Tice's Meadow Nature Reserve: 2024

The Tice's Meadow Bird Group are delighted to announce that His Majesty The King has approved the National Assessment Committee's recommendation that they should receive The King's Award for Voluntary Service 2024 – the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and the equivalent to an MBE.

The volunteer group, who help manage Tice's Meadow Nature Reserve in Badshot Lea, is one of 281 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. The King’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to support their communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate Her Majesty The late Queen’s Golden Jubilee, and was continued following the accession of His Majesty The King. Recipients are announced annually on 14th November, The King’s Birthday.

Representatives of the Tice's Meadow Bird Group will receive the crystal award and certificate signed by His Majesty the King from Mr Michael More-Molyneux, His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey, later this year. In addition, two volunteers will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in the summer, along with other recipients of this year's Award.

TMBG Chairman Mark Elsoffer said “I am delighted for all of our volunteers and supporters that we have received this prestigious award. This award is recognition of all of the hard work that our volunteers put in managing Tice's Meadow Nature Reserve and delivering award-winning habitat management, biodiversity monitoring and community engagement activities.”

“The TMBG would like to thank Councillor Alan Earwaker (the then Mayor of Farnham) and Iain Lynch (Farnham Town Clerk) for nominating us, Alan Wynde (Rotary Club of Farnham Weyside) and Gemma Ball (Badshot Lea Village Infants School) for writing letters of support, and our KAVS assessors Caroline Breckell and Joosje Hamilton.”

“I look forward to celebrating this good news with all of our volunteers at our next work party on Saturday 21st December. Winter is our busiest time of year, so please do come and join our volunteer work parties if you have some spare time and would like to help make a difference for nature and local residents”.

Calendars for Sale

Our 2025 calendars are now on sale. Featuring a selection of wonderful photos taken on site in 2024.

£8 - collected from Richard Horton (by arrangement) or from work parties.
£10 - delivered (by arrangement, local to Badshot Lea only).
£12 - posted.

If you would like one delivered or posted, please email:

ticesmeadowshop@gmail.com

All proceeds go towards our work at Tice's Meadow Nature Reserve.

Rushmoor Community Lottery

We've launched our page on the Rushmoor Community Lottery. Tickets cost £1 per week - we will receive 50p per ticket (and other local good causes 10p). You could win up to £25,000! Scan the QR code below, or click this link to go to our page. Thank you for your support.

Volunteer Work Parties

Our volunteer work party schedule for the next few months. Please do come and join us if you're free - a great way to spend a morning, helping nature, working with the local community, and having some fun at the same time.

Tuesday 1st October

Richard Seargent: 3 Green Sandpiper.

Wednesday 2nd October

Josephine Snell: 2 Green Sandpiper.

Richard Hortin: 2 Sand Martin.

Thursday 3rd October

Dina Burford: 2 Green Sandpiper & Whinchat.

A huge thank you to the team of 12 from Sky TV who joined us for a corporate volunteering day today. Together with 7 of our irregulars we cleared a huge amount of willow from the reedbeds to enable this nationally important habitat to continue thriving.

We had the great pleasure of leading a guided walk and scavenger hunt for 18 Beavers from 12th Farnham Scouts this evening.

Friday 4th October

Dina Burford: Whinchat.

Roger and his ringing team ringed the following birds this morning: 16 Chiffchaff, 3 Reed Bunting, 2 Reed Warbler, 3 Blue Tit, 1 Robin, 1 Blackcap & 1 Stonechat. Retrapped: 1 Blue Tit & 1 Cetti's Warbler.

A big thank you to the 21 volunteers who spent today cutting down willow along the river and building a dead hedge with the arisings. Great as always to be joined by the wonderful Surrey Choices Growth Team.

Saturday 5th October

Peter Brown: 3 Green Sandpiper.

M Scott: 2 Stonechat & Reed Warbler.

Colin Varndell: 20 Sand Martin.

Sunday 6th October

John Hunt: 4 Green Sandpiper.

Dina Burford: Snipe.

Monday 7th October

Richard Horton: 4 Green Sandpiper & Ringed Plover.

Tuesday 8th October

No reports.

Wednesday 9th October

Peter Brown: 3 Green Sandpiper, Ringed Plover & Common Tern (juv).

Myung-hye Chun: Blunt Webcap, Wood Pinkgill, Veiled Poison Pie, Bulbous Honey Fungus, Common Bonnet, Brick Tuft, Birch Knight, Scurfy Twiglet, Leopard Earthball, Grey Coral, Wrinkled Coral, Ochre Bracket, Oakmoss, Hammered Shield Lichen & Lecidella elaeochroma - all new species for site.

Thursday 10th October

Richard Horton: 2 Green Sandpiper & Sand Martin.

Friday 11th October

Peter Brown: 3 Green Sandpiper & Ringed Plover.

Dina Burford: Peregrine.

Saturday 12th October

Peter Brown: 3 Green Sandpiper & Ringed Plover.

Anon: Peregrine.

A big thank you to the 24 volunteers who attended our work party today - we cut & burnt a huge amount of willow. We were joined by a team from Surrey Choices, two DofE students, local families, some old faces, some new faces, and some very old faces.

Sunday 13th October

John Hunt: 3 Green Sandpiper & Ringed Plover.

Spike Millington: 3 Pochard.

Monday 14th October

Colin Varndell: Redwing.

Tuesday 15th October

No reports.

Wednesday 16th October

Richard Horton: 2 Yellow-legged Gull & 200+ Herring Gull.

Thursday 17th October

Peter Brown: Ringed Plover.

Friday 18th October

Mark Elsoffer: Peregrine.

Gillian Bamford: Common Stump Brittlestem & Sheathed Woodtuft - new species for site.

A big thank you to the 18 volunteers who spent today clearing along the river bank and building a dead hedge with the arisings. As always, great to be working alongside the amazing Surrey Choices Growth Team.

Saturday 19th October

Katie had the pleasure of visiting Waverley Grange Care Home again today - this time she helped the residents sculpt clay animals and put up a window bird-feeder.

Sunday 20th October

Monday 21st October

Tuesday 22nd October

Wednesday 23rd October

No reports.

Thursday 24th October

Friday 25th October

Peter Brown: Green Sandpiper.

A massive thank you to the 20 volunteers who spent today cutting willow in the reedbeds. As always, a pleasure to be working alongside the wonderful Surrey Choices Growth Team.