My experience of the folk scene goes back to the 60s, so I have some knowledge of the issue and I would like to make some general comments as I perceive the scene around Gloucestershire and adjoining areas:

Dance - Border Morris is on the up and up, with probably more women taking it up than men. It is also a pretty vibrant scene with new dances being coined all the time, due to the fact that there are very few collected Border dances. The tune repertoire draws heavily on session tunes, mainly English.

Much as I love Cotswold Morris, it is now in the minority with a lot of aging dancers. All male dance sides are rare but cling fiercely to their traditions. A number of mixed sides have appeared as well as women's sides, but Cotswold is getting far outnumbered by Border and is having difficulties in recruiting. Some sides stick to an 'as collected' repertoire and some are more innovative.

I can't really comment on other forms of Morris as they are thin on the ground around our way.

I mentioned sessions. There is no doubt that the skill and musicianship has gone up by leaps and bounds over the years. Melodeons rule the roost and there are lots of tunes only sessions, with melodeons thick on the ground. This seems to be a very healthy scene and lots of tunes being passed around.

On the song side, the scene is variable. A lot of folk clubs have disappeared and some of the others, with exceptions, are doing well. I say doing well rather than thriving and an audience of 40 is considered to be good. There seems to be a move away from traditional 'as collected' material (with the exception of shanties) but a lot of new songs are being written, some in 'traditional' style and some in more Americana style. There are a number of song sessions, of variable quality. Apres-Morris song and music sessions can be lively and atmospheric.

So to sum up:
Border Morris - up
Cotswold Morris - down
Musicianship - up
Music sessions - up
Song sessions - down but stable.
Song clubs - slightly down but keeping afloat.

I have not mentioned the professional or concert circuit and that is largely another world and I have tried not to make value judgements on the above but rather describe what I perceive is the situation. Of course there are many more complexities.

Tradsinger