The Morecambe Bay Podcast

Walney Island is fast becoming a mecca for visitors. They're making the most of the brilliant beaches, ample food available nearby and maybe even enjoying the views of the Bay. But these visitors aren't human. The seal colony there is thriving and a new arrival, a seal pup born just a few weeks ago, is the latest arrival. Georgia de Jong Cleyndert is the Marine Conservation Officer for the North West Wildlife Trusts and has been talking about how the new pup is settling in and why the area is becoming so popular with seals, great and small. You might be able to see the seals via this live feed: https://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife/cams/seal-cam

How often have you thought 'I must write that book...'? How hard is it? And what does it feel like when a publisher finally says 'yes'? 

Sarah Dodd's debut novel has just been published and it's loosely based on the Bay. 

Keeper of Secrets is set in the village of Littendale, a fictionalised version of Silverdale and the book, about a child's encounter with a lynx, was heavily inspired by a particular location near Jack Scout and the woods near Jenny Brown's point.

Sarah and I met up recently to talk about the book and the process of becoming a published author.

For decades, Grange-over-Sands Lido was one of the most spectacular places to swim in the country, with its Art Deco design and sweeping views across Morecambe Bay.

Built in 1932, it is the only surviving seaside lido in the North West — and one of just four remaining in England. But after closing in 1993, the once-glamorous attraction fell into disrepair, becoming a sad reminder of a bygone era.

Now, there’s renewed hope for its future.

South Lakeland District Council has begun work to make the derelict site safe, stable and accessible, with a “light-touch” refurbishment designed to protect the lido while plans for its longer-term future develop.

In this episode, we explore the story of Grange Lido, its place in the history of Morecambe Bay, and why there’s growing optimism that this remarkable landmark could have a future once again.

Could one of Morecambe Bay’s most iconic landmarks be about to make a comeback?

A project promising to inspire “wonder and a connection with the natural world” could also transform Morecambe’s future.

Eden Project North is an ambitious plan to create a major new attraction on the seafront, with the potential to bring hundreds of jobs, attract millions of pounds of investment and draw visitors from far beyond Morecambe Bay.

Momentum is building, with Lancaster City Council backing plans to transfer seafront land at the former Bubbles site to the project, subject to planning permission, and crucial talks taking place to secure government support.

In this episode, Tim Neary from the Eden Project team explains the vision for Eden Project North, why Morecambe was chosen and what happens next as plans move closer to submission.

Do you remember Frontierland?

The much-loved Morecambe theme park may be long gone, but the blue hoardings that have surrounded the site for years have become a familiar part of the town’s landscape.

Now, they’re attracting attention for a very different reason.

A group of artists has transformed these unlikely canvases into a colourful outdoor gallery, filling the hoardings with an eclectic array of artwork and giving a forgotten corner of Morecambe a new lease of life.

In this episode, we discover the story behind the project — and how art is helping to transform one of Morecambe’s most recognisable eyesores into an attraction of its own.

From theme park memories to street art, Frontierland is getting a new chapter.

For almost two decades, Tracey Cole has been working to support people living in Morecambe’s West End — a community that has seen enormous change.

Once at the heart of Morecambe’s thriving tourism industry, the West End has faced difficult times as the town’s fortunes changed and former boarding houses were converted into flats.

For the past 19 years, Tracey has volunteered with West End Impact, helping people who need support and working to strengthen the community.

In this episode, Tracey shares how the organisation began, the challenges it has faced along the way, and her hopes for the future of the West End.

A story about community, resilience and one woman’s determination to make a difference.

Morecambe Bay is home to some extraordinary landscapes and few are as fascinating as Eaves Wood near Silverdale.

Managed by the National Trust, this ancient woodland sits on limestone and is packed with wildlife, history and hidden surprises. Deer and butterflies are among the residents, while nearby Leighton Moss makes the area a haven for nature lovers.

But there’s more to discover. The new walking route takes you past the remains of old buildings, historic landmarks and woodland that seems to defy the rules of nature, growing directly from the limestone rock.

In this episode of the Morecambe Bay Podcast, Nancy Burditt, Senior Programming and Partnerships Officer for Outdoors, South and East Cumbria and Morecambe Bay at the National Trust, takes us along the new route and reveals what makes Eaves Wood so special.

Whether you’re a walker, wildlife lover or history enthusiast, this is one corner of the Bay worth exploring.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/arnside-and-silverdale/trails/eaves-wood-circular-trail

Sound can transport us — perhaps that’s part of the reason you’re listening to this podcast.

Now, a group of artists around Morecambe Bay are inviting us to listen to one of its most remote corners.

The southernmost tip of Walney Island is inaccessible to most people, but it’s a haven for wildlife. Thanks to the work of Full of Noises, you can now tune in and hear the sounds of nature there, live.

The project is part of an international effort encouraging people to slow down, stop, and simply listen to the world around them.

So put your headphones on, take a moment — and listen to the Bay.

What started as a way to beat lockdown boredom has turned into a community movement.

When Linda Denby began picking up litter during her daily exercise, she soon realised she wasn’t the only one who wanted to make a difference. Before long, others joined her — and the Carnforth Wombles were born.

With support from Carnforth Town Council, the group has now collected an incredible 1,000 bags of rubbish from the streets and green spaces around the town.

And the idea is spreading, with new neighbourhood groups forming to tackle the litter that “everyday folks leave behind.”

A simple idea, a cleaner community — and proof that a few people picking up litter can make a very big difference.