30 Days Wild Week 2 - Reconnecting with Nature

David Phillips

It can sometimes be all too easy to take the wonders of the natural world for granted. Maybe being a little too ambivalent or silent whilst witnessing significant declines in many of our well-known plants, birds and insects. We must rely on forthcoming generations to help restore some of our lost nature and encourage people to care about, restore and re connect with our Natural World. Sussex Wildlife Trust's Wild Beach scheme is one of a number of initiatives now seeking to do just that : promoting an understanding of the natural world and its importance for all through environmental education in respect of the marine environment.

Lucky enough to live near the coast I recently took my grandchildren to discover some of the treasures of this marine environment and learn about the creatures that inhabit our shores. I hope that their generation may grow up to see real benefits of the recent designations of Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) including our local one at Dolphin Head where prohibition of activities such as dredging, commercial fishing and construction will allow an opportunity to fully recover habitats and species across the area.

Sticking with a coastal theme, a visit to the Trust's Rye Harbour reserve at this time of year is always a delight for me and my visit last Friday was no exception. The site is quite literally alive with new life, buzzing with insects, rare shingle vegetation at its finest and with young fledglings everywhere. I was fortunate enough to witness at length, a Stoat hauling its oversized prey off to its kits - chittering in annoyance at my intrusion. The clamour of hundreds of Common Terns filled an unbelievably blue June sky as adults came screaming back to hungry chicks with Sand Eels and the day was topped off by a Peregrine half-heartedly jousting with a Marsh Harrier high above.

Another day of exercise, a sense of real connection with the natural world, inwardly reenergised and concluding with a trip to the Rye Harbour Discovery Centre for refreshment before it closed.