14 November – Finding and Identifying Lichens in East…

Saturday 14th November 2026 1.30pm – 3pm at the Discovery Centre.

Keith Palmer will enlighten us as to the lichens that can to be found in local neighbourhoods including within Rye Harbour Nature Reserve and will demonstrate the diversity of the lichen flora of the county.

The talk will be illustrated by copious photographs of many species while the basic biology of lichens and the diverse characteristics they show will be covered though the focus will be on fairly common and conspicuous lichens.

Having been a naturalist since the mid-1960s, Keith arrived at lichens in the mid-80s. A one-time member of the British Lichen Society he surveyedover the next decade almost all churchyards in Kent where he then lived and a good many in Sussex, creating lists from over a thousand sites. While his main natural history interests have moved on in the present century, he retains an affection for lichens which after all do keep still while you are trying to study them at close quarters and, what’s more, can continue to be studied during the winter !

These talks are for members of The Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve only. There is no charge, though donations are gratefully accepted. If you are not a member of The Friends but would like to attend, please JOIN US and let us know.

Limited places are available and booking for members of The Friends will open at 8.00am on 1st October.
Please note that dogs (except for guide dogs that have been pre-booked) are not allowed at talks.

10 October – The Martello Towers

Saturday 10th October 2026 1.30pm – 3pm at the Discovery Centre.

Peter Hibbs will be enlightening us as to their history and purpose.

These talks are for members of The Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve only. There is no charge, though donations are gratefully accepted. If you are not a member of The Friends but would like to attend, please JOIN US and let us know.

Limited places are available and booking for members of The Friends will open at 8.00am on 1st September.
Please note that dogs (except for guide dogs that have been pre-booked) are not allowed at talks.

12 September – The Waterlife Recovery Trust

The Waterlife Recovery Trust and our work around Rye Harbour

Saturday 12th September 2026 1.30pm – 3pm at the Discovery Centre.

This talk introduces the Waterlife Recovery Trust (a charity formed in 2022) and our work with partners to help native wetland wildlife recover by tackling one key pressure: the invasive non-native American mink.

Mink are highly effective predators and can quickly wipe out local colonies of water voles, as well as taking wetland birds, amphibians and fish. Around Rye Harbour we work in collaboration with local organisations and land managers to detect mink presence and remove mink humanely using remotely monitored “smart” cage traps.

Alex Rumph, High Weald Project Officer from Waterlife Recovery Trust will explain how this catchment-based approach works in practice, what it means for species such as water voles and ground-nesting birds, and how local volunteers can play a vital role in keeping waterways mink-free.

These talks are for members of The Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve only. There is no charge, though donations are gratefully accepted. If you are not a member of The Friends but would like to attend, please JOIN US and let us know.

Limited places are available and booking for members of The Friends will open at 8.00am on 1st August.
Please note that dogs (except for guide dogs that have been pre-booked) are not allowed at talks.