On Sunday March 15, Rye Harbour Nature Reserve celebrated its 50th anniversary with a glorious, five hour walk around the whole of the nature reserve.
On a day that had sunshine and a rainbow as well as some weather challenges (mostly a cold wind), 20 members of the public joined some of the Sussex Wildlife Trust team, including Dr Barry Yates, Reserve Manager for the last 37 years, and Senior Learning and Engagement Officer Lucy Bowyer.
Cliff Dean, Chair of the Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, and James Tomlinson (Guide in a Hide volunteer) also supported the walk. There was a great deal of combined wildlife experience in the team, and the group, who stopped in each bird hide en route, counted more than 60 different species along the way, including a rare Glossy Ibis, a Raven in Camber Castle, and a grass snake swimming in Castle Water.
The muddy walkers then arrived at Rye Harbour Village Hall, where Anne Yates and other volunteers had put on an array of delicious homemade cakes to celebrate the 50th anniversary. Fifty raffle tickets were drawn from a large bin in a raffle, for a chance to win the beautiful community quilt or 49 other prizes, kindly donated by local businesses and individuals, to support the Discovery Centre Appeal.
Over 5,000 tickets had been sold, and each person whose name was drawn out will be contacted in order, and offered their choice of raffle prize.
Image Credits: James Tomlinson .