Morecambe Bay is famous for its beaches and spectacular landscapes — but look a little closer and you’ll discover an extraordinary world hiding among the sand dunes.

The Bay is home to two nationally important dune systems, supporting an incredible 72 species. From rare orchids and fascinating insects to ground-nesting birds and more than a quarter of the UK’s natterjack toad population, these habitats play a vital role in the Bay’s ecosystem.

But dunes aren’t static. They’re constantly shifting and changing, shaped by wind, weather, tides and wildlife — and that dynamism is exactly what makes them so important.

In this episode, we explore why Morecambe Bay’s dunes matter, the remarkable species that depend on them and the forces that keep these landscapes constantly on the move.

Step off the beach and into a hidden world of wildlife — discover the remarkable story of Morecambe Bay’s sand dunes.

The Bay is home to some amazing beaches and landscapes but did you know the area also has nationally important sand dunes?

From orchids and insects to ground nesting birds and over a quarter of the UK’s natterjack toad population, these areas have an important role to play in the Bay's ecosystem.

As Holly Stainton explains, there's a need for careful management of the shifting sands.

So what's been done to conserve these vital habitats and how are invasive species to be managed?

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For Matthew, Morecambe and Wise are much more than a comedy act — they’re a lifelong passion.

His Morecambe and Wise Archive has become a treasure trove for fans, packed with photographs, posters, videos and memories celebrating Eric and Ernie at their very best.

But Matthew’s collection goes far beyond social media. Over the years, he’s built an extraordinary archive of memorabilia, including items so fascinating that members of Eric Morecambe’s own family have wanted to see them.

In this episode, Matthew reveals the story behind his collection, the remarkable discoveries he’s made along the way and why he’s determined to introduce a new generation to the magic of Britain’s much-loved comedy duo.

A celebration of Eric and Ernie, the memories they created and the sunshine they’re still bringing to audiences today.

#StillBringingSunshine

More than 8,500 Christmas boxes packed with gifts from families and communities around Morecambe Bay and Cumbria have travelled thousands of miles to bring some festive cheer to people in eastern Europe.

The Boxes of Hope charity has been delivering carefully wrapped shoeboxes to families in Romania for years. This time, the team went even further — crossing into Ukraine to deliver gifts and a message of kindness to people living through the war.

Jayne Moorby was part of the team making the journey. In this episode, she shares her experiences on the road, the people she met and the emotional moments that showed just how much a simple box of Christmas presents can mean.

From Morecambe Bay to communities on the frontline, discover the extraordinary journey of a Christmas gift — and the people determined to deliver hope.

Over 8,500 carefully wrapped shoe boxes containing welcome gifts donated by people living around Morecambe Bay and across Cumbria have already brought Christmas cheer to families living in eastern Europe.

As well as Hungary a team from the Boxes of Hope charity also visited communities in Ukraine.

Jayne Moorby was among the team who managed to overcome geographical difficulties to ensure the gifts got through and describes the reception she witnessed.

The full podcast will be available shortly.

Volunteering to keep the beaches of the Bay litter free may well seem to be a never ending job but for those who lead it and the many volunteers who willingly give their time, the results make it well worthwhile. 

Diane Sammons is a volunteer who has set up her own clean-up group, the Tideliners, who keep an eye on the beaches close to where the River Keer meets the Bay near Warton. As Diane tells us, she's upcycled some of the items she's found and even made an outdoor festive decoration from some of the rubbish that she's retrieved from the area.

34 tonnes of litter: that's the staggering amount cleared up from the beaches of Morecambe Bay by volunteers over the last two years. 2,790 kilometres of footpaths and trails have been cleaned yet the tides keep bringing in more rubbish to be cleared away.

It may well seem to be a never ending job but for those who lead it and the many volunteers who willingly give their time, the results make it well worthwhile. It's even said to help with wellbeing.

Lauren Munro-Bennett is the beach care officer for the Morecambe Bay Partnership and Diane Sammons is a volunteer who has set up her own clean-up group, the Tideliners, who keep an eye on the beaches close to where the River Keer meets the Bay near Warton. As Diane tells us, she's upcycled some of the items she's found and even made an outdoor festive decoration from some of the rubbish that she's retrieved from the area. You can see a video and more pictures on the Morecambe Bay Podcast website and our social media channels, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and now TikTok.

Click here for more information about the voluntary beach clean scheme run by the Morecambe Bay Partnership . 

It was billed as “more than a festive market” — and that turned out to be exactly right.

Behind the stalls, food and music is a much bigger story about Morecambe’s West End and the growing creative community taking root there.

Artists, makers and creative businesses are bringing new energy to the area, nurturing talent and turning ideas into reality. Now, plans are underway to transform a disused department store into a major community hub, creating space for even more people to get involved.

There are ambitious plans too for an environmentally friendly printing press, helping the creative community share its ideas and work on paper in an increasingly digital world.

In this episode, we discover the people, ideas and determination behind the Good Things Collective — and why something exciting could be happening in Morecambe’s West End.

A story about creativity, community and a neighbourhood building something new from the ground up.

Good Things Collective

The Art of the Zine – Charlotte Done

Charlotte's blog, The Art of the Zine is here

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A canyon stretching from London to New York. An extinct volcano three times the size of Mount Everest.

Those are just two of the astonishing facts about Mars — and now you can experience the Red Planet in the heart of Morecambe.

The Winter Gardens is hosting artist Luke Jerram’s spectacular seven-metre-wide illuminated sculpture of Mars, created using detailed NASA imagery. Every centimetre of the artwork represents 10 kilometres of the planet’s surface, giving visitors an extraordinary sense of scale.

And there’s more: the installation is accompanied by a specially commissioned surround-sound composition by Dan Jones, turning the theatre into an immersive journey across another world.

In this episode, lifelong amateur astronomer and author Stuart Atkinson takes us on a guided tour, revealing the science, stories and sheer scale behind this remarkable artwork.

Mars has landed in Morecambe — and it’s out of this world.

* Recorded November 2022