Wildlife highlight during April was the discovery of a small colony of grey-backed mining bee (Andrena vaga) at Castle Water by local photographer and bee enthusiast Peter Greenhalf on 3rd April.

One of the bird highlights during February was a hen harrier which was seen at Castle Water on the 3rd. This species is a mainly winter visitor to the reserve, the summer being spent in its upland breeding habitat.

Due to popular demand, Sussex Wildlife Trust is expanding its programme of monthly weekend groups for families to enjoy outdoor fun, explore and connect with the natural world across the county this spring.

Rye Harbour Nature Reserve was voted Britain’s favourite nature reserve in 2016 by an online poll run by Landlove magazine.

Shoveler is a common winter bird at Rye Harbour and perhaps one of our most important species, often occurring in nationally significant numbers (the UK threshold of importance for this species is 148).

Here are the Sussex Wildlife Trust’s top ten most well-recorded nature reserves with a few facts and figures and some charismatic species

Sue Curnock is looking forward to welcoming a new crop of Nature Tots for outdoor family fun and games in the woods this spring.

The winter months are the best time to see merlin on the reserve and this year has been no exception, with small numbers of sightings during November and December.

November saw several records of scaup on the reserve, with three young birds present on Flat Beach Quarry from the 8th and an additional 17 on Harbour Farm on the 10th.