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Description
Tice's Meadow is a newly developed community nature reserve in Surrey: a Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI), roughly 150 acres in size and the site of the former Farnham Quarry. The site is roughly triangular in shape: bordered to the west by the village of Badshot Lea; to the south by the A31; to the east by Tongham Gravel Pits; and to the north by the River Blackwater, the Tice's Meadow housing estate and the border with Hampshire.
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. Over 200 species of bird have been recorded on site, and the nature reserve is considered to be one of the friendliest, and best, in the region.
Details
Access
Tice's Meadow is located between Badshot Lea and Tongham, on the southern outskirts of Aldershot, at the southern end of the Blackwater Valley, on the boundary between Surrey & Hampshire. The best area to park is on the Badshot Lea Road (B3208) near the Pea Bridge (at SU 86759 49018). The nearest railway station is Aldershot, with regular South West Trains services from Guildford and London Waterloo. Stagecoach Bus run regular services from Aldershot, Guildford and Farnham with stops near the site (routes 15 & 46).
There is free open access to the site with through a network or permissive footpaths, with a public footpath (the Blackwater Valley Path) running along the northern perimeter. The Meadow and the Workings are 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. Public access into the Meadow, Workings and Plant Yard is strictly prohibited on health & safety and wildlife protection grounds. The footpaths and Horton's Mound can become very muddy following wet weather so wellies are recommended. The unimproved nature of the site means that it is currently not suitable for wheelchair users. However, gates with “radar” locks have been installed on Badshot Lea Road (at SU 86712 48939) and from the housing estate (at SU 87206 48837) to enable easier access by disabled visitors. A keen local birder with mobility impairment has invested in an off-road capable mobility scooter which allows him to successfully access and enjoy the site.