[ Download a Membership form ]
The FRIENDS (registered charity no. 269535) was founded in 1973 to raise money in order to improve and enlarge the Nature Reserve and to do so by encouraging interest in the conservation of wildlife and scenic beauty within the area. We now have more than 1900 members who make a big difference to the reserve by providing funds, but many members also give of their time as volunteers.
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve protects a rich and varied fauna and flora among the shingle ridges, salt and grazing marshes, gravel pits and lagoons at the mouth of the River Rother. You are welcome to visit at all times free of charge.
A former Chairman of the Friends, John Gooders (left), described the reserve... A "Safe Haven" for many years, Rye Harbour has been a nesting place for birds such as Common, Sandwich and Little Terns as well as Ringed Plover and Redshank and is a noted "stop-over" for other shorebirds, many of which can be seen to advantage from the hides at the Ternery and Wader Pools and at Castle Water.
Conservation work at Rye Harbour includes creating islands, cutting invasive willows, grazing grassland, building fences and creating new habitats such as shallow margins around the old gravel pits. Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve contribute to the work of the Reserve in a variety of ways. It runs the Lime Kiln Cottage Information Centre, created the Wader Pool near the River, made a major contribution to the purchase of Castle Water by the Sussex Wildlife Trust, part-funds the Nature Reserve wardening, has constructed five bird watching hides (all now with wheelchair access).
Committee
The current committee is...
CHAIRMAN: John Barnes
VICE CHAIRMAN: Richard Holmes
SECRETARY: John Trowell
TREASURER: David Powell
MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY: Patrick Bonham
COMMITTEE: Anita Gibbs, Bill Marshall, Mike Slavin, John Willsher, Geoffrey Crane, Alan Martin, Cliff Dean, Colin Page.
The Constitution of the Friends can be read by clicking here.
Donations
If you would like to give a donation to the nature reserve please make cheque payable to The Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve and send to Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, East Sussex, TN36 4LU.
Bequests and Memorials
The Friends have been supported by many people and some are remembered in the names of the birdwatching hides and seats. Some have left bequests to the Friends and this has enabled many projects to be funded. We remember these people in our Bequests and Memorial list.
Volunteers
The nature reserve depends on a big team of volunteers for the success that we have achieved. Contact Us if you would like to help. For more detail click here.
Members are kept up to date with the Nature Reserve's progress with a regular Newsletter (left) which also gives details of Friends guided walks, lectures and other events.
Public guided walks, led by the wardens, are detailed on this website - click here - or a leaflet can be picked up at Lime Kiln Cottage. You do not have to be a birdwatcher or a botanist to understand and enjoy the Nature Reserve in their company.
PLEASE JOIN THE FRIENDS - and then you will be doing something to conserve these important wildlife habitats and the unique character of the area. It will also give you the opportunity to learn more about it and participate in its success.
Membership for a year is a minimum of £5, send to:
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, East Sussex, TN36 4LU.
Newsletter Archive
Newsletter 0 - 1977 click here
Newsletter 1 - 1977 click here
Newsletter 2 - 1977 click here
Newsletter 3 - 1978 click here
Newsletter 4 - 1979 click here
Newsletter 5 - 1979 click here
Newsletter 6 - 1980 click here
Newsletter 7 - 1981 click here
Newsletter 8 - 1981 click here
Newsletter 10 - 1981 click here
Newsletter 11 - 1982 click here
Newsletter 12 - 1982 click here
Newsletter 13 - 1982 click here
Newsletter 14 - 1983 click here
Newsletter 15 - 1983 click here
Newsletter 16 - 1983 click here
Newsletter 17 - 1984 click here
Newsletter 18 - 1984 click here
Newsletter 19 - 1984 click here
Newsletter 20 - 1985 click here
Newsletter 21 - 1985 click here
Newsletter 22 - 1985 click here
Newsletter 23 - 1986 click here
Newsletter 24 - 1986 click here
Newsletter 25 - 1986 click here
Newsletter 26 - 1987 click here
Newsletter 27 - 1987 click here
Newsletter 28 - 1987 click here
Newsletter 29 - 1988 click here
Newsletter 30 - 1988 click here
Newsletter 31 - 1988 click here
Newsletter 32 - 1989 click here
Newsletter 33 - 1989 click here
Newsletter 34 - 1989 click here
Newsletter 35 - 1990 click here
Newsletter 36 - 1990 click here
Newsletter 37 - 1990 click here
Newsletter 38 - 1991 click here
Newsletter 39 - 1991 click here
Newsletter 40 - 1991 click here
Newsletter 41 - 1992 click here
Newsletter 42 - 1992 click here
Newsletter 43 - 1992 click here
Newsletter 44 - 1993 click here
Newsletter 45 - 1993 click here
Newsletter 46 - 1993 click here
Newsletter 47 - 1994 click here
Newsletter 48 - 1994 click here
Newsletter 49 - 1994 click here
Newsletter 50 - 1995 click here
Newsletter 51 - 1995 click here
Newsletter 52 - 1995 click here
Newsletter 53 - 1996 click here
Newsletter 54 - 1996 click here
Newsletter 55 - 1996 click here