Management of the nature reserve
The partners of the nature reserve can be found here.
- Nature Reserve >
- About the reserve
The Local Nature Reserve at Rye Harbour was established in 1970
Watch Rye Harbour Nature Reserve - a Special Place
In 2011, Sussex Wildlife Trust took over management of the reserve, which covers over a thousand acres of flat, open, low-lying ground.
The high points are the crests of shingle storm ridges, built up by tides and storms. The low points are between the ridges where saltmarsh has developed.
Sea defences built over the last 100 years have reduced the influence of the sea, and a drainage system empties water into the rivers, lowering the water table. This means grazing can take place on the reserve.
Within the nature reserve we have a wide variety of different habitats, including:
- intertidal (the area above water level at low tide and underwater at high tide)
- saltmarsh
- shingle ridges
- sand
- marsh
- scrub
- woodland
Because of this, we support a large number of species - 4,355 recorded so far, including more than 300 considered rare and endangered in Britain.
The reserve has a great deal to offer which is of historic interest too.
