Kingfishers Bridge Wetland Creation Trust Charity No: 107882
Trustees Report and Financial Statements for the Year ended 30 April 2024
Kingfishers Bridge Wetland Creation Trust
Reference and Administrative Details for the year ended 30 April 2024
Name: Kingfishers Bridge Wetland Creation Trust Charity Number: 1078882
Registered office: The Mill House, Tower Road, Burnham Overy Staithe, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, PE31 8JB
Trustees:
William Garnett (reappointed 13/9/19) Andrew Green (reappointed 12/1/23) Robin Green (reappointed 12/1/23) Patrick Green (reappointed 12/1/23) Mark Lawson (reappointed 13/9/19) Sir James Paice (appointed 7/9/21) Stephen Tomkins (reappointed 12/1/23) Richard Vigne (Chairman, appointed 12/1/23)
Independent Examiner:
Nicholas Russell ICAEW Moorgate Place London EC2R 6EA
History, structure, and governance
Since 1995 over 250 acres of farm land has been transformed into a variety of wetland and meadow habitats typical of the ancient Cambridgeshire Fens. This recreation of natural plant communities, and our developing knowledge of their processes and management has been pioneering. Over the last 26 years our experimental and scientific approach to wildlife conservation has produced some exceptional wildlife habitats with very exciting outcomes.
Initially conceived and owned by Andrew Green, the Kingfishers Bridge Nature Reserve employs a small wardening staff to manage, record and monitor wildlife throughout the year. Staff are employed by the owners to manage the Kingfishers Bridge Nature Reserve. Our operation - through advisors, staff and volunteers has enabled us to better understand influences on wildlife at all levels and so improve wetland conservation management in the Fens and beyond.
On 25 November 1999, The Kingfishers Bridge Wetland Creation Trust was established as a registered charity and is constituted under a trust deed dated 25th November 1999. The Trust’s principal role is to support The Kingfishers Bridge Nature Reserve management operations via grants. Trustees are approved by existing trustees, each of whom serve for 5 years, after which time they may put themselves forward for re-appointment. The trustees meet at least twice a year and meet less formally on a monthly basis. All trustees give of their time freely and no trustee remuneration was paid in the year.
The Trust’s principal role is to support The Kingfishers Bridge Nature Reserve via grants. Excluding these grants, the Trust has very limited outgoings so there is no need for a policy on the holding of Reserves. Free reserves at the year end, 2024, were £74,378 (for 2023, £20,224).
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Kingfishers Bridge Wetland Creation Trust
Report for the Trustees for the period ended 30 April 2024
The Trustees present this annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year 1 May 2023 to 30 April 2024. The Trustees confirm that the annual report and financial statements comply with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the charity’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 (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2019).
Objectives and activities
The Trust’s primary objective is to conserve and create a variety of wetland and wildlife habitats in the fens in order to conserve fenland wildlife for its own benefit – and for the public educational benefit that they bring to people.
In furtherance of that objective, the Trust seeks to promote for the benefit of the public the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment by promoting biological diversity (including existing and rare species of plants, insects, birds and mammals), and to advance the education of the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment.
The Trust’s principal role is to support The Kingfishers Bridge Nature Reserve via grants. These grants are made on the basis that the Reserve is being managed to conserve and create a wide variety of wetland and wildlife habitats in the Fens (including existing and rare species of plants, insects, birds and mammals) for the public educational benefit.
In support of the above, the management team will pursue the following:
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attract, retain and care for the greatest possible variety of flora and fauna;
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be a “wildlife first project” in which the majority of our resources are focused on providing a “wildscape”, meaning optimal environments and habitats for thriving wildlife and excellence in the creation of habitats and landscape;
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be innovative in our approaches to conservation and habitat creation;
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monitor, record and evaluate the outcomes;
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share and interact with related parties and organisations including communicating our strategies, outcomes (both successes and failures) as well as lessons learnt;
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encourage educational and scientific use of the reserve;
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▪ provide controlled access to the public, including the disabled.
The Trustees are satisfied that the reserve has been managed in line with the objectives as detailed above.
The Trustees have complied with the duty to have due regard for public benefit as published by the Charities Commission. We highlight the outstanding outcomes in terms of natural capital enhancements, this is particularly in enhanced biodiversity, as well as in the direct benefits to the public - whether it be the general public who visit in ever increasing numbers - or our ongoing liaisons with like-minded organisations.
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Kingfishers Bridge Wetland Creation Trust
Summary of achievements for the year ended April 2024 and plans for the future
Visitor Engagement
Visitors to the reserve are still increasing, albeit more slowly than previous years; however, more people are signing up as annual supporters each year. Numbers are still well within manageable levels to ensure minimal disturbance to wildlife, and measures to improve the visitor experience are proving successful. These include improved signage and family friendly seasonal events which encourage visitors to stay longer, using the facilities at the café and shop.
Volunteers
New volunteers have come on board and are a huge asset to our work. We would like to thank them for their help and support.
Wildlife Outcomes
Outcomes in bird breeding were exceptional; helped in part due to the wet winter. In particular:
Lapwing - The number of nesting birds has increased steadily over the last 5 years as have the number of recorded and ringed chicks. Whilst some of this is down to improved survey techniques, Lapwing are undoubtedly expanding their range to new areas of the reserve and are also increasing nest density. Hatching rates are stable and overall we are looking at an anticipated fledging ratio for this year of 2.5-2.8 fledged chicks per pair (1.2-1.4 fledged chicks per pair are estimated for a stable breeding population).
Redshank - Nesting pair nubers are also increasing yearly, although finding nest locations for this species is much more difficult due to their preference for nesting deep inside hoof prints or grass tussocks.
Grant Funded Works
Recent projects funded by Natural England and grants (including from The Linder Foundation), such as the restoration of the Triangle field and ditch system to the River Cam and new Great Crested Newt habitat, are maturing very nicely and exceeding the aims of the project criteria. Biodiversity is increasing rapidly as the habitat matures and we are being used as an exemplar by FWAG (Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group) and Natural England on how to implement Stewardship and grant funded projects. We had a couple of walks for farmers booked through FWAG east last year with more conservation workshops planned.
Donations
The Trust was very grateful to have received a significant bequest in the year.
Approved by the trustees on 25 February 2025 and signed on their behalf by
ANDREW GREEN (TRUSTEE)
WILLIAM GARNETT (TRUSTEE)
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KINGFISHERS BRIDGE WETLAND CREATION TRUST
ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024
KINGFISHERS BRIDGE WETLAND CREATION TRUST
STATEMENT OF INCOME AND EXPENDITURE
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024
| 2024 | 2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INCOME: | ||||
| Donations: | ||||
| Donations without gift aid | 337,756 | 58,127 | ||
| Donations with gift aid | 1,296 | 2,185 | ||
| Tax: Claimed in year from gift aid payments | 339,052 1,750 |
60,312 3,472 |
||
| EXPENSES: Grants Trustees' insurance Subscriptions Bank charges & interest Miscellaneous expense |
285,000 898 35 355 0 |
340,802 | 78,471 981 35 328 0 |
63,784 |
| 286,288 | 79,815 | |||
| NET SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) for the year | 54,514 | (16,031) |
I confirm that this Statement of Income and Expenditure truly represents all transactions of the charity for the year.
W Garnett, Trustee
A Green, Trustee
KINGFISHERS BRIDGE WETLAND CREATION TRUST
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 30 APRIL 2024
| Bank balance and cash in hand Surplus retained Surplus/(deficit) for the year |
2023 74,738 74,738 20,224 54,514 74,738 |
2023 20,224 20,224 36,255 (16,031) 20,224 |
|---|---|---|
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of Kingfishers Bridge Wetland Creation Trust On accounts for tha yoar •ndad 30 April 2024 Charlty no (If any) 1078882 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ('the Trust") for the year ended So 4 2DA<S - Responslbllltles and As the charlty trustees, you are responslble for the preparation of the ba818 of report accounts in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 ("the Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5Xb) of the Act. Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no rnaterial matters have oxamlner's statement come to my attention (other than that disclosed below ') in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that In, any material respect,: the accounting records were not kepl in accordance with section 130 of the Act., or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records. or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that Ihe accounts give a 'true and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached, Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. Slgned: Date: eE lo Name: Nicholas Russell Relevant professional qualiflcation(s) or body (if any): ICAEW Address: Moorgate Place London EC2R 6EA IER October 2018
Soction B Disclosure Only complete If the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examinatlon of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). Glve here details of any Items that the examlner wishes to dlsclose. NIA IER October 2018