In early 2024, I started to visit the Ferring Rife with my camera. I had always enjoyed wildlife photography and combined this with a passion for walking in the countryside.

One visit quickly turned into two and then many many more. With each visit I was seeing so much wildlife and I was amazed that this special place supported so many species.

Other visitors to the Rife would stop and chat to me and ask about what I had seen and what I did with my photos.

At that time I would only post these images on my own Facebook pages, but then I had the idea of creating a separate Facebook group where others could post their images so we could all share our experiences.  This was now May 2024 and much to my surprise the group rapidly grew as the word spread. As of April 2025, membership had reached well over 800, which is fantastic for a small local group.

This starting point for Ferring Rife Wildlife then developed further as it became apparent that what was happening was we were producing an accurate record of all the flora and fauna to be found there. Given the developments being constructed locally, having an accurate record of the wildlife at the rife needs to be available in case this aids protecting the watercourse and its surrounding area.

This prompted the idea of also having a website so as to reach more people than Facebook alone can do as not everybody uses social media. The website address was obtained and went live in March 2025.

From January 2025 all sightings of species that are backed up with photographic evidence are submitted to a national wildlife database. This assists with the bigger picture of what is happening to our natural environment.

Ferring rife is about all of us that appreciate this wonderful place. If you walk along the footpaths slowly, watch and listen carefully, then the variety of wildlife that call this place home will be there to be seen and appreciated.

We need the Rife and the Rife needs us.

I hope you enjoy your visit there and the contents of this website.

Best wishes,

     James King.