2025-06-30-accounts - Bearsted Woodland Trust

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THE BEARSTED WOODLAND CHARITABLE TRUST

Registered Charity 1103585

Report of the Trustees for year ended 30 June 2025

The Trustees present their report and financial statement for the year ended 30 June 2025.

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 (24). Two teams of litter pickers (14) continue to make a noticeable visible difference which combined with a newsletter delivery team bring the total to 69 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 remains temporarily closed as we took some time to identify the right solution for us. After some discussion we decided to convert 9 out of the 20 bays to all weather parking with the remainder open during the summer months. Unfortunately, after taking advice, we then had to apply for a Non Material Amendment to an existing planning permission which was received on 29[th] April 2025. Subsequently we have sought quotes from contractors, awarding the contract in Autumn 2025 with a view to construction in 2026.

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.

Richard Ashness Chairman of Trustees 19 April 2026

BEARSTED WOODLAND TRUST

Registered Charity no. 1103585 ACCOUNTS FOR THE 12 MONTHS TO 30 JUNE 2025

Notes INCOME Membership donations Life membership donations 1 Donations - various Tree donations 1 Gift Aid tax recovery Legacy Bank interest 2 Other Income 3 Total income EXPENDITURE Trees, wildflower seeds & benches Site costs 4 Insurance Newsletter & Website 4 Secretarial & General 5 Merchandise Fencing 6 Car Park 7 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	2025 £ 6,092 2,050 5,921 4,101 2,463 1,000 14,006 2,092 37,725 995 5,384 1,646 749 2,318 307 4,134 474 840 17,112 20,613 301,820 322,433 30 Jun 25 £ 6,821 215,231 11,781 74,991 11,146 319,970 2,463 322,433	2024 £ 5,941 4,800 2,475 7,072 3,546 - 11,752 1,636
		37,222
		710 4,302 1,619 812 265 219 - 15,887 960
		24,774
		12,448 289,372
		301,820
		30 Jun 24 £ 5,231 196,069 11,364 74,991 10,619
		298,274 3,546
		301,820

Martin Gray Honorary Treasurer

Anil Mathur Independent Examiner

Richard Ashness Trustee

Approved at Trustees meeting held on 19 April 2026

FOR ENGLAND AND WALES accounts 0 Ge CHARITY COMMISSION | Independent examiner's report on the

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

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Report to the trustees The Bearsted Woodland Trust
On accounts for the year | 30 June 2025 Charity no | 1103585
ended (if any)
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| report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 30 / 06 / 2024.

Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”). | 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, | have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent | have completed my examination. | 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: e the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
e the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or e 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.

| 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.

Name: | Anil Mathur

IER

Oct 2018

Relevant professional | FCA Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales qualification(s) or body

(if any):

Address: | 14 Windmill Heights, Bearsted, Maidstone, Kent ME14 4QE

Section B

Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose.

IER

Oct 2018