The Morecambe Bay Podcast

It's community action at its best; Sunderland Point community to deliver their first small-scale saltmarsh restoration trials.

It's one of the best bits of the Bay; Sunderland Point originates from the 17th century when it was known as an area of safe anchorage. But the seas is causing erosion, both at the point itself where around 1 metre a year is being loss and on the approach where marsh grass is struggling to keep hold in a delicate climate that's increasingly scoured by tides. Now residents are working with...

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 Tr...

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 of...

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 o...

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 he...

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 a...

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 P...

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 a...

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...

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 trust...

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...

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 Lon...

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...

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...

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 c...

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 ja...

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...

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 disp...

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 Morec...

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 Rad...

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 t...

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 welc...