Heritage Trainee December 2022 update

Shannon Rae, Heritage Trainee Rye Harbour Nature Reserve

The highlight of my month has to be working in the snow up once again at Leysdown Cottage. This cosy little house accommodates the Leysdown Trainees for 18 months. Although working at Rye is beautiful and I feel very blessed to have the view of the sea and the saltmarsh, I can’t help be a little bitter (not just from the cold) that they got to experience the incredible winter wonderland every day. Alas, the snow has melted and the rains have returned and we must prepare the next stage of this increasingly unpredictable weather. Anyway, I was putting my chainsaw skills to good use by cross-cutting and snedding a large tree that had been dragged out of the pond (before it had frozen). 

We attempted to pull out another tree that had been trapped in the ice but we were not successful. In the afternoon we used the pieces of cut-up tree to make a dead hedge. Branches and sticks weaved and piled together so they can degrade and form a lovely habitat for birds in spring, and to produce a really rustic looking border around the pond. It was a magical day that was only ruined by the fact my little car could not make it back out and up a (very small) hill because of the ice. Despite having to abandon my car after futile towing attempts, it really was an enjoyable day.

Apart from this I have been getting a little bit of brushcutting experience on and off the reserve and been attending the last few volunteer work parties of the year with our Warden, David King. I am excited to see what tasks I will have in the New Year and to continue my exploration of other Sussex Wildlife Trust reserves! Happy Holidays.