Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, Discovery Centre

Arts and Heritage

Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, Discovery Centre
The Rye Harbour Nature Reserve is a rare coastal landscape of outstanding geological, biological, cultural and heritage value. The project will greatly improve visitor facilities and experience.
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, Discovery Centre
The Rye Harbour Nature Reserve is a rare coastal landscape of outstanding geological, biological, cultural and heritage value. The project will greatly improve visitor facilities and experience.
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, Discovery Centre
The Rye Harbour Nature Reserve is a rare coastal landscape of outstanding geological, biological, cultural and heritage value. The project will greatly improve visitor facilities and experience.
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, Discovery Centre
The Rye Harbour Nature Reserve is a rare coastal landscape of outstanding geological, biological, cultural and heritage value. The project will greatly improve visitor facilities and experience.

Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, Discovery Centre
The Rye Harbour Nature Reserve is a rare coastal landscape of outstanding geological, biological, cultural and heritage value. The project will greatly improve visitor facilities and experience.
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, Discovery Centre
The Rye Harbour Nature Reserve is a rare coastal landscape of outstanding geological, biological, cultural and heritage value. The project will greatly improve visitor facilities and experience.
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, Discovery Centre
The Rye Harbour Nature Reserve is a rare coastal landscape of outstanding geological, biological, cultural and heritage value. The project will greatly improve visitor facilities and experience.
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, Discovery Centre
The Rye Harbour Nature Reserve is a rare coastal landscape of outstanding geological, biological, cultural and heritage value. The project will greatly improve visitor facilities and experience.

Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, Discovery Centre
The project will deliver a new building housing exhibition space, learning facilities and visitor welcome, and will also convert an Old Deanery building into a cafe and community space.
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, Discovery Centre
The project will deliver a new building housing exhibition space, learning facilities and visitor welcome, and will also convert an Old Deanery building into a cafe and community space.
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, Discovery Centre
The project will deliver a new building housing exhibition space, learning facilities and visitor welcome, and will also convert an Old Deanery building into a cafe and community space.
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, Discovery Centre
The project will deliver a new building housing exhibition space, learning facilities and visitor welcome, and will also convert an Old Deanery building into a cafe and community space.

Project Overview

Sussex Wildlife Trust

Client

Rye, East Sussex

Location

2015-2021

Programme

Project Detail

Rye Harbour Nature Reserve is a rare coastal landscape of outstanding geological, biological, cultural, and heritage value. Covering 465 hectares, it is one of the most important conservation sites on the south coast.

Conservation Significance

The reserve holds multiple environmental designations:

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
European Special Protection Area (SPA)
Proposed Ramsar site

Project Scope

The previous visitor centre, in poor condition, was demolished and replaced with a new purpose-built visitor centre. The centre now acts as a focal point for visitors, supporting:

Wildlife interpretation
Education and outreach
Public engagement and participation
Raising awareness of the natural world and inspiring involvement

Visitor Centre Facilities

The new building provides:

Reception and interpretation areas
Education and engagement spaces
Retail area
Viewing and café area
Catering facilities
Public toilets
Staff and volunteer offices with common room/kitchen
Storage areas for all functions
Covered area for vehicles and tools

CM’s Role

CM provided project management support throughout the redevelopment, coordinating the design and delivery of the new visitor centre. Their role ensured the project balanced the sensitive environmental and heritage context of the site with the creation of a modern, engaging, and sustainable facility for visitors, staff, and volunteers.

Related Service

St Albans Cathedral: Alban Britain’s First Saint

The project will deliver a new building housing exhibition space, learning facilities and visitor welcome, and will also convert an Old Deanery building into a cafe and community space.

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