Morecambe – our bay of plenty
This year the Morecambe Bay Partnership is working on the Ways Around The Bay initiative which aims to develop and promote the Bay as a fantastic destination to walk, cycle and get around in low-carbon ways. The projects include the expansion of the Tramper hire network and developing E-bike hubs to help make cycling more accessible, as well as the launch of an online route planner.
Morecambe Bay is a fantastic place to visit for so many reasons. Whether you like to walk, cycle, visit heritage or nature spots, or like food and culture, the Bay really does offer something for everyone.
As the largest intertidal area in the UK, its 120 square miles harbour millions of creatures that live beneath the surface of the sand, attracting marine life and internationally important bird species. You’ll find a mix of coastal landscape here from golden sands to muddy salt marsh, seagrass meadows and rocky headlands – it really is an incredible landscape which changes and shifts every day with the weather and seasons.
This summer, we’re bringing Bay Lines – Beach of Dreams to Morecambe Bay working with internationally acclaimed arts organisation Kinetika with Rosa Productions. This is an exciting investigative arts journey where the people of the Bay were invited to ‘adopt’ one of the 120 miles of coast, to walk and share their stories about it as well as their dreams for its future.
As it's part of the Ways Around The Bay initiative funded by the Department of Levelling up, all the opportunities are free to get involved with. There’s a creative element with the gathered stories inspiring designs for silk pennants that will then be created using local, natural dyes and paraded at a finale event during the August bank holiday with music and entertainment to celebrate our wonderful coastline.
One of my favourites for a day out is to go walking at Heysham Head with the kids. It’s a place which combines the excitement of rock-pooling on a beach, with lovely grassy spots for picnics but also has the impressive Ship sculpture by Anna Gillespie. You can walk along the cliffs for a short distance to St Peter’s Church and the ruins of the eighth century St Patrick’s Chapel and take in the breath-taking views to the Lakeland mountains, all while spotting birdlife feasting on the sands. And best of all, you can round off a perfect day with a visit to a café either at Half Moon Bay or in the village nearby.
Michelle Cooper, fundraising and engagement team leader at Morecambe Bay Partnership. morecambebay.org.uk
