A farewell message
By Barry Yates
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve Manager
My interest in wildlife began with my father taking me on regular fishing trips - sitting by lakes and rivers introduced me to wildlife and taught me patience.
At school, my form tutor, Mr Holford, encouraged my interest in biology and he guided me to study Zoology at Imperial College, London. I had a weekly escape to the countryside to train to be a bird ringer and this led to my three-year study of nesting Redshank on an enormous saltmarsh in Lancashire. Then in 1982 the RSPB sent me to Sutherland to count breeding Greenshank, Dunlin and Golden Plover and the next year to Shetland to study Red-necked Phalaropes.
The following winter, I volunteered with the Sussex Wildlife Trust and summarised the wildlife records for their Waltham Brooks nature reserve. I then successfully applied for a job at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve (RHNR), then managed by East Sussex County Council and my wife Anne and I moved to Rye Harbour village with our two young children.
Working together with other nature reserve staff, the Friends and the Management Committee, we have made the nature reserve bigger, better and more joined up. Many rare species have thrived here; we have created large areas of reedbed, saline lagoons, saltmarsh and islands. This has created a wonderful place for people to have easy access to wildlife and the coast and we have provided many facilities, culminating in the opening last year of the Discovery Centre.
In 1993, Sussex Wildlife Trust bought Castle Water, helped by funding from the Friends. We first made some small-scale improvements to the pit margin and then in 2003, working with the RSPB EU funded project ’Reedbeds for Bitterns’ we created 20 hectares of new wetland that has delivered Bitterns, Marsh Harriers, Black-winged Stilts and so much more.
When the Environment Agency bought Rye Harbour Farm in 2002, to build the new sea defence bank, it led to the exciting prospect of creating new saline lagoons, saltmarsh and grazing marsh.
In 2011 we moved from East Sussex County Council management to come under the umbrella of Sussex Wildlife Trust and our new colleagues quickly came to understand what a special place our nature reserve is.
It’s time for me to hand over to a new custodian, but Anne and I will continue to support the reserve as volunteers, so we will not be leaving Rye Harbour just yet.
Comments
Barrie, under your excellent guidance the Rye Harbour Reserve has fulfilled all the dreams that some of us had in the 1970’s and 1980s, indeed it has surpassed them all. To say that you’ll be missed is a real understatement, so I’m pleased to hear you are still around to help in the future.
Best wishes for the future, Matthew.
30 Apr 2023 09:39:00
Well done Barry for all that you have done and continue to do for the wildlife of our island. Rye harbour is my favourite walk with my two mini schnauzers and to now be able to enjoy the visitor centre is a real bonus. Thank you to everyone who help to make everything such a success 💝
01 May 2023 11:06:00
Sad to hear of Barry’s retirement, but although inevitable for all of us, it is extremely well-earned. I first encountered Barry when working in the RSPB’s south east regional office 30 years ago, and know full well how highly he was regarded there. He has overseen an amazing development of habitats and species during his tenure, and the transformation has been inspiring – not least, of course the Discovery Centre which I visited just a few weeks ago. Glad to hear that he will still be involved, hopefully for many years to come, Best wishes
01 May 2023 11:11:00
For over 30 years Rye has been our favourite day out from Tunbridge Wells.We have just been thrilled at the way the reserve has developed under Barrie’s leadership and even in Lockdown we were delighted by Barrie’s zoom talks arranged by Sussex Wildlife Trust. We were determined to try to win the quilt when it was raffled as it expressed so well the wonderful ambience and which we hoped would be on permanent loan to the Discovery Centre. So glad Barrie will still be around.
01 May 2023 11:15:00
So proud of my brother and his wife. There dedication and fortitude have improved Rye Harbour Nature Reserve for ever.
01 May 2023 11:39:00
Thank you Barry. You and your team should be very proud of your creation
You’ve been a rare example of a perfect fit, employee/workplace.
01 May 2023 12:28:00
I sat in a hide and in rye harbour nature reserve years a ago and some walked in ,have u seen the spoonbill?that was barry and my answer was no.since then ,barry have always been helpful in all my visit to the reserve.he have never been impatient to tell me everything I missed and all news.thanks you.I wish u all the best.see u around.
01 May 2023 12:55:00
have a wonderful retirement What a lovely career you have had and thank you so much for giving so much to nature esp. to Birds and at Rye Harbour
01 May 2023 14:01:00
Effectively, Barry & Anne’s life work – a wonderful tribute! Thank you both so much. So sorry we couldn’t make your leaving party as we were abroad, but the photos of the cake look just amazing. Great to know you’ll be around for a while yet.
01 May 2023 15:15:00
Thank you for your wonderful expertise and dedication over all of your career. You have made a huge difference to RHN Reserve and to the lives and understanding of thousands of friends and visitors. I hope you and Anne have a long and happy retirement together.
02 May 2023 12:06:00
I am a good friend of your sister, Pam, and have followed your career over the past 30 years. Thank you for all you have done for the wildlife and the universal environment. Job well done. Enjoy your retirement.
03 May 2023 23:50:00
Well done for 40 years of dedicated and great work at Rye Harbour. I’m sure they wont keep you away and you’ll continue to carry on as a volunteer.
04 May 2023 10:28:00
What a top man Barry is
04 May 2023 11:10:00
Good to see you on the reserve today. It seems an eternity since the construction of the tern islands and other activities with the SOS working parties. It has been a pleasure to find you as enthusiastic at each visit as the first. Good luck in your retirement. Martin
04 May 2023 12:01:00
Barry will be sorely missed but I know he will be around in the background. I always remember, years ago, when I won a photo competition and my prize was an afternoon with Barry who took me over to Castle Water and the Reserve – at that time I was fairly new to the area and didn’t know the Reserve well. He was – is – so knowledgeable and, what the French call, ‘sympatique’.
04 May 2023 12:14:00
What a wonderful legacy. My thanks with hopes for happy days ahead.
04 May 2023 12:36:00
A very fulfilled Career I would say. Rye-harbour reserve is my happy place. Grandchildren are members of the wildlife trust and really enjoy the wildlife workshops there. Just retired myself and will be enjoying even more. Happy retirement.
04 May 2023 12:40:00
You’ve achieved so much! And wow – what an incredible cake. A piece of art!
04 May 2023 13:17:00
Hi Barry
It was always a pleasure to work with you, even on the dodgy ground! Have a wonderful retirement with good health. Best wishes Tony
04 May 2023 13:57:00
Barry
We will miss you and Anne at Rye Harbour.
The Reserve has thrived under your tenure. I have so enjoyed working with you and my children have learnt so much through Rye Harbour initiatives. Love and best wishes from us all. Derek, Elsbeth, Hettie, Rory & Skye
04 May 2023 14:05:00
Dear Barry, It has been a great frustration for me to live at the opposite end of Sussex and in recent years, when I was freed from other tasks I was less mobile. I have nevertheless admired all your wonderful work at Rye with great admiration and much relieved that SWT taking over has worked well despite hiccups on the way. Delighted you will remain in your retirement as a volunteer. (How could you possibly leave such an idyllic place! ) My very best wishes Robin Crane
04 May 2023 14:15:00
Having been forced into early retirement I do think that organisation should be aware of the irreplaceable loss of expertise and the retiree should be aware of consequences particularly to well-being. Society is not geared up to support/utilise retired people which is societies loss.
04 May 2023 15:00:00
Thank you for everything Barry! You have always been not only the ‘font of all knowledge’ but also a kind face every time I have visited. I wish you all the best in the future.
04 May 2023 16:17:00
What a stunning cake! So apt ~ Well done, Sir!
04 May 2023 16:19:00
Hope you have a long and enjoyable retirement you deserve it.
04 May 2023 17:18:00
I have only met Barry twice, once at Castle Water hide, 07 September 2020 during partial Lockdown restrictions, and once since, very briefly. A very affable person full of knowledge.
I wish him good luck in his retirement and am pleased that he will still be attending RHNR as a Volunteer, together with his wife.
04 May 2023 17:57:00
Barry has done a fantastic job at Rye Harbour, he leaves a wonderful legacy which I’ve no doubt will continue to thrive as an excellent habitat and great place to visit. Enjoy your well earned retirement Barry.
04 May 2023 18:53:00
What an amazing legacy ! Very Best Wishes on your retirement. Glen cooper.
04 May 2023 20:41:00
Barry! Under your watchful eye, Rye Harbour has been transformed from a sometime wasteland into a very special home for thousands of species of wildlife in all its glory. Its biodiversity shines as a marvellous example of what can be achieved with care, understanding and patience – which you have in bundles. I hope the new Discovery Centre truly crowns your work with a wonderful place where people can share in your delight in this very special place. I wish you and Anne all the very best for a long and very happy retirement in the sure knowledge that you have worked magic.
Kind regards, Alastair.
05 May 2023 10:37:00
I have only met Barry twice, once at Castle Water hide, 07 September 2020 during partial Lockdown restrictions, and once since, very briefly. A very affable person full of knowledge.
I wish him good luck in his retirement and am pleased that he will still be attending RHNR as a Volunteer, together with his wife.
05 May 2023 15:53:00
Thank you for all your very valuable contributions and achievements over those many years. Enjoy your retirement.
06 May 2023 19:05:00
Barry,
Nice to have chatted with you over the years and to see how Rye Harbour has changed over the years under your careful management. I still make regular visits to Dungeness for insect counts and occasionally cross over the border – havent been to a Sussex Reorders do for a while since my sister moved from Burgess Hill, which allowed me to mix pleasure with family visits. I too was at IC from 1964 to 1971 – small world. best wishes, John B
07 May 2023 10:01:00
I have only met Barry twice, once at Castle Water hide, 07 September 2020 during partial Lockdown restrictions, and once since, very briefly. A very affable person full of knowledge.
I wish him good luck in his retirement and am pleased that he will still be attending RHNR as a Volunteer, together with his wife.
07 May 2023 12:51:00
I have only met Barry twice, once at Castle Water hide, 07 September 2020 during partial Lockdown restrictions, and once since, very briefly. A very affable person full of knowledge.
I wish him good luck in his retirement and am pleased that he will still be attending RHNR as a Volunteer, together with his wife.
09 May 2023 15:03:00
Barry..well done!
12 May 2023 18:22:00
Barrie, under your excellent guidance the Rye Harbour Reserve has fulfilled all the dreams that some of us had in the 1970’s and 1980s, indeed it has surpassed them all. To say that you’ll be missed is a real understatement, so I’m pleased to hear you are still around to help in the future.
Best wishes for the future, Matthew.
13 May 2023 06:05:00