Alison Stenning
@alisonstenning.bsky.social
Geographer - Professor - Mum - Playing - #playstreets - Cycling - #kidicalmass - #WarOnCars - Walking - Noticing - Green - North Tyneside - North Shields - UK
Pinned
Hello 👋 I’m here for the chat about (geographies of) (urban) play and everyday mobility, esp children’s, along with neighbourhoods and community; bits on austerity, class & social change; climate & environment; but also the north-east of England (esp Tyneside); and some higher education too.
Wondering if I’ll manage #treebybike this year, hoping to achieve what I witnessed last year in Zeeland, but definitely worth checking out the hashtag for some festive inspiration.
November 29, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Wondering if I’ll manage #treebybike this year, hoping to achieve what I witnessed last year in Zeeland, but definitely worth checking out the hashtag for some festive inspiration.
Reposted by Alison Stenning
The late 1950s through children's imagination - pop culture, aspirations, tea and sudden death
The 'Lollard Children's Magazine', linked with the Lollard Street adventure playground, gave Lambeth kids a space to express themselves on the page #HistChild
mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/LAH/...
The 'Lollard Children's Magazine', linked with the Lollard Street adventure playground, gave Lambeth kids a space to express themselves on the page #HistChild
mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/LAH/...
November 28, 2025 at 2:48 PM
The late 1950s through children's imagination - pop culture, aspirations, tea and sudden death
The 'Lollard Children's Magazine', linked with the Lollard Street adventure playground, gave Lambeth kids a space to express themselves on the page #HistChild
mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/LAH/...
The 'Lollard Children's Magazine', linked with the Lollard Street adventure playground, gave Lambeth kids a space to express themselves on the page #HistChild
mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/LAH/...
Reposted by Alison Stenning
Britain didn’t get any more hilly between 1949 and 2024.
November 29, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Britain didn’t get any more hilly between 1949 and 2024.
1 Fiesta (inherited, sold)
2 Lada Riva!
3 Corsa (written off by a neighbour dropping a TV on it from third floor window)
4 Fiesta (current car, 22 years old, growing moss)
Not planning to own a 5th.
2 Lada Riva!
3 Corsa (written off by a neighbour dropping a TV on it from third floor window)
4 Fiesta (current car, 22 years old, growing moss)
Not planning to own a 5th.
Introduce yourself with 5 cars you've owned
Car-free
Vauxhall Zafira
Ford Focus
Ford Escort
Ford Escort
I haven't owned 5 cars!
Car-free
Vauxhall Zafira
Ford Focus
Ford Escort
Ford Escort
I haven't owned 5 cars!
Introduce yourself with 5 cars you've owned
*cracks knuckles*
Renault 4
Austin Allegro Equipe
Fiat Strada
Nissan Micra
Mini Cooper Estate
Currently: Škoda Scala, the first time I’ve bought new.
*cracks knuckles*
Renault 4
Austin Allegro Equipe
Fiat Strada
Nissan Micra
Mini Cooper Estate
Currently: Škoda Scala, the first time I’ve bought new.
November 29, 2025 at 7:38 PM
1 Fiesta (inherited, sold)
2 Lada Riva!
3 Corsa (written off by a neighbour dropping a TV on it from third floor window)
4 Fiesta (current car, 22 years old, growing moss)
Not planning to own a 5th.
2 Lada Riva!
3 Corsa (written off by a neighbour dropping a TV on it from third floor window)
4 Fiesta (current car, 22 years old, growing moss)
Not planning to own a 5th.
Reposted by Alison Stenning
I didn't know what to make of the Apollo Pavilion before I went to see it today, but I ended up spending 40 minutes just marvelling at it and taking photos.
November 27, 2025 at 3:21 PM
I didn't know what to make of the Apollo Pavilion before I went to see it today, but I ended up spending 40 minutes just marvelling at it and taking photos.
Reposted by Alison Stenning
Cannot imagine what these families must be going through. This road is so dangerous but it doesn’t seem to matter how many times parents complain of this, cars come first. Hope some people in Newcastle City Council are taking a long hard look at their priorities and working out how to change this.
The collision occurred shortly after 3.30pm on Wednesday
Teen girl suffers life threatening injuries after being hit by car near school
Teen girl suffers life threatening injuries after being hit by car near school
www.chroniclelive.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Cannot imagine what these families must be going through. This road is so dangerous but it doesn’t seem to matter how many times parents complain of this, cars come first. Hope some people in Newcastle City Council are taking a long hard look at their priorities and working out how to change this.
Reposted by Alison Stenning
I spent most of Tuesday following the "Singing Street" around to take photos of the filming locations. It was very hard not to be struck by streets that were once playgrounds now being car parks. In other places there is still a bustle of life, but it is now tourists playing, not skipping girls
November 27, 2025 at 9:27 AM
I spent most of Tuesday following the "Singing Street" around to take photos of the filming locations. It was very hard not to be struck by streets that were once playgrounds now being car parks. In other places there is still a bustle of life, but it is now tourists playing, not skipping girls
Reposted by Alison Stenning
It'd be cool if the "increasing the cost of motoring hurts poor people" people cared anything like as much about cost to people who rely on public transport - who are disproportionately likely to be poor and disabled, and who consistently face far greater increases in cost.
November 26, 2025 at 12:11 PM
It'd be cool if the "increasing the cost of motoring hurts poor people" people cared anything like as much about cost to people who rely on public transport - who are disproportionately likely to be poor and disabled, and who consistently face far greater increases in cost.
Was talking this morning with #playstreets colleagues about how play facilitates "neighbouring"; many past and present play streets have WhatsApp or Facebook groups which developed alongside play street organisation and morphed into more general sources of street support.
Things my street WhatsApp has helped with this year: jumpstarts, missing coats, upcycled crafts, muddy paths, tree-planting, a village green application, toy clear-outs, scout fundraisers, co-ordinated objections to slum landlord plans...
November 26, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Was talking this morning with #playstreets colleagues about how play facilitates "neighbouring"; many past and present play streets have WhatsApp or Facebook groups which developed alongside play street organisation and morphed into more general sources of street support.
Fittingly, I spent this morning co-convening our @playingout.bsky.social Play Streets Forum open space, a lively session thinking about all the amazing work going on in councils & community organisations to support residents reclaiming doorstep space for play. I'm always so impressed by the energy.
10 years ago today we received the closure notice for our very first #playstreet on my street in North Shields; we haven’t played out for a couple of years but I’m still proud of all we did and achieved over the past 10 years, on our street and beyond.
@playingout.bsky.social
@playingout.bsky.social
November 26, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Fittingly, I spent this morning co-convening our @playingout.bsky.social Play Streets Forum open space, a lively session thinking about all the amazing work going on in councils & community organisations to support residents reclaiming doorstep space for play. I'm always so impressed by the energy.
Great to hear that Green Cllr Katie Collier’s pro-play motion was passed yesterday at Worcester City’s full council, focused on enabling more child-friendly neighbourhoods and public spaces, prioritising doorstep play in planning, and play streets.
🙌
www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/2564634...
🙌
www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/2564634...
'Let more children play safely in the street please' says councillor
Cllr Katie Collier says some roads in Worcester could be closed temporarily to through traffic to allow children to play outside
www.worcesternews.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Great to hear that Green Cllr Katie Collier’s pro-play motion was passed yesterday at Worcester City’s full council, focused on enabling more child-friendly neighbourhoods and public spaces, prioritising doorstep play in planning, and play streets.
🙌
www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/2564634...
🙌
www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/2564634...
10 years ago today we received the closure notice for our very first #playstreet on my street in North Shields; we haven’t played out for a couple of years but I’m still proud of all we did and achieved over the past 10 years, on our street and beyond.
@playingout.bsky.social
@playingout.bsky.social
November 26, 2025 at 10:18 AM
10 years ago today we received the closure notice for our very first #playstreet on my street in North Shields; we haven’t played out for a couple of years but I’m still proud of all we did and achieved over the past 10 years, on our street and beyond.
@playingout.bsky.social
@playingout.bsky.social
With the neverending threats of restructuring, new strategies, and transformations - with associated closures and redundancies - this really isn't surprising (and is undoubtedly true for many subjects).
Not the way to run a sector.
Not the way to run a sector.
Precarity is often presented as something that only effects early career researchers or people on fixed term contracts.
Our report found that 45% of geographers on permanent contracts feel precarious.
The implications for the discipline are wide ranging. Read more 👇
www.rgs.org/research/hig...
Our report found that 45% of geographers on permanent contracts feel precarious.
The implications for the discipline are wide ranging. Read more 👇
www.rgs.org/research/hig...
November 26, 2025 at 9:44 AM
With the neverending threats of restructuring, new strategies, and transformations - with associated closures and redundancies - this really isn't surprising (and is undoubtedly true for many subjects).
Not the way to run a sector.
Not the way to run a sector.
Reposted by Alison Stenning
Cat crossing the street, Byker, Newcastle, 1974, photo by Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen.
November 24, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Cat crossing the street, Byker, Newcastle, 1974, photo by Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen.
Reposted by Alison Stenning
Female welder working on the deck of a new ship in Tyneside, 1943, photo by Cecil Beaton (Imperial War Museum).
November 24, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Female welder working on the deck of a new ship in Tyneside, 1943, photo by Cecil Beaton (Imperial War Museum).
Reposted by Alison Stenning
Your dog is frightened of fireworks? I don't know why. The fireworks are only being friendly.
November 23, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Your dog is frightened of fireworks? I don't know why. The fireworks are only being friendly.
Reposted by Alison Stenning
I wrote about skateboarding, Graeber, and Weizenbaum for Mediapolis' special issue on "Playable Cities". Had lots of fun with this one :)
www.mediapolisjournal.com/2025/11/seei...
www.mediapolisjournal.com/2025/11/seei...
Seeing Like a Skater: Skateboarding as Poetic Technology
Reflecting on her experiences of skateboarding in Cairo, New York and other cities as a form of ‘rolling ethnography’, Alia ElKattan positions ‘seeing like a skater’ as a new way to approach urban lan...
www.mediapolisjournal.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:54 AM
I wrote about skateboarding, Graeber, and Weizenbaum for Mediapolis' special issue on "Playable Cities". Had lots of fun with this one :)
www.mediapolisjournal.com/2025/11/seei...
www.mediapolisjournal.com/2025/11/seei...
Reposted by Alison Stenning
Ahh best cycling weather this winter so far 🥰☃️🥰
November 22, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Ahh best cycling weather this winter so far 🥰☃️🥰
Welcome, but will be very curious to see the details (type of playground, geography, etc.)
EXCLUSIVE: Rachel Reeves to plough millions into children's playgrounds after years of Tory neglect
EXCLUSIVE: Rachel Reeves to plough millions into children's playgrounds after years of Tory neglect
Reeves to plough millions into playgrounds after years of Tory neglect
A Treasury source told The Mirror: 'This funding will breathe new life into play areas across England, creating safe, exciting spaces for thousands of children'
www.mirror.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Welcome, but will be very curious to see the details (type of playground, geography, etc.)
EXCLUSIVE: Rachel Reeves to plough millions into children's playgrounds after years of Tory neglect
EXCLUSIVE: Rachel Reeves to plough millions into children's playgrounds after years of Tory neglect
Reposted by Alison Stenning
The latest National Travel Survey clearly questions that old myth about "Active travel is just for the middle classes, what about working people who have to drive?"
November 22, 2025 at 7:28 AM
The latest National Travel Survey clearly questions that old myth about "Active travel is just for the middle classes, what about working people who have to drive?"
Reposted by Alison Stenning
Upcoming Event: Social and Cultural Geography beyond the Academy – Opportunities in Policy and Practice
Friday 28 November, 11.00-12.30, ONLINE (UK)
This event joins academic and non-academic geographers to discuss their transition from the academy into the world beyond
Further info: scgrg.co.uk
Friday 28 November, 11.00-12.30, ONLINE (UK)
This event joins academic and non-academic geographers to discuss their transition from the academy into the world beyond
Further info: scgrg.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Upcoming Event: Social and Cultural Geography beyond the Academy – Opportunities in Policy and Practice
Friday 28 November, 11.00-12.30, ONLINE (UK)
This event joins academic and non-academic geographers to discuss their transition from the academy into the world beyond
Further info: scgrg.co.uk
Friday 28 November, 11.00-12.30, ONLINE (UK)
This event joins academic and non-academic geographers to discuss their transition from the academy into the world beyond
Further info: scgrg.co.uk
Had the pleasure this afternoon of listening to an orchestra of 216 Tyneside 10-18 year olds performing two pieces from Bizet’s Carmen, having only rehearsed together for a day, with my daughter somewhere in there on trumpet.
Youth music is amazing and should be supported everywhere.
Youth music is amazing and should be supported everywhere.
November 21, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Had the pleasure this afternoon of listening to an orchestra of 216 Tyneside 10-18 year olds performing two pieces from Bizet’s Carmen, having only rehearsed together for a day, with my daughter somewhere in there on trumpet.
Youth music is amazing and should be supported everywhere.
Youth music is amazing and should be supported everywhere.
Went to see North Shields’ new Mary Ann Macham statue this morning.
I love that she’s looking out to the mouth of the Tyne, signalling Shields’ maritime histories and those who arrived from distant ports.
She clearly echoes too the other ship figureheads in the town, our “wooden dollies”.
I love that she’s looking out to the mouth of the Tyne, signalling Shields’ maritime histories and those who arrived from distant ports.
She clearly echoes too the other ship figureheads in the town, our “wooden dollies”.
November 21, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Went to see North Shields’ new Mary Ann Macham statue this morning.
I love that she’s looking out to the mouth of the Tyne, signalling Shields’ maritime histories and those who arrived from distant ports.
She clearly echoes too the other ship figureheads in the town, our “wooden dollies”.
I love that she’s looking out to the mouth of the Tyne, signalling Shields’ maritime histories and those who arrived from distant ports.
She clearly echoes too the other ship figureheads in the town, our “wooden dollies”.
Reposted by Alison Stenning
Compare and contrast the Government language.
£3,750 EV grant on a £35k car: ‘helping families’.
Cycle to Work: ‘subsidising leisure’.
And yet cycling delivers TEN TIMES the impact of electric cars for reaching net zero. It’s almost like narrative, not data, is driving policy.
£3,750 EV grant on a £35k car: ‘helping families’.
Cycle to Work: ‘subsidising leisure’.
And yet cycling delivers TEN TIMES the impact of electric cars for reaching net zero. It’s almost like narrative, not data, is driving policy.
November 21, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Compare and contrast the Government language.
£3,750 EV grant on a £35k car: ‘helping families’.
Cycle to Work: ‘subsidising leisure’.
And yet cycling delivers TEN TIMES the impact of electric cars for reaching net zero. It’s almost like narrative, not data, is driving policy.
£3,750 EV grant on a £35k car: ‘helping families’.
Cycle to Work: ‘subsidising leisure’.
And yet cycling delivers TEN TIMES the impact of electric cars for reaching net zero. It’s almost like narrative, not data, is driving policy.
An ITV video here about Mary Ann Macham, and her history in North Shields -
www.itv.com/watch/news/s...
www.itv.com/watch/news/s...
November 21, 2025 at 8:39 AM
An ITV video here about Mary Ann Macham, and her history in North Shields -
www.itv.com/watch/news/s...
www.itv.com/watch/news/s...