School visits
Rye Harbour Discovery Centre combines indoor classroom facilities with two miles of shingle beach and sandy shore at low tide, muddy saltmarshes, grassland and wetlands with a wealth of wildlife to discover and learn about.
School visit to Rye Harbour © Aimi RifatOverview
Education centre
Sussex Wildlife Trust manages Rye Harbour Nature Reserve for the benefit of future generations to visit and encounter rare species of plants and animals.
The Discovery Centre makes nature education accessible and flexible for different school groups. We can provide equipment for hands-on sessions and our Wilder Learning Officer can lead your group with a programme of outdoor activities designed for Key Stages 1 & 2.
Take a look at the session options below, and then request a school group visit with our online form.
Key stage 1 & 2 session
Explore the shore
- Explore the shoreline of Rye Harbour and learn about tides and waves.
- Hunt for shells, mermaid’s purses and other natural treasures that tell us about the seas beyond our coastline.
- Make ‘postcards from the sea’ to take home and get creative with some Andy Goldsworthy-inspired pebble art.
Family beach clean © Arthur Sloman
School visit to bird hideKey stage 1 & 2 session
Habitats
- Investigate the saltmarsh habitat; explore muddy creeks left by the high tides.
- Identify plants & animals; learn how wildlife has evolved to thrive in the saltmarsh.
- Go inside a bird hide and get birdwatching.
Key stage 1 & 2 session
Roots and shoots
- Everything you need to know about wild plants.
- Examine all the parts of a plant, plant life cycles, seed dispersal and plant adaptations.
- Learn how saltmarsh and shingle plants cope with harsh, windy, salty and dry conditions.
Vipers Bugloss and Thrift at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve
Landscape art workshop Key stage 1 & 2 session
Wild about art
- A sensory exploration around Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.
- Gain inspiration for a creative piece of artwork using natural materials.
- Collect items from around the nature reserve and record how nature makes us feel.
Key stage 2 session
Rivers and seas
- Learn about the course of the River Rother from source to sea.
- Create your own map of the river using found materials from around the nature reserve.
- Explore brackish water within the tidal river and discover the creatures that live there.
- Hunt for shells, mermaid’s purses and other natural treasures that tell us about the seas beyond our coastline.
Art workshop paintings drying next to the river
School children on the beachKey stage 2 session
Climate challengers
- Understand how the forces of wind, waves and humankind shaped the coastline from past to present.
- Identify key species from the marine environment and other habitats within the nature reserve.
- Learn about natural processes that limit the effects of climate change,
- Take action for nature and help improve Rye Harbour Nature Reserve for wildlife.
All ages
Self guided sessions
We can provide you with learning materials, free of charge, if you’d like to manage your own visit and lead your group without support from Sussex Wildlife Trust staff members.
Young people on the beach
Avocet chick © David PhilipsRequest a visit
Get in touch to book
Ready to set up a school visit to Rye Harbour Nature Reserve?