About the event

Members may participate in person at Denbies Wine Estate, London Road, Dorking RH5 6AA or attend online. Please register your place in advance of attendance.

There will be no online voting available during the AGM, but questions may be asked live using the online Q&A function.

All those members who wish to watch live online are asked to submit their proxy votes and encouraged to send questions in advance. 

Voting will available from 1st October, following the council meeting where Trustees will propose new Trustees standing for election.

Following the AGM, for those attending in person, there will be a range of of activities and talks that will require booking in advance.

Please book your optional activities as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

To view the meeting papers please visit our Governance page or contact us at finance@surreywt.org.uk. 

AGM Agenda
 

09:15 - 09:55: Registration & Refreshments 

10:00 - 11:00: Annual General Meeting 

1. Approval of the Minutes of the 2025 AGM
2. Receiving the 2025-26 Annual Trustees’ Report and Charity’s Accounts
3. Re-appointment of Saffery LLP as Auditor of the Company and authorising the Trustees to agree the Auditor’s remuneration.
4. Election and re-election of Trustees
5. Any other business notified to members in accordance with the Articles of Association of the Trust

11:00 - 11:30: Break and Refreshments 

11:30 - 12:15: Chief Executive's Report 

Sarah Jane Chimbwandira MBE

12:15 - 14:00: Lunch & Opportunity to Talk to Staff

A light buffet lunch will be served in the Garden Suite on the ground floor of Denbies. Members are invited to enjoy the facilities and shops of Denbies (with discount voucher given on arrival) or visit the Surrey Wildlife Trust stands to meet staff in the Ranmore Suite which is located next to the Garden Suite.

Bookable Talks & Activities

After the AGM members are invited to book places on our specialist talks and activities:

Guided Walks around Denbies start at 13:00, 14:00 & 15:05pm

Max 20 people per walk, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

13:00 - 13:55: People's Emergency Briefing Film & Discussion

In November 2025, the National Emergency Briefing brought together leading experts to present the latest evidence on the climate and nature crisis to politicians and other influential people in Westminster. The next step is to take this vital message across the UK, bringing together people from across local communities to hear the evidence and discuss how to respond. Surrey Wildlife Trust have hosted several of these briefings so far and now we invite our valued members to join us and become part of the movement to ensure nature and climate change are core to the UK's decision making.

14:00 - 15:00 Re-wilding in Surrey: How much is too much? 

Mike Waite MCIEEM, Director of Research & Monitoring

Given the ever-growing interest in re-wilding and keystone species reintroductions, the Trust has this year researched and refined our own position on its appropriateness for Surrey. The result is the recently published "A Re-wilding Case for Surrey: Finding the Local Ecological ‘Sweet-spot’", and here Mike will be presenting his conclusions on the matter, as well as how this will inevitably influence the Trust's mission going forwards. The document sets out the evidence for why a radical systems change in nature conservation is long overdue. but it is still only a manifesto; the careful but bold implementation of its principles and actions is how we will deliver the desired outcomes for nature recovery in Surrey.

15:05 - 16:00 Building Connections for Nature

Louise Shorthose, Outdoor Learning Manager & Team; Claire Harris, Community Programme Manager & Team

Nature needs more than conservation, it needs people. Join us for an uplifting look at how communities, volunteers, ambassadors and young people are helping to create a stronger movement for nature across Surrey. Hear from our Education, Communities & Volunteering teams working on the ground building meaningful connections to spark action, build confidence, and create a growing network of people standing up for nature.