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Company No. 3039299 Charity Registratiegistration No. 1051680
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Contents
| Introduction to the Report ofthe Trustees for the year ending 31 March 2025 ..........0.eccee2 |
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| Summary for the year...........cceccceccesseeessseeescseeeessseccessseeccsseecssaecesssteecseeecsestesesssesssssesctsateesseeessee |
| Charitable Purposes of the Trust......0000....0..ccccccccccccccessecceceeseeeeeecsssaeececsaeeeecestssesecesseeeseesttsereeetse |
| Trustees, staff, volunteers andViSItOIS ........0000oooceeceeeeeeeeeseseeeeeeeeeseesssssseettttttttttttttttttieed |
| FPN...... 0... cccceceeeeecceceeeeececeseesssssuueeeeceeccccesseeuseuasesececeustesesaeeseseceececetttseeeecesececetestaseeseeceseserssraateee |
| O70) 1t-187] (0) 6ee creenes 5) |
| EGUCATION ...... 2. eee eeceeeeeeteceeeeeesceesnenseeseeeeececescuessssasescceseceeetstesueeececceceeetstssseeccessecsestsssseeeeecescetssssaeeeeeD |
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| PRVAIOS se sciinentanennanenna tecmenes Unideakitininantees emsamiiun umnsoc somanensacs dake neatenonnonn ance sn samacic urine satan tamen nace tl |
| Risk management and INSUrAaNCe .......oo. eeeee cc cette ceceeneseeececeseceeeeetetseeeesttttetesststetettttsteseessees10 |
| Acknowledgements and thanks...................cccceccscccceseeccesssssseeeeeeeseessecetsasseesesseseestttssseetesessesesses1O |
| Extermall VINKS 2.0.2... ccc cccceecccceeceeceeeeceeeeeeeeeesceeeessseaeeeceseceecestssseeeeceeecesesseteeeeesssesseettsseeeeeeeeesesssesTO |
| Statement ofTrustees responsibilities for the report 0.0.0.0... ceccccccceetecceeeeteeeteesteeeeeeststeeseeene11 |
| Trustees approval of the report ........ ccccccceceeeeseneecceseeeecenensssaeeeeeeceeetestttsssseeeseseetststtseeeseseee1 |
| Statement of Financial Activities... ceceeeccecccceeesstseeeeeeeeeceetttsssseeeeeeesessssttssssseteesesseees12 |
| Balance Sheet... cececccccceecccceeeeeeeeeeeseeeesecsaeeeecesssueeeecesseeescetsseeeecstsseeessssesessstsstetesseeeesseeeVD |
| Notes to the Financial Statement.............0.0..ccccccccccccccccceecsseeeececcteeeeeecsseeeeeesttsseesesttseeeseestaseessees15 |
| Independent examiners report to the Trustees ofThe Woodlands Farm Trust.................0c0000021 |
| Appendix 1: List of staffand Directors ofthe Company (Trustees)..................cccccssscceceeeeeessssseeeeees22 |
| Appendix2:Referencesandadministrativedetails.....0.00.00..0.0.cccceccccsssccceceeceeessetseeeeeeseeeeettteteeees28 |
The cover photograph shows our three British White cows that were acquired in July 2024, and the calf, Woodlands Sampson, that was born on the farm in February 2025.
The furthest field in the photograph is classified as species rich grassland that is ‘late cut’ to produce hay for the farm. We have a number of fields with this environmental quality on the farm.
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Introduction to the Report of the Trustees for the year ending 31 March 2025
The Trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ending 31 March 2025 which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors’ report and accounts in order to comply with the Companies Act.
The Trustees confirm that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association and Accounting and Recommended Practice (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in UK and the Republic of Ireland; FRS102) issued in October 2019. The report also take cognisance of gov.uk guidance for preparing a charity trustees’ annual report. Summary for the year As we approach the Woodlands Farm Trust’s 30 year anniversary, the Trustees are very pleased to present this Annual Report, including the main activities that have both contributed to the Trust’s ambitions and that have delivered public benefit to southeast London and beyond.
The Trust continues to demonstrate nature-friendly and sustainable farming to the multiple communities it serves, including schools, local people, and businesses. Farming highlights have included the reintroduction of a small herd of British White Cows and a bumper hay crop from our 12.6 hectares of species rich grassland. We have continued to develop stronger links with like minded organisations including the London City Farm Yarn Project, local independent food retailers and our valued tenants, Sitopia farm with whom we have agreed a stronger partnership for the future.
We were very pleased to receive a significant grant from the Royal Borough of Greenwich in early 2024 that meant we could carry out outstanding maintenance and repairs to our education centre during the summer. Over 4400 children have accessed our education activities over the year, excluding both the many parents and carers who accompany them and the numerous independent weekly visitors. Our education activities have expanded to include a range of school holiday activities for home educated children.
Trustees and staff have systematically reviewed both our overhead costs and income generating activities this year that has resulted in a smail, but significant, positive net financial margin for the year, in contrast to recent yearly net losses. Thanks is given to all the trustees, staff and volunteers that have contributed to this very positive outcome.
Finally, it should be noted that it appears to be the intention of the Royal Borough of Greenwich to sell our neighbouring Greenwich Equestrian Centre to the highest bidder, possibly for building. As we consider the development of an updated business plan that will drive ecological and economic regeneration of our unique 89 acre farm and position it as the hub for nature-friendly food and farming systems in London, we are alarmed by this implied lack of long term vision for both this unique part of London and the community.
Charitable Purposes of the Trust
The Woodlands Farm Trust was established in 1996 and acquired a long 999 lease at a peppercorn rent on an 89-acre mixed arable and livestock farm in 1997. The Farm is situated on the border of the Royal Borough of Greenwich and the London Borough of Bexley and is operated on principles that combine the needs of farming with those of nature conservation and community access. The primary aim of the Trust is to educate people about agriculture, the countryside, country life, conservation, ecology, the environment and related matters. The Farm is open to the general public every day except Mondays and Christmas day and draws visitors from Greater London and Kent.
The ambitions of The Woodlands Farm Trust are to:
- e build a truly sustainable future through sensitive farming using native stock and working towards a sustainable, harmonious practice, minimising the impact of activities on the environment both local and global.
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e maintain the farm as a community resource, giving volunteers and the community access to education, training, experiences and tasks that they might not otherwise encounter.
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e conserve and improve the biodiversity of our 89 acres.
e create a sustainable operating and financial structure for the future. The Woodlands Farm Trust is a company limited by guarantee, governed by its Memorandum and articles of Association. It is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission. Membership is available to individuals, families and organisations.
Trustees, staff, volunteers and visitors
The Trustees are elected from the membership annually, in rotation. At the end of their term of office they are eligible for re-election. The Trustees constitute directors of the charity for the purposes of company legislation. Under the Trust’s rules there may be up to 15 trustees comprising 11 elected and 4 co-opted. This year the Board of Trustees comprised 11 elected trustees and 2 co-opted trustees representing the Royal Borough of Greenwich. One person acts as Secretary for the purposes of Company legislation, but is not a Trustee. Refer to Appendix 1 for a list of Trustees.
The Trust currently employs five staff (Appendix 1). The Projects Manager is responsible for the dayto-day running of the Farm, with Trustees responsible for the farm at weekends under his direction. The Education Officer is responsible for educational activities such as visits from schools and other groups, working with youth organisations and developing educational resources. The Young Farmers Leader is responsible for two young farmers groups on Saturdays.
The work on the farm is supported by volunteers, people on training schemes and voluntary sector groups and the trust is very grateful for the important contribution they make. This year there are approximately 100 regular volunteers who work on the farm in the areas in which they are interested, comprising:
- ° Day to day farming and conservation, including wildlife surveys e Support to the Education Officer for school visits etc. a Office administrative support @ Gardening for the areas surrounding the education building and the farm office building
All volunteers contribute to regular educational and fundraising events that occur across the farming year. The volunteers are typically either young adults or senior citizens, and a number of the volunteers are neurodivergent who particularly value working on the farm. The year has continued to see many enquiries from people who would like to volunteer for the Trust and have subsequently joined us.
The farm welcomes visitors free of charge. Many visitors come with young children and enjoy both the animals and the agricultural ambiance. There are a number of picnic areas that are well used. The age and ethnic diversity of visitors reflect the diversity of the Boroughs in which the farm is situated.
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Financial Year Ended 31 March 2025
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Farming
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Cattle
After last years indeterminate tuberculosis (TB) reactors and the vet’s advice to take a short break from keeping cattle, the farm bought two pedigree British White Cows (Sparkle and Sambuca) and one heifer calf (Spearmint) in July using a generous donations from two members. The calf, with the national herdbook name of Woodlands Samson, (pictured) was born subsequently to Sparkle on the farm in February 2025. The British White breed falls within the minority breed category defined by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. The cows have proved popular with both visitors and volunteers. The breed is hardy and well suited to the environment of southern Britain where they have thrived for many centuries past. It is our intention to continue to breed with these cows in collaboration with nationally recognised breeders.
Bluetongue
We had hoped to purchase an additional young cow as company to Sambuca this year but an outbreak of Bluetongue across the east side of England prevented this. Bluetongue is a viral disease affecting ruminants (sheep and cattle) transmitted by biting midges, that can lead to high morbidity and mortality rates. Bluetongue was first reported in Kent in late 2023 and this spread across the country through 2024 leading to the east side of England, including the farm, being designated a Restricted Zone by October. This rapid spread has restricted the movement, sale and purchase of sheep and cattle across the border between the Restricted Zone and unaffected areas during the year. It is expected the whole of England will be designated a Restricted Zone by mid-2025 that will mean most farm animal movements within England will be without restriction.
Sheep
The farm aims to maintain a flock of about 60 UK native breeding ewes to promote and educate people about the breeds, but that are also typically smaller than more commercial breeds and more suited to our traditional species rich grassland. Moreover, the breeds are generally easier for our volunteers to handle. This year the flock comprised:
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e 46 ewes of breeds Lleyn. Dorset Down, Suffolk, Herwick, Torddu (Badger faced) and Manx Loaghtan (10 ewes)
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° 16 yearling Manx Loaghtan ewes and.rams ° 3 breeding rams (Manx Loaghton, Suffolk and Lleyn)
Of the 27 native rare breed of sheep in the UK, the farm has two breeds, the Dorset Down and the Manx Loaghtan (pictured). We are particularly proud of our pedigree Manx Loaghtan flock as it is one of only 6 UK rare breeds that have also been classified as ‘priority sheep’ by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.
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This year 46 ewes lambed with 71 lambs (a lambing percentage of , 2° A
154%) which is average for UK farm generally, but good for the breeds 3\/ co
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Generally all our lambs in excess of those needed to maintain the flock _ = | ee ad
were sold at Ashford livestock market with the exception of 11 young =“, a
Manx Loaghton sheep in their second year which were sold as hogget 4 Peak (1m
meat by the farm (we have a waiting list of people keen to buy our meat) > Waa: < _
and 4 pedigree yearly Manx Loaghton ewes that were sold as breeding ~~ QE 12
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In June the sheep were sheared and all the wool donated to the London - "=#7
City Farm Yarn Project that creates quality yarn from the many rare Seg to See S ae
breed sheep living at London’s city farms. The project now displays their on aeon
products at the farm’s Lambing Day and Apple Day shows. Sac ae
Pigs
Last year saw our two rare breed Oxford Sandy and Black (OSB) sows producing a total of 10 piglets
each. We sold the male weaners in early 2024, but by November the females were ready for market.
The meat was marketed through a local butcher in Blackheath who also promoted both its
provenance and the farm generally. The meat sold out within a week. We plan to borrow a boar to
continue OSB meat production next year. Our two Tamworth sows will remain on the farm for
educational purposes, but will not be used for breeding.
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Poultry
It is our intention to maintain a flock of about 30 hens for egg production comprising the traditional breeds Brown Nick, White Ranger, White Sussex and Speckled Hens. These produce an attractive range of egg colours from white to dark brown that’s instructive for school groups. However, the outbreak of avian flu over the previous year meant that we could not replenish our aging flock. This changed in 2024 when we purchased a dozen hens. Eggs remain in demand from visitors who often arrive early to buy the limited numbers that the hens lay.
Bees quality that won first place at the London ee oe Co ee grasslandHarvest Festival. (Our species rich gaia0; 7 2aee ae Oe ee that!)the However,may haveat the somethingend of Marchto do2025 with iit.@ Bec:Gutussa.sesr AbeSPORE9. cis. ge4 Beuuu!i,ae| farm were dealt a double blow. Our bee a | eT ReEe eee keeper reluctantly considered himself #™=* [aia fae F ee ae tie mele physically incapable of continuing and we =eae also found that only two out of our eleven hives had survived the winter. With the help of the Ruxley and Sidcup beekeepers we quickly engaged a_ replacement beekeeper and made the decision to buy a number of new bee colonies from a supplier using a donation from a member. We have also moved the apiary to a new position in the fields (pictured in June 2025) that is less exposed to cold northerly winds and where visitors can safely observe the working bees during our regular tractor trailer rides. We hope to increase the size of the apiary further in the coming years.
Hay
This year the farm cut 2 fields (12.6 hectares) of our species rich grass land for hay that produced an excellent yield of 205 bales. These fields in particular have many types of rarer native grasses and flowers including Red Fescue, Soft Brome, Crested Dog's Tail, Grass Vetchling, Corky Fruited
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The Woodlands Farm Trust Financial Year Ended 31 March 2025
Water Dropwort, Common Vetch, Lesser Trefoil. The high quality hay that we produce is generally used for feed during the overwintering and lambing of our animals, with excess hay being sold to local horse owners livings within two miles of the farm.
Filming
The farm is occasionally used for filming because location managers and producers recognise its unique agricultural setting so close to London. The farm hopes to further promote this opportunity to filmmakers in the future.
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Conservation
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The Trust carries out regular wildlife surveys throughout the year and reports the results to the ‘Greenspace Information for Greater London CIC (GiGL). GiGL mobilises, curates and shares this data that underpin the knowledge of London’s natural environment. Surveys carried out this year have comprised:
- e The Big Farmland Bird Count * Bee surveys monthly between March and October e Plant surveys in June (pictured) e Bat surveys in July
An observation from this year’s surveys was the reduction in the bumblebee population, as also reported by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.
The farm is proud to have approximately four kilometres of hedgerow across the farm, with significant lengths of new hedgerow planted since 1997. Hedge laying is the process of partially cutting through and then bending the stems of the shrubs of small trees, near ground level, so as to encourage them to produce new growth from the base and create a living ‘stock proof fence’ (pictured). This year our small expert hedge laying team ‘laid’ about 80m of hedgerow between September and February, and also organised a number of ‘hedging’ courses for people with an interest in this ancient skill.
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Education
The Education Officer, together with a small team of a dedicated volunteers, offer a number of tailor-made activities oa for schools, to link with the national curriculum and which _ cS fromencourage learning in the outdoor environment for children — S — ———— days Early Years to Secondary. The activities take place 3 eo ae oe start a week and are most popular in the period from the z < oeryh 2 ee of lambing in April until the school summer holidays, ,i fo a though activities are on offer throughout the year. @e > ey ea un] This year we have continued with our morning toddler group he * “ “— oa one day a week during term time. This group has a different [ya gga SS ee farming/conservation theme every week with activities “gg planned |a. hc ae 7 centre. to be half outside and half inside in our Education <=" S.» + 0" saMnaeelt eee popular The toddler group has proved to be extremely Si ye “UME iecetegote and heavily oversubscribed. eg 9. . a 2= In December 2024 the Trust initiated ‘home educated activity Ahe jae days’betweenaimed at those children that are home educated =ge":* Ae . farm the ages of 4 and 14. Activities included guided | 23 3)" 6g Uo Fg Se” tours, shelter building, campfire cooking and =. ALA ae orienteering. These courses were also oversubscribed and Rr geste we aim to continue with them in the future. st ee ‘Self guided’ visits are offered by the farm every day of the week and are popular with both schools and community groups
During this financial year a total of over 4400 children accessed our education activities. We have not counted the many teachers, parents and carers who accompanied them!
Our two Young Farmers groups on Saturday continues to provide lively assistance. As years go on, we see young people move on, some even to further study of work in areas related to their farm experience. Happily another generation comes along to take their place.
In July the farm once again hosted a veterinary course arranged by INVESTIN Education Ltd who deliver immersive work experience programmes in London for students aged 15 to 18. The course was delivered by professional vets, with the support of our Farm Manager, and provided the students with a ‘360-degree’ insight into becoming a vet.
In April 2025 we received notification from the Royal Borough of Greenwich that our application for a £33.5k grant under their Neighbourhood Growth Fund to improve the Education Building had been successful. The improvement works were carried out during the school summer holidays and comprised:
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e Reroofing the existing leaky roof and installing larger guttering
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e Repainting both the exterior and interior of the building, and
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e Improving the ground surfacing of the external seating area
In February 2025 the Trust hosted a formal reopening of the Education Centre in recognition of the generous grant from the RB Greenwich and renamed the centre in honour of two members who were critically important in the early years of the Trust: David Vaughan and Alan Mills.
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Community
Events
The trust organises a number of events across the agricultural year that are very popular with the community, some of which are also fundraising opportunities. In April the farm’s most attended event is held — ‘Lambing Day = (pictured). It is always timed to mark the end of the lambing period and provides an opportunity for the public to view our sheep with ait their lambs in a controlled environment. The farm also invite local [agiMpagerme i 8 food and craft businesses to a market in the farmyard. a i eae In June the farm hosts ‘Open Farm Sunday’ that’s nationally be Ts KO coordinated by ‘LEAF’ (Linking Environment And Farming). This ace 24.7 is closely followed by National Meadows Day onthe first weekend ype © k. | &. sf of July that celebrates the beauty and ecological importance of [MP 77 ass cullibaiaielil meadows across the UK, and provides an opportunity to ‘show off our late cut hay meadows before they are cut and bailed later in the month. September sees the Woolmen Sheep Drive & Livery Fair in central London where Freemen of the City exercise their right to drive sheep across London Bridge without paying a toll. All proceeds from this annual event are in aid of The Woolmen Charity and The Lord Mayor’s Appeal. Our farm manager, young farmers manager, young farmers and volunteers all provide the essential sheepherding skills to enable multiple sheep drives across the bridge during the day, and ensure the sheep remain calm and controlled. 2024 also saw a new 5km run around the farm in late September (pictured) | wherealong aparticipantsmarked outwerecourse;able ittoprovedrun aroundto bethebothbeautifulpopularfieldsand ofsurprisinglythe farm, : : : a| challenging, because of the unmown grass and the rolling countryside. a Apple Day is held in October where the emphasis is the promotion and sale eo. A of a number of varieties of traditional heritage apples from a Kent apple ci-umectmesttf Masco grower, and where we can also promote the farm’s own orchards and young {oe27 agaee trees. We also press apples on the day to sell as apple juice, helped by oo — visiting children. kn & ; The last event in the calendar year is around Christmas and is aimed to be doe 7 a non-commercial magical experience for our local young children. In 2024 we held the first of our ‘Evening with Santa’ events, where we lit up the cottage garden and offered families the opportunity to enjoy a festive story, create some reindeer food and then walk through the magically lit cottage garden to meet Santa in his ‘Grotto’.
Allotments
The farm has 28 ‘half plot’ allotments that are rented to local people, though the farm also has a few half plots of its own. Vegetables from the farm’s allotments are sold to visitors, whilst the soft fruit, supplemented by the many hedgerow plums around the farm, and made into jams and jellies for sale by a dedicated member.
Sitopia
Sitopia Farm (‘Sitopia’) is a not-for-profit social enterprise that grows vegetables and flowers using organic, regenerative, and no-dig principles and sell direct to the local community, to chefs and to florists. In March 2021 the Trustees allowed Sitopia to use a two acre plot in our ‘Arena Field’ on a rent free lease in order to establish the enterprise, recognising the two organisation’s common sustainable objectives. Work commenced in that year to create the growing area and erect poly tunnels. In the next year Sitopia occupied the farm’s old café building (historically used for stables) for packing and storage in return for rent that covered actual costs. Since 2021 Sitopia have
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developed their enterprise and this year we have jointly agreed to put our partnership on a firmer
footing by:
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e Agreeing rent for land that is proportional to Sitopia’s annual financial turnover. ® Agreeing revised rent for use of the old café building based on actual cost over the last few years
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e Agreeing, in principle, to the erection of a barn/building on Sitopia’s land that will replace use of the old café building and allow the enterprise to expand. Sitopia subsequently obtained planning consent for the building from the RB Greenwich.
Eltham Sheds
The national organisation ‘The Sheds Association’ encourages people to come together to make, repair and repurpose, supporting projects in their local communities. In October 2024 the farm was approached by Eltham Sheds because the group were being required to urgently leave their workshop in Eltham. They asked if they could be be based at the farm. The Trustees agreed, noting the synergies between our charitable aims and the continuing need to repair and maintain the farm. By early 2025 the Trustees had agreed for a temporary storage container to be located close to the Blacksmith’s working area, and for a section of the old weaner shed to be converted into a permanent workshop. These facilities are now in place and in return Eltham Sheds have agreed to provide a number of working hours per week dedicated to the farm in lieu of rent.
Our neighbouring Equestrian Centre — the future
The Royal Borough of Greenwich Equestrian Centre, is a bespoke equestrian facility built as part of the London 2012 Olympic legacy on Metropolitan Open Land and is a unique sporting and heritage asset for south east London and Kent. It is the Trust’s closest neighbour, being surrounded on three of its four boundaries by land owned by the Trust and on its southern fourth side by the Shooters Hill road. In Summer 2024 the centre was closed and security fencing installed when North Kent College handed back the lease to the RB Greenwich. The previous education partner, Hadlow College, went bust in 2019. The Council has subsequently proposed that the land be put up for sale. In April 2025 the Trust wrote to the RB Greenwich to formally nominate the site for inclusion on the “List of Assets of Community Value” of the Royal Borough. The future of the site is of great concern to the Trust, as it also represents a huge potential benefit to south east London if the Olympic legacy is not squandered.
Finance
The Trust is pleased to report that the net income for this financial year is positive (+ £8516), whereas net deficits have been reported in recent previous years. This positive trend is a result of considerable efforts by trustees, staff and volunteers across the following activities, as compared to the 23/24 financial year:
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@ A £5.5k increase in donations received ° A £9k increase in revenue from community events, particularly ‘lambing day’ and ‘apple day’. ® A £15k increase in produce and farm sales (hay, honey, eggs, meat and live animals) ° A £10k increase in rents received following rent reviews and the Trust’s collaboration with Sitopia.
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e £3k of income from the farm’s use asa filming location
The above increases in income have offset the unavoidable increases to costs, including those associated with staff salaries, cleaning, utilities (particularly water), insurances, and animal feed. At the beginning of the year, and before the parliamentary elections that took place on the 4" July 2024, the farm was progressing with an application to get the farm into the Higher Tier of the Countryside Stewardship scheme on the anniversary of the farm’s “Environmental Stewardship / Higher Level Stewardship” Agreement in January 2025. Our Natural England Advisor has continued to be impressed with the work the farm is doing and indicated support for the application. At that time the additional annual revenue that would flow from a successful application was estimated at over
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£20,000/annum, in addition to the potential of capital funding from the scheme for new fencing and hedges etc. Following the election of the new Government the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier scheme has been delayed until later in 2025, and will then comprise a ‘controlled rollout with applications by invitation on a rolling monthly basis’. In the meantime payments to the farm under the existing scheme have been significantly reducing over the last few years and are currently only about £7.6k/annum.
In May 2024 we replaced our IT support provider which substantially reduced our annual support fees. Soon afterwards, and using a donation from a member, we replaced our very slow 10 year old computers and file server with computers capable of both running Windows 11 and storing our electronic information on the cloud. This action has also mitigated Microsoft’s intention to withdraw technical support for Windows 10 from October 2025. There has been a massive improvement in IT performance for staff and office volunteers since the change.
Risk management and Insurance
All major insurable risks are subject to normal insurance arrangements. Risks are reviewed before being entered into to assess that they could not significantly impact on the Trust’s ability to fulfil its objectives. We strive to introduce measures and activities to reduce specific risks in consultation with our insurers and other advisers
Acknowledgements and thanks
The Trust is very grateful to all the members, friends, visitors and organisations who have donated to the Trust since its creation in 1996 and that have been crucial to its success to date (refer to previous Annual Reports).
As the Trust is an independent community based charity not funded by local authorities, particular thanks is extended to the very generous donations made over the last year by visitors, members and the organisations listed below:
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® British Heart Foundation (for defibrillator) ° Charities Trust ° Disabled Christian Fellowship ° London City Farms and Community Gardens e National Westminster Bank, Bexleyheath Branch
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e Royal Borough of Greenwich — Neigbourhood Growth Fund (for the Education Centre) ® Worshipful Company of Woolmen ° The Harenc Community Trust
External links
The Trust is a member of:
- e The National Farmers’ Union, ° London City Farms and Community Gardens Association, e The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) ° The Council for Voluntary Service for the Royal Borough of Greenwich (METRO GAVS) « Bexley Voluntary Service Council, ° The Greenwich Wildlife Advisory Group (GWAG), e The Lleyn Society @ The British White Cattle Society e The Rare Breeds Survival Trust e Pasture For Life (PFL) ° LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) ° London Environmental Education Forum (LEEF)
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The Woodlands Farm Trust
Statement of Trustees responsibilities for the report
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards)
Charity law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year in which give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing the financial statements the trustees are required to:
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° Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; e Observe the methods and principles in the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice; ° Make judgements and estimates which are reasonable and prudent;
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° State whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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® Prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is appropriate to presume that the charity will not continue to operate.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to comply with the Companies Act 2006 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Trustees approval of the report
This report was approved by the Board of Trustees on the [Sef Syptintes 202§ and signed on its behalf
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B. J. Gray AY 4 2
Chair of Trustées Date 4
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1C Bught
Trustee with Financial Responsibility
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oo Date 24H Seplinbes -LOAS.
11
Statement of Financial Activities
Income and Expenditure Account
| Restricted | Unrestricted | Total | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | Funds | Funds | 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Incoming Resources - Income | |||||
| Incoming resources from generated funds: | |||||
| Voluntary Income | 2 | - | 32,598 | 32,598 | 26,533 |
| Activities for generating funds | - | 28,078 | 28,078 | 18,726 | |
| Investment income | 3 | - | 49 888 | 49,888 | 40,501 |
| Incoming resources from charitable activities: | |||||
| Grants | 4 | 36,465 | - | 36,465 | 3,000 |
| Farm & livestock sales | - | 42,523 | 42,523 | 35,436 | |
| Agricultural payments received | 5 | - | 7,643 | 7,643 | 8,522 |
| Fees received | - | 31,922 | 31,922 | 35,373 | |
| Other income | - | 5,197 | 5,197 | 7,156 | |
| Total incoming resources | 36,465 | 197,849 | 234,314 | 175,247 | |
| Resources Expended - Expenditure | |||||
| Costs of generating funds | 9 | - | 5,802 | 5,802 | 6,105 |
| Charitable activities | |||||
| Farming & Conservation | i) | 3,000 | 108,287 | 111,287 | 105,398 |
| Education | 9 | 33,465 | 64,513 | 97,978 | 63,420 |
| Governance costs | 10 | - | 10,731 | 10,731 | 10,695 |
| Total resources expended | 36,465 | 189,333 | 225,798 | 185,618 | |
| Net incoming (outgoing) resources — Net | - | 8,516 | 8,516 | (10,371) | |
| Income / (Expenditure) | |||||
| Reconciliation of Reserves | |||||
| Funds brought forward | 415,691 | 76,640 | 492,331 | 502,702 | |
| Totalfundscarriedforward | 415,691 | 85,156 | 500,847 | 492,331 |
A statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses is not required as all gains and losses are included in the Statement of Financial Activities.
All incoming resources, resources expended and resulting net movement in funds are derived from continuing activities.
The attached notes form part of these financial statements.
12
Balance Sheet
| Notes | 2025 | 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Fixed Assets | |||||
| Tangible assets | 12 | 428,332 | 429,800 | ||
| Current Assets | |||||
| Cash at bank | 68,139 | 60,924 | |||
| Cash in hand | 1,541 | 164 | |||
| Debtors | 8,834 | 7,750 | |||
| 78,514 | 68,838 | ||||
| Creditors | |||||
| Amounts falling due within one year | 13 | 5,999 | 6,307 | ||
| Net CurrentAssets | 72,515 | 62,531 | |||
| Total Assets Less Current Liabilities | 500 847 | 492 331 | |||
| Reserves | |||||
| Restricted reserves | |||||
| Farm fund restricted reserves | 14 | 415,691 | 415,691 | ||
| Other restricted reserves | 14 | - | - | ||
| Unrestricted reserves | 15 | 85,156 | 76,640 | ||
| 500,847 | 492,331 |
The company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ending 31st March 2025.
The trustees have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2025 under section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for:
-
(a) Ensuring that the company keeps accounting records which comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and
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(b) Preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as a the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the company
13
Balance Sheet (continued)
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies and with the Financial Reporting Standard FRS102 issued October 2019.
This report was approved by the Board and Trustees on 18h Selealer 2029 .and signed on its behalf by:-
B. J. Gray \ Chair ofTrustees
Trustee
9 Ic / LO f£) Date. A4- | | ) Date: 2beb Sytinde 20,25
14
Financial Year Ended 31 March 2025
Notes to the Financial Statements
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES Accounting convention
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the 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 (FRS102)) (issued in October 2019) — (Charities SORP (FRS102)) and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) and the Companies Act 2006. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note.
Income
Income represents subscriptions, donations, grants, fees, rent and interest received. The various sources of income are taken into account as follows:
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Subscriptions and donations — when received by the trust
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- Farm and livestock sales — when received by the trust - Grants — when they are confirmed unconditionally by the funding body
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Fees, rent and interest income — when receivable and the obligations under the arrangements have been effectively completed.
Resources Expended
Expenditure is recognised whena liability is incurred. Contractual arrangements are recognised as services as supplied.
-
Costs of generating funds are those costs incurred in attracting voluntary income.
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- Charitable activities include expenditure associated with the operation of farm land and buildings for the promotion of conservation, sustainable farming and education.
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Governance costs include those incurred in the governance of the charity and its assets, and are primarily associated with constitutional and statutory requirements.
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Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Commitments for future expenditure
Other than normal commitments inherent in farm operation and under contracts of employment there are no contractual obligations to future expenditure at the balance sheet date. Where the trustees authorise expenditure which is not legally enforceable at the balance sheet date the appropriate amounts are set aside into designated funds. There were no amounts authorised at the year end.
Funds
Unrestricted funds are donations and other incoming resources receivable or generated for the objects of the charity without further specified purpose and are available as general funds. Designated fund monies set aside out of general funds are designated for specific purposes by the Trustees.
Restricted funds are to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor. Expenditure which meets this criteria is charged to the fund.
Debtors
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
15
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Creditors and provisions
Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
Tangible fixed assets
Land and buildings represent the Woodlands Farm, Shooters Hill, Welling, Kent. The land is held on a 999 year lease at peppercorn rent taken out in 1997 with the Co-operative Wholesale Society.
Livestock due to its pastoral nature and negligible market value is not recorded as an asset.
All fixed assets are initially recorded at cost. Individual assets below the value of £1,000 are written off in the date of acquisition.
Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost of each asset, less its residual value, over its estimated useful life:
Plant and machinery 20% Straight Line Computer Equipment 33% Straight Line _ Motor Vehicles 20% Straight Line Buildings over 8 years
No provision has been made in respect of land and buildings given the low value attributed to the buildings and the length of their useful economic life.
2. VOLUNTARY INCOME
| 2. VOLUNTARY INCOME | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted | Unrestricted | Total | Total | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
| £ | z | £ | z | ||
| Donations | - | 31,321 | 31,321 | 24,996 | |
| Membership Subscription | - | 1,277 | 1,277 | 1,537 | |
| - | 32,598 | 32,598 | 26,533 | ||
| 3. INVESTMENT INCOME | |||||
| Total | Total | ||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
| £ | £ | ||||
| Rent receivable | 49 005 | 39,566 | |||
| Deposit account interest | 883 | 935 | |||
| 49,888 | 40,501 | ||||
| 4. GRANT INCOME | |||||
| Transfer to | |||||
| Expenditure | Unrestricted | ||||
| B/fwd | Grants | This Year | Funds | C/fwd | |
| W. SocWoolmen | - | 3,000 | 3,000 | - | - |
| RB Greenwich — NGF | - | 33,465 | 33,465 | - | - |
| - | 36,465 | 36,465 | - | - | |
| 16 |
3. INVESTMENT INCOME
4. GRANT INCOME
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
5. AGRICULTURAL PAYMENTS RECEIVED
| 5. AGRICULTURAL PAYMENTS RECEIVED | ||
|---|---|---|
| Total | Total | |
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Rural payments agency | 7,643 | 8,522 |
| 7,643 | 8,522 | |
| 6. STAFF COSTS | ||
| The employment costs of staffwere as follows:- | ||
| Total | Total | |
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Wages and salaries | 91,791 | 94,881 |
| Social security costs | 3,097 | 2,959 |
| Pension scheme | 2,018 | 2,026 |
| 96,906 | 99,866 |
6. STAFF COSTS
The employment costs of staff were as follows:-
The average number of full time equivalent staff during the year was 4 (2024 5)
No single employee received remuneration in excess of £60,000.
7. OPERATING SURPLUS / DEFICIT
The operating surplus / deficit is stated after charging:-
| Total | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
| £ | E | ||||
| Depreciation | — | owned | assets | 5,868 | 5,002 |
8. TRUSTEE REMUNERATION / EXPENSES
No trustee received any remuneration for services to the trust in the year nor had expenses reimbursed or paid for by the charity.
17
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
9. ANALYSIS OF RESOURCES EXPENDED
| Farming & | Total | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fundraising | Conservation | Education | 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Wages | - | 63,589 | 33,337 | 96,926 | 99,945 |
| Travel and motor expenses | - | 1,918 | - | 1,918 | 1,844 |
| Repairs and renewals | - | 2,362 | 9,177 | 11,539 | 7,475 |
| Small tools | - | - | - | - | - |
| Projects/education | - | 1,521 | 25,944 | 27,465 | 1,479 |
| Events | 3531 | - | - | 3,531 | 4,066 |
| Livestock | - | 15,796 | - | 15,796 | 7,456 |
| Farming | - | 6,608 | - | 6,608 | 6,867 |
| Recruitment & advertising | - | - | - | - | - |
| Depreciation - Plant & machinery |
- | 2,081 | - | 2,081 | 2,081 |
| Depreciation - Computer equipment | - | 1,467 | - | 1,467 | - |
| Depreciation - Motor vehicles | - | 2,320 | - | 2,320 | 2,921 |
| Depreciation — Building | - | - | - | - | - |
| Farming & Conservation | - | - | - | - | - |
| Support Costs — Charitable | 2,271 | 13,625 | 29,520 | 45,416 | 40,789 |
| Support Costs — Governance | 537 | 3,219 | 6,975 | 10,731 | 10,695 |
| 6,339 | 114,506 | 104,953 | 225,798 | 185,618 |
10. ANALYSIS OF SUPPORT COSTS
||Charitable
Activities
|Governance|Governance|Total
2025|Total
2024|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||£|£|£|£|
|Utilities|8,307|-|8,307|5,783|
|Auditors fees|-|1,980|1,980|1,980|
|Legal & professional fees, bookkeeping|-|8,751|8,751|8,715|
|Insurance|10,746|-|10,746|9,654|
|Telephone|1.339|-|1,339|1,551|
|Computer costs|3,742|-|3,742|3,352|
|Postage, printing and stationery|2,764|-|2,164|2,837|
|Cleaning|11,638|-|11,638|8,441|
|Sundry expenses|5,657|-|5,657|8,110|
|Affiliation fees|1,223|-|1223|1,061|
||45,416|10,731|56,147|51,484|
11. TAXATION
As a charity, The Woodlands Farm Trust is exempt from tax on income or gains. No liability to UK Corporation Tax arose on the ordinary activities for the year ended 31st March 2025.
18
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
12. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
| Land& Buildings |
Plant & Machinery |
Computer Equipment |
Motor Vehicles |
Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Cost | |||||
| At 1 April 2024 | 450,970 | 40,751 | 7,427 | 37,113 | 536,261 |
| Additions - Cost | 33,465 | ~ | 4,400 | - | 37,865 |
| Less — Grants Utilised | (33,465) | - | - | - | (33,465) |
| Less— Disposals | . | - | (7,427) | - | (7,427) |
| At 31 March 2025 | 450,970 | 40,751 | 4,400 | 37,113 | 533,234 |
| Accumulated Depreciation | |||||
| At 1 April 2024 | 35,279 | 33,622 | 7,427 | 30,133 | 106,461 |
| Charge for the year | - | 2,081 | 1,467 | 2,320 | 5,868 |
| Less — Disposals | - | - | (7,427) | - | (7,427) |
| At 31 March 2025 | 35,279 | 35,703 | 1,467 | 32,453 | 104,902 |
| Net book value | |||||
| At 31 March 2025 | 415,691 | 5,048 | 2,933 | 4,660 | 428,332 |
| At31March2024 | 415,691 | 7,129 | - | 6,980 | 429,800 |
13. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
| Total | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Accrued expenses | 3,669 | 3,249 |
| PAYE | 1,937 | 1,939 |
| Pensions | 393 | 379 |
| VAT | - | 740 |
| 5,999 | 6,307 | |
| 14. RESTRICTED RESERVES | ||
| Total | Total | |
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| E | £ | |
| Farm fund reserve | 415,691 | 415,691 |
| Specific funds not disbursed on receipt | - | - |
| 415,691 | 415,691 |
14. RESTRICTED RESERVES
The Farm Fund Reserve consists of the Trust’s interest in the leasehold land and buildings occupied by the farm and as described in note 1 of the financial statements.
Specific funds not disbursed in the year of receipt represents the balance of grants and donations received for specific projects which are in the process of completion or fulfilment. An analysis of these funds is given in note 4 to the accounts.
19
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
15. RECONCILIATION OF MOVEMENTS IN UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
| Unrestricted | Total | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Surplus (Deficit) forthe year | 8,516 | 8,516 | (10,371) |
| Funds B/fwd | 76,640 | 76,640 | 87,011 |
| 85,156 | 85,156 | 76,640 |
16. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | Funds | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Tangible fixed assets | 12,641 | 415,691 | 428 332 |
| Current assets | 78,514 | - | 78,514 |
| All liabilities | (5,999) | - | (5,999) |
| Netassetsat31March2025 | 85,156 | 415,691 | 500,847 |
17. REPORTING ACCOUNTANTS REMUNERATION
The Independent Examiners remuneration was £1,980 (2024 £1,980).
18. PUBLIC BENEFIT ENTITY
The charity is a public benefit entity.
20
The Woodlands Farm Trust Financial Year Ended 31 March 2025
Independent examiners report to the Trustees of The Woodlands Farm Trust
We report on the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025, which are set out on pages 1 to 23.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and that an independent examination is needed.
Having been satisfied that the charity is not subject to audit under company law under Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and is eligible for independent examination it is our responsibility to:
-
examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
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to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
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to state whether particular matters have come to our attention.
Basis of independent examiners’ report
Our examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and the seeking of explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and, consequently, no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiners’ statement
In connection with our examination, no matter has come to our attention:
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(1) which gives reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements: - to keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and - to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements under section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Charities SORP (FRS102).
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(2) to which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
24" September 2025
lan Inman FCA
Inman & Co Chartered Accountants 71-75 Uxbridge Road London W5 5SL
21
The Woodlands Farm Trust Financial Year Ended 31 March 2025
Appendix 1: List of staff and Directors of the Company (Trustees)
Staff:
Manager (Full time)
Farming Team Leader (3 days week) Education Officer (4 days week) Housekeeping (part time) Young Farmers Leader (Saturdays)
David Jones Jon Lewis Hannah Ricketts Tony Slater Kate Bygrave
Directors of the Company
Barry Gray (Chair) lan Blight Paul Howick
Diane Jones Keith Jones Carol Thumwood Browning Alan Scholefield Dave Wright
Re-elected October 2021 Elected October 2023 Elected October 2023 Elected August 2024 Elected October 2020 Re-elected October 2021 Elected October 2021 Re-elected October 2024
Co-opted Directors of the Company
Daniel Hill (Sitopia)
Ivis Williams (Royal Borough of Greenwich) James Woodrow
Co-opted January 2022 Co-opted October 2023 Co-opted December 2024
Directors who have resigned:
Peter Baker Margaret Jones Philip Jones
Resigned June 2024 Resigned October 2024 Resigned October 2024
Officer (as recorded at Companies House, but not a Trustee) Margaret Jones (Secretary)
Appointed October 2024
22
Appendix 2: References and administrative details
Company limited by guarantee Company No. 3039299
Registered Charity Charity Registration No. 1051680 VAT registered VAT No. 691317429 Registered office 331 Shooters Hill Welling Kent DA16 3RP tel: 020 8319 8900 website: www.thewoodlandsfarmtrust.org
Bankers HSBC 249 High Street Orpington BR6 ONRN The Co-operative Bank 151 Lewisham High Street London SE13 6AA
Independent examiner Inman & Co, Chartered Accountants 71-75 Uxbridge Road London W5 5SL
23