Morecambe Bay Partnership

What Morecambe Bay Partnership does

Morecambe Bay Partnership is a registered charity in England and Wales (charity number 1173489), founded in 2017 and headquartered in Kendal, Cumbria, with a team of approximately 10 staff and a board of trustees. It is the only charity operating at scale dedicated to the Morecambe Bay region, serving the 350,000–425,000 people living, working, and studying in the coastal corridor from Barrow to Fleetwood across Cumbria and Lancashire.

The organisation operates a portfolio of programmes spanning accessible tourism, conservation, heritage interpretation, and youth engagement. Core delivery includes guided cross-bay walks (Piel Island, The Cistercian Way), free mobility vehicle hire (mobility scooters and all-terrain Trampers at three locations), the 81-mile Bay Cycle Way and the Three Nature Reserves Accessible Trail developed in partnership with Sustrans, Natural England and the Arnside and Silverdale Landscape Trust. Conservation and heritage work covers Hazel Dormouse reintroduction, archaeological site protection at Birkrigg Common, and the DEFRA-funded 'Our Future Coast' nature-based coastal resilience trials across seven locations. Education and youth programmes include 'Our Bay, Our Future' (a Climate Action Fund-backed consortium with three regional universities), Blue Influencers and Wild Blue Yonder, alongside the 'Recording Morecambe Bay' digital heritage archive and the Morecambe Bay Curriculum educational resource.

Revenue is generated entirely through charitable activity: donations and grants from bodies including the National Lottery Community Fund, Heritage Lottery Fund, DEFRA and the Ernest Cook Trust; ticketed events where proceeds (net of guide fees) flow to the charity; corporate partnerships and Visitor Giving schemes (e.g., 'A Pound a Day for Morecambe Bay', percentage-of-income donations from tourism businesses); and a Teemill-powered merchandise shop. The free mobility vehicle hire service is currently unfunded and runs at a deficit of over £5,000 per year. The 2022 reintroduction of Hazel Dormice, a 99%-supportive public consultation for the Arnside to Grange Trail, and an active 2026 trustee recruitment campaign all indicate the organisation is in an expansionary phase despite its small headcount.

Name

Morecambe Bay Partnership

Legal name

Morecambe Bay Partnership

Website

https://morecambebay.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Morecambe Bay Partnership is an England-and-Wales registered charity (no. 1173489), the only organisation dedicated to Morecambe Bay at scale, delivering community-led conservation, heritage, accessible-tourism, and youth climate-action programmes for residents and visitors across Cumbria and Lancashire.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental and Heritage Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Wildlife & Coastal Nature Tours (Whale/Dolphin Watching, Sea Kayaking) (THAAAEAD)

Keywords

• Community conservation charity
• Heritage and nature programmes
• Coastal accessibility services
• Youth climate action programmes
• Guided bay walks

Headquarters

HQ city

Kendal

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Income from individual donations, corporate donations, and grant funding from charitable trusts and foundations including National Lottery Community Fund, Heritage Lottery Fund, and government bodies
2. Event Revenue: Ticket sales for guided walks, tours, and events including Piel Island walks and Cistercian Way walks. Proceeds after guide payments go to the charity.
3. Sponsorship and Corporate Partnerships: Income from businesses supporting the Bay through donations, percentage of sales programs, and visitor giving schemes
4. Mobility Vehicle Membership and Donations: Free mobility vehicle hire service supported by donations. Service costs over £5000 annually to run and is currently unfunded.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Morecambe Bay Partnership is a registered charity delivering community-led programmes that connect people with Morecambe Bay's nature, culture, and heritage. Its core offerings include free mobility vehicle hire for accessible countryside access, ticketed guided walks and heritage events, cycling and accessible trail infrastructure, youth climate action programmes, conservation initiatives (species reintroduction, archaeology), and educational resources. Activities are funded by donations, charitable grants, corporate sponsorship, and event revenue.

Product overview

Morecambe Bay Partnership is a registered charity (no. 1173489) dedicated to caring for Morecambe Bay's nature, heritage, and people. The organization operates a portfolio of interconnected programmes including free mobility vehicle hire (Trampers and scooters at three locations), guided walking events (Piel Island walks, The Cistercian Way, cross-bay walks), cycling infrastructure (Bay Cycle Way 81-mile route), accessible trails (Three Nature Reserves Trail), and youth engagement projects (Our Bay Our Future, Wild Blue Yonder, Blue Influencers). Core conservation work includes habitat protection, species reintroduction (Hazel Dormice), archaeological site management (Birkrigg Common), and coastal resilience initiatives (Our Future Coast). Educational resources include the Recording Morecambe Bay digital archive and free downloadable guides. The charity also operates a retail shop and accepts donations to fund its activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mobility Vehicle Hire Free mobility vehicle hire service offering mobility scooters at Grange-over-Sands and Trampers (all-terrain vehicles) at Grange-over-Sands, RSPB Leighton Moss, and Sunderland Point, enabling accessible exploration of Morecambe Bay's coast and countryside. Donations welcomed to cover annual running costs of over £5,000.
• Events and Guided Walks Programme of ticketed events including guided walks across the sands to Piel Island, heritage tours such as The Cistercian Way, and educational workshops celebrating and exploring Morecambe Bay's nature and heritage. Proceeds after guide payments go to the charity.
• Piel Island Walks Expert-guided walks across the sands from Walney Island to Piel Island, including Piel Castle visits and sunset walks, led by expert local guides John Irving and John Murphy. Proceeds support Morecambe Bay Partnership's charitable work.
• The Cistercian Way Heritage walking route around northern Morecambe Bay weaving together sacred and secular heritage sites, with exclusive guided events exploring routes once travelled by monks from local priories.
• Bay Cycle Way 81-mile national cycle route hugging the coastline of Morecambe Bay from Walney Island to Glasson Dock, part of National Cycle Network (NCN 700), developed in partnership with Sustrans.
• Three Nature Reserves Accessible Trail 6-mile accessible trail through Arnside and Silverdale National Landscape connecting Leighton Moss, Gait Barrows National Nature Reserve, and Trowbarrow Local Nature Reserve, designed for Trampers and all-terrain mobility vehicles.
• Our Bay, Our Future Climate action leadership programme for young people aged 3-16 years, partnering with Lancaster University, Lancaster & Morecambe College, and University of Cumbria to engage over 2,000 children with nature and climate action through nine innovative programmes.
• Wild Blue Yonder Free day in nature for KS2 students visiting Trowbarrow Quarry and RSPB Leighton Moss nature reserves, including forest school activities, pond dipping, and birdwatching, funded by the Areti Charitable Trust.
• Blue Influencers Groundbreaking initiative from The Ernest Cook Trust supporting young people from underserved coastal communities to address environmental issues affecting habitats and wildlife, with up to £5,000 available for climate action projects.
• Our Future Coast DEFRA-funded Flood & Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme project testing nature-based solutions to coastal erosion and flooding across seven locations around Morecambe Bay, including community engagement and sustainable coastal management.
• Hazel Dormouse Reintroduction Successful 2022 reintroduction project establishing a new population of critically endangered Hazel Dormice in Morecambe Bay's woodlands, providing safe habitat with appropriate food and shelter.
• Birkrigg Common Conservation Vegetation management programme protecting Bronze Age archaeological sites including Birkrigg Stone Circle and burial mounds, removing sites from Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register.
• Arnside to Grange Trail Proposed 5km traffic-free walking, cycling and wheeling trail linking Arnside and Grange-over-Sands along the railway viaduct, with £33 million estimated construction cost and strong public support (99% approval from 6,000+ survey respondents).
• Cross Bay Walks Famous guided walks across Morecambe Bay's tidal sands, including the Arnside to Grange-over-Sands route and Walney Island to Piel Island walks, led by expert guides who understand the Bay's dangerous tides and shifting sands.
• Online Shop (Teemill) Online merchandise shop selling Morecambe Bay Partnership branded clothing and goods, powered by the Teemill platform.

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Lancaster University (Morecambe Bay Curriculum Team)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Our Bay Our Future project to grow climate action leaders engaging thousands of local young people. Builds on Morecambe Bay Curriculum teacher-led approach to environmental education.
• Lancaster & Morecambe CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner in Our Bay Our Future climate action project for young people.
• University of CumbriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner in Our Bay Our Future climate action project for young people.
• RSPB Leighton MosscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for mobility vehicle hire (Tramper hire point), Three Nature Reserves trail, and Wild Blue Yonder project. Joint nature reserve management.
• Natural EnglandmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Three Nature Reserves Accessible Trail development and management.
• Arnside and Silverdale National LandscapecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Three Nature Reserves trail and Wild Blue Yonder project. Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty designation.
• SustranscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Bay Cycle Way development - part of National Cycle Network (NCN 700).
• Bay Search & RescueminorOthersProvides Tramper Hire emergency recovery service for Three Nature Reserves trail.
• Lancaster City CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Three Nature Reserves Accessible Trail development.
• Arnside and Silverdale Landscape TrustmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Three Nature Reserves Accessible Trail through Coldwell Meadow ownership.
• Leighton Hall EstateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Three Nature Reserves trail through land ownership.
• Westmorland and Furness CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner for Arnside to Grange Trail project. Funding feasibility stage; expected to lead delivery and funding of construction.
• Network RailcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterface with railway assets for Arnside to Grange Trail project requiring approval for viaduct crossing.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Marine Conservation Society: UK-wide charity focused on marine conservation including fish stocks, plastics, and climate change, with active volunteer and community engagement programmes. Emerging player with overlapping marine conservation mission; a natural co-funding and campaign partner for Morecambe Bay marine initiatives.

Broad incumbents

• The Wildlife Trusts: National federation of 46 independent Wildlife Trusts across the UK, providing coordination, advocacy, and policy voice for regional conservation charities. Broad incumbent that sits above several of Morecambe Bay Partnership's closest regional peers (Cumbria and Lancashire Wildlife Trusts).
• National Trust: UK's largest heritage and conservation charity with 5M+ members, operating heritage sites and nature reserves nationwide. Broad incumbent with overlapping mission across nature, heritage, and access; trustee Amanda Finan is a National Trust Finance Business Partner.
• RSPB: Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the UK's largest nature conservation charity with 1M+ members and 200+ reserves. Broad incumbent with overlapping focus on bird and habitat conservation; active partner on the Three Nature Reserves Trail, mobility vehicle hire at Leighton Moss, and Wild Blue Yonder project.

Direct peers

• Severn Estuary Partnership: UK-based partnership focused on the Severn Estuary, delivering cross-sector work on community engagement, conservation, and sustainable estuary use. Directly comparable as a coastal/estuary partnership operating on a similar community-led, multi-stakeholder model with comparable programmes in heritage, access, and habitat protection.

Regional players

• Lancashire Wildlife Trust: Regional wildlife conservation charity covering Lancashire with multiple nature reserves. Direct operational partner of Morecambe Bay Partnership; trustee Dr Tom Burditt serves as CEO of Lancashire Wildlife Trust, evidencing close governance ties.
• Cumbria Wildlife Trust: Regional wildlife conservation charity covering Cumbria with 30+ nature reserves, including Leighton Moss within the Morecambe Bay area. Direct operational partner and peer; comparable in mission, volunteer-led programmes, and event/recreation offerings in the same geography.
• Cornwall Wildlife Trust: Regional wildlife conservation charity covering Cornwall, with strong coastal and marine focus including the Lizard and several marine sites. Comparable in coastal geography, marine habitat focus, and combined nature/community/heritage programmes.
• Norfolk Wildlife Trust: Regional wildlife conservation charity covering Norfolk with the UK's largest terrestrial nature reserve (Holkham) and significant coastal programmes. Comparable as a UK regional trust combining nature reserves, education, and community engagement at similar scale.
• Yorkshire Wildlife Trust: Regional wildlife conservation charity covering Yorkshire, operating 100+ nature reserves and a portfolio of community engagement, education, and conservation programmes. Comparable in scale, mission, and operational model as a neighbouring UK regional wildlife trust.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MorecambeBayPartnership
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/louise-martin
• Instagraminstagram.com/mb_partnership
• TikToktiktok.com/@morecambe_bay

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Morecambe Bay Partnership