Alison Stenning
@alisonstenning.bsky.social
Geographer - Professor - Mum - Playing - #playstreets - Cycling - #kidicalmass - #WarOnCars - Walking - Noticing - Green - North Tyneside - North Shields - 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.
The statue is the work of Keith Barrett, an artist working in Shields for decades, responsible for, amongst other public art, the incidental and playful installations in “the triangle”, Shields’ only homezone.
keithbarrett.co.uk/north-shield...
keithbarrett.co.uk/north-shield...
November 21, 2025 at 12:17 PM
The statue is the work of Keith Barrett, an artist working in Shields for decades, responsible for, amongst other public art, the incidental and playful installations in “the triangle”, Shields’ only homezone.
keithbarrett.co.uk/north-shield...
keithbarrett.co.uk/north-shield...
The wooden dolly trapped in the library used to stand on this now empty plinth, looking down Howard St to the river and, now, Mary Ann Macham’s statue.
November 21, 2025 at 12:17 PM
The wooden dolly trapped in the library used to stand on this now empty plinth, looking down Howard St to the river and, now, Mary Ann Macham’s statue.
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”.
More 67 on our workshop Padlet today. I could probably write a paper on why 67 is the answer to this question.
November 20, 2025 at 7:37 PM
More 67 on our workshop Padlet today. I could probably write a paper on why 67 is the answer to this question.
The Covid Inquiry report underlines how lockdown “brought ordinary childhood to a halt”, diminishing - with real implications - children’s opportunities to play, see friends, and socialise.
November 20, 2025 at 6:44 PM
The Covid Inquiry report underlines how lockdown “brought ordinary childhood to a halt”, diminishing - with real implications - children’s opportunities to play, see friends, and socialise.
So much of this could be said more broadly for play for children and young people - the safety, accessibility and inclusivity of our neighbourhood outdoor spaces in the context of the climate crisis is a growing challenge.
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
November 20, 2025 at 11:20 AM
So much of this could be said more broadly for play for children and young people - the safety, accessibility and inclusivity of our neighbourhood outdoor spaces in the context of the climate crisis is a growing challenge.
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
6 o’clock this morning in North Shields -
November 20, 2025 at 7:29 AM
6 o’clock this morning in North Shields -
Proper snow on the way to the metro -
November 19, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Proper snow on the way to the metro -
A thought-provoking couple of hours at a roundtable organised by @drhick.bsky.social & @catherinemax.bsky.social on objects (signs, barriers, fences, etc) in public space and their relationship to access, belonging and more, against the backdrop of the Farrell Centre’s Keep on the Grass exhibition.
November 18, 2025 at 1:25 PM
A thought-provoking couple of hours at a roundtable organised by @drhick.bsky.social & @catherinemax.bsky.social on objects (signs, barriers, fences, etc) in public space and their relationship to access, belonging and more, against the backdrop of the Farrell Centre’s Keep on the Grass exhibition.
I haven't got much to add to the general horror at Labour's migration plans, but the bizarre focus on ebikes as assets seems to serve - intentionally perhaps - to increase the stigmatisation of ebike riders (read: delivery drivers) still further and undermine migrants' everyday mobilities.
November 17, 2025 at 10:34 AM
I haven't got much to add to the general horror at Labour's migration plans, but the bizarre focus on ebikes as assets seems to serve - intentionally perhaps - to increase the stigmatisation of ebike riders (read: delivery drivers) still further and undermine migrants' everyday mobilities.
The Tyne at North Shields, with the High Light and the Low Light, looking just stunning in the autumnal light earlier this afternoon.
November 16, 2025 at 6:06 PM
The Tyne at North Shields, with the High Light and the Low Light, looking just stunning in the autumnal light earlier this afternoon.
A fishy corner of Shields -
November 15, 2025 at 12:07 PM
A fishy corner of Shields -
Much to the delight of my 14 year old, my first year students got “67” into my Urban Geography lecture word clouds today. First just one, but when I spotted and discussed it, more in the second slide.
November 12, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Much to the delight of my 14 year old, my first year students got “67” into my Urban Geography lecture word clouds today. First just one, but when I spotted and discussed it, more in the second slide.
(Amusingly, Pic Collage offered me these as designs)
November 7, 2025 at 3:15 PM
(Amusingly, Pic Collage offered me these as designs)
It’s apparently trolley season in Jarrow - looked like lots had been used (and abused) for Halloween and Bonfire Night, but also just for moving stuff round the streets - and for playing in and with.
November 7, 2025 at 3:15 PM
It’s apparently trolley season in Jarrow - looked like lots had been used (and abused) for Halloween and Bonfire Night, but also just for moving stuff round the streets - and for playing in and with.
Whilst I was in Jarrow, I popped to see this skatepark.
It’s not really been repaired, there’s lots of burnt debris - and the access traffic lights are out again.
I’ll follow this all up, but these less glamorous aspects of play provision need as much attention as the headlines.
It’s not really been repaired, there’s lots of burnt debris - and the access traffic lights are out again.
I’ll follow this all up, but these less glamorous aspects of play provision need as much attention as the headlines.
November 7, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Whilst I was in Jarrow, I popped to see this skatepark.
It’s not really been repaired, there’s lots of burnt debris - and the access traffic lights are out again.
I’ll follow this all up, but these less glamorous aspects of play provision need as much attention as the headlines.
It’s not really been repaired, there’s lots of burnt debris - and the access traffic lights are out again.
I’ll follow this all up, but these less glamorous aspects of play provision need as much attention as the headlines.
Today I attended an update from
Jarrow Forward, the board leading Jarrow’s Plan for Neighbourhoods work.
A lot of important initiatives but I’m especially excited to see our research and advocacy around play being picked up and placed at the heart of the plan.
@ncl-geography.bsky.social
Jarrow Forward, the board leading Jarrow’s Plan for Neighbourhoods work.
A lot of important initiatives but I’m especially excited to see our research and advocacy around play being picked up and placed at the heart of the plan.
@ncl-geography.bsky.social
November 7, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Today I attended an update from
Jarrow Forward, the board leading Jarrow’s Plan for Neighbourhoods work.
A lot of important initiatives but I’m especially excited to see our research and advocacy around play being picked up and placed at the heart of the plan.
@ncl-geography.bsky.social
Jarrow Forward, the board leading Jarrow’s Plan for Neighbourhoods work.
A lot of important initiatives but I’m especially excited to see our research and advocacy around play being picked up and placed at the heart of the plan.
@ncl-geography.bsky.social
I’m selling my Riese & Muller Cruiser 2 Mixte Vario.
It’s a lovely bike, I’m just not using it.
Full specs in pics below.
It’s 2 years old and done 2600 miles. Just been serviced.
Tyneside.
Niche so please share!
www.facebook.com/share/1AGbtx...
If you’re not on FB, can share more via DM.
It’s a lovely bike, I’m just not using it.
Full specs in pics below.
It’s 2 years old and done 2600 miles. Just been serviced.
Tyneside.
Niche so please share!
www.facebook.com/share/1AGbtx...
If you’re not on FB, can share more via DM.
November 6, 2025 at 5:15 PM
I’m selling my Riese & Muller Cruiser 2 Mixte Vario.
It’s a lovely bike, I’m just not using it.
Full specs in pics below.
It’s 2 years old and done 2600 miles. Just been serviced.
Tyneside.
Niche so please share!
www.facebook.com/share/1AGbtx...
If you’re not on FB, can share more via DM.
It’s a lovely bike, I’m just not using it.
Full specs in pics below.
It’s 2 years old and done 2600 miles. Just been serviced.
Tyneside.
Niche so please share!
www.facebook.com/share/1AGbtx...
If you’re not on FB, can share more via DM.
This is Siren, the print and the mural.
November 6, 2025 at 5:05 PM
This is Siren, the print and the mural.
Very happy to have got my hands on a commemorative print of Prefab77’s Net Worth. Not quite as impressive as the mural itself, but looking forward to getting it up alongside his Siren (a fundraising print of the first North Shields trail mural) in our new house soon.
November 6, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Very happy to have got my hands on a commemorative print of Prefab77’s Net Worth. Not quite as impressive as the mural itself, but looking forward to getting it up alongside his Siren (a fundraising print of the first North Shields trail mural) in our new house soon.
Really sad to see this; this is a skatepark close to the school and community with whose children I’ve been researching over the past 2 years, and just more evidence of the precarious provision of play in Jarrow. Pleased to see at least that it’s been repaired so quickly.
November 6, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Really sad to see this; this is a skatepark close to the school and community with whose children I’ve been researching over the past 2 years, and just more evidence of the precarious provision of play in Jarrow. Pleased to see at least that it’s been repaired so quickly.
At a trustees’ meeting at Shiremoor Adventure Playground last night, and the playworkers reported an average of 50-60 kids at after-school sessions through October. And a massive 422 visitors (children & adults) for the Halloween playday. It’s such an important place.
November 6, 2025 at 8:59 AM
At a trustees’ meeting at Shiremoor Adventure Playground last night, and the playworkers reported an average of 50-60 kids at after-school sessions through October. And a massive 422 visitors (children & adults) for the Halloween playday. It’s such an important place.
We spotted this duck yesterday and weren’t sure what he was. He looks a bit like a shoveler but his beak is white. Can you help? On the River Allen in Northumberland.
November 3, 2025 at 10:28 AM
We spotted this duck yesterday and weren’t sure what he was. He looks a bit like a shoveler but his beak is white. Can you help? On the River Allen in Northumberland.