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Jenny Wain
I've been working around Morecambe Bay for just over a year now, looking at ways nature organisations can work with tourism businesses to promote the nature of the Bay area. This is part of the Morecambe Bay Futurescape programme. One of the first things I did was get together a band of volunteers to help me carry out over 400 visitor surveys last autumn. We spent time talking to people at different places around the Bay to find out why they came to the area and what they did whilst they were here. Fortunately the sun shone quite a lot during September and October so people were willing to stop and share thier views with us.
The survey shows that pepole visit Morecambe Bay from all over the UK and beyond.  They come here because of its beautiful scenery and for its peace, quiet and tranquillity.  They like to walk along the coast and through the countryside, taking in the spectacular views, getting close to our precious nature and wildlife, and exploring the area’s culture and history. I'll blog about the survey results in the next few weeks.
The survey results are coming in handy to help develop a Morecambe Bay Nature Tourism Business Network. I am currently supporting Bay Tourism Association and Arnside and Silverdale AONB to develop this fledgling network. So far we've brought together over 50 businesses including B&Bs, lodges and hotels, visitor guides, outdoor centres and major nature, historic and cultural attractions. Enthusiasm to unlock the potential of the nature of the bay for visitors and the local economy is high. Through the network we hope to establish Morecambe Bay as one of the leading nature tourism destinations in England. To help do this we’ll be developing guides, itineraries, marketing support and training. We hope our next event will be at the National Trust's Sizergh Castle with has lots of space for nature in the fields and woods around the castle, on 6 June. If we're really lucky we might see the local glow worm spectaacle on our evening walk. Our Leighton Moss Reserve will act as a nature hub for people who want to explore more of the area.
The next business event will be on 6 June. For more information on the survey, network or wider work I do, email me jenny.wain@rspb.org.uk

Jenny