## **THE BEARSTED WOODLAND CHARITABLE TRUST** ## Registered Charity 1103585 ## **Report of the Trustees for year ended 30 June 2023** The Trustees present their report and financial statement for the year ended 30 June 2023. ## **Objectives of the Trust** To preserve and maintain land owned by the Trust off Church Landway, Bearsted and immediately adjacent areas in the interests of social welfare to provide a place of exercise and recreation for the benefits of the inhabitants of Bearsted and visitors. In the interests of conservation to develop, conserve, protect and restore the natural resources and animal and plant life of the land. ## **Organisation and decision making structure** The Bearsted Woodland Charitable Trust was founded by a Deed of Trust dated 5 January 2004 and is a Registered Charity no. 1103585. The Trustees govern the charity and delegate day to day operations to a Management Committee which is appointed by the Trustees. Members of the Management Committee contribute a large amount of time and expertise on a voluntary basis. ## **Review of the activities of the Trust** During the year the operations of the Trust continued in a similar pattern to previous years. Maintenance continues to be well managed and supported by a large team of weekly volunteers (24). Two new teams of litter pickers (16) started this year and have made a noticeable visible difference which combined with a newsletter delivery team bring the total to 78 volunteers (excluding trustees) making a contribution to our trust. Communication with supporters is assured by an excellent website, an annual newsletter, and a member’s AGM. Funding is maintained via annual ‘membership’ donations, tree and bench ‘sponsorship’ and other donations. A revised planning application was required by the planning department to complete construction of the car park which was finally obtained on 13 June. This enabled construction to widen the entrance and track and to meet planning conditions with the electrics laid to automate the gates and provide an EV charger this autumn to enable the car park to go live on 9th October. ## **Policy on reserves** The Trustees policy is to maintain sufficient reserves to fund the Trust’s activities and meet future commitments. This includes retaining sufficient reserves to fund future capital expenditure and to use paid for contractors if necessary. ## **The Bearsted Woodland Charitable Trust renamed to Bearsted Woodland Trust** At the 4[th] November 2023 Trustee meeting the Trustees approved a proposal to rename the Trust from The Bearsted Woodland Charitable Trust to Bearsted Woodland Trust, as it is locally known, and the Trustees signed the required supplementary deed. Richard Ashness Chairman of Trustees 4 November 2023 ## **BEARSTED WOODLAND TRUST Registered Charity no. 1103585 ACCOUNTS FOR THE 12 MONTHS TO 30 JUNE 2023** |**INCOME**
Membership donations
Life membership donations
Donations - various
Tree donations
Gift Aid tax recovery
Bank interest
Other Income
Total income
**EXPENDITURE**
Trees, wildflower seeds & benches
Site costs
Health and Safety
Insurance
Newsletter & Website
Secretarial & General
Merchandise
Car Park
Car Park Planting
Tree surgery
Total expenditure
Surplus / (Deficit) for year
Reserves brought forward
Reserves carried forward
**BALANCE SHEET AS AT :**
**Bank balances**
Natwest current
Natwest deposit
Epworth Cash Plus Fund for Charities
Redwood
United Trust Bank-Notice
United Trust Bank-Fixed Term
Cash at Bank
Sundy Debtor
Total Assets|2023
2022
£
£
6,369
6,055
3,225
2,300
1,444
3,567
5,210
712
2,679
2,304
7,247
2,035
1,421
428
27,595
17,451
2,707
2,515
4,754
3,340
-
1,016
1,582
1,530
787
765
732
557
937
1,151
5,656
15,442
-
1,292
-
6,240
17,155
33,848
10,440
(16,397)
278,932
295,329
289,372
278,932
30 Jun 23
30 Jun 22
£
£
2,414
1,256
-
4,150
139,388
175,911
87,399
85,311
49,991
-
10,180
10,000
289,372
276,628
-
2,304
289,372
278,932| |---|---| Martin Gray Anil Mathur Honorary Treasurer Independent Examiner Richard Ashness Trustee Approved at Trustees meeting held on 4 November 2023 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGIAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustees The Bearsted Woodland Tnjst On accounts for tho year ended 30 June 2023 Charity no (if any) 1103585 Set out on pag88 Ireftw)ter to ¥ickwJe the page Nurn￿￿ of addilion$l sheotsi I report to the tnjstees on my examination of th8 accounts of the above charty (Ihe Trustl for the year ended 30 106 12023. Respon8lbllltle8 and basls of report As the charitys trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (Ihe Acr). I rerth in respect of my examination of the Tru8f8 accounts carrled out under section 145 of the 2011 Ad and In carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Dlrectlon8 given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the ACL Independent lThe charity's gross income exceeded £250.000 and l am qualrfied to examlnerf8 8tatoment undertake the examination by being a qualified membèr of lin8ert name of applicable listed bodyll. Delete [ ] rfnot applicable. I have completed my examination. I confinn that no material matters have corne to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below ') whith gives me cau8e to believe that In. any material res[￿￿. the accounting records not kept in accordanc• wlth section 130 of the Charities Act; or the accounts did not accord ¥￿th the accounting record8: or the accounts dKI not comply with the applicable requirements conceming the form and content of accounts set out in the Charitie8 {Accounts and Report8> Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts gwe a Irue and fair, vi8w which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no con¢ems and have come a(xoss no other matters In connection with the examination to vthich attention shouId be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper urMJerstanding of the accourrts to bo reached. ' Please delete th8 *vrds in the brackets rfthey do not 8ppIy. Slgned: r¢*L ts)13 Name: Anil Mathur IER Oct 2018 Relevant professlonal qualification{s) or body (if any): FCA Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales Address: 14 Imndmill Heights, Bearsted, Maidstone, Kent ME14 4QE Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of con￿rn (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any item8 that the exarninorwishes to disclose. IER Oct 2018