The Morecambe Bay Podcast: Recent Episodes
Nigel Thompson
It's home to one of the UK's most famous seaside resorts, known worldwide for its birdlife, stunning sunsets and as the birthplace of Eric Morecambe. In this series of podcasts broadcaster Nigel Thompson, who has had a lifelong association with the Bay, hears from a varied group of people who make Morecambe Bay special. A breath of fresh air, all about the Bay #MorecambeBayPod
Rarely seen artefacts, the sights and sounds of a working shipyard and QR codes which allow spectacular access to gems from over the years are just some of the new developments in Barrow's Dock Museum.
The Heritage Lottery Fund, Westmorland and Furness Council, BAE Systems and the Sir John Fisher Foundation have paid for the transformation of The Shipyard Gallery.
The Morecambe Bay Podcast was delighted to be shown around the museum for a preview of the development and an insight into how the collection may expand further.
Volunteers have been using historic techniques like weaving to trap trapping sediment and help prevent erosion around the Bay.The Morecambe Bay Partnership is working with Lancaster City Council, Lancaster University and communities and stakeholders around the coast as part of Our Future Coast. The project, funded by DEFRA, is underway at Hest Bank with two other areas at Bolton le Sands and Silverdale also set to be targeted for work.
But unlike more typical coast defences which use rock and cement, these use natural resources and skills to try and arrest the decline of the shoreline.
With the nights drawing in there's a better chance of seeing stunning stars, planets and even the northern lights in the skies above the Bay.
But is there a risk that our dark skies could be affected by growing levels of light pollution?
Jack Ellerby is dark skies project officer for the Friends of the Lake District and works to spread the word about the effect too much light at night can have on wildlife, the environment and people.
Ahead of an event in Grange* at which he'll be talking about good and bad lighting with PEATSouthLakes and The Grange Lecture Society, he's been talking to the podcast.
*7pm- 8pm Tuesday 24 September at Victoria Hall, Grange-over-Sands, LA11 6DX
In its day it was the centrepiece of coffee shops and milk bars all over. The jukebox was the only place where the pop music of the '50s and early '60s could be heard.
But did you know the distinctive British jukebox was created on the seaside coast of Lytham, Blackpool and Morecambe?
Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, a project led by the Mirador creative arts organisation have gathered a treasure trove of recollections. It will form a digital collection at Lancaster University as well as inspiring displays at Light Up Lancaster in November.
Why did the jukebox lead to a boom in youth culture during the 1950s and what prompted its demise?
I've been talking to George Harris from Mirador who explains where the idea for the project came from and historian Adrian Horn whose book Jukebox Britain sets more detail about the teenage revolution.
Incidental music used courtesy of Pixabay:
an-alien-presence-154528
rock-doo-wop-a-capella-vintage-1950x27s-retro-music-110968
the-rockinx27-cockerel-rockinx27-cockerel-232222
come-on-over-rockabilly-234847
“The bigger the mandala, the more the work! You can rack up 20,000 steps in the space of a couple of tennis courts over four or five hours.”
Simon Wheatley's work is amazing: a self-taught sand artist his mandalas have captured many people's imaginations and have adorned beaches in Cumbria and beyond.
To mark the 20th anniversary of the creation of Growing Well, a charity which uses horticulture as a way of rebuilding confidence and resilience, he's about to create his latest design on the beach at Bardsea.
In this podcast we not only hear from Simon about his artist skills but also more about the work of a charity that's grown from a single site in south Cumbria to now managing three across Cumbria.
How do you make the environment and sustainability interesting to primary school children?
Can older students be persuaded to consider careers around Morecambe Bay instead of moving away?
The Morecambe Bay Curriculum is a partnership between Lancaster University, Lancaster & Morecambe College, University of Cumbria and the Eden Project.
Set up in 2019 the project aims to influence the National Curriculum at all levels by supporting teachers to embed sustainability and place into their everyday teaching.
From environmental art to the history of walking the Bay, how science mimics nature to the opportunities of eco-tourism, the Morecambe Bay Curriculum supports teachers to help young people understand the Bay area better.
The aim is to boost young people’s wellbeing while also preparing them for jobs in ‘green’ industries as well as instilling a sense of local pride.
For more details of the curriculum: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/morecambe-bay-curriculum/
For details of how to enter the Ripple Effects photographic competition:
https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/morecambe-bay-curriculum/ripple-effects/
They are a band who draw inspiration from the Bay for their songs and are marking a milestone this summer.
Named after a scene in the cult TV comedy Father Ted, Hiroshima Twinkie are a Lancaster-based indie-folk-rock group and are about to release a best of album to celebrate 14 years of performances.
With songs such as Blue Sky Morning, Eyes Wide Open and Lune Valley Ramble songwriter Chris Barlow explained how they came together - and more about the name!
The lecturer and former school teacher is also heavily involved in the Morecambe Bay Curriculum which will feature in a future episode of the podcast.
Download music @https://hiroshimatwinkie.bandcamp.com
Morecambe’s place as a venue for live music goesback decades and is still very much alive today thanks to people like Howard Rogerson.
Howard conducts the Promenade Concert Orchestra, the only one of its kind between Manchester and Glasgow.
Formed in 2007 professional clarinettist Howard was keen to provide the opportunity for residents and visitors to Morecambe and the Bay area to enjoy light orchestral music. From Palm Court, ballroom and café music; to shows, radio, television and film music the orchestra has developed a highly successful series of concerts at the Platform in Morecambe.
The orchestra is make up of professional, semi-professional or talented amateur musicians from the Kendal, Lancaster and Morecambe areas.
Conductor Howard Rogerson tells us how theorchestra began and how some of the music performed has had a lucky escape!
One of the first episodes of the podcast featured some of those hardy souls who enjoy swimming in the Bay all year around.
The group, Morecambe and Lancaster Lancashire Open Water Swimmers, was set up around the time of the pandemic and continues to grow.
Jon Gibirdi is a founder member and has begun cataloguing information and stories about swimming. A book and a film are both underway.
We met up on the beach at Morecambe to talk more about the projects and how swimming is still a big part of his life.
M.A.L.L.O.W.S Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/481845428828245/
Sandscale Haws at Roanhead supports a wealth of wildlife and with magnificent views across the Duddon Estuary onto the Lakeland Fells on a fine day it's idyllic.
40 years ago the National Trust became custodians of the national nature reserve.
It's home to a quarter of the UK's population of rare natterjack toads and 2024 marks a momentous anniversary.
Over the next few weeks there are opportunities to take part in walks at dusk to see and hear these amazing amphibians.
In this episode enjoy the sounds of the reserve as I take an evening trip with National Trust wardens Darren and Emily and a few hardy souls on a spring toad patrol.
Notes:
Start; birdsong and wind blowing through the grass welcome us to the reserve
1'30" Darren Mason, National Trust warden explains more about the work to maintain the site, why toads have made it home and how they're thriving in this part of Cumbria.
6mins We head out with a small group keen to see natterjack toads.
7mins Darren explains how erosion affects the coastline
10mins We hear how storm can bring some benefits to the sand dune system
13'29" Emily points out strings of toad eggs as the amphibians prove to be elusive!
14'19" Our first toad!
15'24" One visitor had travelled from Suffolk to experience toads at Sandscale
16'40" Drumming snipe17'19" Toads calling!
Thanks to Darren, Emily and the National Trust team in south Cumbria.
For an organisation that only came into being in September 2023, the Bay Veterans Association has proved there's a real need for support for ex servicemen and women around the Bay.
The Lancaster and Morecambe area is more 'vets' than many other areas.
A new hub offering support and providing activities has just opened in Euston Road, Morecambe.
The response from the community to an appeal for support has so far been phenomenal with the Duchy of Lancaster, Persimmon Homes and many others offering support.
The opening of the hub is just another step on a path that Janine, Janet and Gary who are the association's directors hope will be a vital service for all service family members.
Bay Veterans Association Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/p/BAY-VETERANS-ASSOCIATION-61551807855021/
To say it's home to only a few dozen people Sunderland Point they are a musical lot!
The village has made a name as the home of a thriving sea shanty band.
The Sunderland Point Sea Shanty Crew are in demand to perform around the Bay and further afield - they've been part of the Edinburgh Festival.
Made up of a wide range of people they're creating their own music alongside well known sea shanties.
Morecambe Bay is reknown for paths and tracks offering brilliant views but it's also part of a national network of walking routes connecting all of Great Britain’s towns and cities as well as thousands of villages.
Using existing paths, ways, trails and roads, people can use Slow Ways routes to walk or wheel and is designed to make it easier for people to imagine, plan and go on walking journeys.
There are currently over 8,000 Slow Ways stretching for over 120,000km. This network of routes was created by 700 volunteers during the Spring 2020 lockdown, creating a unique Slow Ways map in the process.
In this episode we'll hear from the man who came up with the idea and a walker from Morecambe who's certainly making her mark on the map.
We know Morecambe Bay is a draw for tourists and that industry is big business around the Bay.But how far does the the area's influence extend and how much do we think about the impact the sea has on our lives?From chip shops in Morecambe to the ferries at Heysham, maritime matters affect us all.To find out more Dr Celine Germond-Duret, a lecturer in environmental politics in policy who is leading the 'People and Ocean' Knowledge and Action Hub at Lancaster University's Pentland Centre, is canvassing opinions to consider how people and businesses connect to the coast.Cut and paste this link into a browser to open the MS Form mentioned in our interview which will allow you can get in touch and ask questions: https://forms.office.com/e/FJHi0KxssY
It's often hard to believe the changes that have taken place along Morecambe's seafront.
A shipbreaking yard, several piers and a three masted sailing ship used in Disney film could once be found along this popular piece of coast.
A project to capture the knowledge and memories of coastal life through the eyes of those who witnessed change is now active. Coastal Connection has developed a network of 20 locations - 17 in Morecambe and 2 near Overton and one at Sunderland Point - where a QR code allows listeners to hear the memories of people living by and working on the Bay.
It's the work of Steve Fairclough who explains more in this podcast. To hear the stories follow this link to the sites :https://www.timeandtidebell.org/morecambe-map/
Morecambe's link to illuminations goes back to 1906 and it became for its light entertainment.The days of switch ons and massive displays may be long gone but last year Baylight drew 20,000 people to a modest 1.5km illuminated art trail along the prom.This year's theme is reflecting Morecambe's coastline so look out for tentacles on the Winter Gardens and recycled chains fashioned into light balls on the beach.There's even a parade.And among those helping stage the event is a member of Radio 4's The Archers who now lives locally.Baylight 2024
A candlelit memorial service has been held to mark the 20th anniversary of the deaths of 23 Chinese cockle pickers in Morecambe Bay.
Members of the emergency services joined locals in paying tribute at the lifeboat station in Morecambe which played a leading part in the rescue and recovery of migrants stranded on the treacherous sands of the Bay.
A cockle shell was offered as a permanent reminder of the fight against modern day slavery and in memory of those who died on the sands.
The Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Philip North, who led the service said he hoped the service would also serve to highlight continuing cases of those who are 'trapped, tricked and traded.'
“The moon laughs the clouds cryAnd a seagull screams at the night’s skyAnd the sad sea sighs – goodbye”Lemn Sissay – The Long WalkThe twentieth anniversary of the Morecambe Bay cockling tragedy in February is a grim reminder of the incident which led to the deaths of 23 Chinese cockle pickers.A commemoration event led by More Music will take place on 4th February https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/sighoftheseaSongwriter, performer and organiser Pete Moser has had a lengthy association with the Chinese community in Morecambe and on the other side of the world having travelled to China on numerous occasions.In this special edition of the podcast he explains how the tragedy had a profound effect in him, why he has a longstanding interest in supporting communities on the edge of society and how he believes a better understanding of the pressures faced by people can come through creativity.
How often do you go to your library?
Did you know these days they offer far more than just a book lending service?
The Friends of Heysham Library are certainly keen to promote the variety of activities held there. From Scrabble and Lego sessions to access to the web and even talks about bats, there's a lot going on.
And with over 900 friends on social media, the volunteers are certainly helping spread the word.
In one of the first editions of the Morecambe Bay Podcast we heard about BOOM - Back on Our Map - a project aimed at restoring the landscape of parts of the Bay to help reintroduce and reinforce locally threatened or extinct native species.
Led by the University of Cumbria in partnership with Morecambe Bay Partnership together with Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Natural England and Forestry England it was supported by the National Lottery.
A main aim was to encourage people living locally to get involved.As the project comes to a close has it worked and did communities get involved?
You can see a video about the project.
More information on the project.
It's back for 2024!
Coming up in the next series of the Morecambe Bay Podcast we'll hear from more great guests who take candidly about their life around the Bay.
With over 100 episodes already published I'm looking forward to sharing more conversations from people you may know and many more you probably won't.
If you'd like to get involved, get in touch by using the new 'Suggest a guest' feature on the website.
Thanks for the support so far and spread the word about the podcast that's all about the Bay!
It's one of the country's best known bird reserves and 2024 will mark a significant anniversary for the RSPB's Leighton Moss.
Big things are planned to mark 60 years since it was created.
In that time it's welcomed thousands of visitors, not all feathered, and has made a big impact on many.
As a young ornithologist Jon Carter often had to rely on his older brother to drive him to the reserve; little did he know one day he'd be working for the RSPB, sharing his enthusiasm and passion for ornithology and inspiring many. He's about to move on to pastures new - a tough decision!
In this extended podcast, as you'll hear, he takes us on a tour on a day when the reserve was teeming with wildlife.
Enjoy!
From stars of stage and screen to the throngs who came to see them over the years how many thousands must have walked through the foyer of Morecambe's Winter Gardens?
Yet very few will have looked down to admire the ornate tiled flooring beneath their feet which has suffered wear and tear after decades of use.
The good news is a team of craftsman are carefully restoring the tiles. Over a five week period they've painstakingly replaced missing tiles and carefully cleaned the extensive floorwork.
Michael Rieveley is lead conservator at Rieveley Ceremics who have been carrying out the work and says the theatre is a leading example of this kind of art.
For writer and academic Noreen Masud, flatlands have always been a source of fascination. From the wide, flat field glimpsed as a child from the back seat of her father's car in Lahore to more recent discoveries including the Cambridgeshire Fens and Morecambe Bay.
The silver sands revealed during a cross Bay walk made a lasting impression on her and together with experiences elsewhere she recounts her pilgrimage around Britain's flatlands, seeking solace and belonging, in her book A Flat Place.
It's a fascinating consideration of memory, mind, painful histories and the breathtaking flatlands she has come to love.
While mountains are usually celebrated in literature and popular culture, Noreen prefers the quietening effect of flat landscapes. Notes:
Noreen Masud is a Lecturer in Twentieth Century Literature at the https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/persons/noreen-masudUniversity of Bristol, and an AHRC/BBC New Generation Thinker. Her research covers all kinds of bases: flatness, spivs, puppets, leftovers, earworms, footnotes, rhymes, hymns, surprises, folk songs, colours, superstitions. She works mostly on twentieth-century literature, but also makes forays into Victorian and Romantic literature too.
Dan Fox enjoys a fascinating career.
A sound artist, musician, film-maker and installation creator based in Ulverston he's responsible for creating stunning soundscapes.
This weekend his latest project, a singing drumlin celebration organised with Cumbria Wildlife Trust, takes place at Bowber Head Nature Reserve close to Ravenstonedale.
His parents ran the acclaimed Welfare State International and a childhood spent experiencing artistic events around the world inspired him to set up his own company to work on a range of amazing projects. We met up and recorded this conversation as he was about to start another piece of work involving the Boom Bikes as part of this summer's Bay Lines - Beach of Dreams project by the Morecambe Bay Partnership.
Angela White, aka The Running Granny, started running when she was 53. Seven years later she set a new Guinness World Record as the Oldest female to run from John O’Groats to Land’s End. She was 60.
We met at the Bay Health Festival and discussed her ambition to help more of us to stay in shape in later life.
Going for Old is Angela's latest project and it's already prompting some of us to look again at our diets, activity and long term plans.
2 mins - Why 'the Running Granny.'
4 mins - The benefits of running
6 mins - Addicted to running?
11 mins - The record!
14 mins - How do you keep going for 18 days?
19 mins - The psychology of running
28 mins - Future aims and ambitions
Morecambe's Winter Gardens has just been listed in the top three of favourite seaside places and experiences as efforts continue to restore the theatre.It's painstaking work, mainly carried out by a team of volunteers who have helped breathe new life into the seafront landmark.Among them is one of the last apprentices taken on by Lancaster furniture manufacturers Waring and Gillows.His attention to detail and skills learned decades ago are still being shared and put to good use.And his love of his craft is infectious!
They say there's a book in every one of us but a group of enthusiastic writers from Morecambe have gone a step further.
The Nib Crib based in the West End have just celebrated their second anniversary of acting as a safe space for novice writers to hone their craft.
This weekend we'll be able to see the latest work when In Westendia, a play by Crib members Jim Lupton and Martin Palmer, and described as 'a comical, costumed, family friendly extravaganza' is performed by the frame on the seafront.
With stunning costumes by Wendy O'Hara it's a performance not to miss.
And The Nib Crib itself is always looking to attract new members.
The latest phase of an arts project which has seen the creation of 120 silk pennants, each depicting a story for every mile of Morecambe Bay has concluded.
The project which began this spring has seen over a hundred people get involved to record their stories as part of an epic artwork telling the story of the Bay through the people who live, work or visit the area.
Over the Bank Holiday weekend thousands of people on Walney, Grange over Sands, Arnside and Morecambe saw the physical results of the project; the digital version - pictures, stories and poems - can be seen here.
120 pennants, each depicting a story for every mile of Morecambe Bay have been produced.
The epic artwork has been seen by thousands of people on Walney, Grange over Sands, Arnside and Morecambe.
In a trail for a new podcast about the project, artist Ali Pretty explains how the project called Bay Lines Beach of Dreams has made an impact on her:
120 miles and many, many stories have been brought together about Morecambe Bay in a brand new piece of work.
From designs that depict special views in memory of loved ones to the area's world class wildlife, Bay Lines Beach of Dreams is now live and shows off the variety of life and the communities around the Bay as never before. Commissioned by the Morecambe Bay Partnership it's the idea of artist Ali Pretty and Kendal-based Rosa Productions.
Today (Friday 25th August) the first installation of pennants was shared on Walney. Grange (Sat), Arnside (Sun) and Morecambe (Bank Holiday Monday) will each host the pennants created locally alongside another 500 which date from an earlier project in the south east.
But wherever you are the images and stories which sparked the silk pennants can be read and enjoyed here: https://www.waysaroundthebay.org.uk/enjoy-your-visit/bay-lines-beach-of-dreams
It's well known that the area inspires artists and an exhibition which has seen two with very different skills collaborate is now open.
Hidden Depths is the result of a three year collaboration between Silverdale artist John Baldwin and Heysham poet and writer John Hindle now on at King Street Arts in Lancaster.
The paintings are extraordinary: vivid, colourful and memorable and offer a whole new artistic dimension when viewed through 3-D glasses.
John Baldwin's words compliment the displays and his inspiration ranges widely from nature and spirituality to people, death and even the Bay.
The sight of 620 silk pennants fluttering on beaches around the Bay promises to be spectacular! This week work to create the artwork that will form Bay Lines: Beach of Dreams moves forward apace as waxing and dyeing takes place at a pop up studio in Grange. As well as those taking part in the work, volunteers are also needed to help create the displays on Walney, Grange, Arnside and Morecambe over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Read more https://www.waysaroundthebay.org.uk/enjoy-your-visit/bay-lines-installation-events:
A new shop has opened in Morecambe aimed at offering help to anyone living on a budget.
Based at Emmanuel Church the Living Hope community store sells deeply discounted food as well as donated food completely free of charge.
With support from suppliers it's now open once a week but volunteers are aiming to expand opening hours if there's demand.
The podcast went to the opening day.
For more details search 'Living Hope Community Store' on Facebook.
Many of us enjoy a walk but for Martyn Howe, walking has almost become a way of life.
He's passing through Morecambe Bay as part of a mission to walk around the English coast - all 2,400 miles of it! Martyn's met some interesting characters an has also been inspired to take part in the Beach of Dreams project too.
I met him as he walked through Silverdale on the latest leg of his oddysey.
Read more about Martyn.
Living in Fleetwood has presented the town's artist in residence with a wealth of inspiration.
For 12 months, Tina Dempsey is based at The Mount and is looking forward to spreading the word about the town. After living here for 18 years she says the community is Fleetwood's strength and is determined to do her bit to publicise the area through her art.
As well as the town's rich history, the outstanding beach, Site of Special Scientific Interest and geology of the area are aspects which aren't as well known.
During a walk along the prom close to The Mount she told me more about why the area means so much to her.
120 miles and many, many conversations later, artist Ali Pretty has concluded her week-long walk around Morecambe Bay.
From Fleetwood in the south to Walney in the north, she passed through Glasson Dock, Lancaster, Sunderland Point, Heysham, Morecambe, Silverdale, Arnside, Grange, Ulverston and Barrow.
The purpose of the walk was to encourage people living around the Bay to adopt a mile and take part in Bay Lines, Beach of Dreams which will see 120 silk pennants created. These will be exhibited on the coast at Walney, Grange, Arnside and Morecambe over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
The walk resulted in some surprise reunions for Ali with people who have played a part in her life; Morecambe-based musician Pete Moser and art innovator John Fox who established the Welfare State International and now lives on the coast near Ulverston.
However it also resulted in people suggesting sometimes very personal reasons for wanting to take part and make their mark on the coast.
Recorded as we walked along the final mile around north Walney, Ali told me about the week and her plans now for Bay Lines Beach of Dreams.
Morecambe Bay is home to a wide variety of communities and a new project could well uncover whole new stories and issues that are relevant around the Bay.
That's one of the aims of Bay Lines, Beach of Dreams which begins a new phase this week.
Artist Ali Pretty whose previous work includes flag making at the Morecambe WOMAD festivals is leading a series of walks around the Bay, all 120 miles. The aim is to create a series of pennants, one for each mile, which will represent that part of the Bay. The project has been commissioned by Morecambe Bay Partnership as part of the Ways Around The Bay programme.
Flora growing around the area will be used to dye silk which will make the pennants. All 120 will go on show on seafront sites in Walney, Grange, Arnside and Walney over the Bank Holiday weekend.
Speaking on the beach at Rossall Point Ali shared her vision at the start of the story gathering expedition.
A three year project to document the fishing industry around Morecambe Bay through pictures has gone on display in a setting just a stones throw from one of the area's best known but most remote locations.
The Mission Heritage Centre at Sunderland Point is home to a stunning collection of images taken by photographer Tessa Bunney.
Called Going to the Sand, it 's a record of an industry that's fast changing.
The podcast was invited to a preview event attended by some of those pictured in the exhibition.
Going to the Sand will be held until July but check the tide times before going !
The Seagull Cafe based at More Music, Devonshire Road in Morecambe has become a welcome addition to events aimed at the over 60's in the town.
Originally set up under the Singing for Health project it's now appealing to a wider audience whose reasons for attending the weekly sessions vary widely.
Each Tuesday musicians lead the singing and whether you can hold a note or - like me - can just about clap along, it's a guaranteed feel good vibe which leaves a lasting impression on all who attend.
Morecambe Bay is known for it's stunning birdlife including the regular return to the area by a pair of breeding ospreys.
In winter they are in west Africa but each spring the pair independently fly thousands of miles to Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve near Witherslack.
Hopes are high that 2023 will be the tenth year the pair will have raised osprey chicks on the Bay and volunteers at the Cumbria Wildlife Trust reckon three eggs have been laid. The first chicks are expected by the end of May meaning all eyes will be on the live 'osprey cam' for the next few, tense weeks.
But as Alasdair McKee, a Cumbria Wildlife Trust volunteer and the RSPB's local groups officer for the north of England, explains in this edition, there's much more to the raised bog at Foulshaw than the ospreys. As you'll hear, it's home to a wildlife soap opera!
They fly staggering distances and are responsible for helping boost the country's population; a pair of breeding ospreys are home on Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve.
With three eggs now monitored by volunteers from the Cumbria Wildlife Trust it's hoped 2023 will be the 10th year running that osprey chicks have successfully hatched at the wetland nature reserve near Witherslack.
As you'll hear in the next edition of the podcast with Alasdair McKee, a Cumbria Wildlife Trust volunteer and RSPB northern local group officer, the birds are flourishing.
It's one of the region's most famous rivers; the Lune rises in Ravenstonedale and flows over 50 miles to enter the Bay at Sunderland Point.
With much debate about the quality of our water the Lune Rivers Trust, an environmental charity, works to conserve, protect, rehabilitate and improve the rivers, streams and watercourses of the catchments comprising the River Lune throughout its entire course and all its associated tributaries in Cumbria, Yorkshire and Lancashire.
In this episode hear how Harry Potter is used to inspire the naturalists of the future.
With much debate about the quality of our rivers and lakes, we'll be hearing from a charity who are using innovative ways of working to look after the catchment area of a river that passes through three counties before flowing into the Bay.
Subscribe for free now to hear this and over 70 editions of the Morecambe Bay Podcast.
The clocks may well go forward this weekend but one prominent Morecambe Bay timepiece is missing.
Morecambe's Clock Tower is without its famous faces which are undergoing specialist repair work.
They are being refurbished by the same company that has just carried out a major project on the nation's best known clock, Big Ben.
So how does Morecambe's clock measure up by comparison?
I've been behind the scenes at the Cumbria Clock Company.
One of the best views of the Bay can be had from Arnside Knott.
The hill between Silverdale and Arnside is an amazing vantage point looking south and west across Morecambe Bay and north to the Lake District.
But as well as a brilliant walk, it's environmentally important for increasingly rare species and needs careful management.
Volunteers make up a big part of efforts to nurture nature. I joined a recent work party to meet those who make time to help and hear what difference their labours are making.
If you'd like to volunteer, you'd be very welcome!
If you’re interested in volunteering with the National Trust in Arnside and Silverdale, please email: MorecambeBayProperties@nationaltrust.org.uk
As one of the oldest literature festivals in the country, LitFest has attracted a variety of audiences since 1978.
This year the theme of the event is 'exploring the past, creating the future with authors Cynthia Murphy and Frank Cottrell-Boyce among an impressive guest list.
All events in Litfest 2023 are free, whether in-person or online.
The Poetry Collaboration project this year is called “From Source to Sea” and celebrates the rivers of the region with the event led by Cumbrian author and poet Katie Hale.
Hear from organiser Dr Natalie Sorrell Charlesworth and Katie Hale in this edition of the podcast.
Fresh from conquering the small screen could Morecambe Bay be about to become a name on the big one?Plans for the area to host a film festival are being drawn up with organisers saying they've already received 300 short films from producers based in 43 countries for the inaugural Bay International Film Festival which will be held at the end of October.As well as helping film students from Lancaster University gain experience of curating the festival it's hoped the Bay-wide event will raise awareness of the area as a location for filmmakers with potentially exciting long term results.https://www.thebayfilmfestival.com/
Plans for Morecambe Bay to host a film festival are being drawn up with organisers confident the event will lead to celluloid success for the area.
Already 300 short films from producers based in 43 countries have been submitted for The Bay Film Festival which will be held at the end of October.
Students from Lancaster University are involved in curating the films and it's hoped the event will be start of a long term association.
Anna Kumacheva, an award-winning filmmaker, lecturer and PhD student at Lancaster is the co-founder and coordinator and says the event won't just be limited to Morecambe.
Subscribe for free now to hear the full podcast.
Morecambe is about to become a regular feature on TV as the hit crime drama The Bay returns to ITV.
Set in the town, its creator Daragh Carville is based in Lancaster and in an earlier edition of the Morecambe Bay Podcast explained where the idea came from together with the challenges of becoming a successful drama writer.
In this edition we hear from actor Daniel Ryan who plays DI Tony Manning in the drama and gain an insight into his career together with his genuine love for Morecambe.
ITV's hit drama series The Bay, based in Morecambe, returns to our screens next week.
It's the fourth series of the production created by Lancaster-based writer Daragh Carville. You can hear him discuss the programme in an earlier edition of the Morecambe Bay Podcast.
DI Tony Manning is played by actor Daniel Ryan who explains how his association with Morecambe has made a lasting impression.
Subscribe for free now to hear our full conversation in the podcast which comes out on Sunday 5th March.
Do you remember the early days of The Bay, the radio station that served Morecambe Bay from 1993?
Enjoy some memories from presenters Mike Shaft and Trevor Thomas 30 years on!
The Bay arrived on the area's airwaves 30 years ago this month.
The radio station was the first to cover the whole Morecambe Bay area and it built an audience - and a reputation for creativity - to equal far bigger and longer established stations.
Since 1993 the radio landscape has changed and while The Bay no longer exists, many people have fond memories of those early days.
In this edition we hear from two of those who were pioneers on The Bay.
Mike Shaft, who can now be heard on Colourful Radio, reveals how he almost worked for Radio 1 earlier in his career and how there were a few nervous moments before The Bay's launch party.
Trevor Thomas is Bulletin Editor for Greatest Hits Radio in Derbyshire and Staffordshire and recalls how listener reaction at The Bay was phenomenal.
The bore - the surge of water that dramatically sweeps up the River Kent close to Arnside as a high tide comes in - is a dramatic sight from land.
It's one of around twenty tidal bores that occur in the UK and surfer Ben Rogers plans to to ride as many as he can!
The Arnside bore was his latest challenge, no mean feat as home is several hundred miles away in Bristol. Yet the appeal of this and other inland waves is such that travelling around to ride them is no hurdle. You can see some of his other achievements here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvGTgDNKhHgwv4p2jxVteCw?app=desktop
The Bay is changing constantly. Twice a day tides race in but a research project now underway is considering how the landscape, community and birdlife are affected by a changing environment.
And any of us who live and look at the area may hold the key to identifying changes.
Geographer Dr Catherine Oliver from Lancaster University is asking for anyone - walkers, community groups, organisations, charities not just birdwatchers - to get involved and help with research which could be crucial to the future of the Bay.
A piece of industrial history has emerged from the shifting sands of Morecambe Bay.
Some say a jetty used by ships transporting cargo in the 18th century is now more exposed now then at any time in 150 years.
The River Keer has scoured away millions of tons of sand and grass to reveal the stone and wooden structure at Hest Bank near Morecambe. It was used when the nearby canal was the quickest way to transport goods north and south.
Mark Carroll, a sand grown 'un, is a former Morecambe lifeguard who once helped promote the town in a tourist brochure. He has been telling me more about the emergence of what has become a popular tourist attraction.
Yon can see a drone video of the wharf courtesy of Sky Cam Video here
The Bay is home to some amazing beaches and landscapes but did you know the area has two nationally important sand dunes that are home to 72 species?From orchids and insects to ground nesting birds and over a quarter of the UK’s natterjack toad population, these areas have an important role to play in the Bay's ecosystem.You can read more about the dunes here and take part in a free online webinar soon too - book here. So why do the dunes matter and how are they dynamic?Enjoy this podcast!
The Bay is home to some amazing beaches and landscapes but did you know the area also has nationally important sand dunes?
From orchids and insects to ground nesting birds and over a quarter of the UK’s natterjack toad population, these areas have an important role to play in the Bay's ecosystem.
As Holly Stainton explains, there's a need for careful management of the shifting sands.
So what's been done to conserve these vital habitats and how are invasive species to be managed?
Subscribe now to make sure you don't miss the full podcast available this weekend.
For Matthew, Morecambe and Wise is a big part of his life.His Twitter feed is a daily ray of sunshine: the Morecambe and Wise Archive (@eric_ernie_col) is a treasure trove of pictures, posters and video of Eric and Ernie at their best.But as you'll hear, he has managed to gather a collection of memorabilia that even Eric's family have been keen to see as well as bringing the magic of Morecambe and Wise to whole new audience.#StillBringingSunshine
For fans of Morecambe and Wise Matthew’s daily Twitter feed is a ray of sunshine!The Morecambe and Wise Archive (@eric_ernie_col) is a treasure trove of pictures, posters and video of Eric and Ernie at their best.But as you'll hear in a podcast coming soon, he has managed to gather a collection of memorabilia that even Eric's family have been keen to see.#StillBringingSunshine
A team from Morecambe Bay have made sure some Christmas cheer will be enjoyed by families living in eastern Europe.Over 8,500 carefully wrapped shoe boxes containing gifts donated by people living around Morecambe Bay and across Cumbria have been delivered to communities in Romania by the Boxes of Hope charity. This year the group also crossed into Ukraine to spread goodwill among the country's embattled residents.Jayne Moorby was among the team who travelleed to ensure the gifts got through and has been sharing her story and some of those who she met with the Morecambe Bay Podcast.
Over 8,500 carefully wrapped shoe boxes containing welcome gifts donated by people living around Morecambe Bay and across Cumbria have already brought Christmas cheer to families living in eastern Europe.
As well as Hungary a team from the Boxes of Hope charity also visited communities in Ukraine.
Jayne Moorby was among the team who managed to overcome geographical difficulties to ensure the gifts got through and describes the reception she witnessed.
The full podcast will be available shortly.
Volunteering to keep the beaches of the Bay litter free may well seem to be a never ending job but for those who lead it and the many volunteers who willingly give their time, the results make it well worthwhile.
Diane Sammons is a volunteer who has set up her own clean-up group, the Tideliners, who keep an eye on the beaches close to where the River Keer meets the Bay near Warton. As Diane tells us, she's upcycled some of the items she's found and even made an outdoor festive decoration from some of the rubbish that she's retrieved from the area.
34 tonnes of litter: that's the staggering amount cleared up from the beaches of Morecambe Bay by volunteers over the last two years. 2,790 kilometres of footpaths and trails have been cleaned yet the tides keep bringing in more rubbish to be cleared away.
It may well seem to be a never ending job but for those who lead it and the many volunteers who willingly give their time, the results make it well worthwhile. It's even said to help with wellbeing.
Lauren Munro-Bennett is the beach care officer for the Morecambe Bay Partnership and Diane Sammons is a volunteer who has set up her own clean-up group, the Tideliners, who keep an eye on the beaches close to where the River Keer meets the Bay near Warton. As Diane tells us, she's upcycled some of the items she's found and even made an outdoor festive decoration from some of the rubbish that she's retrieved from the area. You can see a video and more pictures on the Morecambe Bay Podcast website and our social media channels, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and now TikTok.
Click here for more information about the voluntary beach clean scheme run by the Morecambe Bay Partnership .
This weekend an event billed as 'more than a festive market' has been taking place in the West End of Morecambe.
And while there were stalls, food and music it's all part of a much wider story.
The area is home to a growing creative community, one which has already successfully attracted diverse skills and nurtured artistic ambitions throughout the area. A disused department store could soon become home to a major community hub which would mean even more could benefit. Fundraising is underway - more support would be welcome. And in a day and age when digital media seems to be everywhere, plans to bring an environmentally friendly printer to the area to help spread the word on paper are well advanced.
Details of the Good Things Collective can be found here
Charlotte's blog, The Art of the Zine is here
A canyon that would stretch from London to New York, an extinct volcano three times the size of Mt Everest: two awe inspiring facts about 'the red planet' Mars. The Winter Gardens in Morecambe is hosting artist Luke Jerram's astonishing creation, a seven metre diameter artwork which uses NASA imagery to capture the planet in forensic detail. Each centimetre of the internally lit sculpture representing 10 kilometres of the surface of Mars and is presented with a specially commissioned Mars surround sound composition by Dan Jones - it really is awesome! It's hanging inside the main theatre area until 28th November. I was lucky enough to be given a guided tour by Stuart Atkinson, a lifelong amateur astronomer, author of popular astronomy books and mars fan.
It's known as 'the red planet' but how much do we really understand about Mars?
Maybe visitors leaving the Winter Gardens know a little more after seeing artist Luke Jerram's astonishing creation.
NASA images have been used to depict the planet which is hanging inside the main theatre area until 28th November.
I was lucky enough to be given a guided tour by Stuart Atkinson, a mars amateur astronomer, writer and all round space enthusiast.
Here's an excerpt from the forthcoming podcast.
They're the family where Christmas must be a major operation, months in the planning.
The Radford family from Morecambe - all 22 of them - have become nationally known thanks to the Channel 5 series '22 Kids and Counting' that has charted their lives in recent years. Today the latest chapter was recorded: Sue and Noel's bakery in Heysham has been rebranded with queues forming to take up their kind offer of a free pie for the first 50 customers. The event was recorded by Lion TV for future broadcast.
I was able to enjoy a few minutes with Noel and Sue just before the ribbon was cut.
Winston Churchill described 1942 as ‘The Hinge of Fate’: a year in which the Allies could have lost or won the Second World War.
An exhibition at City Museum in Lancaster details not only how soldiers from the King’s Own Royal Regiment faced death and hardship on active service but also what life was like on the Home Front.
As I found out, there are parallels drawn with more recent times too.
Two sisters who played a vital part in cracking German code and intercepting radio traffic during the Second World War have been talking about their remarkable lives.
Patricia and Jean Owtram were brought up in Dolphinholme near Lancaster.
After their family took in two Austrian Jewish refugees the pair quickly become fluent in German, something which was to change their lives forever.
When war broke out, Patricia, then aged 18, was posted to top-secret listening stations along the Kent coast where she intercepted German shipping radio traffic.
Jean became a code and cipher officer serving in Egypt and Italy to support allied agents and help partisan efforts against the Nazis.
Their remarkable story has been published and the pair shared their recollections in Lancaster at the City Museum. The museum's new exhibition, The Hinge of Fate: living with uncertainty in 1942 is now underway and will be featured in a forthcoming Morecambe Bay podcast.
Now both in their nineties I was honoured to speak to Patricia and Jean last night.
The remarkable story of how two sisters played a vital part in cracking German code and intercepting radio traffic during the Second World War has been shared in Lancashire tonight.
Patricia and Jean Owtram were brought up in the county. After their family took in two Austrian Jewish refugees quickly become fluent in German, something which changed their lives forever. Their remarkable story has been published and tonight the pair shared their recollections in Lancaster at the City Museum. The museum's new exhibition, The Hinge of Fate: living with uncertainty in 1942 is now underway and will be featured in a forthcoming Morecambe Bay podcast.
I was honoured to speak to Patricia and Jean this evening and will share the full interview tomorrow - Remembrance Sunday.
For now, listen to Patricia recounting how she became a secret part of the war effort.
Sian Phillips is well known in musical circles around the Bay and beyond: she's a leading light and has inspired many to take up music. Her brother was Dom Phillips, a journalist and one of two men murdered earlier this year while researching the deforestation of the Amazon. After a grim search up and down the winding Itaquaí river of the Javari Valley, Brazilian police confirmed in June that Dom and Bruno Pereira one of the country's best known and effective defenders of the forest and its inhabitants had been killed. Now, Lancaster University researchers, musicians, artists and other supporters are staging a month-long series of events including an international conference to highlight the Amazon and the two men who were killed. Called 'For Dom, Bruno and the Amazon' it was launched at Halton Mill.
Does Morecambe Bay have anything in common with the Amazon? Throughout November events are taking place across north Lancashire to highlight the region which is close to home for some. Sian Phillips, well known in musical circles around the Bay, lost her brother Dom earlier this year when the journalist was one of two men murdered while researching the deforestation of the Amazon. After a grim search up and down the winding Itaquaí river of the Javari Valley, Brazilian police confirmed in June that Dom and Bruno Pereira, one of the country's best known and effective defenders of the forest and its inhabitants, had been killed. Now, Lancaster University researchers, musicians, artists and other supporters are staging a month-long series of events including an international conference to highlight the Amazon and the two men who were killed. Called 'For Dom, Bruno and the Amazon' it was launched at Halton Mill.
Stuart Nevin is an inspiration. Don't take my word for it, the dozens who turn out in all weathers to run along the prom in the C2K5 - coach to 5k - training sessions are proof of the difference he and his supporters are making. In the week when the latest session began, and with long dark nights approaching, could this be the kind of activity that helps people both physically and mentally?
Stuart certainly thinks so.
On a blustery night on Morecambe promenade he told me how he almost gave up on the sport he loves and how he's determined to encourage as many people as possible to give it a go.
He's encouraged dozens to grab their trainers and take to the promenade to try out running. Stuart Nevin created Morecambe Community Runners which now boasts a membership of nearly 700 and began another 'C25K' course this week. His own story is inspirational and in the next edition of the podcast he explains why he's on a mission to help people get the most of activity.
As regular listeners to the podcast will know, swimming in Morecambe Bay is growing in popularity. The M.A.L.L.O.W.S (Morecambe and Lancaster Lancashire Open Water Swimmers) are a thriving group promoting an activity that's increasingly seen as beneficial for mind and body. On Saturday they may have gained their newest member! Rev Ian Dewar is the Lead Chaplain for the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust and is currently raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support by swimming the equivalent of the length of the English Channel. As architect of the Bay Health Festivals he's also considering developing swimming as part of future health events. How did he enjoy his first drip in the Bay? Enjoy the podcast!
It's a sport that appeals to all ages and to people from all walks of life.
Archery is thriving and the Morecambe Bay Archers have recently welcomed another group of new converts to their ranks.
The distinctive sound and satisfaction of hearing an arrow land on the target is infectious and as you'll hear in this podcast, it's addictive too!
In this edition of the podcast we go behind the scenes to meet those helping make a difference when times are tight. From fuel to finance, benefits to legal rights, North Lancashire Citizens Advice are increasing their team of volunteers who are at the forefront when it comes to offering help for people from all walks of life. As you'll hear, they've never been busier. We'll hear from Gully Trevena, Advice Services Director, Gemma Thompson, Administrator, Karen Gilbertson, Advice Matters Team Leader and Joanna Young, Research and Campaigns Lead. If you need advice you can find really good information and advice online at www.citizensadvice.org.uk or via the Adviceline 0800 278 7882 To make a face to face appointment with an adviser call 01524 400 404 and to get advice by email you can contact enquiries@northlancashirecab.org.uk
They're at the forefront of providing help for people from all walks of life who may need some guidance and have themselves never been busier. From fuel to finance, benefits to legal rights, North Lancashire Citizens Advice are increasing their team of volunteers and working to diversify where advice can be gained. In the next edition of the podcast we go behind the scenes to meet those helping make a difference when times are tight.
They say 'tide and time waits for no man.' Andy Bradbury should know.
He's one of two pilots who work to navigate ships safely into the ports of Glasson Dock and Heysham, no small feat given the tidal range of Morecambe Bay and the variety of ships - big and small - that he's called to look after. Born and bred close to the sea, hear how efforts to put him off a life on board ships backfired, just how much of a challenge it is to chart the narrow passage into Glasson and how he has a surprising way of relaxing ashore.
Enjoy too the pictures of Andy at work, courtesy of Rob Wicks.
Spivs, American cops, classic cars and buses - there's a real mix in Morecambe this weekend.
The podcast has been out an about capturing some of the sounds of the event which has brought big crowds to the town.
Join us on this mini tour!
Morecambe's Vintage by the Sea Festival is back next weekend. It's estimated over a million pounds was brought into Morecambe by the 2019 event which this year will feature everything from food and drink to art and design, celebrating 20th-century design, fashion, vehicles and entertainment. Morecambe-born Wayne Hemingway and Lauren Zawadzki from Deco Publique are hoping the event, to be held on 3 and 4th Sept, will prove as much a draw as earlier festivals. The event is without doubt one of the highlights of the Bay's entertainment calendar promising 'a sensual delight, a big dressing-up box, a collector’s dream and a joyous creative feast for all ages.'
Battling unseasonably windy weather 500 people raising money and interest in the fight to reopen Grange lido became the latest group to cross the wide expanse of Morecambe Bay from Arnside to Grange. Some had travelled from as far as New Zealand to take part in an event which is growing in popularity.
Campaigners want to bring the lido back into use - 2025 is the target date for swimmers to return.
Meanwhile Michael Wilson, a Flookburgh fisherman, is Queens Guide to the Sands and led the latest group of walkers across the Bay. In this podcast we hear about the role, the challenges he and his partner face in staging the walks and how they're on track to raise £700,000 for charities and good causes by leading the walks.
Battling unseasonably windy weather 500 people raising money and interest in the fight to reopen Grange lido became the latest group to cross the wide expanse of Morecambe Bay from Arnside to Grange.
For an update on the latest news from the lido and an insight into life as the Queen's Sand Pilot listen out for the next edition of the podcast, coming soon.
After a gap caused the pandemic, Morecambe's Vintage by the Sea Festival is back with organisers expecting strong interest in an event that features everything from food and drink to art and design. It's estimated over a million pounds was brought into Morecambe by the 2019 event and Morecambe-born Wayne Hemingway is hoping the event on 3 and 4th Sept will bring a similar boost to the Bay.
They've been a part of the area since 1920 and have never been relegated. Today Morecambe FC - the Shrimps - are in League One and aiming high. But what happens on the pitch is only part of the story of a football club who are active in all walks of life around Morecambe Bay. The man who oversees a wide range of activities across all parts of the community and involves a team of around 200 people is also one of the youngest senior leaders in football.
Despite floods, Storm Arwen and recent extreme heat the RSPB's reserve at Leighton Moss continues to be the Bay's food bowl for birdlife.
The bittern population might be booming but the extremes of recent weather conditions are causing concern. But the largest area of reed beds in north-west England is proving popular to a whole new audience of wildlife fans. The pandemic has served to increase the number of people of all ages who now visit and take an active interest in wildlife around the Bay.
They're on call to help 24/7: a team of volunteers who put to sea to answer calls for help in all weathers.
The crew of Fleetwood lifeboat form part of a chain of 238 lifeboat stations around the UK. This weekend (Saturday from 11am) they'll be holding their first open day since the pandemic, a welcome opportunity for volunteers, their families and supporters to mark the vital role the station's Shannon and D class lifeboat play.
For the sixth year running a festival with a difference is taking place and this time it spans the Bay. The organisers of The Bay Health Festivals have a very simple aim: to create spaces and opportunities for people to have conversations – easy or difficult – with family, friends, neighbours, and with ourselves. The hope is that by taking time out, we'll rediscover the art of living well and with the current pandemic it may be needed now more than ever before. For an extended version of this podcast check out The Lost Art of Living website.
The Morecambe Bay area is home to diverse communities as well as a wide range of industries. There are two nuclear power stations here, the M6 runs close by plus the sea itself is busy with maritime activity and there are air routes overhead.
All the more reason to have active and agile emergency services on hand for when we may need help.
At the moment Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service are recruiting on-call firefighters in and around Morecambe. Once known as 'retained' these are people who often have another job and rather than being based at a fire station, provide on-call cover from home or work. They respond to emergencies when their pager alerts them, so must live or work near the fire station.
In this edition - recorded just as an emergency call came in - we hear from firefighter Rosie Pearson and station manager Kevin Warwick.
They were once familiar sight and, after an absence prompted by the pandemic, a small fleet of historic buses once again ventured back onto the streets of Morecambe and Heysham on Sunday 22nd May. The Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust promotes the restoration and preservation of buses which once plied the streets of the area. This year's event, supported by Morecambe BID and Stagecoach, proved popular with passengers enjoying the chance to ride to destinations around the area aboard historic buses. So who looks after the fleet and what's the aim of the charity? The Morecambe Bay Podcast climbed aboard to meet some of those behind the event.
The scenes from the conflict of Ukraine have prompted many people around the Bay to support the communities affected by the war.
It might be hundreds of miles away but the images and stories emerging seem very close to home for many: that's certainly true for members of Bay Search and Rescue.
Among the volunteers' rescue fleet is a Sherp, an all terrain vehicle that - in normal times - is made in Kiev. The Morecambe Bay team have travelled to the company's factory in the past and know many of those who build the life-saving truck. They've been prompted to gather a lorry load of supplies donated by the communities around the Bay including Morecambe Football Club. Later this month (21st April) a team led by one of the organisation's founders, Gary Parsons, will drive the donations from the Bay to the Polish border with Ukraine.
'I think they thought I was mad!' Photographer Tessa Bunney whose new exhibition today (Sat 9th April) describing how her subjects viewed her during a three year long mission to document one of Morecambe Bay's oldest industries.
She's braved the Bay's famously variable weather to take thousands of images of the fishermen and women who ply their trade on these hazardous sands and channels.
The Lancaster Maritime Museum on St George's Quay in Lancaster is hosting the exhibition until July. So how did she manage to gather such an amazing collection of images - and how do you choose which to display? Tessa tells us about the challenges she faced and the characters she met during the course of work to create this important lasting record of an industry that will forever be linked to the Bay.
After battling to keep going during the pandemic, Morecambe Band are celebrating recent success when they emerged as 4th section winners in the North West Areas Regional Contest 2022. The brass band has a long and proud history. Formed in 1875 and still going strong today, Morecambe Band are looking forward to a busy season in 2022. In September they have a place in the National Finals. I met some of the longest serving and newest members of the band at a recent rehearsal and heard about their big plans for the future.
It's known as the small charity making a big difference; from artwork and the Morecambe Bay cycle path to beach cleans and recent sunset talks. The Morecambe Bay Partnership has a new Chief Executive who's arrived in the area after spending nine years working in conservation on the Scilly Isles. Sarah Mason is six months into the role and joins at an interesting time. The Eden Project, concerns over sewage discharges and the effects of increased tourism prompted by the pandemic are among matters causing debate around the Bay. On a wintry day in Arnside she tells us more about her plans for the charity.
It's the TV crime drama that has put Morecambe on the map: ITV's The Bay has attracted millions of viewers and while the plots have proved to be gritty the characters, not to mention the stunning views of Morecambe Bay, have certainly proved popular. With series 3 about to be launched, creator Daragh Carville who lives in Lancaster, is keeping his fingers crossed that he's managed to develop a new central character who the audience will take to their heart. Morven Christie starred in the crime drama as DS Lisa Armstrong in the first two series but decided to move on to pastures new. Marsha Thomason will be playing Morecambe CID’s new Family Liaison Officer DS Jenn Townsend when the new series starts on 12th January. In our most detailed podcast so far, Daragh told me about his fascinating career so far, the extensive research that has gone into The Bay as well as offering a real insight into how TV dramas are created.
Murmurations: thousands of starlings, all in synch, flying wingtip to wingtip have inspired many to try and record the stunning spectacle. For photographer Darren Andrews it prompted the creation of a book which contains dozens of images gathered around north Lancashire and on North Pier in Blackpool. He's now working on shooting a film which is taking real patience as he tries to plot where the murmurations will occur. For the podcast it was a real challenge to record and describe what we saw by a roadside wood not far from Leighton Moss recently. But listen closely and enjoy the anticipation and sense of achievement as we record our sights and sounds on a trip into Arnside and Silverdale to track the murmurating starlings around Morecambe Bay.
One of the more unusual features in the diary of events taking place around Morecambe Bay returns over the festive period. The annual Dip in Morecambe Bay in aid of St John's Hospice will take place on New Year's Day morning. Hundreds of hardy souls - many wearing fancy dress - will take part in the event which brings in much needed support for the charity, enabling it to continue the work carried out across north Lancashire and south Cumbria since 1986. Despite the pandemic the charity is poised to expand the services offered at a time when there are growing numbers of people looking for support.
The memories of Storm Arwen are still strong around Morecambe Bay.
The first bad storm of the winter brought down powerlines cutting off homes and leaving communities without power for days. The disruption caused by the storm, which unusually blew in from the north, affected many all around the Bay.
You don’t have to travel far to see evidence of the destruction caused. Trees that had stood proud for decades were felled in one night and landscapes changed forever.
For this edition of the podcast we return to Eaves Wood near Silverdale. While the storm did damage the area, work to nurture nature here continues. The area is home to a wide variety of species and more are being reintroduced as part of the Back on our Map (BOOM) project as we’ve heard in an earlier edition of the podcast.
National Trust area ranger Craig McCoy explained more about the work that’s underway and how he and a small team of colleagues and volunteers are giving nature a helping hand.
Charlie Overett is a true 'sand grown'un'. He grew up living opposite the Central Pier in Morecambe, close to where the town's fishing fleet would land their catches. And it was here that at the tender age of 13 that he and his mates would use borrowed rowing boats to escort cross-Bay swimmers back to Morecambe from Grange. This taste of Morecambe maritime life set him on a career that was to take him as a merchant season to the Far East, an offshore supply boat captain around West Africa before the lure of home proved too powerful and he came back to the Bay to fish. His story his amazing! Enjoy.
Get outside, learn and connect with nature: that's the key to overcoming the impact the pandemic has had on some sections of the community around Morecambe Bay. The Bay: A Blueprint for Recovery is a new group created with support from the People's Postcode Lottery to bring together a host of organisations. From Fleetwood to Walney Island, with help from Lancashire and Cumbria Wildlife Trusts, the aim is to make use of the natural surroundings to entice more of us to get involved. One of the first events took place on Morecambe Beach.
Morecambe's Winter Gardens is one of those structures that oozes atmosphere.
It's a beautiful building which once played host to the likes of George Formby, Gracie Fields, Vera Lynn, the Who and the Rolling Stones. Working hard to raise the money needed to prevent the ravages of time taking hold are a small dedicated band of volunteers. This week they had some good news - the building was awarded a grant by Historic England bringing the amount raised this year to almost £1million .
The Winter Gardens is open this weekend before closing from mid-December to complete a three month programme of restoration work in preparation for Easter 2022 and the 125th anniversary of the theatre.
I was lucky to be shown around the building on Saturday to hear how work is progressing.
Stunning artwork produced by a man inspired by Morecambe Bay is on show in Lancaster's City Museum. Titled ‘Reginald Aspinwall: a troubled landscape’, it focuses on a celebrated landscape painter who lived and worked in Lancaster from 1870 until his death in 1921. He painted many local scenes including Heysham beach, Sunderland Point and the fishermen of Morecambe Bay. But, as the title suggests, he enjoyed a mixed career. An alcoholic, the last few years of his life were spent in the workhouse and he died in the County Asylum (Lancaster Moor). The exhibition is in partnership with the Harris Museum Art gallery & Library in Preston and includes letters and archive items relating to Aspinwall: interwoven with the artworks are anecdotes from the artist’s life. The exhibition runs until Sunday 7th November.
Chas Jacobs has become familiar as an artist whose distinct work has helped spread the appeal of Morecambe Bay.
From working in industry he's made painting a career and for 18 years has been passing on his skills and enthusiasm to a whole new generation, a number of whom are now artists in their own right. And his appeal is global with work in demand from ex pats living around the world.
For this edition of the podcast we met up in his studio where his productions come to life.
It's certainly different and it really made me think: a dance performance in a woodland that's bordered by a by pass, a housing estate and within a stones throw of a wind farm. Underlie is part of the Entangled arts festival which is on from Sept 18th-26th. Heysham Moss is an area I know well. I grew up living close by and the dance portrays the history of the area, no mean feat given there's a cast of one, no music and the audience are under strict instructions to remain quiet. I was invited to the dress rehearsal which was held on a calm night with the moon rising and the extraordinary nearby birdlife in fine voice. Enjoy the podcast and check out the website for more pictures and video.
Walney Island is fast becoming a mecca for visitors. They're making the most of the brilliant beaches, ample food available nearby and maybe even enjoying the views of the Bay. But these visitors aren't human. The seal colony there is thriving and a new arrival, a seal pup born just a few weeks ago, is the latest arrival. Georgia de Jong Cleyndert is the Marine Conservation Officer for the North West Wildlife Trusts and has been talking about how the new pup is settling in and why the area is becoming so popular with seals, great and small. You might be able to see the seals via this live feed: https://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife/cams/seal-cam
How often have you thought 'I must write that book...'? How hard is it? And what does it feel like when a publisher finally says 'yes'?
Sarah Dodd's debut novel has just been published and it's loosely based on the Bay.
Keeper of Secrets is set in the village of Littendale, a fictionalised version of Silverdale and the book, about a child's encounter with a lynx, was heavily inspired by a particular location near Jack Scout and the woods near Jenny Brown's point.
Sarah and I met up recently to talk about the book and the process of becoming a published author.
With magnificent views over a wide sweep of Morecambe Bay, the lido at Grange over Sands was a popular spot with swimmers and sun worshippers for decades.
Built in 1932 the art deco structure is the only surviving seaside lido in the north west and one of only 4 in England. In 1993 it closed and fell into disrepair becoming blot on the Bay.
In recent months efforts to reopen it have taken a step forward with work to stop the rot. Earlier this summer South Lakeland District Council agreed to begin work aimed at 'making the derelict Grange Lido site stable, safe and accessible.'
A so-called “light-touch” refurbishment will take place.
On a windy afternoon, on one of the last days before the site is declared out of bounds to visitors to allow work to begin, members of the Save Grange Lido organisation showed me around the structure.
It's billed as a project that will inspire 'wonder and a connection with the natural world.' The Eden Project North could also bring 400 jobs and help attract millions of pounds of investment to Morecambe. The development could open in 2024. With Lancaster City Council agreeing to a plan to transfer seafront land which was once the site of the Bubbles fun pool to the project (subject to planning permission) and crucial meetings held this week to lobby for government support, momentum seems to be growing. Tim Neary from the Eden team met up with me in Morecambe this week and told me how plans for the ambitious project will be submitted in a few weeks' time.
Do you remember Frontierland? The theme park may be long gone and the hoardings that surround it have become a longstanding feature but they are now becoming an attraction in their own right. The reason? A group of artists have used the blue boards as an unlikely canvas to display an amazing array of artwork.
This weekend's edition of the podcast features someone who has spent nearly two decades trying to help people living in one community around Morecambe Bay.
As local journalist Mike Whalley explained earlier in this series, the West End of Morecambe has undergone major changes from the heyday of tourism in the town in the 1950s and 60s to the era when former boarding houses were converted into flats. For the past 19 years Tracey Cole of the charity West End Impact has volunteered to help people living in the area who may need support. In this episode she explains how the work began, the challenges the organisation has faced and where she sees the area going in the future.
The National Trust is a major custodian of a variety of land all around Morecambe Bay, from the rocky cliffs at Heysham Head to the sandy expanse of Sandscale Haws and numerous sites in between. One of those is Eaves Wood, an amazingly diverse landscape near Silverdale, where a new route for walkers has just been opened up. If you're a fan of wildlife it's on the flight path to the nearby RSPB reserve at Leighton Moss, is home to deer, butterflies and for historians there's a mix of derelict buildings and landmarks to be discovered. Plus ancient woodland that seem to defy natural science by growing from limestone rock. The walk is here https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/arnside-and-silverdale/trails/eaves-wood-circular-trail and in this episode of the Morecambe Bay Podcast Nancy Burditt, Senior Programming and Partnerships Officer – Outdoors, South and East Cumbria and Morecambe Bay for the National Trust took me to see the route.
Sound transports us: it might be one reason why you’re listening to this podcast. A group of artists around Morecambe Bay have worked to create a live stream of the sound of a part of the Bay. The southernmost tip of Walney Island is inaccessible and a mecca for wildlife. Now, thanks to the work of Full of Noises, listeners can eavesdrop on nature in this remote part of the Bay. It’s part of an international project to encourage us all to make time to stop and listen. To hear the feed, click on this link; http://acousticommons.net/streams/the_spit_south_walney.html
VolunteersWeek podcast
It began as a way of beating the boredom of lockdown and has now grown into a thriving community group. Linda Denby got fed up with seeing rubbish during her daily exercise and began picking it up. Others followed her lead and the Carnforth Wombles were launched. Supported by Carnforth Town Council they recently collected their 1,000th bag of rubbish. Now other neighbourhood groups are being launched to clean up things 'the everyday folks leave behind.'
A good journalist knows that contacts and curiosity are vital. As reporter, news editor and then editor of the Morecambe Visitor, Mike Whalley has been proudly part of the area since the heady days of the 1950s and 60s. The town may have changed but the skills needed to find and tell stories have not. Even in retirement Mike continues to write for the paper. As editor Mike was at the helm when a highly successful campaign was launched to create a statue of Eric Morecambe. The result is there for all to see and is just one example of how the paper has championed Morecambe. In the second of this two-part series, Mike explains why the town welcomed a very different kind of visitor, how catastrophic storms helped dramatically change the coastline and talks candidly about his hopes for Morecambe in the future.
Few can know as much about Morecambe as Mike Whalley. As a trainee reporter at the Morecambe Visitor in the 1950s he was catapulted into life in a resort that was enjoying a growing reputation as the place to come. With a lengthy and varied list of venues to enjoy, Morecambe in the 50s and 60s boomed and attracted thousands of visitors from industrial Lancashire and West Yorkshire. As a reporter Mike had a ringside seat, charting the extraordinary era when the town rivalled Blackpool as the country’s number one resort. From Miss GB to obituaries; crime to council affairs. The life of a journalist, keeping tabs on all walks of life, was nothing if not varied! In the first of this two-part series, Mike talks about the early days of his career, forging a reputation in a town that was alive with amazing stories and fascinating people.
As well as tourists, Morecambe has attracted its fair share of film makers over the years.
From celebrated producers like Mitchell and Kenyon to visitors coming to the town today, the view, the people and the attractions there have been preserved for posterity. This Bank Holiday weekend there's a chance to see some of them at the Winter Gardens which also has featured many times in pictures over the years. It's been organised by the North West Film Archive.
Geoff Senior from the archive told me about the production and his hopes that present day film-makers will help provide a comprehensive record of life in 2021 for future generations to enjoy.
Despite a severe motorbike accident, contracting swine flu and meningitis twice, Darryl Potter makes the most of living by the Bay.
A wheelchair user, he's only recently begun taking pictures and sharing them on social media. His tongue in cheek choice of name for his Instagram account maybe offers an insight into his positive outlook on life.
Known as 'Bay Clicky Roller' on a very wet night in Morecambe he told me about the satisfaction he gets from taking photographs for a growing digital audience and the fact he's now made contact with other wheelchair photographers in the area.
Despite a severe motorbike accident, contracting swine flu and meningitis twice, Darryl Potter makes the most of living by the Bay. A wheelchair user, he's only recently begun taking pictures and sharing them on social media. His tongue in cheek choice of name for his Instagram account maybe offers an insight into his positive outlook on life. Hear more from 'Bay Clicky Roller' in this weekend's Morecambe Bay Podcast as explains more about the satisfaction he gets from taking photographs for his growing audience.
It was to become an event that attracted millions of viewers, enjoy its fair share of scandal as well as inject glamour into a post-war Lancashire seaside resort.
Miss Great Britain began in 1945 as the National Bathing Beauty Contest, a joint venture between The Sunday Dispatch newspaper, Morecambe Corporation and Eric Morley's Mecca Entertainment Group with heats taking place at the Super Swimming Stadium on the town's seafront.
Each year the contest grew in popularity and by 1950 the prize money had increased to £1,000 for the winner. Big names who took part included Violet Pretty - who would go on to become Hollywood star Anne Heywood - the first female Blue Peter presenter Leila Williams, and comedian Marti Caine.
In this edition we hear first hand what it was like to compete, the recollections of a reporter who covered the contest and the women who during lockdown researched, wrote and published a celebration of the 75 years of the Miss Great Britain contest ( https://www.amazon.co.uk/Books-Sally-Ann-Fawcett/s?rh=n%3A266239%2Cp_27%3ASally-Ann+Fawcett)
Imagine growing up without electricity, in a place where all water came from a well and where your neighbour helped feed your family. For Iris Birks, these are some of her vivid recollections growing up on Sunderland Point, the spit of land jutting out into Morecambe Bay south of Heysham. Her prowess with a boat at a young age, and the fact she has never learned to swim, are just some of the highlights from a conversation we recently recorded. Moving away from the Point was a big moment for Iris and although she now lives in Lancaster she still goes back to the place where she was born. She's even making plans for a fitting memorial, although that's some way off yet!
Enjoy this edition of the Morecambe Bay podcast and listen out for more coming soon.
Entertainment has long been a part of the appeal of Morecambe. The area once boasted an array of theatres, cinemas and entertainment venues to rival other resorts. Jenny Reeves is Morecambe’s dance artist in residence and uses performance to tell the Bay’s history to a brand new audience:
If you enjoyed the first series, good news! A second series is now ready.
Born during lockdown, the Morecambe Bay Podcast charts life around the Bay; from art and culture to stories of growing up and reporting sometimes turbulent times.
Next weekend I'll share the first of the new series which has been fascinating to research and record. You can read more about the stories too on the website https://themorecambebaypodcast.wordpress.com/ which is home to videos and pictures kindly shared by the people who make this podcast possible.
I hope you enjoy it. Check out Twitter, Instagram and the Facebook page to share the podcast and get in touch.
Morecambe Bay is known internationally as a haven for birds. But did you know work is now underway to make the area even more attractive to an even wider range of wildlife? Prisoners at Haverigg near Millom are among over 200 volunteers doing their bit to help. It's all part of a project called Back on our Map - or BOOM - which aims to bring far reaching benefits, not just for wildlife in Morecambe Bay. To read more check out https://www.cumbria.ac.uk/business/projects/south-cumbria-species-restoration/ or @BOOMCumbria on Twitter.
Sunderland Point: steeped in history, home to a small community, and one of the most isolated places in the north west.
In later editions we’ll be hearing more about it but what’s it like to grow up there? Mia Wilson knows all about life on the Point. She spent her early years there before moving away to study at university and embark on a career which was to take her thousands of miles away from home on the banks of the River Lune.
In this episode she recalls her early life on the Point and explains what drew her back to the Bay and the important role she now plays.
Morecambe Bay has its fair share of historical buildings and places. The area’s industry and tourism attractions may have come and gone but recording and sharing how the area has changed has never been easier. Phil Martin shares his passion to record the ever changing story of Lancaster and Morecambe on social media. Through his @HistoryGeek26 Twitter feed he’s recorded a wide variety of scenes as they are now compared to as they appeared sometimes decades ago. Aiming to appeal to a younger audience he’s happy to encourage us all to keep our eyes open to the changes happening all the time.
Sunsets, birdlife, historic buildings; many of us take pictures when we’re visiting Morecambe Bay.
Professional photographer Darren Andrews has made a career of taking amazing images for the Morecambe Visitor newspaper and more recently for a whole series of commissions.
His ‘eye’ for a shot is extraordinary and his love for the resort, the people who live there and visitors (human and otherwise) is evident in his stunning work. You can see more of his work at darrenandrewsphotos.co.uk
Birdsong is very much part of the soundtrack of Morecambe Bay. Wherever you’re listening to this episode, close your eyes and the sound of oystercatchers, gulls and dozens more breeds transport you back to the Bay. Jon Carter is the RPSB’s Visitor Experience Manager at RSPB Leighton Moss. In this edition he talks about his inspiration and how the area has coped during lockdown. Follow him on Twitter @joncbirder and learn more about Leighton Moss on Twitter @RSPBLeightonM or check out the website https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/leighton-moss/
When the tide is in and if the weather is good (or sometimes even if it isn’t) there’s a good chance you’ll see people taking a dip in the sea near the Clock Tower in the middle of Morecambe.
Over the past few years a growing number have taken to sea swimming, praising the health and social benefits a swim in the Bay brings. M.A.L.L.O.W.S. - the Morecambe and Lancaster Lancashire Open Water Swimmers - now has well over 2,500 supporters on their Facebook page.
In this edition, swimmers Nye O’Neil, new sea swimming convert Sarah Patterson and Jon Gibirdi, who set up the Facebook page, tell us about their experiences in the Bay.
Beware - their enthusiasm is infectious and you too could find yourself taking a dip!
Search ‘MALLOWS’ on Facebook to find out more.
During lockdown I finally decided the time was right to work on a project which had been in my mind for a long time. I've lived and worked around Morecambe Bay for years. It's a special place that's home to some amazing people. Lockdown gave them, and me, time to talk and thanks to Zoom, we were able to meet up and record the first in what may become a series of podcasts about life around the Bay. This weekend I'll share the first series which I hope you'll enjoy. Thanks to everyone who's taken part already and to those who've kindly shown interest in future episodes. But particular thanks to all those who've helped me out with original music, graphics and inspiration to get this project off the ground. I hope you enjoy this audio taster of what's to come and keep an eye out for material on the Morecambe Bay Podcast social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, just search 'Morecambe Bay Podcast.' All the best Nigel