The Friends is an extraordinary group of over 2,000 members, who have been raising money and volunteering for more than 50 years to improve the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, working with the Sussex Wildlife Trust to conserve the landscape, to protect wildlife and provide a great visitor experience, so why not JOIN US.
In 2024 His Majesty The King approved the Kings Award for Voluntary Service for the Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. The citation for the award is: Supporting and developing Rye Harbour Nature Reserve and its wildlife for the benefit of local and wider interests.
See more detail here: https://ryeharbourfriends.net/kavs
Our volunteers help with:
- outdoor work, creating and maintaining habitat on the nature reserve
- educational activities
- staffing the information desk at the Discovery Centre
- helping in the café
- producing and posting out the newsletters
- managing membership
- organising great walks, talks and events.
Our fund raising has:
- helped to purchase Castle Water, and transform it from a gravel extraction site to the amazing reedbed it is today
- created the Wader Pool near the river
- funded the initial contribution of £1.5M towards the new Discovery Centre
- funded five wheelchair-accessible bird hides
- funded vehicles for the Reserve
- purchased two defibrillators
- provided a workshop
- part-funded the nature reserve staff
The Friends make a huge difference, so why not help us to protect the reserve and its wildlife by joining us or making a donation?
Please note that The Friends are not responsible for the management of the nature reserve. If you have any issues, please contact staff at the Discovery Centre or Sussex Wildlife Trust.
