The Trails Trust
Registered Charity No. 1094139 www.thetrailstrust.org.uk
The Charity that creates, improves and preserves access to the countryside for all - on foot, bicycle, ridden and driven horse and disabled conveyance.
Patrons : The Lord Hylton, The Rt Hon the Lord Waldegrave of North Hill PC. President : Angela Yeoman OBE DL
Trustee Report for the year ended March 31 2025
The trustees for this year were: Jennifer Mary Ham, Sally Whittaker, Paul J Hooper OBE, Hannah Gardner, Greg Glendell, Fiona Powell, Miranda Fyfe, Andrew Combes, Lachlan Wilson and Sonia Kundu. The TTT consultants were: Rachel Thompson and Lynn Myland. The work of The Trails Trust is to lobby for and provide green infrastructure routes for public access and biodiversity. This work has continued throughout 2024 – 25.
Partnership with Defra environment land management test and trial T159A
The test ‘incentivising green infrastructure public access and biodiversity creation in land management’ concluded and reported to DEFRA. 12 reports on access creation and improvement mechanisms explored and tested on participants and stakeholders, which included advice and guidance, payments, long term agreement and land management planning, will be uploaded to the newly revamped TTT website.
Lobbying national and local government for improved access
Lobbying for improved access for all has continued with the main focus being reversal of the planned 2031 cut-off date to record historic paths, amendments to some negative effects of the Deregulation Bill, access to forestry to be free for all users, responding to the social justice and land use consultations, for inclusion of equestrians in access travel plans and for new access either upgraded or created to be permanent, not permissive.
National Partnerships and forums
This year TTT joined the Outdoor For All campaign /forum, updates are being received with invitations to co-sign lobby letters. Engagement continued with the (Defra) Forum which focussed on the 15 minutes’ walk to greenspace policy. Working with other organisations including British Horse Society and Cycling UK, Farming in Protected Landscapes panels supporting access projects, local access forums and Local Community Networks, continued.
Members and volunteers Forum
Regular member forums and advice and guidance, so that members and others are able to share information, process, good practice and issues, continue to be offered.
Access routes and infrastructure
A number of access routes have been achieved or are being worked on in various locations including Somerset (Mendips and Quantocks), Yorkshire Dales Coast to Coast, Suffolk carriage driving access, Greater Cambridge Partnership greenways projects, Devon circle proposal.
Trustees: Chairman – Paul Hooper OBE, Vice Chairman- Hannah Gardner BSc (Hon), MSc, CEnv, MRICS, Miranda Fyfe MA Cantab , Greg Glendell, Jennifer Ham BHSI MAE, Sonia Kundu, Fiona Powell, Sally Whittaker, Lachlan Wilson BA Oxon, Andrew Combes, Consultants: Lynn Myland, Rachel Thompson MBE Company Secretary: Rachel Thompson MBE. Registered Company Address: Townsend Cottage, Townsend, Priddy, Wells BA5 3BP
TTT is a Company limited by Guarantee registered in England and Wales No 3637593.
The Trails Trust
Registered Charity No. 1094139 www.thetrailstrust.org.uk
The Charity that creates, improves and preserves access to the countryside for all - on foot, bicycle, ridden and driven horse and disabled conveyance.
Patrons : The Lord Hylton, The Rt Hon the Lord Waldegrave of North Hill PC. President : Angela Yeoman OBE DL
Report of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements For The Year Ended March 2025
The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities’ issued in March 2005.
Reference and administrative details
Registered Company Number 03637593 (England and Wales)
Registered Charity Number 1094139
Registered Office Townsend Cottage, Townsend, Priddy, Wells, Somerset, BA5 3BP
Trustees: Jennifer Mary Ham, Sally Whittaker, Paul J Hooper OBE, Hannah Gardner, Greg Glendell, Fiona Powell, Miranda Fyfe, Andrew Combes, Lachlan Wilson, Sonia Kundu
Company Secretary Rachel Thompson MBE
Independent Examiner Nordic Accountancy Limited (Rick Tobiasson)
Structure, governance and management
Governing document
The charity is controlled by its governing document, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.
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.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Trustee Date
Trustees: Chairman – Paul Hooper OBE, Vice Chairman- Hannah Gardner BSc (Hon), MSc, CEnv, MRICS, Miranda Fyfe MA Cantab , Greg Glendell, Jennifer Ham BHSI MAE, Fiona Powell, Sally Whittaker, Andrew Combes, Consultants: Lynn Myland, Rachel Thompson MBE, Lachlan Wilson BA Oxon
Company Secretary: Rachel Thompson MBE. Registered Company Address: Townsend Cottage, Townsend, Priddy, Wells BA5 3BP
TTT is a Company limited by Guarantee registered in England and Wales No 3637593.
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of The Trails Trust
I report on the accounts for the year.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner: the charity’s trustees (who are also directors for the purposes of company law) 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(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is required.
Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:
-
Examine the accounts under Section 145 of the 2011 Act
-
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
-
To state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of the independent examiner’s report
My 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 seeking 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 statements below.
Independent examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements
-
to keep accounting records in accordance with Sections 386-387 of the Companies Act 2006; and
-
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of sections 394-395 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities have not been met, or
(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached
Signed R Tobiasson
Date
2
Accounting policies
Accounting Convention
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, and in accordance with the Financial reporting Standards for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008), the Companies Act 2006 and the requirements of the Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and reporting by Charities.
Incoming Resources
All incoming resources are included on the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.
Resources Expended
Expenditure is accounted for on an accrual basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Taxation
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
3
Detailed Statement of Financial activities
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | ||
| INCOMING RESOURCES | ||
| Voluntary Income (DEFRA Contract) | 45175.42 | 54978.9 |
| Services (FiPL panel) | 1000 | 0 |
| Donations | 0 | 0 |
| Grants | 1662 | 0 |
| Subscriptions | 997 | 957 |
| TOTAL Activities for generating | ||
| funds | 48834.42 | 55935.9 |
| Fundraising Events | 0 | 0 |
| Investment Income | 0 | |
| Deposit incoming interest | 269.8 | 180.16 |
| TOTAL incoming resources | 49104.22 | 56116.06 |
| RESOURCES EXPENDED | ||
| Costs of generating voluntary income | ||
| Facilitation (Defra T&T) | 39175.42 | 60,978.90 |
| Services (FiPL panel) | 1000 | 0 |
| Legal fees & bank charges | 0 | 0 |
| Trustee's expenses | 0 | 0 |
| IT | 77.92 | 77.94 |
| General expenses | 389.38 | 158 |
| Insurance | 836.78 | 803.15 |
| Maintenance | 1662 | 0 |
| Events | 0 | 0 |
| Project expenses | 0 | 0 |
| Total resources expended | 43141.5 | 62,017.99 |
| Net (expenditure)/income | 5962.72 | -5901.93 |
4
| Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 March 2025 | Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 March 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted funds | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| (No restricted funds) | ||
| Incoming Resources | ||
| Voluntary Income | 48834 | 55935.9 |
| Activities for generating funds | 0 | 0 |
| Investment Income | 270 | 180.16 |
| Total Incoming Resources | 49104 | 56,116.06 |
| Resources Expended | ||
| Costs of Generating Funds | 0 | 0 |
| Costs of Generating Voluntary Income | 0 | 0 |
| Governance Costs | 0 | 0 |
| Other resources expended | 43141.5 | 62017.99 |
| Total Resources Expended | 43141.5 | 62,017.99 |
| Net incoming / (outgoing) Resources | 5963 | -5,901.93 |
| Reconciliation of Funds | ||
| Funds brought forward | 14429 | 20,331.53 |
| TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | £20,392 £14,429.60 | |
| Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2025 |
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | |||
| Funds | |||
| Notes £ | £ | ||
| CURRENT ASSETS | |||
| Prepayments & accrued income | 0 | 0 | |
| Cash at Bank | 20,392 | 14,429 | |
| Net current assets | 20,392 | 14,429 | |
| Total assets less current liabilities | 20,392 | 14,429 | |
| NET ASSETS | 20,392 | 14,429 | |
| FUNDS | |||
| Unrestricted funds | 20,392 | 14,429 | |
| Restricted funds | 0 | 0 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 20,392 | 14,429 |
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Balance Sheet (continued)
At 31 March 2025
There were no trustees’ remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2025.
The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2025.
The trustees have not required the charitable company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with sections 386-387 of the Companies Act 2006 and preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its income and expenditure for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of sections 394-395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small charitable companies and with the Financial reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008).
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on XX and were signed on its behalf by
Trustee (Chairman) Date
6
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of The Trails Trust
I report on the accounts for the year.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner: the charity’s trustees (who are also directors for the purposes of company law) 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(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is required.
Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:
-
Examine the accounts under Section 145 of the 2011 Act
-
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
-
To state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of the independent examiner’s report
My 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 seeking 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 statements below.
Independent examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements
-
to keep accounting records in accordance with Sections 386-387 of the Companies Act 2006; and
-
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of sections 394-395 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities have not been met, or
(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached
Signed R Tobiasson Date 29/09/2025