Chris Packham
Knowledge Protects Nature
Special Collection
Chris Packham and Cobbett Road Library
Chris Packham, who grew up only a mile from Cobbett Road library, said he spent every Saturday afternoon there from the age of five to 16 and has supported the Friends of Cobbett Road Library's past campaigns against cuts to public library services.
Chris, at the time, used inspiring words to explain how the library helped him to "significantly supplement" his education. "I read, revised, plotted and schemed; I dreamed and devised a life in those semi-silent rooms," he said. "And now libraries are so, so much more: Cobbett Road Library is many things to many people of all ages and all walks of life”.
You can read more about the event here on Bitternepark.info and also watch a video of the unveiling.
Photo (right): some of the Friends of Cobbett Road Library at the unveiling of the library new mural with Chris Packham (13th July 2024), photo courtesy of Friends of Bitterne Station.
Chris Packham, who grew up only a mile from Cobbett Road library, said he spent every Saturday afternoon there from the age of five to 16 and has supported the Friends of Cobbett Road Library's past campaigns against cuts to public library services.
Chris, at the time, used inspiring words to explain how the library helped him to "significantly supplement" his education. "I read, revised, plotted and schemed; I dreamed and devised a life in those semi-silent rooms," he said. "And now libraries are so, so much more: Cobbett Road Library is many things to many people of all ages and all walks of life”.
You can read more about the event here on Bitternepark.info and also watch a video of the unveiling.
Photo (right): some of the Friends of Cobbett Road Library at the unveiling of the library new mural with Chris Packham (13th July 2024), photo courtesy of Friends of Bitterne Station.
Knowledge Protects Nature
To celebrate the work of Chris in campaigning for nature and educating audiences on the climate crisis, Friends of Cobbett Road Library have worked with local artist Joanna Rose Tidey to commission a mural for the library –as part of the ‘Nature all around us’ project led by Friends of Bitterne Station and funded by South Western Railways Customer and Communities Improvement Fund 2023/24. The artwork shows some of Chris Packham's books and a fox, his favourite mammal. It is entitled ‘Knowledge protects nature’, to remind everyone of the importance of knowledge and books in the mission to protect wildlife and the planet.
The original artwork is displayed inside the library, while a large scale reproduction on the front wall of the library has been unveiled by Chris himself on the 13th of July 2024.
To celebrate the work of Chris in campaigning for nature and educating audiences on the climate crisis, Friends of Cobbett Road Library have worked with local artist Joanna Rose Tidey to commission a mural for the library –as part of the ‘Nature all around us’ project led by Friends of Bitterne Station and funded by South Western Railways Customer and Communities Improvement Fund 2023/24. The artwork shows some of Chris Packham's books and a fox, his favourite mammal. It is entitled ‘Knowledge protects nature’, to remind everyone of the importance of knowledge and books in the mission to protect wildlife and the planet.
The original artwork is displayed inside the library, while a large scale reproduction on the front wall of the library has been unveiled by Chris himself on the 13th of July 2024.
Chris Packham Special Collection at Cobbett Road Library
Furthermore, inspired by the work of Chris and his love for nature and wildlife, as well as books and libraries, Friends of Cobbett Road Library are working with the Council Library Service to provide a new Special Collection, hosted at Cobbett Road Library. This will focus on learning about our planet, protecting wildlife, reconnecting with nature and inviting readers to engage with stories that have nature and wildlife at the core. The Special Collection will include a wide range of children's titles, non-fiction books, stories for teenagers and young people, as well as fiction and non-fiction work for adults.
Roberta from FCRL highlighted, “We hope that this collection will inspire many to reconnect with local nature and help engage with actions to #RestoreNatureNow, Chris Packham's recent national campaign. It will also add to the unique heritage of the local library, making it a destination point for families and residents who want to learn more about these themes”.
Local groups such as Friends of Bitterne Station, Friends of Chessel Bay, Friends of Riverside Park, Southampton National Park City, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and many others are doing amazing work around the city and we hope this new collection will inspire new generations to value and protect nature.
The Friends will start the new collection with a donation of £800 from their local fundraising efforts, but members of the community are also invited to support the project by suggesting new inspiring titles, or by making a donation towards the purchase of a specific book. If you would like to contribute - use the form below or get in touch with [email protected]
Furthermore, inspired by the work of Chris and his love for nature and wildlife, as well as books and libraries, Friends of Cobbett Road Library are working with the Council Library Service to provide a new Special Collection, hosted at Cobbett Road Library. This will focus on learning about our planet, protecting wildlife, reconnecting with nature and inviting readers to engage with stories that have nature and wildlife at the core. The Special Collection will include a wide range of children's titles, non-fiction books, stories for teenagers and young people, as well as fiction and non-fiction work for adults.
Roberta from FCRL highlighted, “We hope that this collection will inspire many to reconnect with local nature and help engage with actions to #RestoreNatureNow, Chris Packham's recent national campaign. It will also add to the unique heritage of the local library, making it a destination point for families and residents who want to learn more about these themes”.
Local groups such as Friends of Bitterne Station, Friends of Chessel Bay, Friends of Riverside Park, Southampton National Park City, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and many others are doing amazing work around the city and we hope this new collection will inspire new generations to value and protect nature.
The Friends will start the new collection with a donation of £800 from their local fundraising efforts, but members of the community are also invited to support the project by suggesting new inspiring titles, or by making a donation towards the purchase of a specific book. If you would like to contribute - use the form below or get in touch with [email protected]
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Further books we would like to add to the collection.
If you would like to purchase one of this book for the library, please complete the form on the side and we will send you details on how to make your donation to the collection. Titles available to sponsor and suggested donation (this list is updated regularly as books get sponsored):
Children / Young people 1) Tree Full of Wonder: An educational, rhyming book about magic of trees for children by Anna Smithers (Author), Martyna Nejman (Illustrator) £8 2) The Leaf Thief: Children will love this laugh-out-loud picture book about the changing seasons! by Alice Hemming (Author), Nicola Slater (Illustrator) £8 3) Ocean Full of Wonder: An educational, rhyming book about the magic of the ocean for children by Anna Smithers (Author), Martyna Nejman (Illustrator) £8 4) The Odd Fish: A new illustrated children’s picture book with a powerful message about plastic pollution in the ocean and looking after our environment £8 5) How Timmy Saved the Earth: A Rhyming Adventure in Resourcefulness by Maya Maria Brown (Author), Milan Samadder (Illustrator) £9 Non-Fiction
6) Everyday Activism: How to Change the World in Five Minutes, One Hour or a Day Kindle Edition by Rachel England (Author) £8 7) Earth Calling: A Climate Change Handbook for the 21st Century Kindle Edition by Ellen Gunter (Author), Ted Carter (Author), Caroline Myss (Foreword) £10 8) Losing Eden: Why Our Minds Need the Wild Paperback by Lucy Jones (Author) £10 9) Environmental Rights (Stand Up, Speak Out) by Virginia Loh-Hagan (Author) £8 10) Climate Crisis and the Global Green New Deal: The Political Economy of Saving the Planet by Noam Chomsky , Robert Pollin, et al. £11 11) Grounded: How connection with nature can improve our mental and physical wellbeing by Ruth Allen £10 |
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