Education Shelter

The Friends and their 833 Lottery Club have been pleased to help finance a new shelter for Lucy and her team to use during their many children’s education days. “It’s so helpful,” Lucy told us, “for really hot, sunny days or for when we have a light shower. It means we can stay outside as much as possible, which is why the children are coming here in the first place.”

It is situated next to the path down to the Discovery Centre.

The shelter was designed by Joseph Williams and is made of sustainable eco-friendly materials including bamboo for the uprights and a stretchable fabric awning. The awning can be taken down and packed away easily when not in use, which makes the shelter almost invisible.

The Friends shared the cost of the shelter with the 833 Lottery, and Lucy and her team also contributed to it. We hope that lots of classes will be glad of its shade and shelter during our increasingly hot summers.

Guide in a Hide

Every month knowledgeable Friends’ volunteers spend a day in the Gooders Hide, showing members of the public the varied birdlife visible from the hide. There are binoculars and telescopes on hand for a closer look, and experts to explain what to look out for.

Some months, there will also be additional volunteers, with a telescope, outside the Discovery Centre.

Art Wall

Rye Harbour Discovery Centre Art Wall

We have been working hand in hand with the management team at the Discovery Centre to create a new focal point for local artists within the centre, which has so far raised over £4000 for the Reserve.
The new Art Wall was generously donated by committee member and wildlife artist James Tomlinson.
The wall has been carefully designed so it doesn’t affect the wood cladding of the centre but will provide a good and well-lit hanging space for artwork.
The Art Wall features work from well-known professional artists and from keen and talented amateurs, providing an ever-changing display of exciting nature-based art inspired by the Reserve.

Artists who have exhibited so far, include: Robert Greenhalf, Cliff Dean, James Tomlinson, Stephen Message, Peter Greenhalf, Anna Wilson Patterson, Annie Soudain, Robbie Gooders, Jillian Eldridge, Louisa Crispin, Jane Beecham, Siobhan O’Hanlan, Denise Franklin, Karl Terry, Joanna Terry

The Art Wall was refurbished in January 2024 ready for water colours by Kathleen Loughton-Mead and wildlife photography by Howard Kearley.

We hope you’ll drop in to see the exhibitions.

Exhibitors for the Art Wall have been booked in for the next 12 months, but you are welcome to apply to exhibit here. The criteria are that you are inspired by the reserve, or create artwork on, or about the reserve.

If you would like to exhibit, please download the Art Wall Application and FAQ, then complete and return your form to the Art Wall team at: avocetgallery@gmail.com or to the Discovery Centre marked “Art Wall”. (You can read the FAQs here).

If you are chosen to exhibit you will be sent an Artists’ Pack containing all the details you will need in order to exhibit.

833 Lottery Club

The Draw

The Trustees of the Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve and the 833 Administration Team have decided to close the 833 Lottery Club, with July 13th 2024 as the last draw.  The Lottery was set up at the end of 2019 to raise funds for the development and ongoing management of the Rye Harbour Discovery Centre.  Since that time the building has been finished and its management and activities firmly established. 

We thank all the Lottery members for their generous support over almost 5 years.

Lottery members will receive a personal notification shortly, with details of the closure process.

If you would like to contact us directly, please email: the833club@outlook.com

Results for the most recent draws:

Draw DateTicketsPrize Pot1st2nd3rd
13 Jul 2024130£104.00M Eve (93)A Heywood (82)V Pollard (166)
01 Jun 2024130£104.00B Dean (117)M Noble (73)B Lewczynski (114)
11 May 2024138£110.40R Donovan (127)M Belton (95)L Belton (96)
13 Apr 2024134£107.20L & ME Cornish (143)T Sharp (51)PL & J Steares (136)
09 Mar 2024147£117.60C Cotter (31)M Fjorentini (48)M Belton (95)
10 Feb 2024151£120.80C Dean (60)S Gibbon (9)D MacDonald (124)
13 Jan 2024145£116A Yates (65)A Yates (64)Mr&Mrs Cornish (143)
09 Dec 2023151£120.80M Noble (77)B Lewczynski (110)S Hassall (13)
11 Nov 2023140£112.00C Bowden (68)J Powell (162)C Treen (146)
14 Oct 2023142£113.60A&D West (172)B Lewczynski (114)P Moxley (5)
07 Sep 2023138£110.40D McEvoy (144)P Strickland (131)S Masters (151)
12 Aug 2023139£111.20D Edmunds (41)M Woodfine (6)R Harris (147)

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