The Morecambe Bay Podcast

Ding ding!The Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust is preparing to stage the eleventh ‘Vintage Bus Running Day’ on Sunday, May 17th. Preserved buses which range in age from the 1930s to more recent times will be operating a free service between Heysham Village and Carnforth railway station via Morecambe promenade and Happy Mount Park. In the run up to the event we've been behind the scenes at Trust HQ to see how the volunteers behind the day keep the fleet on the road. And also in this podcast hear how my dad made his impression on bus fans far and wide.Enjoy!Fore details check out:  www.rvpt.co.uk or www.facebook.com/RVPT.events

Who hasn't tried to capture the perfect picture of the Bay?Is it down to skill or just managing to be in the right place at the right time?Photography Liz Withey from Carnforth has taken some brilliant shots of the Bay, the Lakes and Lancaster over the years and you can see some of them at The Junction Gallery on Carnforth railway station.We met in the gallery for a chat during which she offers some top tips and we discussed mutual love of steam trains!

Dementia is a growing challenge. As the population ages and people live for longer, it has become one of the most important health and care issues facing the world. In the whole of the UK, the number of people with dementia is estimated at 850,000.That's one reason why a golf programme with a difference is underway here in Morecambe Bay.Called Fore Get Me Not Golf it aims to foster a sense of community among those with dementia along with their carers.Heysham Golf Club is now hosting monthly Dementia Cafes but, as you'll hear, with the success of the programme here there are high hopes it could be adopted all over the UK.

Marianne Barraclough is the executive director of More Music, the community music and education charity based in the West End of Morecambe. As you'll hear, it's an organisation that appeals to young and old and has great track record in getting people from all walks of life involved. Marianne tells us why she wanted the gig, shares her musical background and reveals how she still keeps her hand in today.BTW the team have got a busy few weeks coming up:Dare! Young children and their families can swim with the silver fish, peer through telescopes, ride the tide and take a leap, with a newly-created musical experience on 20 & 21 February at More Music in Morecambe at 10am, 12pm & 2pm.Girls Can is a free two-day workshop over the weekend of Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th March for girls, young women and non-binary people aged 12–19.

This feature-length episode of the podcast features a conversation with someone from the Bay who has spent over five decades at sea in a variety of roles.I've been talking to Tony Cowell who first went to sea when he was just 3 years old!He's seen the sea at its best and worst during a career that has taken him from skippering some of Fleetwood's best known fishing boats to serving as lifeboat coxswain.While he is still chair of RNLI Fleetwood he's just retired as captain of the Fleetwood to Knott End Ferry, a post he held for two decades.

Much loved - and much missed; Eric Morecambe would have been 100 years old in 2026.Plans are afoot to mark his contribution to the world of comedy.But did you know as well as delighting millions with his performances and pursuing birdwatching as a hobby Eric was also a keen artist?It's one reason why the man behind the Morecambe Bay Art Fair is keen to mark Eric's life.Artist Anthony Padgett has been explaining more about the ideas that are gaining momentum (read more and keep in touch here).We met - where else - at the statue of Eric!The Morecambe Bay Podcast will be recording a series during Eric's centenary year. If you'd like to get involved get in [email protected]

We're back - with a new series of fascinating people to meet from all around the Bay!Kicking us off is a chat with Chris Barlow, singer songwriter and a Senior Lecturer in Primary Education (with a Geography specialism) at the University of Cumbria.We've spoken before about his band Hiroshima Twinkie in an earlier episode but this time he tells us how a collaboration with year 6 pupils at Sandylands Primary School in Morecambe has resulted in a song that's a guaranteed earworm!Sunset Over Morecambe Bay has just come out and with royalties being split between the band and the pupils who wrote it, it's maybe an ideal Christmas present?Enjoy the song and our conversation with Chris.Notes:Check out the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqbLx3hVVWMThe song's available here: https://hiroshimatwinkie.bandcamp.com/track/the-sunset-over-morecambe-bay?fbclid=IwY2xjawOuk11leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeV9AiPHb-Mj6hAP8nFjP5cVAxJ7MadRzos1FrwL6Qv5Ww4KkR__2JMvJnEvI_aem_OhxlQNJhICVywxhV8KUAMA

Here's something a little different from the podcast for you.This is the sound of a walk I recorded at Leighton Moss, the RSPB's reserve near Carnforth, specifically from the main entrance to Causeway Hide.Hear the wind passing through the reeds and trees as they lose their leaves. Even an unexpected low-flying jet couldn't spoil the soundscape which I hope maybe transports you there!We walk in, take a few pictures which I'll share on social media, and then head back out.If you like it, there may be more and in the meantime check out https://radiolento.podbean.com/ which inspired me to try this out.

It's taken 2 years of painstaking work but a historic Morecambe Bay fishing boat is about to return to the Bay.The Morecambe Bay Prawner Trust acquired the 130 year old Spray after it faced an uncertain future.Built in Arnside, the sturdy wooden craft was built to handle the dangerous waters, rushing tides and strong winds of Morecambe Bay.I've been given a look around the boat by trustee and skipper Robin Ashcroft who shares his hopes for its' future.Spray was built by Crossfields of Arnside and her history and restoration will be covered at this year’s Crossfield Conference, run by Arnside Sailing Club on Saturday 22nd November 2025.

Every picture tells a story and it’s certainly true when it comes to a photography project quietly gathering momentum in Morecambe.It’s the idea of  creative Johnny Bean.He’s capturing pictures of people who make a difference in Morecambe.From tap dancing pensioners to fishermen, hairdressers to the town's member of Parliament and everyone in between; characters who make the town what it is.Johnny is recording images for posterity and to chart how the town is changing.We met up - near arguably the town’s most famous son ! to talk more about Morecambe Faces. https://johnny-bean.blogspot.com/

Bikers from across the UK descended on Barrow on the longest day to mark the second Dave Day to be held to mark the life and work of the Dave Myers who hailed from the town.Hairy Biker Dave has a loyal following and his wife Lili is continuing to raise awareness as well as money for cancer care and other good causes.Over 20,000 bikers came to Barrow today with people lining their routes from London to south Cumbria.I've been meeting a few of the well wishers as well as some hairy (and not so hairy!) bikers.

This is a gem!A recording of the sights and sounds of Morecambe made over 40 years ago has been shared publicly for the first time since it was produced.Sounds of Morecambe and District was a cassette made by a small team led by Peter Mason-Milward in 1981. As well as the sounds of Marineland, go karts at Heysham Head and the Harbour Band Arena it also featured interviews with some of the stars of the day who visited the area. They include presenters Pete Murray and Isla St Clair along with Colin Crompton, the comic whose routine took aim at Morecambe in TV’s The Comedians.Using recording equipment from Lancaster and Morecambe Hospital Radio where Peter was chairman, the result is an extraordinary audio archive of the resort in the 1980s.Isla St Clair had the honour of switching on Morecambe illuminations in 1980 and told Peter about her love for the town. Meanwhile Colin Crompton said his jokes about Morecambe as ‘a cemetery with lights’ and a place where ‘they all turn out to watch the bacon slicer’ were taken too seriously by tourism staff and on the tape admits the town is ‘not bad.’The cassette was produced as an audio postcard of the area with around 150 sold by Peter and his colleagues to tourists staying at hotels around Morecambe.We met up recently with his wife Cath to listen back to Morecambe over 40 years ago.1' the laughing clown1'30" Pete Murray4' Peter explains where the idea came from5'50" Memories of working with Eric Morecambe7' Top interview tips from Eric!10'30" Isla St Clair switches the lights on12'30" Colin Crompton15' Gypsy Lee16' Peter explains how people gave time to the recordings16'30" Marineland17' Heysham Head19' Wrestling on the Central Pier19' 30" The sand train to Heysham

Every year the port of Heysham becomes the focus for bikers from all over the UK and beyond.Thousands flock to the Bay to be transported to the Isle of Man for the TT Races which are well underway.Alice Rice knows more than most when it comes to ensuring bikers get across safely.Since 1996 she's worked at the port but this is to be her final TT.She's been telling me about meeting some of the stars of the event and sharing stories of life at Heysham port.

Do you remember Heysham Head or how about the pleasure park on the prom before it became Frontierland?Morecambe illuminations switch-on? Colin Crompton? Pontins Holiday Camp? Marineland ? The list goes on!In the 1980’s a friend of mine had the foresight to record the sights and sounds of Morecambe and we recently met up to listen again to the cassette he produced.Here's a taste!

Did you know there are over 100 works of art in Morecambe town centre?With more artwork springing up around the town it's certainly causing much debate and it's emerged the town's Business Improvement District have supported artist Matty Green in sprucing up areas with imaginative work.An art trail could coax visitors off the prom to explore lesser known areas - and businesses that could benefit.So what difference will artwork make and what's next?Enjoy hearing more from the BID here.Details of https://morecambebid.com/Live webcams overlooking the prom (seagulls permitting) https://morecambebid.com/more-cam/

The promenade may be where most visitors head for but in part of Morecambe some of the town's buildings are getting a colourful makeover.There are already posters and artwork depicting some of the area's well known characters in the town centre but now a new mural has been unveiled just off the prom.A seagull eating chips and Morecambe's 'bird man' - John Wilkinson who was jailed in 2014 after breaching an anti-social behaviour order to limit his bird feeding habit - is the subject of the artwork on the gable rear of the Old Pier Bookshop.It's stunning and is the work of artists Matty Green and Harry Mills.Matty gave us a guided tour of this and his other artworks which he hopes will spark widespread interest in a side of Morecambe visitors don't yet appreciate.Notes:2' We hear how work is already underway to brighten up the town's lesser known areas.9' What is the reaction of the mural's nearest neighbour?10' What's next...?

Can you imagine moving out of a three bedroomed house and setting out to live in a 60 foot long canal boat?Mark Sadler's boat is more 'like a posh flat' but even so, parting with years' worth of belongings and changing lifestyles to one where the weather and seasons are a constant factor takes some getting used to.This month marks his 12 month anniversary of taking the plunge and living on the Lancaster Canal.Has it been plain sailing or will he be back in the housing market soon?2' Why a canal boat?4' How to downsize.6' Nature on the canal.8' Reflecting on one year aboard.10' The challenges of the canal.12' Coping with a change in pace 14' The canal community.16' Life afloat and looking to the future.Transcript: Welcome to the Morecambe Bay podcast with Nigel Thompson.If you're listening to this in your house or on your way home, would you pack up, get rid of anything you didn't need and downsize your entire life onto a canal boat? It sounds daunting, doesn't it? Yet that's what Mark Sadler did a year ago. A three bedroom house was replaced by a 60 foot long, 10 foot wide boat on the Lancaster Canal.As his first anniversary approaches, how's he getting on?

Banish the winter blues with the sights and sounds of a stunning light and sound display on Morecambe promenade.From The Ghost of Moby Dick to The Garden of Hope, 18 installations from artists all over the country will be pm show from The Midland to the Yacht Club on 21st and 22nd of February.Full details can be found here and the Morecambe Bay Podcast is proud to be a sponsor.Three of the displays are the work of Ulverston-based sound and light pioneer Dan Fox and his Sound Intervention team. 6 metre tall Luminosi trees, Aeolian Flutes and emersive Glittering Grove (at points 15, 16 and 17 close to the yacht club) will doubtless be popular and Dan has been explaining where his inspiration comes from and why he loves being part of Baylight.Show notes:1' Inside the production studio2' The challenges of developing a space to make music3' Starting to work with street bands4' The Boom bike!5' Starting out in soundscapes6' The challenge of working during Covid7' Visiting Baylight during the early years9' Bringing flutes, luminosi trees and a glittering grove to the promenade11' Using hydrophones to capture the sound of ice!12' Finding inspiration in all kinds of places14' 'A kilometre if speaker cable..' going above and beyond!16' Planning for the future17' Why Dan gets a buzz from the shows he puts on

Have you had a busy week? Need time out but don't have time to go to the coast?Enjoy the latest in our occasional series of sounds from the Bay.Take two mins to enjoy the incoming tide recorded this morning close to the boats moored not far from Morecambe town hall.

There's treasure to be found on our beaches if you know where to look! Sea glass, the remains of bottles and other objects discarded sometimes decades ago is polished and weathered by the continual action of the sea. The result is highly polished shards of glass that are fashioned into gem-like shapes. Clear ones are common - coloured is rarer. Jacqueline Kendall from Manchester comes to Morecambe to hunt for the glass which she uses to decorate bottles and other artefacts. We met on the beach by the Midland Hotel.

I was out recording something a bit special that I'll share with you soon and was on the beach close to the Platform in Morecambe today. Overlooked by the famous Midland Hotel the beach there is made up of shingle. I was there just about high tide and the sound of the sea running through the shingle really brightened a fairly overcast Sunday. The sound is mesmerising!Work by fellow podcasters Radio Lento (check them out for some stunning soundscapes) inspired me to share this with you.It's only three minutes long and you can almost smell the salty air.I hope it helps while away a bit of the commute or morning rush - enjoy!

Winter has certainly arrived! Already this month icy conditions gave way to rain and now gale force winds. And battling it all are the birds. Morecambe Bay is famous for being home to a wide range of species and this weekend the annual Big Garden Birdwatch. Kath Smith from the RSPB at Leighton Moss has been showing us what's around at the moment and explaining how birds cope with what nature throws at them.

We may be shivering at the moment as winter hits home but what if your home is floating on an ice-covered canal? The Lancaster canal is home to a community who live all year around aboard narrow and other types of boats. You might be surprised that for some, becoming ice-bound is a good opportunity to carry out essential maintenance work and that far from being cold, the craft are as snug and welcoming as any cottage. I met up with David Ashdown and boat crew cat Sherlock! As you'll hear, his third boat has given him access to some amazing parts of the network in an association with canals that goes back to the 1980s. He's researched and written about the network and is a self-confessed canal fan. 2 mins - Where his interest in canals began 4 mins- What is life like aboard when the temperatures fall 7 mins - Lancaster canal connections 12 mins- Why a boat beats a campervan 14 mins - Plans for the future Morecambe Bay Podcast, January 2025

Over 500 members, 170 tonnes of surplus food saved from going to waste, 250 volunteering hours a week; just some of the impressive statistics shared by Eggcup, a charity with more than one function. As well as saving food from going to waste, they also provide real life experience for catering students at Lancaster and Morecambe College who use ingredients supplied to make ready meals which are distributed in Lancaster, Morecambe and Carnforth. Local farms benefit too thanks to links to the gleaning network. Yet financial challenges mean the long term future of the venture is uncertain and a fundraising campaign is underway. Unless support can be found it could close next month. https://www.eggcup.org/ https://www.gofundme.com/f/saving-eggcup?utm_source=copy_link&utm_medium=customer&utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_ft&attribution_id=sl:0867b27d-47ac-46e8-9ae7-815d82d8330e Notes: Eggcup stops surplus food from going to waste and gets it to people instead. The low-cost, weekly food scheme helps members to save money on food, and that makes life more affordable for thoseon a tight budget. There are three Community Food Outlets for members in Lancaster the West End of Morecambe and a pop-up in Carnforth.

Thousands make a bee-line to it every year and since it opened in the 1920s Happy Mount Park in Morecambe has been a 'must-see' attraction for visitors of all ages. It's certainly changed over the years; the Radio 1 roadshow, illuminations and Mr Blobby are part of the park's rich history. Helping city council staff maintain it are a group of keen volunteers who give their time every Monday morning come rain or shine. They often bring bulbs and plants to help add colour to the park. The Friends of Happy Mount Park 2023 committee were formed with the support of Lancaster City Council and have tackled overgrown gardens to bring a splash of colour back to the park. And more volunteers are always welcome! Search "Friends of Happy Mount Park 2023" on Facebook.

From music and film to poetry and dance, a successful arts event with a difference has come to a close in Morecambe. The idea of the Morecambe People's Biennial was to reclaim the term "local artist" as one of pride and, organisers say, 'remove the prejudice of yokel from the local. ' 92 artists were inspired to get involved and funding from Lancashire County Council was distributed equally between the creatives. The event concluded on the beach at Morecambe this weekend and the podcast was there.

You may have seen them (you might have missed them) but how much do you know about the natural phemomena that is the northern lights? The skies above the Bay were amazing again last night as countless pictures on social media prove. Is it happening more often? Have we now seen the best of the lights? And can we predict when we will see them again? Jim Wild is a professor of space physics at Lancaster University and spoke to the podcast today. Follow Prof Wild @jim_wild on X and check out https://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/

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 goes back 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 the orchestra 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 snipe 17'19" 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

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 cry And a seagull screams at the night’s sky And the sad sea sighs – goodbye” Lemn Sissay – The Long Walk The 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/sighofthesea Songwriter, 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.