The Morecambe Bay Podcast

Have you ever wondered where the birds you see around Morecambe Bay have travelled from — or where they’re heading next?

Every year, huge numbers of waders pass through the Bay, including 35,000 Oystercatchers, 23,000 Dunlin and 21,000 Knot. Some have travelled all the way from the Arctic, with West Africa their eventual destination! 🌍

But how do so many birds share the same feeding grounds? Is there enough food to go around? And what can we do to help protect them?

🎙️ In this week’s podcast, I’m joined by John Peatfield, a local bird recorder with a wealth of knowledge about the Bay’s birdlife. We head to Half Moon Bay in Heysham to watch a major roost and discover more about these remarkable travellers.

🎧 Tune in to find out just how special Morecambe Bay is for birds.

For more bird-related listening, check out Beyond the Bird Table from the British Trust for Ornithology.

#MorecambeBay #Birdwatching #WildlifePodcast #Waders #Nature

For 60 years, Morecambe’s RNLI volunteers have been ready to answer the call when people get into trouble.

Since the lifeboat arrived in 1960, volunteers have launchedat a moment’s notice to face the unpredictable waters of the Bay. Morecambe also made history as the first place to house an RNLI hovercraft as well as the inshore D-class lifeboat.

But keeping these lifesaving services running takes morethan boats.

The RNLI needs volunteers to crew and launch them, helpbehind the scenes and run two shops that raise vital funds for the charity.

In this episode, Fiona Kerr and Paul Ainsworth share whatinspired them to volunteer, what the training involves and how they fit lifesaving into already busy lives.

Notes:

As part of a five-year partnership, INEOS Automotive isproviding 20 Grenadier station wagons to the RNLI, to help volunteers position,launch and recover the charity’s D-class lifeboats including Morecambe's.

Read more here: ⁠https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2026/march/23/ineos-grenadiers-enter-active-service-with-rnli

For 60 years, Morecambe’s RNLI volunteers have been ready to answer the call when people get into trouble.

Since the lifeboat arrived in 1960, volunteers have launched at a moment’s notice to face the unpredictable waters of the Bay. Morecambe also made history as the first place to house an RNLI hovercraft as well as the inshore D-class lifeboat.

But keeping these lifesaving services running takes more than boats.

The RNLI needs volunteers to crew and launch them, help behind the scenes and run two shops that raise vital funds for the charity.

In this episode, Fiona Kerr and Paul Ainsworth share what inspired them to volunteer, what the training involves and how they fit lifesaving into already busy lives.

Notes:

As part of a five-year partnership, INEOS Automotive is providing 20 Grenadier station wagons to the RNLI, to help volunteers position, launch and recover the charity’s D-class lifeboats including Morecambe's. Read more here: https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2026/march/23/ineos-grenadiers-enter-active-service-with-rnli

🎧 Is vinyl making a comeback?

‘Musical archaeology’ that’s how the man who says he’sfulfilled his ambition to run a record show likens collecting vinyl records.

It’s National Vinyl Record Day on August 12th andfor one small record shop in the Bay it’s an interest that is growing and among an audience you might be surprised by!

Steve runs La'l Record Shop in Bolton le Sands.

He says people are still buying vinyl, CDs and even cassettes in the age of Spotify and streaming.

What is it about holding a physical record, discovering an old album or hearing music the way it was originally meant to be heard?

🎶 From vinyl revival to cassette comeback — we explore why physical music is having a moment.

Give it a listen — and maybe rediscover the music on your shelf!

Why do so many of us love swimming in Morecambe Bay?

Open water swimming has become one of the UK's fastest-growing activities, but for many people it's about far more than fitness.

In the latest episode of the podcast, I speak to Dr Mark Christie, whose life took an unexpected turn after osteoarthritis ended his passion for fell running.

Discovering open water swimming transformed both his physical and mental wellbeing, and inspired him to write a book - One Man and His Tow Float - canvassing swimmers all over the UK and recording why so many people are drawn to rivers, lakes and the sea.

We discuss:
🌊 The mental and physical benefits of open water swimming
🌊 Why cold water can help build resilience and boost wellbeing
🌊 The powerful sense of community among swimmers
🌊 How spending time in nature changes the way we feel
🌊 Essential safety advice and tips for anyone thinking of giving it a go

Drawing on conversations with Olympic open water swimmer Hector Pardoe, ice swimming champion Colin Hill and coach Ceri Smith, Mark shares the latest research alongside his own inspiring story.

Whether you're a regular swimmer in Morecambe Bay, you're thinking about taking your first dip, or you're simply curious about the appeal of open water swimming, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

If you enjoy the podcast, please follow, leave a rating or review, and share this episode with someone who loves Morecambe Bay.

An island with its own castle, a local pub, and a 'King'? 👑

Off the tip of the Furness Peninsula lies Piel Island—a tiny 50-acre haven packed with centuries of dramatic history. Visible right across Morecambe Bay, this unique spot plays host to the famous Ship Inn and stories you won't hear anywhere else.

In this episode, we step ashore with the Morecambe Bay Partnership following their charity walk to explore what makes this remote island so legendary.

Hit play and join us for our debut visit to Piel!

The Morecambe Bay Podcast is an independent podcast celebrating the people, places and stories of Morecambe Bay. Since 2021, we've interviewed historians, artists, conservationists, business owners, authors and community leaders from across Lancashire and Cumbria. Whether you're interested in local history, wildlife, walking, heritage, culture or tourism, you'll find inspiring conversations about one of Britain's most remarkable coastal landscapes.

It's community action at its best; residents living on Sunderland Point which juts out into Morecambe Bay are working with the Morecambe Bay Partnership and Lancaster University to deliver the first small-scale saltmarsh restoration trial.

Here we take part in a project which sees biodegradable structures anchored in sand with the aim of arresting erosion and encouraging beaches and marsh to return.

With storms becoming more frequent, this project is being watched closely to see other parts of the UK coastline could benefit from pioneering work underway in Lancashire.

The Morecambe Bay Podcast is an independent podcast celebrating the people, places and stories of Morecambe Bay. Since 2021, we've interviewed historians, artists, conservationists, business owners, authors and community leaders from across Lancashire and Cumbria. Whether you're interested in local history, wildlife, walking, heritage, culture or tourism, you'll find inspiring conversations about one of Britain's most remarkable coastal landscapes.

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 Morecambe Bay Partnership to try and give nature a hand. Through Our Future Coast which is funded as part of DEFRA's Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation programme innovative, environmentally friendly structures are being placed on the foreshore to help remaining grass flourish.

We've joined them to hear what life is like on the point and to hear how the project could become a test bed for locations around the coast of the UK and beyond.

Ding ding!

As the Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust prepared to stage the eleventh ‘Vintage Bus Running Day’ in May, the podcast was invited for a sneak preview of the fleet.

Preserved buses which range in age from the 1930s to more recent times operate a free service between Heysham Village and Carnforth railway station via Morecambe promenade and Happy Mount Park.

At Trust HQ we saw how the volunteers work to keep the fleet on the road, hear why they do it and their hopes for the future. 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

The Morecambe Bay Podcast is an independent podcast celebrating the people, places and stories of Morecambe Bay. Since 2021, we've interviewed historians, artists, conservationists, business owners, authors and community leaders from across Lancashire and Cumbria. Whether you're interested in local history, wildlife, walking, heritage, culture or tourism, you'll find inspiring conversations about one of Britain's most remarkable coastal landscapes.

Who hasn't tried to capture the perfect photograph of Morecambe Bay?

Is it all about technical skill, or is it simply being in the right place at the right time when the light is just right?

Landscape photographer Liz Withey, from Carnforth, has spent years capturing stunning images of Morecambe Bay, the Lake District and Lancaster. A selection of her work is currently on display at The Junction Gallery on Carnforth railway station, where we met for this episode.

Liz shares her favourite locations, offers practical photography tips for anyone hoping to improve their own pictures of the Bay, and explains what makes this landscape so special to photograph. Along the way, we also discover a shared enthusiasm for steam trains.

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!

The Morecambe Bay Podcast is an independent podcast celebrating the people, places and stories of Morecambe Bay. Since 2021, we've interviewed historians, artists, conservationists, business owners, authors and community leaders from across Lancashire and Cumbria. Whether you're interested in local history, wildlife, walking, heritage, culture or tourism, you'll find inspiring conversations about one of Britain's most remarkable coastal landscapes.