Sussex Wildlife Trust is seeking to support the public during the lockdown period of coronavirus through its social media channels, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and its website, by providing educational, inspirational content about local nature, wildlife and conservation, and engaging with the public, for example, about what they might be able to see in their own gardens and from their houses.
Sussex Wildlife Trust has not closed any of its nature reserves, but supports current government guidance to the public with regards to exercise and social distancing, including not driving in order to undertake exercise.
More information on Sussex Wildlife Trust’s response to the coronavirus can be found here https://sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/coronavirus
There are plenty of ways to connect with nature from home – see here for Sussex Wildlife Trust Go Wild at Home activities and other interesting wildlife posts https://sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/discover/go-wild-at-home
Sign up to the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve enewsletter here https://sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/visit/rye-harbour
Image Credits: Sussex Wildlife Trust .
As most nature reserves are in remote areas I’d be interested to know how your patrons are expected to visit your facilities, Rye Harbour for instance is a drive for the majority of your patrons, the village car park is closed .
I also appreciate that the road from Rye Harbour village to the sea doesn’t belong to the bird reserve so can’t be closed by yourselves but I feel you are encouraging the public to visit your sites.
Stay at home, the birds will still be there when this is over as they were before the bird reserve even existed.
Indeed with the nesting season now in progress the birds may even benefit from a lack of human, and certainly canine, disturbance. It is few indeed who are not going to use cars to get there and while the reserve remains open it runs counter to the spirit of government advice and will continue to be a magnet with extra parking in the village which I’m sure the residents can do without.