The Morecambe Bay Podcast

Sandscale Haws: 40th birthday toad patrol

Sandscale Haws⁠ at Roanhead supports a wealth of wildlife and with magnificent views across the Duddon Estuary onto the Lakeland Fells on a fine day it’s idyllic.

40 years ago the National Trust became custodians of the national nature reserve.

It’s home to a quarter of the UK’s population of rare natterjack toads and 2024 marks a momentous anniversary.

Over the next few weeks there are opportunities to take part in walks at dusk to see and hear these amazing amphibians.

In this episode enjoy the sounds of the reserve as I take an evening trip with National Trust wardens Darren and Emily and a few hardy souls on a spring toad patrol.

Conducting the Promenade Concert Orchestra – The Morecambe Bay Podcast

Morecambe’s place as a venue for live music goes back decades and is still very much alive today thanks to people like Howard Rogerson. Howard conducts the Promenade Concert Orchestra, the only one of its kind between Manchester and Glasgow. Formed in 2007 professional clarinettist Howard was keen to provide the opportunity for residents and visitors to Morecambe and the Bay area to enjoy light orchestral music. From Palm Court, ballroom and café music; to shows, radio, television and film music the orchestra has developed a highly successful series of concerts at the Platform in Morecambe. The orchestra is make up of professional, semi-professional or talented amateur musicians from the Kendal, Lancaster and Morecambe areas. Conductor Howard Rogerson tells us how the orchestra began and how some of the music performed has had a lucky escape!

Bay Veterans Association

For an organisation that only came into being in September 2023, the Bay Veterans Association has proved there’s a real need for support for ex servicemen and women around the Bay.

The Lancaster and Morecambe area is more ‘vets’ than many other areas.

A new hub offering support and providing activities has just opened in Euston Road, Morecambe.

The response from the community to an appeal for support has so far been phenomenal with the Duchy of Lancaster, Persimmon Homes and many others offering support.

The opening of the hub is just another step on a path that Janine, Janet and Gary who are the association’s directors hope will be a vital service for all service family members.

Conducting the Promenade Concert Orchestra – The Morecambe Bay Podcast

Sunderland Point Sea Shanty Crew

To say it’s home to only a few dozen people Sunderland Point they are a musical lot!

The village has made a name as the home of a thriving sea shanty band.

The Sunderland Point Sea Shanty Crew are in demand to perform around the Bay and further afield – they’ve been part of the Edinburgh Festival.

Made up of a wide range of people they’re creating their own music alongside well known sea shanties.

Conducting the Promenade Concert Orchestra – The Morecambe Bay Podcast

The Slow Ways of Morecambe Bay

Morecambe Bay is reknown for paths and tracks offering brilliant views but it’s also part of a national network of walking routes connecting all of Great Britain’s towns and cities as well as thousands of villages.

Using existing paths, ways, trails and roads, people can use Slow Ways routes to walk or wheel and is designed to make it easier for people to imagine, plan and go on walking journeys.

There are currently over 8,000 Slow Ways stretching for over 120,000km. This network of routes was created by 700 volunteers during the Spring 2020 lockdown, creating a unique Slow Ways map in the process.

In this episode we’ll hear from the man who came up with the idea and a walker from Morecambe who’s certainly making her mark on the map.

Studying the Bay’s blue economy

We know Morecambe Bay is a draw for tourists and that industry is big business around the Bay.
But how far does the the area’s influence extend and how much do we think about the impact the sea has on our lives?
From chip shops in Morecambe to the ferries at Heysham, maritime matters affect us all.
To find out more Dr Celine Germond-Duret, a lecturer in environmental politics in policy who is leading the ‘People and Ocean’ Knowledge and Action Hub at Lancaster University’s Pentland Centre, is canvassing opinions to consider how people and businesses connect to the coast.
Cut and paste this link into a browser to open the MS Form mentioned in our interview which will allow you can get in touch and ask questions: https://forms.office.com/e/FJHi0KxssY

Morecambe’s coastal connection

It’s often hard to believe the changes that have taken place along Morecambe’s seafront.

A shipbreaking yard, several piers and a three masted sailing ship used in Disney film could once be found along this popular piece of coast.

A project to capture the knowledge and memories of coastal life through the eyes of those who witnessed change is now active. Coastal Connection has developed a network of 20 locations – 17 in Morecambe and 2 near Overton and one at Sunderland Point – where a QR code allows listeners to hear the memories of people living by and working on the Bay.

It’s the work of Steve Fairclough who explains more in this podcast. To hear the stories follow this link to the sites :https://www.timeandtidebell.org/morecambe-map/

Baylight 2024

Conducting the Promenade Concert Orchestra – The Morecambe Bay Podcast

Morecambe Bay Cockling Disaster memorial service

A candlelit memorial service has been held to mark the 20th anniversary of the deaths of 23 Chinese cockle pickers in Morecambe Bay.

Members of the emergency services joined locals in paying tribute at the lifeboat station in Morecambe which played a leading part in the rescue and recovery of migrants stranded on the treacherous sands of the Bay.

A cockle shell was offered as a permanent reminder of the fight against modern day slavery and in memory of those who died on the sands.

The Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Philip North, who led the service said he hoped the service would also serve to highlight continuing cases of those who are ‘trapped, tricked and traded.’

The Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Philip North Pict: Tessa Bunney

Sigh of the Sea

“The moon laughs the clouds cry And a seagull screams at the night’s sky And the sad sea sighs – goodbye” Lemn Sissay – The Long Walk The twentieth anniversary of the Morecambe Bay cockling tragedy in February is a grim reminder of the incident which led to the deaths of 23 Chinese cockle pickers. A commemoration event led by More Music will take place on 4th February https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/sighofthesea Songwriter, performer and organiser Pete Moser has had a lengthy association with the Chinese community in Morecambe and on the other side of the world having travelled to China on numerous occasions. In this special edition of the podcast he explains how the tragedy had a profound effect in him, why he has a longstanding interest in supporting communities on the edge of society and how he believes a better understanding of the pressures faced by people can come through creativity.

More than just books; a new chapter for the Friends of Heysham Library

How often do you go to your library?

Did you know these days they offer far more than just a book lending service?

The ⁠Friends of Heysham Library⁠ are certainly keen to promote the variety of activities held there. From Scrabble and Lego sessions to access to the web and even talks about bats, there’s a lot going on.

And with over 900 friends on social media, the volunteers are certainly helping spread the word.