Talk – Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve

Talk 12 October 2024

The Cetaceans of Sussex by Thea Taylor

Thea Taylor, a Marine Biologist and Managing Director of the Sussex Dolphin Project, gave an excellent talk to the Friends of RHNR last Saturday.

The Sussex Dolphin Project was set up in 2018 because the Sussex coast was one of the least studied cetacean habitats in the UK, with very little data on these mammals. Historical evidence and information from local communities indicated that it was not the case that they were absent, just that no data had been collected.

Improved reporting is now available for West Sussex and for East Sussex going westwards from Eastbourne, but from Eastbourne to Kent there is still a huge gap in the data.

The species Thea covered were Bottlenose Dolphin, which are the most common Dolphins seen off our coast, the rarer Common Dolphin, the oceanic White-beaked Dolphin and the Harbour Porpoise.
She also talked about ongoing research, what is needed in the future to protect these fantastic mammals, the threats they face and how we can help.

A key take-away the talk was the things we can all do to support the Sussex Dolphin project by joining, volunteering and, very importantly, reporting any sightings (along with good quality photo’s if you have them) and any strandings to the Sussex Dolphin Project (https://sussexdolphinproject.org/).

There is ID help available on the website, along with lots of information and opportunities. If you do have a sighting of one of these mammals, scroll down a little on the home page and REPORT IT!

Talks

14 June – The Woman Who Saved Birds

Saturday 14th June 2025 1.30pm – 3pm at the Discovery Centre.

Presented by Tessa Boase a writer and social historian living in Hastings.

When social historian Tessa Boase told the RSPB she wanted to write their early story, they refused to let her visit their archives. To a former investigative journalist, this was a challenge she could not resist.

This talk brings to life the mighty Victorian and Edwardian plumage trade – and the brave eco-feminists who fought back on behalf of the birds. Their leader was Hythe-born Etta Lemon, the passionate and pioneering conservationist who built the early RSPB, but was not remembered by history. What were her campaign tactics, and what is her legacy?

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 May.

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

Talks

10 May – Weeds as Medicine

Saturday 10^th May 2025 1.30pm – 3pm at the Discovery Centre.

Ellie Holly is a qualified and experienced Medical Herbalist. She will start with a brief introduction to herbal medicine, and then go onto talk about a range of common UK weeds which have a long history of use as medicines.

Ellie will cover their medicinal properties and how to use them in herbal teas, topical applications, and cooking. Plants covered would include nettle leaves, dandelions, ribwort plantain, lemon balm, yarrow and hawthorn.

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 1^st April.

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

Talks

12 April – The Royal military canal and its…

Saturday 12^th April 2025 1.30pm – 3pm at the Discovery Centre.

Presented by Michael Steed.

Michael read history and land economy at Cambridge and has developed an interest in the The Royal Military Canal, it’s history and importance. This talk is an in-depth and interactive look at this important part of our local history and landscape.

Limited places are available and booking for members of The Friends will open at 8.00am on 1^st March.

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

Talks

08 March – Barn Owls and Barn Owls in…

Saturday 8^th March 2025 1.30pm – 3pm at the Discovery Centre.

Terry Hallahan from the Sussex Barn Owl Group will be talking about these engaging birds.

Limited places are available and booking for members of The Friends will open at 8.00am on 1^st February.

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

Talks

08 February – The history of Rye Harbour Farm…

Saturday 8^th February 2025 1.30pm – 3pm at the Discovery Centre.

Frank Langrish, a well known local farmer, talks about the interaction between agriculture, landscapes and SSSI’s in the local area.

Frank Langrish, a well known local farmer renowned for sheep rearing, will take us through the history of Rye Harbour Farm, Caste farm and Pett Level, over the last 150 years .

He will talk about how the agriculture created the original landscapes and the method of farming created the SSSI’s.

Limited places are available and booking for members of The Friends will open at 8.00am on 1st January.

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

Talks

11 January – Our Natural Heritage- safe in their…

Saturday 11^th January 2025 1.30pm – 3pm at the Discovery Centre.

Presented by David Phillips, a retired environmental consultant who is passionate about protecting the countryside and the wildlife that inhabits it.

This talk charts the alarming decline in our biodiversity (UK) in spite of all of the policies and designations which are in place to protect it.

Limited places are available and booking for members of The Friends will open at 8.00am on 1^st December.

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

Past Events

Talk 13 July 2024

Swifts by Sophie Streeter from the Hastings and Rother Swift Conservation Group.

The Friends were treated to an excellent and informative talk about Swifts yesterday. Sophie Streeter is a volunteer with the Hastings and Rother Swift conservation group – a group of volunteers dedicated to raising awareness of the plight of the Swift. Their aim is to protect and enhance the traditional nesting sites of these iconic summer visitors and to establish new nesting sites where appropriate in the Hastings and Rother area of East Sussex. They will also advise on the supply and installation of Swift nest bricks, soffit boxes and call systems. In December 2021, the Swift moved to the RED LIST of Highest Conservation Priority, as very sadly these beautiful birds are in trouble with a 58% drop in breeding numbers in just 25 years.
The talk to The Friends was beautifully illustrated with stunning images and videos of Swifts flying, catching food, roosting, nest box camera’s etc. I think we were all amazed at seeing young Swifts doing ‘press-ups’ to strengthen their wings before leaving the next box!
Sophie shared her in-depth knowledge of facts and information about Swifts and talked about the various ways in which we humans can help this species that is at risk of extinction in the UK. All in all a very interesting and inspirational talk.

For further information see

https://e-voice.org.uk/hastingsandrotherswifts

https://www.swift-conservation.org

Past Events

Talk 11 May 2024

The Conservation of Marianne North’s Paintings at Kew Gardens by Rachel Witt

Rachel Witt, an experienced and talented Paintings Conservator gave a talk to the Friends of RHNR on the local Victorian artist Marianne North and the conservation of some of her paintings that are held in the Marianne North Gallery at Kew Gardens.

Marianne was a brave and unconventional artist who was born in 1830 in Hastings and died in 1890. She had a privileged upbringing and following her father’s death, travelled extensively to paint, concentrating on botanical subjects.

Her unusual choice of painting materials led to many challenges in the restoration process and Rachel detailed some of these, along with how the gallery, funded by Marianne to display her enormous number of paintings was restored to the state it is today.

If anyone visits Kew Gardens and is interested in botanical paintings then a visit to this gallery is a must!

All in all, an enjoyable talk.

Talks

12 April – The Royal Military Canal and its…

Saturday 12th April 2025 1.30pm – 3pm at the Discovery Centre.

An in-depth and interactive look at this important part of our local history and landscape presented by Michael Steed.

Michael read history and land economy at Cambridge and has developed an interest in the Royal Military Canal, its history and importance.

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.