The scenes from the conflict of Ukraine have prompted many people around the Bay to support the communities affected by the war. 

It might be hundreds of miles away but the images and stories emerging seem very close to home for many: that's certainly true for members of Bay Search and Rescue. 

Among the volunteers' rescue fleet is a Sherp, an all terrain vehicle that - in normal times - is made in Kiev. The Morecambe Bay team have travelled to the company's factory in the past and know many of those who build the life-saving truck. They've been prompted to gather a lorry load of supplies donated by the communities around the Bay including Morecambe Football Club. Later this month (21st April) a team led by one of the organisation's founders, Gary Parsons, will drive the donations from the Bay to the Polish border with Ukraine.

'I think they thought I was mad!' Photographer Tessa Bunney whose new exhibition today (Sat 9th April) describing how her subjects viewed her during a three year long mission to document one of Morecambe Bay's oldest industries.

She's braved the Bay's famously variable weather to take thousands of images of the fishermen and women who ply their trade on these hazardous sands and channels.

The Lancaster Maritime Museum on St George's Quay in Lancaster is hosting the exhibition until July. So how did she manage to gather such an amazing collection of images - and how do you choose which to display? Tessa tells us about the challenges she faced and the characters she met during the course of work to create this important lasting record of an industry that will forever be linked to the Bay.

After battling to keep going during the pandemic, Morecambe Band are celebrating recent success when they emerged as 4th section winners in the North West Areas Regional Contest 2022.  The brass band has a long and proud history. Formed in 1875 and still going strong today, Morecambe Band are looking forward to a busy season in 2022. In September they have a place in the National Finals. I met some of the longest serving and newest members of the band at a recent rehearsal and heard about their big plans for the future.   

It's known as the small charity making a big difference; from artwork and the Morecambe Bay cycle path to beach cleans and recent sunset talks. The Morecambe Bay Partnership has a new Chief Executive who's arrived in the area after spending nine years working in conservation on the Scilly Isles. Sarah Mason is six months into the role and joins at an interesting time. The Eden Project, concerns over sewage discharges and the effects of increased tourism prompted by the pandemic are among matters causing debate around the Bay. On a wintry day in Arnside she tells us more about her plans for the charity.  

One of the more unusual features in the diary of events taking place around Morecambe Bay returns over the festive period. The annual Dip in Morecambe Bay in aid of St John's Hospice will take place on New Year's Day morning. Hundreds of hardy souls - many wearing fancy dress - will take part in the event which brings in much needed support for the charity, enabling it to continue the work carried out across north Lancashire and south Cumbria since 1986. Despite the pandemic the charity is poised to expand the services offered at a time when there are growing numbers of people looking for support.

The memories of Storm Arwen are still strong around Morecambe Bay.

The first bad storm of the winter brought down powerlines cutting off homes and leaving communities without power for days. The disruption caused by the storm, which unusually blew in from the north, affected many all around the Bay.

You don’t have to travel far to see evidence of the destruction caused. Trees that had stood proud for decades were felled in one night and landscapes changed forever.

For this edition of the podcast we return to Eaves Wood near Silverdale. While the storm did damage the area, work to nurture nature here continues. The area is home to a wide variety of species and more are being reintroduced as part of the Back on our Map (BOOM) project as we’ve heard in an earlier edition of the podcast.

National Trust area ranger Craig McCoy explained more about the work that’s underway and how he and a small team of colleagues and volunteers are giving nature a helping hand.

Get outside, learn and connect with nature: that's the key to overcoming the impact the pandemic has had on some sections of the community around Morecambe Bay. The Bay: A Blueprint for Recovery is a new group created with support from the People's Postcode Lottery to bring together a host of organisations. From Fleetwood to Walney Island, with help from Lancashire and Cumbria Wildlife Trusts, the aim is to make use of the natural surroundings to entice more of us to get involved. One of the first events took place on Morecambe Beach.