This is 👌 “I am deeply concerned about the kids riding those electric bikes round the neighbourhood yelling 67. No one knows what it means. But it must be stopped.”

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.

📷 Street Photography: In Conversation with Side Join us Mon 24 Nov, 5.30–7pm at Side for an open discussion on the role of street photography in documentary - from the AmberSide Collection and beyond. 🎟 RSVP → sidegallery.co.uk/whats-on/... 📸 T Dan Smith Slide, 1963 © AmberSide Collection

Bizarre chat on Radio 4 Today this moring - Amol Rajan, Michael Gove, and Tom McTague (New Statesman) talking about polarisation and loss of social capital/infrastructures. Banging on about social media and immigation without _any_ recognition that that loss reflects almost two decades of austerity.

Who can make these for me!? I always cycle in mittens in the winter and have some lovely warm Icelandic ones, but these would be even better.

Yes, this is correct. And the reason is because our capitalist classes have decided that it is not sufficiently profitable, so they're not going to do it. We must understand this reality. Capital *cannot* be relied upon to address the climate crisis.

With integrated modes, increased bus frequency and reduced journey times #Newcastle could see 170,700 more people connected to the city centre 📢

Our recent article reflecting on neighbohood play during the first covid-19 lockdown, using Donald Winnicott (and Bonnie Honig and Joanna Kellond) to think about play, space, and care, both in the pandemic and beyond, now has a home in @tibg.bsky.social's December issue. @wendyrussell.bsky.social

A much more positive story, and which testifies to the extraordinary social value of adventure playgrounds: "Two decades ago, [Portsmouth] council chose to prioritise playgrounds and youth clubs to help its poorer families – and the benefits are plain to see" www.theguardian.com/environment/...

‘Similar pressure to London’: the housing crisis reaches Newcastle

This article broke my heart, and underlines the shocking state children’s mental health care today - the erosion of children’s and parents’ rights, unqualified and inexperienced staff, corporations who don’t care, and so much more. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

This is a desperately sad story, one doubtless repeated across the country, but it’s also desperately stupid: “an independent report … estimated the centre is saving the council more than £500,000 a year in costs that include services in mental health, youth justice and social care”

Unless there's an unbreakably valid safety reason why not, all button-operated pedestrian crossings should activate the lights in pedestrians' favour instantly when pressed.

As @zackpolanski.bsky.social says... We need YOU! The local elections in May 2026 are fast approaching and are our chance to make hope normal again in Newcastle 🌱 There's never been a more exciting time to get involved. Join us today join.greenparty.org.uk

Trinity Square car park, Gateshead, 2007, photo by Sally Ann Norman. The 'Get Carter' car park, demolished 2010.

Hulme, Manchester, 1965, by Shirley Baker, 1932-2014 (Café Royal Books).

England has bus routes whose names sound like outlines of a novel.

Find a great-value, eco-friendly gift this Christmas! Visit the Pre-Loved Bike Event at the Linskill Centre, Sat 15 Nov, 10am–12pm. Over 50 children’s bikes, all safety-checked. First come, first served. Proceeds support Linskill Charity with North Tyneside Council.

Someone at a Russell Group university was moved to almost-poetry by their Faculty Meeting… Can anyone do better?

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.

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

Please sign and share! Solidarity to Leicester geographers 👊

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.

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.

*taps sign*

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.

These courses have not been ‘suspended’ at all; such language only minimises what is actually happening at Nottingham: a systemic gutting out of the arts and humanities with no clear business case. These cuts affect us all; please, join UCU in fighting for our future www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Above and beyond my concern for fellow academics and their students, as the mother of a language- and music-loving 14 year old I'm also concerned what her chance of a decent university education is going to be.

More devastating news from the East Midlands: "All modern language and music courses are being suspended for new students at the University of Nottingham." www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

This is appalling, devastating for the staff and students involved (and their families & communities) and shocking in its extent. This is jobs and lives - and a whole sub-discipline (and I know other disciplines are also at risk). We can not just stand by. Solidarity to Leicester's geographers.

All eyes on humanities colleagues and students at Nottingham University this week - yet more course cuts about to be announced. Sympathy to all.

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.

Solidarity to colleagues at Leicester Uni: "all academic staff in the film studies and modern languages departments have been placed at risk, with "large numbers of staff" in chemistry, geography, geology & the environment (GGE) and history specialisms "uncertain if they will retain their jobs"

I'm reading through a collection of #playworkers' documentation of brief snapshot moments of playing & laughing out loud. In amongst the funding & sustainability headaches & other not-so-good aspects of the work, these joyous moments are what it's all about. #nonsense #playforplayssake #pleasure

Can anyone in Tyneside/the NE recommend a surveyor for a house purchase? Thanks!

Analysis from @friends-earth.bsky.social provides new insight on environmental injustice in the UK: “… people of colour, those on low incomes and non-drivers are now disproportionately overrepresented in the 5% of neighbourhoods still exposed to the most extreme air pollution.”

Tish Murtha (1956-2013), social documentary photographer who documented marginalised communities under Thatcher in NE England #womensart Image care of and property of Ella Murtha

Bonfire night prep in Elswick, Newcastle, photo by Tish Murtha (1956-2013).

@catherinemax.bsky.social and I are convening a practitioner/policy/academic roundtable and discussion covering themes such as inclusion in public spaces. Also featuring the work of @draflint.bsky.social (who is speaking at the event) and myself as part of All Footsteps. Get in touch if interested!

A gloriously autumnal afternoon in Northumberland -

A pedestrianised street giving amazing autumnal vibes -

Big news for North Tyneside!

Closing streets - or opening them - is so good.

📷Ian Clegg

Nile St street party today in North Shields, after a year of resident-led activity - painting, litter picks, community building - all set up for music, stalls, food and mingling. Come down between 12 and 4 facebook.com/events/s/nil...

At 7 this is all we have left - I had over 150! Our street goes all out for Halloween, lots of pumpkins and decorations, and it’s quiet, dense, walkable, and close to the town centre. Oh, and we always used to run a play street on Halloween. All in all it has a bit of a 🎃👻🧛🧌 reputation.

Solidarity to geographers - and others - at Leicester, from a bunch of geographers who’ve just been through this.

Whilst I’ve been working, my teen and two friends have been filling the fridge with pumpkin spice Halloween monsters 🎃 The state of the kitchen was fairly horrifying too.

Lots of great stuff here from my Newcastle Geography colleagues from the last year or so, shared again now @ncl-geography.bsky.social is on Bluesky!