Tag: Talk

12 June – Rye Community Resilience (REACT) Talks

12 June – Rye Community Resilience (REACT)

Saturday 12th June 2027 1.30pm – 3pm at the Discovery Centre.

Find out how REACT came about and what they have been involved with in recent years, plus how this affects you.
Colonel Anthony Kimber has led the voluntary community resilience team (REACT) in Rye for several years. His illustrated talk explains how REACT came about and some of the events that have involved the organisation in recent years.

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 the first of the month before the talk.
Please note that dogs (except for pre-booked assistance dogs for those with sight impairment) are NOT allowed at talks.

08 May – The Rother Levels Talks

08 May – The Rother Levels

Saturday 8th May 2027 1.30pm – 3pm at the Discovery Centre.

Melvin Smith, known to many from Iden Natural History Society has had a lifelong interest in wildlife. In this talk about the Rother Levels he explores the wildlife, scenery and history of this fascinating area.

He goes back in time to when the river was a highway for trade, and comes up to date with a look at some of the colourful Insects, Wild Flowers and Birdlife. Including a sequence on Kingfishers.

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 the first of the month before the talk.
Please note that dogs (except for pre-booked assistance dogs for those with sight impairment) are NOT allowed at talks.

10 April – Strandliners. What we are and what we do Talks

10 April – Strandliners. What we are and what…

Saturday 10th April 2027 1.30pm – 3pm at the Discovery Centre.

Andy Dinsdale from Strandliners will talk to us about the important work that this organisation undertakes.

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 the first of the month before the talk.
Please note that dogs (except for pre-booked assistance dogs for those with sight impairment) are NOT allowed at talks.

13 March – Bee keeping and bees in Sussex Talks

13 March – Bee keeping and bees in Sussex

Saturday 13th March 2027 1.30pm – 3pm at the Discovery Centre.

Aimi Rifat, from the wilder education team at RHNR used to be a professional bee-keeper. Come and find out more about bee-keeping and wild bees.

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 the first of the month before the talk.
Please note that dogs (except for pre-booked assistance dogs for those with sight impairment) are NOT allowed at talks.

13 February – Q & A about ‘The Marsh, The Sea and the Sky’ Talks

13 February – Q & A about ‘The Marsh,…

Saturday 13th February 2027 1.30pm – 3pm at the Discovery Centre.

Annie Soudain’s book of this title began as a lockdown project for her grandchildren and covered the period from early childhood to the publication in 2024. She will focus on her career since arriving in Pett Level, where she was able to work regularly with space and wonderful surroundings. In conversation with Cliff Dean, Annie will discuss her themes drawn from the local landscape, how she came to them and what they mean to her.

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 the first of the month before the talk.
Please note that dogs (except for pre-booked assistance dogs for those with sight impairment) are NOT allowed at talks.

09 January – In Winter’s Light Talks

09 January – In Winter’s Light

Saturday 9th January 2027 1.30pm – 3pm at the Discovery Centre.

Colin Page will take us on a winter journey through the lens of his camera.
Enjoy stunning images, many of which will be close-ups, detailing the beauty of the natural world in 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 the first of the month before the talk.
Please note that dogs (except for pre-booked assistance dogs for those with sight impairment) are NOT allowed at talks.

12 December – Breeding Birds of Rye Harbour Talks

12 December – Breeding Birds of Rye Harbour

A look at how the breeding birds of Rye Harbour fared in 2026

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

Adonis Blue Environmental Consultants have been contracted to complete breeding bird surveys of many of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve’s important species, including waders, terns and egrets. Come and hear about the results.

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

14 November – Finding and Identifying Lichens in East Sussex Talks

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.

Past Events

Talk 08 March 2025

Members of the Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve had a fantastic talk on Saturday 8th 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

Past Events

Talk 08 February 2025

This Friends‘ talk, ‘The history of Rye Harbour Farm, Castle Farm and Pett Level, over the last 150 years’ was given by Frank Langrish, a well-known local farmer, renowned for his sheep rearing.

Presented in chronological order, we found out many interesting facts about Romney Marsh itself, plus life and farming on the marsh. As the Marsh is defined as being the land that is on the sea side of the Royal Military Canal between Pett Level and Hythe, stretching as far inland as Appledore, the area is huge and includes Pett level and areas around Rye. Frank feels strongly that it is the farming and the people that have created the habitat and landscape, and that is why a very large area of the land is now designated as SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), SPA (Special Protection Area) and RAMSAR (Wetland Site Under Special Protection).

The marsh can be an inhospitable place and many techniques were employed by farmers in order to succeed. The wool and meat trade was at one point very valuable and before WW2 sheep rearing was the main type of farming on the marsh, with around half a million sheep on the marsh. Now there are only about 20,000.

Frank spoke in length about the area around Camber Castle and Castle farm, which his father bought in 1978 ‘lock, stock and barrel’. There have been huge changes over the last 150 years and Frank was able to bring this period to life for us. All in all this was a very interesting talk.