Pie, mash and wonderful wildlife

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, 18 October 2024
Pie, mash and wonderful wildlife
Guests enjoying the evening © Martin-Paul Everett

Sarah Watson

Events Officer at Rye Harbour Discovery Centre

Last month I invited my family to Rye Harbour Discovery Centre's popular 'Pie & Mash Evening', and what a special evening it was. From the moment we arrived, we were well-looked after. The tables in the café looked smart with glasses and silverware, a change from the usual casual atmosphere, complete with dogs and backpacks.

Ready for pie and mash night
Getting ready to welcome guests © Sarah Watson

As it was ‘Bring Your Own’ booze, I brought an elderflower cider to enjoy with my tasty chicken and bacon pie, creamy local mash and autumnal veg. Dessert was a delicious berry meringue roulade and we finished our meal feeling replete. 

Pie and mash
Award-winning pie and mash © Sarah Watson

The Discovery Centre offers fantastic views of the nature reserve’s marshes and birdlife. A bird spotter sheet on hand helped us find out more. We saw a stately Grey Heron and its elegant cousin, the Little Egret. Now a regular sight here, egrets have made a successful comeback since being persecuted for their plumage in the past. With binoculars provided, a Redshank was revealed, a UK ‘Bird of Conservation Concern’. The nature reserve is a key feeding and breeding site for Redshanks, which have suffered much habitat loss elsewhere.

Redshank
Redshank © Barry Yates

We delighted in watching Swallows swoop over the marshes, feeding on insects in readiness for their epic flight to Africa. We saw Greylag Geese fly in from their grazing grounds to settle in the wetlands for the night.

Guests enjoying the birdlife
Guests enjoying the birdlife © Sarah Watson

Then there was the sunset, and what a stunner it was! The Discovery Centre really is the perfect setting for a thoroughly enjoyable meal with a spectacular view and birdlife. While most guests were fairly local, some were from as far as Sevenoaks and Burgess Hill. For several, it was their first event at the nature reserve, we hope the first of many.

The sun setting on pie and mash night
The sun setting on pie and mash night © Martin-Paul Everett

We asked guests what they enjoyed most about the Pie & Mash evening:

The whole experience was great. Watching the sun go down and the birds arriving for the night. The food was also extremely good.

Tasty home cooked food, lovely environment with sunset view. Great service.

Delicious food, such friendly waiting staff and beautiful surroundings.

Thank you to all who attended.

We're considering other evening events to raise funds for Sussex Wildlife Trust and show people the special environment here. Wildlife walks, talks and astronomy, for example. We’d love to hear your suggestions, so please drop us an email at [email protected]

In the meantime, you can find out about all our latest events at Rye Harbour

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