Row, row, row your boat…

Earlier this summer, the Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve very kindly bought the rangers on the nature reserve a new boat.

Last week, ranger Dave stepped onboard for the first time, bound for Lapwing Island. His first mission was to secure a long rope between both points, which he used as a static line to pull across a pontoon, loaded with two mowers.

The second mission was to give Lapwing Island its annual mow. It’s a very special part of the nature reserve, as it has the highest number of waders and the highest breeding success. Waders, particularly lapwing, prefer short vegetation so they can spot any possible threats while nesting.

A big thank you to the Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve for our new boat; it wouldn’t be possible to carry out this important work without it!

Every other year, we give the meadow at Castle Water a good haircut. Although it’s grazed by sheep over the autumn and winter, they need a helping hand to keep on top of the vegetation.

In the last few days, ranger Dave has put our mower to the test, cutting almost two acres of rank grass and bramble. The next job is to remove it all, with our amazing team of volunteers over the coming weeks (if anyone has a bit of spare time, and would like to get involved, please let us know!).

All the hard work, was compensated by some lovely wildlife spots, including common blue and brown argus butterflies, a grass snake, huge amounts of grasshopper, a great green bush-cricket and a water vole.

Sadly very few field voles were spotted – they’re normally all over the place when the meadow is being cut. It adds to the theory that field voles are having a bad year, which is having a knock-on effect to barn owls this year too.

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Image Credits: Rye Harbour Nature Reserve , Barry Yates , Barry Yates , Sussex Wildlife Trust .