Wetlands are enormously important they help provide clean water, flood protection, provide food, capture carbon, promote biodiversity and provide an environment for quiet relaxation.

So what exactly are wetlands? They are naturally low lying or water-fed areas of land which help store and filter huge amounts of water. In doing so, they enable wildlife to better cope with climate change. 

Sussex Wildlife Trust has been working hard at improving the wetlands at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, an internationally important *Ramsar wetland site, and this has resulted in a positive impact on bird numbers and species diversity.

There are two walks taking place at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve to celebrate World Wetlands Day on Sunday, February 2nd.

The first walk offers an ideal opportunity to get to Rye using public transport, because it starts and ends at Rye train station. 

The group will head out for a circular walk with one of the wardens and will take in the birdwatching hide overlooking Castle Water. There will hopefully be an opportunity to see waders, Egrets, Ducks, Marsh Harrier and possibly even the shy Bittern.

There will also be the chance for a quick look inside Henry VIII’s Camber Castle. 

The meeting point is Rye station at 10am. No booking required, and it’s free, but donations are appreciated. Take along a packed lunch. The walk should finish by 2pm. 

Those interested in going on the second walk should meet at Rye Harbour village car park at 3pm on the same day. This will be a late afternoon stroll around the saltmarsh, looking at wetland birds as they feed and roost on the nature reserve. 

The walk will include a visit to a couple of our birdwatching hides. No booking required, and again it is free with donations appreciated. The walk should finish at 5pm.

* The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands, named ‘Ramsar’ after the Iranian city where the treaty was signed in 1971

Events links and further information

 https://sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/whats-on/2020-02-02-world-wetlands-day-walk-1-rye-02022020

https://sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/whats-on/2020-02-02-world-wetlands-day-walk-2-rye-02022020

https://sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/news/celebrate-world-wetlands-day-2020-at-rye-harbour-nature-reserve

More about World Wetlands Day