The presentation of a royal accolade has rounded off a week to remember for the kings of a wildlife frontier near Farnham.

The Tice’s Meadow Bird Group were presented with the King’s Award for Volunteering during a heartwarming presentation and celebration last week.

It could be their crowning achievements as the award is the highest a voluntary group can receive in the UK with only eight Surrey counterparts receiving the same accolade, so they’re in esteemed company.

Members of the wildlife and conservation group learned last November they had received the award for their tireless work at the beauty spot near Badshot Lea, as the announcement coincided with the King’s birthday.

But they had to wait until last Friday (July 18) for the official presentation in Farnham Town Council with Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey, Michael More-Molyneux, presenting the certificate to the group’s chairman, Ollie.

He said: “This award was very much the result of a community effort, so thank you to everyone involved.”

A commemorative crystal, as immaculate as the uniformed and white glove-wearing royal representative who presented it, was accepted by Andy Trewellen.

He was also selfless in receiving the accolade and thanking the Surrey Choices volunteers as they hotfooted it to South Street following a morning of hard graft in sweltering temperatures on the meadow.

More than 20 TMBG members and volunteers took part in the ceremony with Farnham town mayor, Cllr George Murray, also congratulating and praising the recipients for their amazing work at the beauty spot.

The timing of the presentation was perfect as it came during a week when the TMBG and their supporters learned that Guildford Borough Council had rejected plans for a McDonald’s Drive-Thru between the site and Tongham Services.

The group would also like to publicly thank Farnham Town Council for hosting the event.