Rye Harbour Nature Reserve

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Rye Harbour Nature Reserve is home to over 4200 species of plants and animals. Posts by Bobbie.
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Come and explore, with our easy-access paths, wheelchair friendly birdwatching hides and the Discovery Centre with a café, shop and exhibition space.

03/11/2026

We've got a wonderful new collection of drawings by Cy Baker, winner of the 2022 David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year Award, on the art wall at Rye Harbour Discovery Centre. Each piece is inspired by Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.

Cy is collaborating with us at Rye Harbour during 2026 and has visited the reserve throughout the year to create some wonderful artworks inspired by his visits.

Limited edition prints of a selection of his drawings are available to buy from the Discovery Centre shop during November and December.

30/10/2026

Amazing Futures travelled to Rye Harbour Nature Reserve from Eastbourne for a special day out of birdwatching and crafting.

We love all the felted birds they created, perfect for using as Christmas decorations.

One of the big highlights of the day was visiting Gooders hide for a spectacular view of a Kingfisher hovering and diving right in front of us!

26/10/2026

Join us for half term 'Wildlife Watch' fun! 🙌🎃
£12 per child, adults go free.

Wildlife Watch: Our Sussex Coastline 🌊🪸
📅 Tuesday 27th October
👩‍👦 Suitable for accompanied children 5 to 11 yrs old.
Discover life below the waves along our coast and how we can help. In the Discovery Centre, find out about tiny living beings that provide us with oxygen and why kelp forests are important for marine life and humans. Use virtual reality headsets and microscopes to explore this secret underwater world! Then head out to look for natural treasures on the shore. Book here 👇
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wildlife-watch-our-sussex-coastline-at-rye-harbour-nature-reserve-tickets-1999375935244

Wildlife Watch: Family Spider Hunt 🕷️🕸️
📅 Thursday 29th October
👩‍👦 Suitable for accompanied children 5 to 11 yrs old.
Get set for an exciting time exploring spiders! Join Ranger Matt to learn about the amazing world of spiders. Hear about their behaviour and their superpowers, as well as how to identify some and what you can do to help them. We'll meet at the Discovery Centre for a brief illustrated chat, then we'll head out to the nature reserve on a spider hunt. Book here 👇
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wildlife-watch-family-spider-hunt-rye-harbour-nature-reserve-420337035-registration-2002084896821

📷 Zebra Spider (c) Barry Yates
📷 Wasp Spider (c) Bob Eade
📷 Wasp Spider and group (c) Alice Oakley
Sussex Wildlife Trust Rye News Visit 1066 Country

25/10/2026

🍂 In conversation at Rye Harbour: Kate Mosse, a celebration of Autumn 🍂 Saturday 7 November, 2 to 3pm

🔥 Just a few tickets left for this event! Bestselling author, Kate Mosse, in conversation with Henri Brocklebank, Director of Conservation for Sussex Wildlife Trust, and Sienna Jay, co-organiser of Loughborough University’s Literary Festival.

We're thrilled to be welcoming Kate Mosse Author to join us in celebration of her new book ‘Autumn: The Story of a Season’, inspired by Sussex landscapes and traditions. Kate is an award-winning novelist, non-fiction writer, playwright and historian; she lives in Sussex, and was born and raised here.

Exploring folklore, nature and creativity, 'Autumn' is Kate’s love-letter to Sussex. It's an atmospheric portrait of the season, starting in her own garden in Chichester and taking us to the Sussex marshlands of her childhood.

Signed copies of 'Autumn' will be available on the day at £16.99. By joining us, you'll be supporting the work of Sussex Wildlife Trust and the Discovery Centre.

To book, visit 👇
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/talk-at-rye-harbour-kate-mosse-a-celebration-of-autumn-420337035-tickets-2002910499220

Kate Mosse has published twelve novels and story collections translated into 38 languages, including the multimillion-selling Languedoc Trilogy: Labyrinth, Sepulchre and Citadel. Her non-fiction includes Warrior Queens & Quiet Revolutionaries and Feminist History for Every Day of the Year.

Photo credit: Kate Mosse © Ruth Crafer
Sussex Wildlife Trust Visit 1066 Country Rye News

23/10/2026

⛔ Discovery Centre CLOSED from 1pm today ⛔

Due to power cuts in the area and more high winds expected this afternoon at Rye Harbour, we will be closing the Discovery Centre from 1pm on Friday 23rd October.

We will be open again as usual tomorrow.

22/10/2026

With the days getting shorter, the Rye Harbour Discovery Centre will switch to winter opening hours on Sunday 25th October, when the clocks go back.
From then on, we'll be open 10am to 4pm, 7 days a week, until the clocks change again next spring.

Photo © Rebecca Brooker

21/10/2026

Sorry, our website is currently unavailable while our web team carries out some essential maintenance. Everything should be back online later today.

Thank you for your patience.

📸 © David Ball.

21/10/2026

In one month today, we'll be opening the doors to our annual Festive Makers Market.

Join us, get into the festive spirit and discover unique and special gifts that you won't find on the high street!

We're showcasing some 20 talented local artists and makers offering products focussed on nature and the environment.

You'll find beautiful homeware, ceramics and woodenware, jewellery, prints, gorgeous knits, naturally-dyed clothing and handmade chocolate.

Entry is free and our café will serve festive treats and drinks. Our shop offers quirky, nature-inspired, ethically-sourced gifts too.

When: Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November, 10am to 4pm
Where: Rye Harbour Nature Reserve Discovery Centre

Photo © Martin Bruce

19/10/2026

🌊🦭 Walk with a Ranger at Rye Harbour: Shingle, Strandline and Seals 🦭🌊 Thursday 5 November (10.30am - 1.30pm)

Meet our new Senior Ranger, Dav Bridger, join him in an exclusive guided walk around Rye Harbour Nature Reserve; one of the largest and most important wildlife sites in England. Discover how we manage the reserve for wildlife and learn about our plans for the future with a chance to ask questions on the way round.

📍 Meet at Rye Harbour Discovery Centre.
💷 £15 Sussex Wildlife Trust members, £17.70 non-members.
👉 Book here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/walk-with-a-ranger-at-rye-harbour-shingle-strandline-seals-420337035-tickets-2002462402952

Dav will focus on:
🌊 The special shingle habitat, it's ecology and plant community.
🌊 Spotting seals, seasonal birds and strandline treasures.
🌊 Plans for landscaping one of the saline lagoons.

We'll take a circular walk stopping off at a bird hide, looking out for winter birds like ducks and waders, maybe even exotic Spoonbills! Dav has a special love of seals, having met them while scuba diving. We may be lucky enough see them swimming in the river, if they oblige! Dav started working for Sussex Wildlife Trust as a Heritage Intern before he became one of our Rangers, and now Senior Ranger here.

📷 Harbour Seal © Kai Hilton
📷 Dav Bridger selfie © Dav Bridger
📷 Walk at Rye Harbour nature reserve © Victoria Barrell
📷 Shingle and Red-roofed Hut © James Duncan

Sussex Wildlife Trust Visit 1066 Country Rye News

18/10/2026

‼️ Please vote for the nature reserve! ✔️ A reminder to our supporters in the Camber area that it's the final hour to have your say on how you want Southern Water's £900,000 community fund to be spent 🌊 💬

Following the bio-beads pollution incident, Southern Water set up a £900,000 community fund as reparations for the local communities around Camber and Rye. Now they want to hear how you think the money should be spent. 30 local stakeholders, including Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, have submitted project ideas. The public can vote for up to 5 projects at the final public drop-in session at: Camber Memorial Hall - 18 October 2026 10am-3pm

More here: www.southernwater.co.uk/latest-news/beads-washed-ashore-at-camber-sands/

Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve

Address

Harbour Road
Rye
TN317TX

Telephone

07884 494 982

Website

https://rye.sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/

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