Dates for your diary
Other wildlife events
Other activities in the surrounding area can be found on the RXwildlife events page.
There is a leaflet of Rye Harbour Events 2012 available click here for details (1MB download)
February 2012
Mon 13 February 2012 @ 12:00
Crafty Creations
Childrens event: Drop in and do an art & craft activity based on the Reserve’s wildlife.
Drop in to Lime Kiln Cottage Information Centre between 12 and 3pm. Donations appreciated.
Tue 14 February 2012 @ 12:00
Fun Bird Activities
Childrens event: Celebrate National Nestbox Week by making homes and treats for your garden birds!
Drop in to Lime Kiln Cottage Information Centre between 12 and 3pm. Donations appreciated.
Wed 15 February 2012 @ 10:00
Hunt for the Missing Purse (2 miles)
Childrens event: Join our winter hunt along the Rye Harbour shore for egg cases of sharks, skates and rays. Meet at Lime Kiln Cottage Information Centre 10am – 12noon. Donations appreciated.
Sat 18 February 2012 @ 14:30
Winter Lecture: My Kind of Birding
A talk by Colin Page, illustrated by a new selection of some of his best birdwatching photos. Organised by the Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. Meet at Winchelsea Beach Community Hall at 2:30pm. Open to all, donations appreciated.
Sun 19 February 2012 @ 13:00
Camber Castle Wildlife and History (2.5 miles)
A chance to go inside Camber Castle, visit the birdwatching hide at Castle Water and see the wetland wildlife there. Meet at Brede Lock 1 – 4pm. Donations appreciated.
March 2012
Sat 10 March 2012 @ 10:00
Spring Beach Clean
We should see the first Wheatears and Sandwich Terns while helping to remove the winter’s rubbish. Hot soup will be served at the end.
Meet at Rye Harbour car park with work gloves if you have them. 10am – 1pm
Sat 17 March 2012 @ 19:30
Winter Lecture: Extreme Mothing
An illustrated talk by Graeme Lyons, Sussex Wildlife Trust. Some of the more exciting moth-related stories Graeme and other moth-ers have experienced over the last 20 years. Organised by the Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. Meet at Winchelsea Beach Community Hall at 7:30pm. Open to all, donations appreciated.
April 2012
Mon 02 April 2012 @ 12:00
Paint and Plant
Childrens event: Drop in to the information centre and have a go at decorating a plant pot and planting some seeds to grow in it.
Drop in to Lime Kiln Cottage Information Centre between 12 and 3pm. £2 per pot.
Tue 03 April 2012 @ 10:30
Mud Exploration (1 mile)
Childrens event: Discover the marvellous minibeasts that live on the mudflats in our saltmarsh. Wellies/old shoes and clothes advised! Meet at Lime Kiln Cottage Information Centre 10:30 – 12:00. Donations appreciated.
Wed 04 April 2012 @ 11:00
Shell Search (2 miles)
Childrens event: Explore the strandline looking for different shells and other flotsam and jetsam washed up by the sea. Bring a bucket for your finds! Meet at Lime Kiln Cottage Information Centre 11am – 12.30pm. Donations appreciated.
Thu 05 April 2012 @ 14:00
Easter fun at Camber Castle
Childrens event: Come to Camber Castle and take part in some fun activities in and around this old ruin. Booking essential on 01797 227784. Please note there is no vehicular access to the Castle – 1 mile walk across fields from Rye or Winchelsea Beach. Meet at Camber Castle. Charge £2 per child.
Wed 11 April 2012 @ 14:00
Minibeasts (1 mile)
Childrens event: Bring the family to hunt for minibeasts hiding from view. Meet at Rye Harbour car park 2 – 3.30pm. Donations appreciated.
Fri 13 April 2012 @ 10:00
I Spy.....(2 miles)
Childrens event: How many items can you spy around the Reserve on our short circular walk. Pick up an activity sheet from Lime Kiln Cottage Information Centre between 10am and 4pm. Donations appreciated.
Sat 21 April 2012 @ 13:00
Camber Castle Wildlife and History (2.5 miles)
A chance to go inside Camber Castle, visit the birdwatching hide at Castle Water and see the wetland wildlife. Meet at Brede Lock 1 – 4pm. Donations appreciated.
Sun 22 April 2012 @ 14:00
Adopt-a-Beach Litter Survey
Help to collect and survey litter for the Marine Conservation Society’s ‘Beachwatch’ campaign. Meet at Rye Harbour car park.
Sun 29 April 2012 @ 04:30
Whimbrel Watch (3 miles)
Enjoy the dawn chorus of gulls, terns, waders, wheatears and skylarks, and count the Whimbrel leaving their roost.
Meet at Rye Harbour car park 4.30 – 8am. Donations appreciated.
May 2012
Mon 07 May 2012 @ 10:00
New Saltmarsh Habitat Walk (2 miles)
Come and find out more about this exciting project and watch the sea come in on a Spring Tide. See and hear Wheatears, waders, gulls and terns. Meet at Rye Harbour car park 10am – 1pm. Donations appreciated.
Sat 12 May 2012 @ 13:00
Camber Castle Wildlife and History (2.5 miles)
A chance to go inside Camber Castle, visit the birdwatching hide at Castle Water and see the wetland wildlife there. Meet at Brede Lock 1 – 4pm. Donations appreciated.
Sat 26 May 2012 @ 14:00
Childrens Birdwatching (2 miles)
Learn a bit more about birdwatching and come and see our breeding birds on Ternery Pool. Suitable for accompanied children aged 6-14. Booking essential on 01797 227784. Meet at Rye Harbour car park 2 – 4pm. Charge £2 per child.
June 2012
Fri 01 June 2012 @ 10:00
Bird Bingo!
Childrens event: Pick up a bingo card from Lime Kiln Cottage information centre and see how many birds you can see around the Reserve. You should see gulls, terns, waders and their chicks! Drop in to Lime Kiln Cottage Information Centre between 10am and 4pm for your bingo card. £1 per card.
Sat 02 June 2012 @ 00:00
RX Wildlife Festival
Saturday 2nd June – Sunday 10th June
There will be wildlife activities at Hastings Country Park, Pett Level, Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, Camber, Dungeness RSPB and the Romney Marsh Visitor Centre. Most activities are free, but donations will be appreciated. Children are especially welcomed, but must be accompanied by an adult.
See the RXWildlife website for more details.
Wed 06 June 2012 @ 10:00
Creepy Crawlies (1 mile)
Childrens event: Join the warden, Chris, in a hunt for spiders, bugs, flies and other minibeasts hiding from view. Meet at Rye Harbour car park 10 – 11.30am. Donations appreciated.
Sat 09 June 2012 @ 10:30
Coastal Plants at Rye Harbour (2 miles)
Find out how the Reserve’s shingle plants cope with their dry, windy and salty environment! Meet at Rye Harbour car park 10.30am – 12.30pm. Donations appreciated.
Sun 10 June 2012 @ 16:00
Breeding Birds (2.5 miles)
Come down to the reserve to see how our breeding terns, gulls and waders are doing this year. Meet at Rye Harbour car park 4 – 6.30pm. Donations appreciated.
Sun 24 June 2012 @ 08:00
Trapping Sharks, Tigers and Elephants!
The warden will show you the Rye Harbour moth trap for last night’s catch. Meet at Lime Kiln Cottage Information Centre. Wheelchair accessible. Donations appreciated.
July 2012
Sun 08 July 2012 @ 14:00
Horse Stingers and Devil’s Darning Needles
Colourful, elegant and harmless: take a close look at dragonflies and damselflies. Meet at Brede Lock 2 – 4pm. Donations appreciated.
Sat 14 July 2012 @ 10:00
Adopt-a-Beach Litter Survey
Help to collect and survey litter for the Marine Conservation Society’s ‘Beachwatch’ campaign. Meet at Rye Harbour car park.
Sun 15 July 2012 @ 10:30
Four Special Flowers (2 miles)
Take a closer look at the Reserve’s plants, finding rarities like Marsh Helleborine, Least Lettuce, Stinking Hawk’s-beard and Sea Heath, but also looking at the more common flowers. Meet at Rye Harbour car park 10.30am – 12.30pm. Donations appreciated.
Sun 22 July 2012 @ 14:00
Spiders and their Webs
Join the warden, Chris, on a hunt for a variety of different spiders, and learn how they create their webs. Meet at Lime Kiln Cottage Information Centre 2 – 3.30pm. Donations appreciated.
Tue 24 July 2012 @ 10:30
Glorious Mud
Childrens event: Come and explore the saltmarsh looking for minibeasts and crabs hiding in the mud. Wellies advisable! Booking essential on 01797 227784. Meet at Lime Kiln Cottage Information Centre 10.30am – 12noon. Charge £2 per child.
Wed 25 July 2012 @ 10:00
Shrimping & Rockpooling at Pett Level
Investigate the shallow water and rockpools at low tide. Please wear suitable clothing and footwear for paddling/wading in the sea. Booking essential on 01797 227784. Meet at eastern entrance to Pett Level village (by white gates and 30mph signs). 10 – 11.30am. Charge £2 per child.
Thu 26 July 2012 @ 10:00
Moths for all ages
Bring the family to learn about the moths that fly around the Reserve at night. Meet at Lime Kiln Cottage Information Centre 10 – 11am. Wheelchair accessible. Donations appreciated.
Sun 29 July 2012 @ 10:30
Beginners’ Bird Watching (2 miles)
Learn how to identify a variety of resident and migrant birds. Binoculars and field guides available to use on the day.
Meet at Rye Harbour car park 10.30am – 12.30pm. Donations appreciated.
Mon 30 July 2012 @ 14:00
Pond Dipping at Castle Water (2 miles)
Childrens event: A walk through the Nature Reserve to Castle Water to find out what wildlife lurks amongst the reeds. Booking essential on 01797 227784. Meet at Brede Lock 2 – 4pm. Charge £2 per child.
August 2012
Wed 01 August 2012 @ 13:30
Minibeasts
Childrens event: Bring the family to hunt for minibeasts hiding from view. Booking essential on 01797 227784. Meet at Lime Kiln Cottage Information Centre 1.30 – 3pm. Charge £2 per child.
Fri 03 August 2012 @ 10:00
Brilliant Birds (2 miles)
Childrens event: Come along and learn all about the birds that live here in the summer, and have a go at some birdy crafts. Suitable for accompanied children aged 5 and over. Booking essential on 01797 227784. Meet at Rye Harbour car park 10am – 12.30pm. Charge £3 per child.
Sat 04 August 2012 @ 08:00
Caught in a trap!
A final chance to inspect the Rye Harbour moth traps. Meet at Lime Kiln Cottage Information Centre. Wheelchair accessible. Donations appreciated.
Thu 09 August 2012 @ 10:00
Camber Castle for Kids (2 miles)
Childrens event: A guided walk through the Nature Reserve to look inside Camber Castle – one of Henry VIII’s fortifications. Suitable for accompanied children aged 5 and over. Booking essential on 01797 227784.
Meet at Brede Lock 10am – midday. Charge £2 per child.
Mon 13 August 2012 @ 13:30
Pond Dipping at Castle Water (2 miles)
Childrens event: A walk through the Nature Reserve to Castle Water to find out what wildlife lurks amongst the reeds. Booking essential on 01797 227784. Meet at Brede Lock 1.30 – 3.30pm. Charge £2 per child.
Thu 16 August 2012 @ 10:00
Crafty Creations
Childrens event: Drop in to the information centre and have a go at some wildlife-themed arts & crafts. Drop in to Lime Kiln Cottage Information Centre between 10am and 1pm. Charge £1 per item.
Tue 21 August 2012 @ 10:30
Postcards from the beach (1.5 miles)
Childrens event: Come down to the beach, explore the strandline, and take home a postcard made from things you have found! Booking essential on 01797 227784. Meet at Lime Kiln Cottage Information Centre 10.30am – 12 noon. Charge £2 per child.
Wed 22 August 2012 @ 10:00
Treasure Trail (2 miles)
Childrens event: Ahoy me hearties! Can you follow the map and clues to find the hidden treasure? There may be a prize if you can. Drop in to Lime Kiln Cottage Information Centre between 10am and 1pm for your map. Charge £2 per trail sheet.
Fri 24 August 2012 @ 10:30
Glorious Mud (1 mile)
Childrens event: Explore the saltmarsh looking for crabs and minibeasts hiding in the mud. Wellies advisable! Booking essential on 01797 227784. Meet at Lime Kiln Cottage Information Centre. 10.30am – 12noon. Charge £2 per child.
Sun 26 August 2012 @ 12:00
Camber Castle Bug Hunt and Picnic (2 miles)
A family picnic in Camber Castle will precede a hunt for freshwater wildlife, from frogs and newts to leeches in Castle Water.
Meet at Brede Lock. 12noon – 3pm. Donations appreciated.
Wed 29 August 2012 @ 18:30
Birds, Bats and Bugs (2 miles)
An evening stroll to Ternery Pool followed by a closer look at some nocturnal creatures with the help of bat detectors. Meet at Rye Harbour car park. 6.30pm – dusk. Donations appreciated.
September 2012
Sat 08 September 2012 @ 09:00
Autumn Migration on the Beach Reserve (3 miles)
There should be movements of seabirds, coasting passerines, waders refuelling on the pools and perhaps some raptors. Meet at Rye Harbour car park. 9am – 12 noon. Donations appreciated.
Sat 15 September 2012 @ 13:00
Beachwatch Big Weekend
Join in with this national campaign to clean-up Britain’s Beaches by helping out with the Rye Harbour litter survey. See www.mcsuk.org for further details. Meet at Rye Harbour car park.
Sun 16 September 2012 @ 10:00
Camber Castle Wildlife and History
A chance to go inside Camber Castle, visit the birdwatching hide at Castle Water and see the wetland wildlife there. Meet at Brede Lock. 10am – 1pm. Donations appreciated.
Sat 22 September 2012 @ 00:00
RX Bird Race
Teams of up to 5 people race to find the most bird species in the RX area in one day. A sponsored event organised by RSPCA Mallydams Wood and Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. Prizes and trophies at 7.30pm at Mallydams. Full details at www.RXwildlife.org.uk/rx-bird-race.
October 2012
Sat 13 October 2012 @ 09:00
Autumn Migration Watch (3 miles)
Join the warden in a search for warblers in the bushes, waders on the islands and wagtails overhead. Meet at Brede Lock. 9am – 12noon. Donations appreciated.
Sat 20 October 2012 @ 14:30
Winter Lecture: South Downs Westward from Lewes
An illustrated talk by Patrick Coulcher, a continuation from his previous talk on the eastern section of the Downs. Organised by the Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. Meet at Winchelsea Beach Community Hall. Open to all, donations appreciated.
Sat 27 October 2012 @ 13:00
Camber Castle Exploration (2 miles)
Explore the Castle, the birdwatching hide and the Castle Water wetland for early winter wildlife. Meet at Brede Lock. 1 – 4pm. Donations appreciated.
Tue 30 October 2012 @ 13:30
Glorious Mud (1 mile)
Childrens event: Explore the saltmarsh looking for crabs and minibeasts hiding in the mud. Wellies advisable! Booking essential on 01797 227784. Meet at Lime Kiln Cottage Information Centre. 1:30 – 3pm. Charge £2 per child.
Wed 31 October 2012 @ 10:00
Make your own Creepy Crawly
Get creative and have a go at making scary Halloween creatures. Drop in to Lime Kiln Cottage Information Centre any time between 10am and 1pm. Charge £1 per item.
November 2012
Sat 17 November 2012 @ 14:30
Winter Lecture: The Birds of Norfolk
An illustrated talk by John Buckingham, organised by the Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. Meet at Winchelsea Beach Community Hall. Open to all, donations appreciated.
Sun 18 November 2012 @ 10:30
Winter Birds at the Beach Reserve (3 miles)
A chance to get to grips with a good variety of winter visitors: wildfowl, waders, finches and raptors. Meet at Rye Harbour car park. 10.30am – 1pm. Donations appreciated.
December 2012
Sat 01 December 2012 @ 10:00
Festive Beach Clean
A pre-Christmas clean-up of rubbish washed up along the beach by the autumn’s storms, plus the chance to see many wintering birds. Your efforts will be rewarded with hot soup at Lime Kiln Cottage afterwards. Bring work gloves if you have them. Meet at Rye Harbour car park. 10am – 1pm