NEWS that a potential sale of Tice’s Meadow Nature Reserve in Badshot Lea is edging closer comes after a bid from an un-named local property developer was rejected by Hanson earlier this year.

This reportedly followed a protracted due diligence period, after which the bidder reportedly reduced their offer.

However, with the identity of the site’s latest potential buyer also unknown, the Tice’s Meadow Bird Group is worried for the future of the meadow as they say Hanson have “repeatedly stated they will pay no regards to the suitability of the new owner and their plans for the site”.

Volunteers say Hanson has also called the future of the Tice’s Meadow Bird Group itself into question, and have repeatedly failed to formalise the status of the volunteers as the caretakers of the site, despite acknowledging the vast majority of site maintenance is undertaken by them at no cost to the landowner.

A Bird Group spokesman said: “We are asking local councils, community groups and third-sector organisations to consider joining us in a coalition to save Tice’s Meadow.

“We are confident that by working together and pooling our resources, skills and experiences, we can ensure the future of our much-loved community nature reserve – an open green space that has been very important to so many local people during this difficult year.

“Please join with us to stop any development of this vital green buffer between Farnham and Aldershot, a regionally important wildlife haven, a site that protects many hundreds of local houses from flooding, and a much-used community asset.”

The Bird Group’s petition to Save Tice’s Meadow has now passed 7,500 signatures, and can be found online at http://chng.it/nSsSvHcj

For more information about the reserve, volunteering opportunities and updates on the sale process, see www.ticesmeadow.org

Paul Williams, head of land and mineral resources at Hanson UK, said: “Operating a community nature site open to the public falls outside of our core operational activities and areas of expertise.

“Now that Tice’s Meadow is restored, we believe it’s best for the long-term future of the site if another custodian takes it to the next stage. The site is on the market and we are happy to engage with all prospective buyers.”