Quick guide and location map
This beautiful wildlife area near Farnham is widely considered to be one of the best inland sites to watch birds in the southeast of England. Peaceful walks with the opportunity to spot rare birdlife. Please always follow the Countryside Code.
Quick guide
- Address and references: Badshot Lea Road, Runfold, Farnham GU9 9LY
Ordnance Survey (OS) map reference: SU 86728 48933
What3Words: bottle.enter.talked - Type of site: Open water, gravel islands and scrapes, reedbeds, scrub, woodland and wet and dry grassland.
- Accessibility: Unsurfaced paths, can get muddy in winter. All weather access on surfaced path from the housing estate entrance (SU 87206 48837). Gates with "radar" locks have been installed on Badshot Lea Road (SU 86712 48939) and from the housing estate (SU 87206 48837) to enable access for wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
- Facilities: Covered bird hide with benches. Benches and viewpoints throughout the site.
- Car Parking: There is no designated car park for the site.
- Nature to discover: 201 bird species, 30 dragonfly species, and 34 butterfly species have been recorded on site. Highlights include nesting common terns, little ringed plovers, barn owls and swifts.
- Dogs: Please keep your dog under control and on a lead during nesting season.
- Size: 55 hectares (137 acres)
Location map
On the map below, use the plus symbol to zoom in to see the locations of the site's paths and car parks and the minus symbol to zoom out to view where the site is situated in Surrey, and to see other countryside sites nearby. The home symbol resets the map to the default setting.
Site details
Description
Tice's Meadow is a newly developed wildlife area on the site of the former Farnham Quarry, located between Badshot Lea and Tongham in Surrey, on the southern outskirts of Aldershot.
The habitats on site consist of a mosaic of open water, gravel islands and scrapes, reedbeds, scrub, woodland, ephemeral ponds and wet and dry grassland.
The site is widely considered one of the best inland sites to watch birds in the southeast of England. There is a network or permissive footpaths throughout the site and the Blackwater Valley Path runs along the northern perimeter.
The meadow is best viewed from Horton's Mound, although there is also a viewing point to the west of Horton's Mound, on the southern footpath, where a gap in the bushes allows the meadow to be viewed. The main lake on site is best viewed from the waterside hide - which may be inaccessible during high water levels.
What you can do here
- Discover amazing birdlife
- Access the natural environment
- Walk the 1.5-mile Biodiversity Trail around the site
- Brass Rubbing Trail with ten rubbing plaques featuring birds found on site. A trail guide and activity sheet are available on the Tice's Meadow website.
- Get away from it all
- Follow the Blackwater Valley Path
- Outdoor education
- Dog walking - under effective control
Self-guided trail
There is one self-guided trail at Tice's Meadow, the Biodiversity trails. Take a photo of the information board before setting off and follow the colour coded route and signposts along the way.
The Biodiversity self-guided trail - 1.5 mile, 30 minute walk
Follow the circular Biodiversity trail which takes you around the site. There are many benches to rest on along the trail to enjoy the views. Interpretation panels tell you about the wildlife and species you might spot, and there are brass rubbing posts near rest points.
What you can see at Tice's Meadow
- Look and listen out for reed warblers in the reed beds who return to the nature reserve year on year.
- Between March and October, you may see the migratory sand martin, particularly as a new project aimed at restoring their habitats is underway at the site.
- Many species of bird spotted throughout the site and around the pond, plus emperor dragonflies, butterflies in the summer and mammals such as bats and roe deer. For more information about the wildlife to look out for visit the Tice's Meadow Bird Group list of species web page.
Accessibility
The unimproved nature of the majority of paths on the site means that it is currently not suitable for wheelchair users following heavy rain or during winter. However, gates with "radar" locks have been installed on Badshot Lea Road (SU 86712 48939) and from the housing estate (SU 87206 48837), and an all-weather path added from the housing estate to Pegasus Bridge, to enable easier access.
Car parking
There is no designated car park for the site. We advise to please park safely in adjoining roads being considerate to residents. The nearest railway station is Aldershot. Stagecoach Bus run regular services from Aldershot, Guildford and Farnham with stops near the site (routes 15 and 46).
Site management, contact and designations
Site management
Surrey County Council acquired the site in 2021 with funding support from Hampshire County Council, Guildford Borough Council, Waverley Borough Council, Rushmoor Borough Council and Farnham Town Council.
We manage the site in partnership with the Tice's Meadow Bird Group.
Further information on how this site is managed for conservation can be found on the Tice's Meadow Bird Group webpages: Tice's Meadow Bird Group
Contact us
Send us any photos you take that you're happy to share on social media, tag @ExploreSurreyUK
If you need to contact us about any issues on Tice's Meadow, please use one of the options below:
Environmental designations of Tice's Meadow and what they mean
Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI) is a designation used by local authorities in the United Kingdom for sites of substantive local nature conservation and geological value.
