Saving Tammoland: a microhistory of children’s action to save a wasteground playground, 1965–1968
Year: 2017
Type: article
Abstract: In 1965 a group of children living in north London discovered that an area of abandoned industrial land, which they had appropriated as their playground for over a decade, was earmarked for development for much needed social housing. The children decided to campaign against the development and contacted a local environmentally concerned artist to assist them in their campaign. Notwithstanding the children’s decision to seek adult support, they forged a child-led campaign that drew on the good offices of sympathetic adults, but never relinquished their control. The campaign was well-run and attracted both local support and national media attention, becoming something of a cause célèbre. The campaign, now all but forgotten, was to continue for three years and whilst its aim of saving the playground ultimately failed it has left a positive legacy of active social engagement for many of the children who took part.
Source: International Journal of Play
Author: Anthony Keating
Institution: Edge Hill University
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2735680209