Conservation Volunteers Are Granted Prestigious King’s Award

Published on: 14 Nov, 2024
Updated on: 14 Nov, 2024

Tice’s Meadow, between Badshot Lea and Tongham

By David Reading

The Tice’s Meadow Bird Group has been granted The King’s Award for Voluntary Services 2024 – the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and the equivalent to an MBE.

The volunteer group, which helps manage Tice’s Meadow Nature Reserve in Badshot Lea, is one of 281 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year.

The award aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to support their communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and was continued following the King’s accession. Recipients are announced annually on November 14, the King’s birthday.

Great crested grebe (adult behind) and juvenile at Tice’s Meadow, as photographed by Dragon columnist Malcolm Fincham.

The group’s award was recommended by the National Assessment Committee and approved by the King.

Representatives of the Tice’s Meadow Bird Group will receive the crystal award and certificate signed by the King from Michael More-Molyneux, Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey, later this year. In addition, two volunteers will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace next 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 biodiversity monitoring and community engagement activities.”

The community-led nature reserve is on the site of the former Farnham Quarry, covering 150 acres. The habitats on site consist of a mosaic of open water, gravel islands and scrapes, reed beds, scrub, woodland, ephemeral ponds and wet and dry grassland. The site is designated a Site of Nature Conservation Interest and is registered as an Asset of Community Value with both Guildford and Waverley Borough Councils.

Little egret takes of at Tice’s Meadow. Photo Malcolm Fincham

The site is widely considered to be one of the best inland sites to watch birds in the south east of England, with 201 species of bird having been recorded there over recent years. It is also a key local site for many species of butterflies, dragonflies, reptiles and amphibians, including many locally scarce and endangered species.

Mr Elsoffer said: “The TMBG would like to thank Councillor Alan Earwaker (the then Mayor of Farnham) and Iain Lynch (Farnham Town Clerk) for nominating us. We would also like to thank 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, December 21. 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”.

The Tice’s Meadow site was bought by Surrey County Council in December 2021 with funding from Hampshire County Council, Guildford Borough Council, Rushmoor Borough Council, Waverley Borough Council, and Farnham Town Council.

For more information: www.ticesmeadow.org