The National Trust is a major custodian of a variety of land all around Morecambe Bay, from the rocky cliffs at Heysham Head to the sandy expanse of Sandscale Haws and numerous sites in between. One of those is Eaves Wood, an amazingly diverse landscape near Silverdale, where a new route for walkers has just been opened up. If you're a fan of wildlife it's on the flight path to the nearby RSPB reserve at Leighton Moss, is home to deer, butterflies and for historians there's a mix of derelict buildings and landmarks to be discovered. Plus ancient woodland that seem to defy natural science by growing from limestone rock. The walk is here https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/arnside-and-silverdale/trails/eaves-wood-circular-trail and in this episode of the Morecambe Bay Podcast Nancy Burditt, Senior Programming and Partnerships Officer – Outdoors, South and East Cumbria and Morecambe Bay for the National Trust took me to see the route.

#VolunteersWeek podcast

It began as a way of beating the boredom of lockdown and has now grown into a thriving community group. Linda Denby got fed up with seeing rubbish during her daily exercise and began picking it up. Others followed her lead and the Carnforth Wombles were launched. Supported by Carnforth Town Council they recently collected their 1,000th bag of rubbish. Now other neighbourhood groups are being launched to clean up things 'the everyday folks leave behind.'

Few can know as much about Morecambe as Mike Whalley. As a trainee reporter at the Morecambe Visitor in the 1950s he was catapulted into life in a resort that was enjoying a growing reputation as the place to come.  With a lengthy and varied list of venues to enjoy, Morecambe in the 50s and 60s boomed and attracted thousands of visitors from industrial Lancashire and West Yorkshire. As a reporter Mike had a ringside seat, charting the extraordinary era when the town rivalled Blackpool as the country’s number one resort. From Miss GB to obituaries; crime to council affairs. The life of a journalist, keeping tabs on all walks of life, was nothing if not varied! In the first of this two-part series, Mike talks about the early days of his career, forging a reputation in a town that was alive with amazing stories and fascinating people.

As well as tourists, Morecambe has attracted its fair share of film makers over the years.

From celebrated producers like Mitchell and Kenyon to visitors coming to the town today, the view, the people and the attractions there have been preserved for posterity. This Bank Holiday weekend there's a chance to see some of them at the Winter Gardens which also has featured many times in pictures over the years. It's been organised by the North West Film Archive.

Geoff Senior from the archive told me about the production and his hopes that present day film-makers will help provide a comprehensive record of life in 2021 for future generations to enjoy.

Despite a severe motorbike accident, contracting swine flu and meningitis twice, Darryl Potter makes the most of living by the Bay. 

A wheelchair user, he's only recently begun taking pictures and sharing them on social media. His tongue in cheek choice of name for his Instagram account maybe offers an insight into his positive outlook on life. 

Known as 'Bay Clicky Roller' on a very wet night in Morecambe he told me about the satisfaction he gets from taking photographs for a growing digital audience and the fact he's now made contact with other wheelchair photographers in the area.

It was to become an event that attracted millions of viewers, enjoy its fair share of scandal as well as inject glamour into a post-war Lancashire seaside resort.

Miss Great Britain began in 1945 as the National Bathing Beauty Contest, a joint venture between The Sunday Dispatch newspaper, Morecambe Corporation and Eric Morley's Mecca Entertainment Group with heats taking place at the Super Swimming Stadium on the town's seafront.

Each year the contest grew in popularity and by 1950 the prize money had increased to £1,000 for the winner.  Big names who took part included Violet Pretty - who would go on to become Hollywood star Anne Heywood - the first female Blue Peter presenter Leila Williams, and comedian Marti Caine.

In this edition we hear first hand what it was like to compete, the recollections of a reporter who covered the contest and the women who during lockdown researched, wrote and published a celebration of the 75 years of the Miss Great Britain contest ( https://www.amazon.co.uk/Books-Sally-Ann-Fawcett/s?rh=n%3A266239%2Cp_27%3ASally-Ann+Fawcett)

Imagine growing up without electricity, in a place where all water came from a well and where your neighbour helped feed your family. For Iris Birks, these are some of her vivid recollections growing up on Sunderland Point, the spit of land jutting out into Morecambe Bay south of Heysham. Her prowess with a boat at a young age, and the fact she has never learned to swim, are just some of the highlights from a conversation we recently recorded. Moving away from the Point was a big moment for Iris and although she now lives in Lancaster she still goes back to the place where she was born. She's even making plans for a fitting memorial, although that's some way off yet!

Enjoy this edition of the Morecambe Bay podcast and listen out for more coming soon.