but Plastic Free’ also hit home.
The winners and highly commended authors of the Pens of the Earth poetry and short story competition – Tamsin Hopkins, Tina MacNaughton, Helen Scadding (sadly unable to attend due to Covid), Rio Bivens and Denise Bennett – read their work out before collecting their prizes. The judges had a truly difficult job picking these final winners from the many excellent submissions.
Jenni Jones spoke enthusiastically on the ‘Streets for People’ schemes around Portsmouth that are reclaiming spaces for pedestrians and encouraging safer, car-free school runs. This chimed with competition judge Toby Litt’s words about why stories and poems which speak of community are vital. Ellie Parker of the Solent Seagrass Restoration Project told us how all proceeds from the book sales will be used to help fund their vital work going forward and Brooke Wain from the University of Portsmouth explained how enzymes help with the plastic problem.
This had all the energy of a pop concert, coupled with the excitement of a book launch. The performances, huge variety of work, innovative crafts and talks all ensured the message, enthusiasm and quality of Wild Seas, Wilder Cities shone through. The delighted, close-to-capacity audience obviously agreed: sales of £1,100 were made from the book and the marvellous litter art (gorgeous bags and textiles made with litter). Thanks to individual donations, ticket sales and the generosity of the Guildhall, the launch evening raised a grand total of £1616.68 for Seagrass Restoration in the Solent.
Helen’s other quote, ‘A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality’ (John Lennon) couldn’t have been more apt. The book’s ethos is ‘local action wherever you are’ and this event gave us a huge understanding of just how people are making this happen, in Portsmouth and beyond. The sales from this book will be a huge boost for the Solent Seagrass Restoration Project and everyone involved in its publication can be proud of making this particular dream come true. If you would like to be part of this dream and own a book that champions positive environmental action in a way you not only understand, but can’t wait to take part in, then this book is a must buy. That’s Christmas sorted!
All details of where to buy can be found on our book page.
Photo courtesy and used by permission of Richard Salsbury.
