## **THE BEARSTED WOODLAND CHARITABLE TRUST** ## Registered Charity 1103585 ## **Report of the Trustees for year ended 30 June 2024** The Trustees present their report and financial statement for the year ended 30 June 2024. ## **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** Bearsted Woodland 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 (25). Two teams of litter pickers (16) continue to make a noticeable visible difference which combined with a newsletter delivery team bring the total to 79 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. The car park went live on 9th October but due to the very wet Autumn 2023 was temporarily closed by the Management committee and remains temporarily closed. ## **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. This name change request was filed with the Charities Commission in July 2024 and subsequently approved on 23 September 2024. Richard Ashness Chairman of Trustees 5 April 2025 **BEARSTED WOODLAND TRUST** ## **Registered Charity no. 1103585 ACCOUNTS FOR THE 12 MONTHS TO 30 JUNE 2024** |Notes
**INCOME**
Membership donations
Life membership donations
1
Donations - various
Tree donations
1
Gift Aid tax recovery
Bank interest
2
Other Income
Total income
**EXPENDITURE**
Trees, wildflower seeds & benches
Site costs
3
Insurance
Newsletter & Website
3
Secretarial & General
3
Merchandise
Car Park
4
Tree surgery
Total expenditure
Surplus / (Deficit) for year
Reserves brought forward
Reserves carried forward
**BALANCE SHEET AS AT :**
**Bank balances**
Natwest current
Epworth Cash Plus Fund for Charities
Redwood
United Trust Bank-Notice
United Trust Bank-Fixed Term
Cash at Bank
Sundy Debtor
Total Assets|2024
2023
£
£
5,941
6,369
4,800
3,225
2,475
1,444
7,072
5,210
3,546
2,679
11,752
7,247
1,636
1,421
37,222
27,595
710
2,707
4,302
4,754
1,619
1,582
812
787
265
732
219
937
15,887
5,656
960
-
24,774
17,155
12,448
10,440
289,372
278,932
301,820
289,372
30 Jun 24
30 Jun 23
£
£
5,231
2,414
196,069
139,388
11,364
87,399
74,991
49,991
10,619
10,180
298,274
289,372
3,546
-
301,820
289,372| |---|---| Martin Gray Anil Mathur Honorary Treasurer Independent Examiner Richard Ashness Trustee Approved at Trustees meeting held on 5 April 2025 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustees The Bearsted Woodland Trust On accounts for the year ended 30 June 2024 Charity no (if any) 1103585 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (Ihe Trust.) for the year ended 30 106 12024. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of 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 carying out my examination. I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect" the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities 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 the accounts give a 'true and fair. view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no COn￿rnS 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. Signed: Date: -L &)L4 Name: Anil Mathur IER Oct 2018 Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (If any): FCA Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales Addres8: 14 Wndmill Heights, Bearsted, Maidstone, Kent ME14 4QE Section B Disclosure Only complete rf the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of chanty accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). Glve here brlef detalls of any items that the examlner wlshes to dlsclose. IER Oct 2018