The Morecambe Bay Podcast
By Nigel Thompson
In this series of podcasts journalist Nigel Thompson, who has had a lifelong association with the Bay, hears from people who make Morecambe Bay special.
With over a hundred episodes it's a breath of fresh air, all about the Bay #MorecambeBay
Sounds of Morecambe and District 1981
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 clown
1'30" Pete Murray
4' Peter explains where the idea came from
5'50" Memories of working with Eric Morecambe
7' Top interview tips from Eric!
10'30" Isla St Clair switches the lights on
12'30" Colin Crompton
15' Gypsy Lee
16' Peter explains how people gave time to the recordings
16'30" Marineland
17' Heysham Head
19' Wrestling on the Central Pier
19' 30" The sand train to Heysham
From Heysham Port to the TT
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.
Sounds of Morecambe and District in the 1980s
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!
Bidding to big up Morecambe
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/
A splash of colour; Morecambe's mural
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...?
From house to boat; 12 months living on the Lancaster canal
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 - Baylight 25
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 studio
2' The challenges of developing a space to make music
3' Starting to work with street bands
4' The Boom bike!
5' Starting out in soundscapes
6' The challenge of working during Covid
7' Visiting Baylight during the early years
9' Bringing flutes, luminosi trees and a glittering grove to the promenade
11' Using hydrophones to capture the sound of ice!
12' Finding inspiration in all kinds of places
14' 'A kilometre if speaker cable..' going above and beyond!
16' Planning for the future
17' Why Dan gets a buzz from the shows he puts on
Incoming tide
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.
Treasure on the beach!
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.
High tide at Morecambe
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!
Leighton Moss in winter
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.
Life afloat; at home on the canal
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
Behind the scenes at Eggcup
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.
The Friends of Happy Mount Park
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.
Morecambe People's Biennial finale
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.
About last night - the northern lights
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/
The Shipyard Gallery
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.
Our Future Coast - protecting the Bay
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.
Dark skies over the Bay
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
Jukebox: The Teenage Revolution
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
Making a mark on the Bay for Growing Well
“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.
The Morecambe Bay Curriculum
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/
Blue Sky Morning - 14 years of Hiroshima Twinkie
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
Conducting the Promenade Concert Orchestra
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!
Swimming the Bay; Jon Gibirdi
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: 40th birthday toad patrol
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.
Bay Veterans Association
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/
Sunderland Point Sea Shanty Crew
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.
The Slow Ways of Morecambe Bay
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.
Studying the Bay's Blue Economy
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 Coastal Connections
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/
Baylight 2024 - Morecambe's new 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
Morecambe Bay Cockling Disaster memorial service
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.'
Sigh of the Sea
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 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.
More than just books; a new chapter for the Friends of Heysham Library
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.
Putting nature Back on our Map
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.
Morecambe Bay Podcast 2024 season preview
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!
On Leighton Moss with Jon Carter
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!
On the tiles; fixing the foyer floor at Morecambe's Winter Gardens
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.
Noreen Masud - A Flat Place
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.
The Bay's sound artist
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.
The Running Granny
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
The timeless skill helping restore the Winter Gardens
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!
Morecambe's Nib Crib
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.
120 miles: 120 stories Bay Lines Beach of Dreams finale
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.
Beach of Dreams Finale trail
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:
The Bay's first Beach of Dreams
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
Hidden Depths
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.
Beach of Dreams update
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:
Morecambe's new community store
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.