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.

Past Events

Talk 14 December 2024

The December talk was a little different, in that it was a compilation of three short talks. These were presented by members of the Rye Harbour History group and each illustrated talk reflected a different aspect of local history.

The topics were:

  1. The Coast Blockade at Rye Harbour – deterring smuggling in the 19th century through the writing of an officer – presented by Angie Perkins.
    • Smuggling was such a huge operation in the 18th and 19th centuries that the government felt they had go to enormous lengths to curb the ’ trade’ along a lengthy stretch of the south coast and between 1817 and 1831 a coastal blockade was put in place. This talk gave us a personal insight into this blockade through the writing of a Naval officer.
  2. Old Winchelsea, a town lost to the sea in 1287 – presented by David Dennis.
    • Old Winchelsea, a large, vibrant port and shipbuilding town had been built upon a spit of land in Rye Bay. Very vulnerable to severe weather, coastal erosion and the changing coastline the town was eventually lost to the sea during a severe storm in 1287. David looked at what is known about this town and helped to bring it to life for the audience.
  3. History in Photographs – The Mary Stanford Lifeboat disaster of 1928 – presented by Roy Brigden.
    • The Mary Stanford disaster was a tragic incident that never should have happened. All 17 lifeboat men lost their lives and this would have affected every household in the village of Rye Harbour. Putting out to sea in appalling weather to rescue a boat that was already safe by the time the lifeboat was launched, would seem unthinkable these days, however communications were very different in 1928. Through old Photographs Roy explained how the disaster unfolded and the aftermath. However, to this day no one knows what exactly happened to cause the death of all those on board.

All were very interesting, lavishly illustrated and providing an insight into a different era.

An excellent afternoon was had by all.

Past Events

Talk 09 November 2024

Special Breeding Birds of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve (RHNR) by Dr. Barry Yates

Our planned talk by James Duncan from the SWT on ‘The Wonders of Migration’ had to be postponed, but instead The Friends were treated to a talk by the retired RHNR manager, and current chairman of the Friends Committee, Dr Barry Yates.

Barry spoke to us about the ‘Special Breeding Birds of RHNR ‘and we found out just how important RHNR is for many threatened species. A large proportion of Sussex’s breeding Ringed Plover, Redshank, Lapwing, Sandwich Tern, Little Tern and Marsh Harriers – to name just a few, make RHNR their home for the summer and raise (or attempt to raise) young here. Life is very difficult for these birds and Barry highlighted some of the difficulties faced by these birds, and the importance of measures like electric fences (great, but expensive) to help prevent predation and lack of disturbance whilst breeding. Food supply in the sea and in their breeding habitat on the reserve is another problem many birds face. Birds like Sandwich Tern are able to travel up to 12-km out and along the coast to find food and still frequently struggle to find sufficient food for their chicks. The highly vulnerable Little Tern can only travel 1-km and if there is not sufficient food close by in the sea the chicks can easily starve.

All in all an extremely interesting talk, and the importance of our reserve not just for Sussex, but for the whole of the UK should not be underestimated.

Past Events

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 10th 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 1st April.

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

or

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.

Past Events

Talk 13 Apr 2024

Pett Level – Then and Now by Keith Swallow

Members of the Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve were privy to a very informative and enjoyable talk by the author Keith Swallow today.

Keith initially developed a love of Romney Marsh and the surrounding area as a child, whilst visiting his Grandparents, and has gone on to live in the area. He has a passion for researching local history and has written several books.

The talk brought many aspects of Pett Level back to life. Keith took us back in time to the Pett Level of the Napoleonic wars with its eight Martello towers situated between Winchelsea Beach and Cliff End and the downfall of these structures; the importance to local life of the Ship Inn (then situated at the heart of Pett Level village, which was where the shingle is now, opposite Pett Pools); the contentious undertakings of the local landowners, and much, much more.

All in all, an excellent talk, enjoyed by a packed audience.