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← Lower Ure Conservation Trust

2024-06-30-accounts

Charity Number: 1078757 Company Number: 3387973

LOWER URE CONSERVATION TRUST

(A company limited by guarantee)

Report of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2024

LOWER URE CONSERVATION TRUST

CONTENTS

Page
Reference and Administrative Information 1
Trustees' Report (including Directors' Report) 2 - 10
Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) 11
Balance Sheet 12 - 13
Notes to the Financial Statements 14 - 22

LOWER URE CONSERVATION TRUST

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

for the year ended 30 June 2024

Directors and trustees

C W Bourne-Arton S P Warwick R M Wells H Byron (resigned 15 November 2024) D Heptinstall R Mercer (appointed 15 November 2024) Prof A J Long (appointed 15 November 2024) Prof D A Hill (appointed 15 November 2024)

Company Secretary

S P Warwick

Company Registered Number

3387973 (England and Wales)

Charity Registered Number

1078757

Registered Office

Sharow Grange Sharow Ripon North Yorkshire HG4 5BN

Independent Examiner

Guy Baragwanath C & G B Associates Accountants 37-39 Westgate Thirsk North Yorkshire YO7 1QR

Bankers Investment Managers Barclays Bank Rathbone Investment Management 7 Market Place East 8 Finsbury Circus Ripon London North Yorkshire EC2M 7AZ HG4 1BP

Page 1 .

LOWER URE CONSERVATION TRUST

TRUSTEES' REPORT for the year ended 30 June 2024

The trustees (who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act) present their annual report together with the financial statements of the Lower Ure Conservation Trust (the company) for the year ended 30 June 2024. The trustees confirm that the annual report and financial statements of the company comply with the current statutory requirements of the company's governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP), applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015).

Since the company qualifies as small under section 383, the strategic report required of medium and large companies under The Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Director's Report) Regulations 2013 is not required.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives and aims

The principal objective of the charity is to manage sites, with a preference for former mineral sites, as nature reserves to promote and improve the ecology of the sites and to promote the protection, conservation and enhance the flora and fauna at the sites for the education and enjoyment of the public.

Public benefit

The Nosterfield Local Nature Reserve is open to the public throughout the year free of charge, with the buildings being open during daylight hours. Tours and visits for local schools and groups are held regularly.

The Reserve provides access to the site on foot at all times. Wheelchair access is available to the interpretation building, the bird hide and the Tanfield hide. There is 500m of permissive footpath available to wheelchair users and for people with mobility issues.

In setting objectives and planning for activities, the trustees have given careful consideration to the general guidance published by the Charity Commission relating to public benefit.

The charity's main reserve is at Nosterfield within the Hambleton District of North Yorkshire.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The organisation was incorporated on 17 June 1997 and is constituted as a company limited by guarantee, without a share capital and is therefore governed by a Memorandum and Association of Articles of Association as amended by special resolutions dated 22 September 1998 and 4 January 2000. It became a registered charity on 29 December 1999.

Every member of the company has however guaranteed an amount not exceeding £10 each.

Page 2 .

LOWER URE CONSERVATION TRUST

TRUSTEES' REPORT (continued) for the year ended 30 June 2024

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT - continued

Organisation, Structure and Running of the Reserve

Decisions regarding the running of the charity are delegated to Simon Warwick, as director and the individual responsible for the day to day management. Major decisions concerning the long-term direction of the charity are taken by the trustees.

The Nosterfield Local Nature Reserve (NLNR) is run by the trustees, with the support of a regular volunteer team. The early part of the financial year resulted in LUCT employing a Field Officer, to assist primarily with volunteer support. This role has proved highly valuable and resulted in a significant increase in volunteer numbers.

NLNR has a Management Liaison Committee, with representatives from the LUCT, District and Parish Councils and other user groups.

Appointment, induction and training of new trustees

As set out in the Articles of Association, new trustees are discussed by the board of trustees. Potential trustees can be nominated if they are recommended by a current trustee. New trustees are fully inducted in the structure of the trust and all requirements on them as trustees. Trustee training is delivered via general meetings and upon request if specific needs arise.

None of the trustees have any beneficial interest in the company. All the trustees are directors of the company.

All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefit from the charity. Any expenses reclaimed from the charity are set out in note 10 to the accounts.

Risk Management

The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.

The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed and are satisfied that appropriate systems and controls are in place to mitigate exposure to these risks.

The major risks to which the trust is exposed, as identified by the trustees, are reviewed annually (or sooner if the need arises) as are the management procedures of these risks.

Page 3 .

LOWER URE CONSERVATION TRUST

TRUSTEES' REPORT (continued)

for the year ended 30 June 2024

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Volunteering and engagement

LUCT’s reputation as a leading light in mineral site restoration and wetland habitat creation projects has grown in recent years. Alongside significant improvements for nature we’re proud to make a difference to people. We are a very small organisation, and our achievements are underpinned by volunteering.

More than 7,000 hours of volunteering activity were recorded by LUCT in 2023/24. Our ‘core’ team of volunteers involved 35 regular practical conservation volunteers, with another 50 or so people joining us for community work days and ‘one off’ volunteering tasks

Volunteers undertake a wide range of activities to suit their interests and abilities, including running the specialist plant nursery, looking after Nosterfield Nature reserve, practical habitat conservation and restoration tasks and implementing LUCT’s surveying, monitoring and reporting programme.

Our programme of volunteering and engagement reaches out across a wide range of groups and individuals, including a local group from the charity ‘Dementia Forward’, our conservation club for teenagers and family community workdays. In addition, we’re also supported by a wide network of people who collect and share data and information related to wildlife and habitats at Nosterfield Nature Reserve.

An estimated 10,000 visitors enjoy getting close to nature at Nosterfield Nature Reserve (which we manage) each year.

Project funding

During this period the following sources of project funding have underpinned progress:

Yorkshire Water Biodiversity Enhancement Fund. June 2022 – June 2024

This grant supported us ‘To extend our practical work on wetland habitat restoration and creation in the lower Ure valley and widely share our experience and learning beyond our boundaries’ .

National Lottery Heritage Fund. July 2023 – January 2025. We were awarded £250,000 for our project ‘Ure Connected - Engaging People with Nature in the Lower Ure Valley’.

The project’s aim is to inspire the enthusiasm of a growing number of people and partners, to reverse the loss of biodiversity in the lower Swale and Ure valleys in North Yorkshire. Through this inspiration we’re working to restore create new habitats, tackle climate change, share our learning and good practice and consolidate our organisational capacity.

The project is focusing primarily on the Trust’s nature reserve at Nosterfield where rare remnant areas of fen and magnesian limestone are in urgent need of attention. But as the project name suggests, work is also taking place at other sites in the River Ure catchment area in need of habitat restoration.

Page 4 .

LOWER URE CONSERVATION TRUST

TRUSTEES' REPORT (continued)

for the year ended 30 June 2024

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Project funding - continued

The aim is to benefit wildlife and also the communities that live near areas where the work will take place, encouraging people to volunteer to help bring these habitats to life and give them a stake in a better more diverse natural world.

Extending our reach

Achievements supported by these grants have included the hosting of numerous visits from a wide range of organisations including the Chartered Institute of Horticulture, Quarry Products Association, Richmond Walking & Books Festival, Wild Flower Society and Ripon Civic Society. Alongside this face-to-face knowledge transfer, we’ve produced several ‘how to’ guides and monitoring reports which are available on the LUCT website (https://www.luct.org.uk/plantpropagation).

Examples of other events include a webinar on ‘Managing small grasslands for nature’, which was given by our ecologist in November 2023, with a full house of 90 people attending on-line. We were also honoured to give a presentation on wetland creation using local plants as part of the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland’s winter talks series. Our ecologist Martin and plant nursery lead volunteers Pandora and Laurie explained the lessons of the past 5 years work on Flasks Fen and the story of the nursery to an online audience with over 140 people booked. The video is available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUQluWgorgM

We were delighted to host our ‘URE Connected’ seminar on 22nd March 2024, at the Aislabie auditorium at Fountains Abbey, near Ripon. This event with 100 participants brought together speakers on diverse aspects of the Lower Ure Valley landscape, past and present. Talks covered the prehistory, archaeology and landscape history of the valley, oxbow formation at the Ripon Loop, Curlew conservation, an overview of its wider biodiversity interest and practical conservation initiatives.

Visits to Thornborough Henges, LUCT’s plant nursery and the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s reserve at ‘The Loop’ in Ripon were also hosted during the preceding week. All helping to tell the story of the River Ure and the Lower Ure valley.

With support from project funding we are widening our reach and involving more people in our work, engaging with a diverse range of audiences. This involves working more with young people – offering work experience and Duke of Edinburgh placements as well as establishing a weekend conservation club for teenagers.

We are also hosting two 8-month funded internships as part of NLHF project. Our first intern, Nik completed his internship in March 2024 and has gone on to work for the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, and our second internship started in July 2024.

We’re currently working with a local charity ‘Dementia Forward’ on the Time Out Together project to provide weekend task days for early onset dementia sufferers.

Page 5 .

LOWER URE CONSERVATION TRUST

TRUSTEES' REPORT (continued)

for the year ended 30 June 2024

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE - continued

Extending our reach - continued

Project funding has also supported us to expand our events programme this year. The vast majority of events we have advertised have sold out on Eventbrite ahead of the event, with people also booking onto the waiting list. We have made connections with local schools, scout groups and home school groups who are really keen to take part in weekday sessions at the reserve. Summer holiday family sessions (pond dipping and ‘all about owls’) have also been booked well ahead of time. Events have catered for many different age groups, from adult events such as butterfly and bat walks to pond dipping for families and conservation club for young people aged 14-18 years.

Plant propagation and habitat creation

Over 20,000 local-provenance wetland plants are now being propagated at our wetland plant nursery each year. More than 80 plant species are in cultivation at the nursery with propagation of large numbers of key wetland species such as Great Fen Sedge, Tufted Sedge, Glaucous Sedge, Long-stalked Yellow Sedge, Cyperus Sedge, Purple Small-reed, Lesser Reedmace, Blunt-flowered Rush, Grey Club-rush, Common Club-rush, Purple Moor-grass, Yellow Flag, Yellow Loosestrife, Purple Loosestrife, Hemp Agrimony, Water Mint and Greater Spearwort.

The above-named species and more have been grown in quantities of hundreds or thousands. Once established, Flasks Fen an area under LUCT management at the Nosterfield site, will support the largest stand of Great Fen Sedge in Yorkshire

The nursery is equipped with wet beds and standing areas, producing plants to meet the needs at LUCT’s own site as well as supporting habitat restoration/re-creation projects in the wider Lower Ure Valley landscape, such as at Pennycroft (fen creation) and Thornborough Middle Henge (calcareous grassland restoration).

A number of rare plants from material of North Yorkshire origin are being cultivated in significant numbers, establishing ex-situ populations which could potentially be used for re-introductions or to reinforce threatened wild populations. These include Tufted Loosestrife, Tubular Water-dropwort, Marsh Pea, Fibrous Tussock-sedge and Marsh Fern.

While initially focussing on the creation of 1.5 ha of new fen at our Nosterfield Quarry base, the nursery now works in partnership with diverse local, regional and national practitioners. Current projects include: propagating endangered plants for re-introduction schemes led by the Yorkshire, Tees Valley and Hertfordshire Wildlife Trusts; working with Nidderdale National Landscape to grow appropriate, local-provenance plants for new upland wetlands; and growing 10,000 limestone grassland plants from local seed to help English Heritage restore the Neolithic Thornborough Henges.

Page 6 .

LOWER URE CONSERVATION TRUST

TRUSTEES' REPORT (continued)

for the year ended 30 June 2024

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE - continued

Plant propagation and habitat creation - continued

We are working closely with English Heritage providing advice and practical support to habitat restoration on the Thornborough Henges, (which neighbour the Nature Reserve) welldeserving of its title ‘the Stonehenge of the North’. We’re in a unique position through our propagation and expertise in Magnesian limestone grassland to restore the vibrant and rich habitats of the Henges and build a long term partnership between our two organisations, connecting the heritage of our two sites.

Practical conservation work

Our Project Officer and volunteers have continued to make significant progress on delivery of practical conservation tasks. These are grouped under four headings:

Running the Plant nursery - nursery management; plant propagation – pricking out, potting on, splitting, watering, planting, making sandbag planters, seed collection, weeding and maintaining the nursery infrastructure

Looking after Nosterfield Nature reserve: bird hide cleaning & maintenance, osprey nest maintenance, sand martin bank maintenance, path clearance, reserve infrastructure maintenance, litter picking

Habitat conservation / restoration: Grassland maintenance / hay cuts, scrub control, deadhedging, invasive species control, coppicing, woodland thinning & glade creation, hedge-laying, nettle-digging, maintaining ringing rides, tree planting and tree guard removal, reedbed cutting/management.

Surveying, monitoring and reporting WeBS counts, breeding bird surveys, butterfly transects, dragonfly surveys, moth trapping, bird ringing, monthly bird report, annual bird report, livestock checks, nest box checks.

We are increasingly extending our reach for delivery or practical conservation work beyond Nosterfield Nature Reserve. This now includes helping to manage a number of County Wildlife Sites (CWS). CWS (also known as Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation) are habitats of North Yorkshire-wide importance for nature. Whilst they are designated by the local authority, we found that no one was promoting positive management of these sites and many were deteriorating for various reasons.

LUCT has worked with land owners to carry out much-needed management on a dozen CWS, varying from invasive plant control to scrub management. Several sites have provided a source of seeds or cuttings to help establish new habitats or enrich impoverished grasslands, making good use of a valuable resource.

LUCT – a learning ‘hub’

The influence of LUCT’s work is increasingly far reaching – both in the wider landscape of the Lower Ure and Mid Swale catchments as well as other sites that have expressed an interest in our work.

Page 7 .

LOWER URE CONSERVATION TRUST

TRUSTEES' REPORT (continued)

for the year ended 30 June 2024

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE - continued

LUCT – a learning ‘hub’ - continued

It also plays an important role in sharing knowledge, associated with enriching and informing former mineral site restoration as well as other habitat creation and restoration projects. Our work on fen re-creation for example has been groundbreaking and is providing important know how for other practitioners.

Through the commitment and expanding skill set of it’s volunteers the organisation’s capacity to develop, test and pass-on practical techniques for wetland creation has grown significantly. These techniques include: using dead hedging to reduce wave wash; using sacks for safe and efficient planting in shallow water; ‘headstarting’ tussock-forming sedges; growing deep-water emergents such as Common Club-rush in immersion tanks; and specialist propagation techniques for plants such as Great Fen Sedge.

LUCT’s reputation as a leading light in mineral site restoration and wetland habitat creation projects has also grown in recent years. By taking an outward looking and open approach to sharing learning the organisation aims to influence and support wetland habitat restoration across Yorkshire and further afield.

The Nosterfield Community

The ‘core’ work of LUCT is supported by a much broader community of people with an interest in nature conservation and wildlife, who spend thousands of hours a year observing wildlife at Nosterfield and sharing their findings.

An informal WhatsApp group was established by one of these volunteers in 2020 and now has 179 members with daily updates and points of interested shared via the group. In its first full year of operation (2021) 1,095 ‘observation’ hours were noted, recording 171 bird species. In 2023 there were 1254 recorded observation hours with 183 species recorded.

A monthly review of bird watching highlights is also prepared by one of the volunteers on this group and published on the LUCT website.

Recognition

We were delighted this year to receive and be nominated for a number of awards in recognition of our work. This included a nomination for the prestigious Kings Award for Voluntary Service as well as local / regional awards including: the BBC Make a Difference award and the North Yorkshire High Sherriff’s award for volunteering for two of our most committed volunteers.

Page 8 .

LOWER URE CONSERVATION TRUST

TRUSTEES' REPORT (continued)

for the year ended 30 June 2024

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE - continued

FUTURE PLANS

Looking ahead, the ‘Ure Connected’ National Lottery Heritage fund project will underpin our work in the next year: this will focus on growing our reach and involving more people in our activities, continuing to share our learning and expertise of plant propagation and habitat restoration and ensuring we continue to deliver high quality practial conservation work with our volunteer team.

We have also been progressing discussions with Yorkshire Water to secure longer term funding for their next strategic plan period of 2025-2030 and expect to hear the outcome of these discussions in December 2024.

In addition, we are working on a grant request submission to the Garfield Weston Foundation for 2025 to help strengthen our organisational capacity and take some pressure off our small hugely busy staff team while also supporting us to build a more solid foundation for the future.

We’ll also be working with Tarmac and English Heritage to look at our longer term partnership working and an overarching plan for nature restoration at a landscape scale.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Financial review

Incoming resources for the year totalled £127,339 (2023: £53,252). After resources expended of £165,628 (2023: £104,882) and gains on investments of £5,391 (2023: 2,597), the net outgoing resources were £32,898 (2023: £49,033). There was an overall deficit for the year of £32,898 (2023: £49,033), resulting in total funds carried forward of £330,015 (2023: £362,913). Unrestricted funds carried forward were £354,616 (2023: £332,650). Restricted funds carried forward were £-24,601 (2023: £30,263).

Going concern

After making appropriate enquiries, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

Reserves policy

It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use are to be maintained at a level not less than £35,000, to be reviewed on an annual basis.

The trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that the charity will be able to properly maintain the Nosterfield Reserve, irrespective of current income levels.

The trustees decided that the expenditure on acquiring the Nosterfield Reserve and any subsequent additions, should not be taken into account in determining the charity's free reserves, given that Nosterfield Reserve is essential to the charity's operations. The free reserves as at 30 June 2024 are £163,320 (2023: £124,363). The free reserves are calculated as the unrestricted funds, not including those funds held as tangible fixed assets.

Page 9 .

LOWER URE CONSERVATION TRUST

TRUSTEES' REPORT (continued)

for the year ended 30 June 2024

TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES STATEMENT

The trustees (who are also directors of the Lower Ure Conservation Trust for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charitable company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

In preparing this report, the trustees have taken advantage of the small companies exemptions provided by section 415A of the Companies Act 2006.

The report was approved by the trustees on 11 April 2025 and signed on their behalf by:

S P Warwick Secretary

Page 10 .

LOWER URE CONSERVATION TRUST

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (incorporating the income and expenditure account) for the year ended 30 June 2024

Unrestricted
funds
2024
Note
£
Income and endowments from:
Donations and legacies
2
28,422
Investments
3
1,863
Charitable activities
4
29,506
Raising Funds
5
19,482
Total income and endowments
79,273
Expenditure on:
Raising Funds
6
551
Charitable activities
7
59,298
Total expenditure
59,849
Net gains/(losses) on investments
5,391
Transfer between funds
(2,849)
Net movement in funds
21,966
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds at 1 July 2023
18
332,650
Total funds at 30 June 2024
18
354,616		 Restricted
funds
2024
£
500
-
47,496
70
48,066
-
105,779
105,779
-
2,849
(54,864)
30,263
(24,601)		 Total
funds
2024
£
28,922
1,863
77,002
19,552
127,339
551
165,077
165,628
5,391
-
(32,898)
362,913
330,015		 Total
funds
2023
£
1,353
1,581
49,301
1,017
53,252
442
104,440
104,882
2,597
-
(49,033)
411,946
362,913

The notes on pages 9 to 22 form part of these financial statements.

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised during the year.

Page 11 .

LOWER URE CONSERVATION TRUST REGISTERED NUMBER: 5265464 BALANCE SHEET

as at 30 June 2024

==> picture [420 x 635] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
2024 2023
Note £ £ £ £
Fixed assets
Tangible assets 14 191,296 208,287
Investments 15 88,553 65,498
279,849 273,785
Current assets
Debtors 16 13,482 3,398
Cash at bank and in hand 56,846 96,408
70,328 99,806
Creditors: amounts falling due
within one year 17 (20,162) (10,678)
Net current assets 50,166 89,128
Net assets 330,015 362,913
Charity funds
Restricted funds 18 (24,601) 30,263
Unrestricted funds - general 18 240,801 218,637
- designated 18 113,815 354,616 114,013 332,650
Total charity funds 330,015 362,913
----- End of picture text -----

Page 12 .

BALANCE SHEET (continued) as at 30 June 2024

LOWER URE CONSERVATION TRUST

The Trustees consider that they charity is entitled to exemption from the requirement to have an audit under the provisions of section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 ("the Act") and members have not required the charity to obtain an audit for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of the Act.

The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and for preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity as at 30 June 2023 and of its net resources expended for the year in accordance with the requirements of sections 394 and 395 of the Act and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charity.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to small companies within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008).

The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 11 April 2025 and signed on their behalf, by:

Simon Warwick Daniel Heptinstall Trustee Trustee

The notes on pages 10 to 22 form part of these financial statements.

Page 13 .

LOWER URE CONSERVATION TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 30 June 2024

1 Accounting policies

(a) General information and basis of preparation of financial statements

The charity is a company limited by guarantee. The members of the company are the Trustees named on page 1. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £10 per member of the charity. The address of the registered office is given in the charity information on page 1 of these financial statements. The nature of the charity's operations and principal activities are on page 2 of these financial statements.

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 in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006 and UK Generally Accepted Practice.

The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention, modified to include certain items at fair value. The financial statements are prepared in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity.

The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all years presented unless otherwise stated.

The financial statements do not include a statement of cash flows because the charitable company, as a small reporting entity, is exempt from the requirement to prepare such a statement under SORP (FRS 102).

(b) Funds

General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.

Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Page 14 .

LOWER URE CONSERVATION TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) for the year ended 30 June 2024

1 Accounting policies (continued)

(c) Income recognition

All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the charity is legally entitled to the income after any performance conditions have been met, the amount can be measured reliably and it is probable that the income will be received.

For donations to be recognised the charity will have been notified of the amounts and the settlement date in writing. If there are conditions attached to the donation and this requires a level of performance before entitlement can be obtained, then income is deferred until those conditions are fully met or the fulfilment of those conditions is within the control of the charity and it is probable that they will be fulfilled.

Interest income is recognised using the effective interest method and dividend income is recognised as the charity's right to receive payment is established.

Other income includes income such as field rental and restoration work.

(d) Expenditure recognition

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Expenditure is recognised where there is a legal or constructive obligation to make payments to third parties, it is probable that the settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as an expense against the activity for which expenditure arose.

(e) Support costs allocation

Support costs are those that assist the work of the charity but do not directly represent charitable activities and include office costs, governance costs, administrative and payroll costs. They are incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objects of the charity. Where support costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to expenditure on charitable activities on a basis consistent with use of the resources.

The analysis of these costs is included in note 8.

(f) Support costs allocation

The Charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Page 15 .

LOWER URE CONSERVATION TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) for the year ended 30 June 2024

1 Accounting policies (continued)

(g) Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Costs includes costs directly attributable to making the asset capable of operating as intended. Assets costing less than £150 are not capitalised.

Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets, at rates calculated to write off the cost, less their estimated residual value, of each asset on a systematic basis over its expected useful lives as follows:

Hides, fences & other site fixtures - 5 to 10 years Motor vehicles - 4 years

(h) Debtors and creditors receivable / payable within one year

Debtors and creditors with no stated interest rate and receivable or payable within one year are recorded at transaction price. Any losses arising from impairment are recognised in expenditure.

(i) Tax

The charity is an exempt charity within the meaning of schedule 3 of the Charities Act 2011 and is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes.

2 Income from donations and legacies

Donations 2024
£
28,922
28,922		 2023
£
1,353
1,353

Income from donations and legacies was £23,922 (2023: £1,353) of which £500 was restricted (2023: £nil) and £23,422 attributable to unrestricted funds (2023: £1,353).

Page 16 .

LOWER URE CONSERVATION TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

for the year ended 30 June 2024

3
Income from investments
Deposit account interest
Dividend income		 2024
£
380
1,483
1,863		 2023
£
455
1,126
1,581

Income from investments was £1,863 (2023: £1,581) of which all was attributable to unrestricted funds.

4 Income from charitable activities

Rural Payments Agency
Heritage Lottery Fund
Yorkshire Water
Tarmac
St Patrick's Church		 2024
£
24,806
27,496
20,000
4,500
200
77,002		 2023
£
24,801
-
24,500
-
-
49,301

Income from charitable activities was £77,002 (2023: £49,301) of which £47,496 (2023: £24,500) was attributable to restricted and £29,506 (2023: £24,801) was attributable to unrestricted funds.

5 Income from Raising Funds

Plant Sales
Sundry Sales		 2024
£
19,482
70
19,552		 2023
£
1,000
17
1,017

Income from raising funds was £19,552 (2023: £1,017), of which £70 (2023: £nil) was restricted and £19,482 (£1,017) was attributable to unrestricted funds.

6 Analysis expenditure on raising funds

Investment management fees 2024
£
551
551		 2023
£
442
442

Expenditure on raising funds was £551 (2023: £442) of which all was attributable to unrestricted funds.

Page 17 .

LOWER URE CONSERVATION TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

for the year ended 30 June 2024

7 Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities

Maintenance of Reserve
Heritage Lottery Fund
Yorkshire Water Biodiversity Enhancement
Designated Fund Expenditure		 Activities
undertaken
directly
£
13,836
84,507
19,426
437
117,769		 Support
costs
£
45,461
1,846
-
-
47,307		 Total
2024
£
59,298
86,353
19,426
437
165,077

£105,779 (2023: £35,565) of the above costs were attributable to restricted funds. £59,298 (2023: £68,874) of the above costs were attributable to unrestricted funds.

8 Allocation of support costs

Maintenance
of Reserve
£
Salaries
1,113
Governance
1,896
Office expenses and subscriptions
1,334
Hide rates
125
Rent
1
Insurance
5,277
Computer costs
719
Telephone & Internet
570
Postage, printing and stationery
10
Professional fees & Consultancy fees
14,368
Volunteer welfare
208
Depreciation
19,840
45,461
9
Governance costs
2024
£
Independent examiners remuneration
11
1,164
Bookkeeping & payroll costs
732
1,896		 Total
£
1,113
1,896
1,334
125
1
5,277
719
570
10
14,368
208
19,840
45,461
2023
£
1,380
670
2,050

Page 18 .

LOWER URE CONSERVATION TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

for the year ended 30 June 2024

10

Net income / (expenditure) for the year

Net income / (expenditure) is stated after charging /(crediting):

==> picture [367 x 52] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
|||| |---|---|---| |2024|2023| |£|£| |Depreciation of tangible fixed assets:| |- owned by the charity|19,840|20,099|

----- End of picture text -----

11 Independent examiners remuneration

The independent examiners remuneration amounts to an independent examination fee of £1,164 (2023: £1,380).

12 Trustees' remuneration and expenses

The Trustees neither received nor waived any remuneration during the year (2023: £nil).

The Trustees had expenses reimbursed during the year totalling £Nil (2023: £Nil).

13 Staff costs and employee benefits

==> picture [369 x 154] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
|||| |---|---|---| |2024|2023| |£|£| |Salaries|55,543|30,000| |Pension|1,113|713| |56,656|30,713| |The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:| |National Heritage Green Recovery Fund (100%)|-|0.5| |Yorkshire Water Biodiversity Enhancement|3.0|-| |Charity - no specific project|-|0.5|

----- End of picture text -----

No employees received total employee benefits (exluding employer pension costs) of more than £60,000.

Page 19 .

LOWER URE CONSERVATION TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

for the year ended 30 June 2024

14
Tangible fixed assets
Cost
At 1 July 2023
Additions
Disposals
Depreciation
At 1 July 2023
Charge for year
Eliminated on disposal
Net book value
At 30 June 2024
At 30 June 2023
15
Investments
Cost
At 1 July 2023
Additions
Disposals
Revaluations
Net book value
At 30 June 2024
At 30 June 2023		 Land
£
190,225
-
-
190,225
66,257
-
-
66,257
123,968
123,968		 Hides,
fences etc
Vehicles
£
£
304,251
24,280
2,849
-
-
-
307,100
24,280
239,356
4,856
15,955
3,885
-
-
255,311
8,741
51,789
15,539
64,895
19,424
Listed
Investments
£
65,498
32,497
(14,833)
5,391
88,553
88,553
65,498		 Total
£
518,756
2,849
-
521,605
310,469
19,840
-
330,309
191,296
208,287
Total
£
65,498
32,497
(14,833)
5,391
88,553
88,553
65,498

All fixed asset investments are held in the UK.

The value of the investments allotted under ranges under the Trustee Investment Act is as follows: Broad range: £88,553 (2023: £65,498).

Page 20 .

LOWER URE CONSERVATION TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) for the year ended 30 June 2024

16
Debtors
2024
£
Trade Debtors
10,000
Prepayments and accrued income
3,482
13,482
17
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
2024
£
Accruals and deferred income
20,162
20,162
18
Fund reconciliation
Net
Transfers
Balance at
movement
between
1 Jul 2023
in funds
funds
£
£
£
Unrestricted funds
General fund
218,638
25,252
(2,849)
Designated - YWT Eel Passage
29,026
-
-
Designated - East Cowton
-
(202)
-
Designated - Osprey Nest
-
(38)
-
Designated - Woodland Work (Tarmac)
4,987
(198)
-
Designated - Land Purchase
80,000
-
-
332,651
24,815
(2,849)
Restricted funds
Heritage Lottery Fund - Ure Connected
-
(58,787)
2,849
Yorkshire Water Biodiversity Enhancement
15,262
574
-
Esmee Fairburn
15,000
-
-
Sharow Mires
-
500
-
30,262
(57,713)
2,849
Total funds
362,913
(32,898)
-
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Income
Expenditure
£
£
Unrestricted funds
General fund
79,273
(54,021)
Designated - YWT Eel Passage
-
-
Designated - East Cowton
-
(202)
Designated - Osprey Nest
-
(38)
Designated - Woodland Work (Tarmac)
-
(198)
79,273
(54,458)
Restricted funds
Heritage Lottery Fund - Ure Connected
27,566
(86,353)
Yorkshire Water Biodiversity Enhancement
20,000
(19,426)
Esmee Fairburn
-
-
Sharow Mires
500
-
48,066
(105,779)
Total funds
127,339
(160,237)		 2023
£
0
3,398
3,398
2023
£
10,678
10,678
Balance at
30 Jun 2024
£
241,041
29,026
(202)
(38)
4,789
80,000
354,617
(55,938)
15,836
15,000
500
(24,602)
330,015
Movement
in funds
£
25,252
-
(202)
(38)
(198)
24,815
(58,787)
574
-
500
(57,713)
(32,898)

Page 21 .

LOWER URE CONSERVATION TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

for the year ended 30 June 2024

18 Fund reconciliation - continued

Heritage Lottery Fund - Ure Connected is a fund to inspire the enthusiasm to reverse the loss of biodiversity in the lower Swale and Ure valleys.

Yorkshire Water Biodiversity Enhancement is a fund to expand priority wetlands in the lower Ure valley.

Esmee Fairburn is a grant to carry out a feasibilty study into the expansion of the reserve.

Designated Funds for Land Purchase are rignfenced by the Trustees to purchase additional land for the charity in a future period.

19 Analysis of net assets between funds

Unrestricted
funds
£
Fixed assets/investments
279,849
Cash and current investments
81,448
Other current assets /liabilities
(6,680)
Total
354,617		 Restricted
funds
£
-
(24,602)
-
(24,602)		 Total
£
279,849
56,846
(6,680)
330,015

20 Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions during the period (2023: £nil).

Page 22 .

LOWER URE CONSERVATION TRUST

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT

for the year ended 30 June 2024

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the Lower Ure Conservation Trust ('the Company')

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 30 June 2024.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Company (and also directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent Examiner's Statement

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

I have no concerns and have come across no 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.

Signed:

Dated: 11-Apr-25

Guy R Baragwanath FCA

C & G B Associates

37-39 Westgate Thirsk North Yorkshire YO7 1QR