It's good to report some positive news about the environment. Barry Yates and team at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve are finding less litter on the beach, because more visitors have been taking their rubbish home with them, and some are conducting their own 'two minute beach cleans', all of which helps remove plastics and other litter from the marine environment.

This, staff think, is due to increased public awareness of plastic pollution after David Attenborough's Blue Planet II was aired, showing some of the shocking effects plastic pollution is having on our oceans.

Sussex Wildlife Trust is always delighted by the support from corporate groups and the many volunteers who take part in beach cleans along the coast. It makes a difference, and it is really appreciated. 

But, as Lucy Bowyer, Senior Learning and Engagement Officer at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve explains, 'We do need to keep on doing it. Storms and tides wash up debris on the beach, and there are unfortunately also still a few visitors who don't take their rubbish home. We often find pieces of fishing net, rope and lots of bottle tops. Odd things too.  Sometimes we spend ages trying to identify what some things once were! Some of the five million bits of Lego that fell into the sea in 1997 are still being washed up today.'

As part of the new Discover Rye Harbour project, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund,  Rye Harbour Nature Reserve is putting on monthly family weekend beach cleans.
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The first takes place on Saturday, 25th January, 10am - 12:30pm. All are welcome. Litter pickers and bags provided, please bring gloves if you have them. Meet at Rye Harbour Discovery Centre. No booking required
https://sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/whats-on/2020-01-25-big-beach-clean-rye-harbour-25012020

The Inaugural Hastings International Piano Festival has announced an exciting partnership with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) to launch their ambitious 2020 educational offer.

In the lead up to the 2020 Piano Festival, Hastings Piano will host a series of inspirational workshops with NYJO Associates in three local secondary schools: Hastings Academy, Ark Alexandra and St Richards. This work has been made possible by the generous support of the Isabel Blackman Foundation.

Each school will receive 3 visits from a group of NYJO practitioners who will work with children of varied musical ability, developing young musicians’ skills and musical confidence. At the end of the project the children from all three schools will join together for a massed rehearsal ahead of a concert/sharing session for other students. These workshops will address the fundamentals of jazz performance practise such as; feel, ensemble skills and improvisation. All young musicians will learn melodies by ear, explore harmonic possibilities and gain confidence improvising.

This partnership marks the launch of an extensive range of Youth Engagement Opportunities that Hastings International Piano is offering alongside the inaugural Piano Festival. This includes free tickets to many of the festival concerts as well as a wide range of workshops, school visits and inspirational talks from the international artists.

The 2020 Hastings International Piano Festival will take place from February 26th - 8th March 2020 at the White Rock Theatre and St Mary in the Castle, featuring some of the most celebrated artists including headliner Rufus Wainwright with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Jazz Queen Claire Martin with guest artist Liane Carroll, Oscar winning film composer Rachel Porter, Sam Smith's song-writer and collaborator Reuben James with his 10 piece band, songwriter Guy Chambers, The Puppini Sisters with The Pasadena Roof Orchestra, Actors Patricia Hodge and Alex Jennings with pianist Lucy Parham, BBC Young Musician of The Year Martin James Bartlett and film critic Mark Kermode and his band The Dodge Brothers. The Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition returns in 2021.
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