2025-03-31-accounts

CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1041842

The Sinfield Nature Conservation Trust Unaudited financial statements

For the year ended

31 March 2025

The Sinfield Nature Conservation Trust

Financial statements

Year ended 31 March 2025

	Page
Trustees' annual report	1
Independent examiner's report to the trustees	5
Statement of financial activities	7
Balance sheet	8
Notes to the financial statements	9

The Sinfield Nature Conservation Trust

Trustees' annual report

Year ended 31 March 2025

The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in notes to the accounts and comply with the charity's governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland published in October 2019.

Reference and administrative details

Registered charity name The Sinfield Nature Conservation Trust Charity registration number 1041842 Principal office Alde House Glemham Road Sweffling Saxmundham IP17 2BQ

The trustees

The trustees who served during the year and at the date of approval were as follows:

Mrs A S Daniel Miss C Daniel Mrs C Weatherby Mrs M Boyle Independent examiner Mark Proctor FCA Lovewell Blake LLP Chartered accountants The Wherry Quay Street Halesworth Suffolk IP19 8ET Bankers Barclays 24 High Street Saxmundham Suffolk IP17 1AE Lloyds 15 Blackheath Village Blackheath London SE3 9LH

- 1 -

The Sinfield Nature Conservation Trust

Trustees' annual report (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

Objectives and activities

The charity's objectives are to advance the conservation of wildlife and wild places for public benefit. The policies adopted in furtherance of these objects are to manage its property in order to meet its objectives and there has been no change in these during the year.

The area of benefit is the county of Suffolk and Norfolk.

The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.

Achievements and performance

Conservation management work continued at the nature reserve with winter work including coppicing and maintaining and improving the North Nature Trail. Following the addition of a small goat herd, the grazing regime with mixed animals worked well for the varied habitats on the reserve. A partnership was developed with a local bee-keeper to add bee hives to the site to increase the number of pollinators. The bee-keeper will be hosting bee-keeping activities at White house Farm. An event held in the farm buildings attracted new members and raised sufficient funds to purchase conservation tools and service conservation machinery. Visitor numbers enjoying the nature trails have increased.

Financial review

During the year the Trust had net income of £65,762 (2024: net expenditure £65,270). At the year end, the Trust held unrestricted funds of £743,148 (2024: £677,386) and restricted funds of £Nil (2024: £Nil).

The fixed asset register was reviewed and it was identified that several assets have a much longer useful economic life than previously stated, such as the shepherds hut, hobbit box and storage containers. These assets have been rebased to reflect that useful economic life above, by reducing excess depreciation charged in earlier years. This has resulted in a credit to depreciation cost in the year as shown in note 7 and 12.

Reserves policy

At 31 March 2025 the Trust did not have any free reserves. The unrestricted fund current liabilities exceeded current assets by £89,769 (2024: £46,821).

The Trust had previously maintained a policy of having reserves no less than £10,000. The trustees are now committed to reviewing the income and expenditure in order to return the reserves figure to the targeted amount in either the 2025 or 2026 year. It should be noted that the Business Interruption Claim against NFU Mutual for lockdown closure of Secret Meadows Limited during 2019 and early 2020 has become part of a group claim and remains in progress.

Secret Meadows Limited intends to continue setting aside 4% of 2024 season bookings income in a contingency fund as 2% to cover self-insurance of cancelled holidays and 2% for repair and maintenance of Sinfield Trust glamping assets.

It was agreed that the Trust will continue to try and achieve 100% grant funding, probably from more than one source, for the rescue and renovation of the collapsing cart shed adjacent to the main barn to create a year round holiday let which could achieve an annual profit of £22,239. This project would include charity and community use for a set number of weeks per year covering just our base costs. We already have staff who can handle the additional booking administration and cleaning.

Plans for the future

The plans for the renovation and use of traditional buildings have been finalised and surveys will proceed prior to planning consent being sought.

- 2 -

The Sinfield Nature Conservation Trust

Trustees' annual report (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

Structure, governance and management

Governing document

The charity was established by a charitable trust deed on 10 October 1994 and registered as a charity on 22 November 1994.

Trustee recruitment, induction and training

The Trust is administered by a board of trustees, of which there shall be at least three trustees, who have the power of appointing a new trustee or trustees based upon their personal or professional qualifications to make a contribution to the pursuit of the objectives or the management of the charity.

All trustees listed above held office throughout the year, unless otherwise stated.

On appointment to the board, trustees will be provided with copies of:

• The Trust Deed and amendment thereto

• Minutes of trustees' meetings

• Charity Commission guidance notes The Essential Trustee "What you need to know, what you need to do"

The trustees meet regularly to discuss all governance matters concerning the trust. At these meetings the trustees consider and make decisions on all actions to be taken in accordance with the trusts objectives.

Risk assessment

The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the trust is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.

Related parties

On 26 March 2008 a wholly owned subsidiary, Secret Meadows Limited was incorporated. The company remained dormant until 1 April 2012 when it commenced in the non charitable trading activities of the trust.

True and fair override

The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared to give a "true and fair" view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a "true and fair" view. This departure has involved Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic or Ireland (FRS102) issued in October 2019 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.

Independent examiner

Mark Proctor FCA of Lovewell Blake LLP is willing to be appointed as independent examiner for the ensuing year.

- 3 -

The Sinfield Nature Conservation Trust

Trustees' annual report (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

The trustees' annual report was approved on 15 December 2025 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:

Mrs A S Daniel Trustee

- 4 -

The Sinfield Nature Conservation Trust

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of The Sinfield Nature Conservation Trust

Year ended 31 March 2025

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the statement of financial activities, balance sheet and the related notes.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the charity's financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or

2. the financial statements do not accord with those records; or

3. the financial statements do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

- 5 -

The Sinfield Nature Conservation Trust

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of The Sinfield Nature Conservation Trust (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Your attention is drawn to the fact that the Charity has prepared the accounts (financial statements) in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) in preference to the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice issued on 1 April 2005 which is referred to in the extant regulations but has since been withdrawn.

I understand that this has been done in order for the accounts to provide a true and fair view in accordance with the Generally Accepted Accounting Practice effective for reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2015.

Mark Proctor FCA Independent Examiner

Lovewell Blake LLP Chartered accountants The Wherry Quay Street Halesworth Suffolk IP19 8ET

15 December 2025

- 6 -

The Sinfield Nature Conservation Trust

Statement of financial activities

Year ended 31 March 2025

		2025	2025	2024
		Unrestricted
		funds	Total funds	Total funds
	Note	£	£	£
Income and endowments
Donations and legacies	4	22,230	22,230	14,529
Charitable activities	5	37,245	37,245	26,199
Investment income	6	17,200	17,200	17,542
				
Total income		76,675	76,675	58,270
				
Expenditure
Charitable activities	7	10,913	10,913	123,540
				
Total expenditure		10,913	10,913	123,540
				
				
Net income/(expenditure) and net movement in funds		65,762	65,762	(65,270)
				
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward		677,386	677,386	742,656
				
Total funds carried forward		743,148	743,148	677,386
				

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The notes on pages 9 to 16 form part of these financial statements.

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The Sinfield Nature Conservation Trust

Balance sheet

31 March 2025

		2025		2024
	Note	£	£	£	£
Fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets	12		869,442		764,460
Investments	13		550,001		550,001
					
			1,419,443		1,314,461
Current assets
Cattle	14	10,250		16,750
Debtors	15	2,638		2,638
Cash at bank and in hand		1,048		10,065
				
		13,936		29,453
Creditors: Amounts falling due within
one year	16	(103,705)		(76,274)
				
Net current liabilities			(89,769)		(46,821)
					
Total assets less current liabilities			1,329,674		1,267,640
Creditors: Amounts falling due after
more than one year	17		(586,526)		(590,254)
					
Net assets			743,148		677,386
					
Funds of the charity
Unrestricted funds			743,148		677,386
					
Total charity funds	18		743,148 		677,386 

These financial statements were approved by the board of trustees and authorised for issue on 15 December 2025, and are signed on behalf of the board by:

Mrs A S Daniel Trustee

The notes on pages 9 to 16 form part of these financial statements.

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The Sinfield Nature Conservation Trust

Notes to the financial statements

Year ended 31 March 2025

1. General information

The charity is a public benefit entity and a registered charity in England and Wales and is unincorporated. The address of the principal office is Alde House, Glemham Road, Sweffling, Saxmundham, IP17 2BQ.

2. Statement of compliance

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland issued October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011 and UK UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

The financial statements have been prepared to give a 'true and fair' view and have departed from the Charites (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a 'true and fair view'. This departure has involved following the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland issued in October 2019 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.

3. Accounting policies

(a) Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis.

(b) Going concern

The accounts have been prepared on the going concern basis and the Trust believes that no material uncertainties exist. The trustees have considered the level of funds held and the expected income and expenditure for the next 12 months from authorising these financial statements. The budgeted income and expenditure is sufficient with the level of reserves for the Trust to be able to continue as a going concern.

(c) Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees to further any of the charity's purposes.

Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure declared by the donor or through the terms of an appeal.

(d) Income

All income is included in the statement of financial activities when entitlement has passed to the charity, it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the charity and the amount can be reliably measured. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:

• income from donations or grants is recognised when there is evidence of entitlement to the gift, receipt is probable and its amount can be measured reliably.

• investment income is included when receivable.

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The Sinfield Nature Conservation Trust

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

3. Accounting policies (continued)

(e) Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is classified under headings of the statement of financial activities to which it relates:

• expenditure on charitable activities includes all costs incurred by a charity in undertaking activities that further its charitable aims for the benefit of its beneficiaries, including those support costs and costs relating to the governance of the charity apportioned to charitable activities.

• other expenditure includes all expenditure that is neither related to raising funds for the charity nor part of its expenditure on charitable activities.

All costs are allocated to expenditure categories reflecting the use of the resource. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs are apprortioned between the activities they contribute to on a reasonable, justifiable and consistent basis.

(f) Tangible assets

Tangible assets are initially recorded at cost, and subsequently stated at cost less any accumulated depreciation and impairment losses.

(g) Depreciation

Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost or valuation of an asset, less its residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows:

Plant and machinery - 20%, 10% and 5% straight line Fixtures and fittings - 20% straight line

White House Farm is not depreciated as it comprises 115 acres of pasture, woodland, ponds and hedgerows and the trustees consider that any depreciation of the buildings would not be material.

(h) Investments

Unlisted equity investments are initially recorded at cost, and subsequently measured at fair value. If fair value cannot be reliably measured, assets are measured at cost less impairment.

(i) Cattle

The cattle herd is included at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell. Cost includes all costs of purchase, costs of conversion and other costs incurred in bringing the stock to its present location and condition.

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The Sinfield Nature Conservation Trust

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

3. Accounting policies (continued)

(j) Financial instruments

A financial asset or a financial liability is recognised only when the entity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at the amount receivable or payable including any related transaction costs.

Current assets and current liabilities are subsequently measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be paid or received and not discounted.

Debt instruments are subsequently measured at amortised cost.

4. Donations and legacies

		Unrestricted	Total Funds	Unrestricted	Total Funds
		Funds	2025	Funds	2024
		£	£	£	£
	Donations
	Donations and gifts	20,261	20,261	14,035	14,035
	Subscriptions
	Memberships	1,969	1,969	494	494
					
		22,230	22,230	14,529	14,529
					
5.	Charitable activities
		Unrestricted	Total Funds	Unrestricted	Total Funds
		Funds	2025	Funds	2024
		£	£	£	£
	Grants and farm subsidies	26,095	26,095	17,548	17,548
	Other income	11,150	11,150	8,651	8,651
					
		37,245	37,245	26,199	26,199
					
6.	Investment income
		Unrestricted	Total Funds	Unrestricted	Total Funds
		Funds	2025	Funds	2024
		£	£	£	£
	Rental income	17,200	17,200	17,200	17,200
	Bank interest receivable	–	–	342	342
					
		17,200	17,200	17,542	17,542
					

Investment income includes rental income from Secret Meadows Limited £7,000 (2024: £7,000) and Woodland House £10,200 (2024: £10,200).

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The Sinfield Nature Conservation Trust

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

7. Expenditure on charitable activities

		Unrestricted	Total Funds	Unrestricted	Total Funds
		Funds	2025	Funds	2024
		£	£	£	£
	Cattle expenses	15,592	15,592	13,888	13,888
	Water rates	3,211	3,211	2,141	2,141
	Property costs	2,942	2,942	3,048	3,048
	Insurance	8,435	8,435	11,471	11,471
	Land management	29,177	29,177	27,348	27,348
	Equipment costs	4,047	4,047	84	84
	Governance costs	1,945	1,945	3,995	3,995
	Professional fees	–	–	525	525
	Office costs	1,286	1,286	1,577	1,577
	Depreciation	(102,691)	(102,691)	14,352	14,352
	Loan interest	44,787	44,787	43,921	43,921
	Bank charges	68	68	107	107
	Miscellaneous	2,114	2,114	1,333	1,333
	Profit/loss on disposal of assets	–	–	(250)	(250)
					
		10,913	10,913	123,540	123,540
					
	Analysis of governance costs
		Unrestricted	Restricted	Total Funds	Total Funds
		Funds	funds	2025	2024
		£	£	£	£
	Independent examination fees	1,945	–	1,945	3,995
					
8.	Net income/(expenditure)
	Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):
				2025	2024
				£	£
	Depreciation of tangible fixed assets			(102,691)	14,352
					
9.	Independent examination fees
				2025	2024
				£	£
	Fees payable to the independent examiner for:
	Independent examination of the financial statements			2,545	3,000
					

10. Staff costs

During the year staff costs of £27,777 (2024: £26,940) were incurred from Secret Meadows Limited in respect of land management. Secret Meadows Limited is a company in which the trustees Mrs Amanda Daniel and Miss Charlotte Daniel are directors.

11. Trustee remuneration and expenses

None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration during the year.

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The Sinfield Nature Conservation Trust

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

12. Tangible fixed assets

	Freehold	Plant and	Fixtures and
	property	machinery	fittings	Total
	£	£	£	£
Cost
At 1 April 2024	725,807	333,729	2,773	1,062,309
Additions	–	2,291	–	2,291
				
At 31 March 2025	725,807	336,020	2,773	1,064,600
				
Depreciation
At 1 April 2024	–	295,076	2,773	297,849
Charge for the year	–	(102,691)	–	(102,691)
				
At 31 March 2025	–	192,385	2,773	195,158
				
Carrying amount
At 31 March 2025	725,807	143,635	–	869,442
				
At 31 March 2024	725,807 	38,653 	– 	764,460 

The fixed asset register was reviewed and it was identified that several assets have a much longer useful economic life than previously stated, such as the shepherds hut, hobbit box and storage containers. These assets have been rebased to reflect that useful economic life above, by reducing excess depreciation charged in earlier years. This has resulted in a credit to depreciation cost in the year as shown in note 7 and 12.

13. Investments

	Investment	Other
	properties	investments	Total
	£	£	£
Cost or valuation
At 1 April 2024	550,000	1	550,001
Additions	–	–	–
			
At 31 March 2025	550,000	1	550,001
			
Impairment
At 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025		–	–
			
Carrying amount
At 31 March 2025	550,000	1	550,001
			
At 31 March 2024	550,000	1	550,001
			

All investments shown above are held at valuation.

The charity holds the entire share capital of 1 ordinary share of £1 each in Secret Meadows Limited, a company incorporated in the United Kingdom. The principal activity of the company is running a glamping campsite. The results for the company for the year are:

	2025	2024
	£	£
Turnover	203,664	201,840
Profit for the year	15,038	13,271
Gifted to the charity	15,038	13,271
Net assets	603	603

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The Sinfield Nature Conservation Trust

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

14.	Stocks
		2025	2024
		£	£
	Cattle	10,250	16,750
			
15.	Debtors
		2025	2024
		£	£
	Prepayments and accrued income	2,638	2,638
			
16.	Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
		2025	2024
		£	£
	Bank loans and overdrafts	16,850	5,000
	Trade creditors	1,250	3,311
	Amounts owed to related parties	82,169	64,330
	Accruals and deferred income	3,310	3,000
	Social security and other taxes	126	633
			
		103,705	76,274
			
17.	Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year
		2025	2024
		£	£
	Bank loans and overdrafts	561,526	590,254
	Other creditors	25,000	–
			
		586,526	590,254
			

Included within creditors falling due after more than one year is an amount of £488,842 (2024: £559,970) in respect of liabilities which fall due for payment after more than five years from the balance sheet date and are secured on assets owned by the trust.

18. Analysis of charitable funds

Unrestricted funds

Year ended 31 March 2025

Year ended 31 March 2025
	At 1 April			At 31 March
	2024	Income	Expenditure	2025
	£	£	£	£
General funds	677,386	76,675	(10,913)	743,148
				
Year ended 31 March 2024
	At 1 April			At 31 March
	2023	Income	Expenditure	2024
	£	£	£	£
General funds	742,656 	58,270 	(123,540) 	677,386 

- 14 -

The Sinfield Nature Conservation Trust

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

19. Analysis of net assets between funds

	Unrestricted	Total Funds
	Funds	2025
	£	£
Tangible fixed assets	869,442	869,442
Investments	550,001	550,001
Current assets	13,936	13,936
Creditors less than 1 year	(103,705)	(103,705)
Creditors greater than 1 year	(586,526)	(586,526)
		
Net assets	743,148	743,148
		
	Unrestricted	Total Funds
	Funds	2024
	£	£
Tangible fixed assets	764,460	764,460
Investments	550,001	550,001
Current assets	29,453	29,453
Creditors less than 1 year	(76,274)	(76,274)
Creditors greater than 1 year	(590,254)	(590,254)
		
Net assets	677,386	677,386
		

- 15 -

The Sinfield Nature Conservation Trust

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

20. Related parties

During the year the following transactions were carried out with related parties:

Secret Meadows Limited is a company in which the trustees Mrs A Daniel and Miss C Daniel are directors. Included within the results for the year are the following transactions in relation to Secret Meadows Limited:

	2025	2024
	£	£
Rental income	7,000	7,000
Donations and gifts	15,038	13,271
Land management	(27,777)	(26,940)
		
	(5,739) 	(6,669) 

Included within creditors is a balance of £82,169 (2024: £64,330) which is owed to Secret Meadows Limited.

Included within debtors is a balance of £148 (2024: £Nil) which is owed from Secret Meadows Limited.

Miss C Daniel is a trustee of The Sinfield Nature Conservation Trust. Included within the results for the year is income received from Miss C Daniel:

	2025	2024
	£	£
Rental income	10,200	10,200
Water rates	336	320
		
	10,536	10,520
		

R N Creasy is a partnership in which the trustees Mrs A Daniel and Miss C Daniel are partners. Included within the results for the year are the following transactions which are expenses of the Trust that have been recharged from R N Creasy at cost:

	2025	2024
	£	£
Office costs	100	100
		

During the year memberships amounting to £42 (2024: £42) were received from the Trustees.

- 16 -