Talk – Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve

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.

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.

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.

Talks

12 September – Presentation by the Waterlife Recovery Trust

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

A definite title and more details of this talk to follow.

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.

Talks

08 August – Wonders of Winchelsea Beach

Saturday 8th August 2026 1.30pm – 3pm at the Discovery Centre.

Presented by Cliff Dean.

“Dogs Hill Road” What hill? What dogs? Whether you walk, cycle or swim here, you may never have noticed its mysterious features.

I’ve lived for many years at the west end of the marsh and, since I arrive at the Nature Reserve from this direction, I’ve long puzzled over the features I notice.

This is not everybody’s idea of an “historic landscape” but once you start looking, you see a changing coast, battles against the sea, a vanished harbour, military defences, and a succession of dwellings from the improvised structures of early 20th century holidaymakers to the more recent gentrification, marking an astonishing transition from the barest shingle to a vegetated settlement.

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

Talks

11 July – Understanding Fossils

Saturday 11th July 2026 1.30pm – 3pm at the Discovery Centre.

In this illustrated talk Ken Brooks will explain how fossils are formed and their importance in reconstructing ancient environments, to the origins of present-day species. In the Hastings area we are fortunate in having a variety of fossilised remains, including plants, fish and dinosaurs and Ken will be sharing his knowledge of these with us.

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 June.
Please note that dogs (except for guide dogs that have been pre-booked) are not allowed at talks.

Talks

13 June – Northiam Naturally!

Saturday 13th June 2026 1.30pm – 3pm at the Discovery Centre.

Local Ecologist Brian Banks is collaborating with Northiam Parish Council on a local nature recovery project. A new nature reserve in Northiam has been established with the aim of better managing Ancient Woodland, creating two new ponds and better managing two existing shaded ponds. Funded by the Newt Partnership, there is the hope Great Crested Newts will colonise. Brian will also be enlightening us about Amphibians and Reptiles found locally.

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

Talks

09 May – Pett Level Rescue

Saturday 9th May 2026 1.30pm – 3pm at the Discovery Centre.

Steve Hill from Pett Level Rescue will give us an insight into how the independent lifeboat saves lives around our coast.

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

Talks

11 April – Rye Harbour: More than just Wildlife

“A look back at the story of Rye Harbour”

Saturday 11th April 2026 1.30pm – 3pm at the Discovery Centre.

Roy Brigden, long standing Friend and volunteer of RHNR and part of the History Group at the Discovery Centre, will explore the changing face of the village, its people and surroundings over the past 200 years.

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

Talks

14 March – Bee-keeping and Bees in Sussex

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

Aimi Rifat, from the education department at RHNR has previously been a professional bee-keeper. Come and find out more about local bees and honey.

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

Past Events

Talk 08 March 2025

Members of the Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve had a fantastic talk on Saturday 8^th March by Terry Hallahan, who is one of the leaders of the Sussex Barn Owl Group. The talk ‘Barn Owls and Barn Owls in Sussex’ was in two parts: the first covering interesting facts about the Barn Owl, plus it’s demise and more recent upsurge; the second part covering the activities of the Barn Owl Group who are committed to preservation and protection of Sussex’s Barn Owl population.

Amazingly, Barn Owls are the world’s most widely distributed land bird, and with 35 subspecies, they are found on every continent except Antarctica. Unfortunately, we are at one of their northern extremes and in some years, they struggle in our climate. Unable to hunt in wet weather, they need excellent habitat in which to find plentiful food when it is dry. In addition to the lack of habitat, and nesting sites proving challenging for them, road traffic collisions are a major problem accounting for the deaths of between 3000 and 5000 Barn Owls each year. This equates to about 65% of all reported fatalities.

To counteract the loss of traditional nesting sites, the Barn Owl Group puts up boxes and it is now estimated over 90% of Barn Owls are using boxes. This has helped to increase their numbers over the last few years.

In addition to installing boxes at suitable locations, the Barn Owl Group works with landowners and undertakes considerable monitoring, ringing and conservation activities.

They are always looking for help, donations and sponsorship. For more information see https://www.sos.org.uk/archives/5869 or email info@sussexbarnowlgroup.org