## Annual Report 

2024-25 

The Herpetological Conservation Trust November 2025 



## 1. Introduction 

## a. Background to the Organisation 

The Herpetological Conservation Trust is a charitable trust, established in 1989 with a generous endowment.  The Trust was established to: - 

- Promote and advance the conservation of amphibians and reptiles, their habitats and the wider environment on which they depend. 

- Establish and maintain herpetofaunal nature reserves and to undertake habitat management and to promote the study of and appreciation of sustainable practices in such nature reserves. 

- Execute, promote, support and publish research relevant to species and habitat conservation pertinent to amphibians and reptiles. 

- Advance the education of the public in herpetological conservation and conservation of the environment; and 

- Advance the above objectives in the United Kingdom, Europe and elsewhere in the world 

The Trust was originally established as a registered charity.  On 1 April 2005 we became incorporated as a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee (Registered Company no. 5389839) with a new Charity Registration number for the operating charity (no. 1109031) and the Trust’s constitution is outlined in its Memorandum and Articles of Association. The Charity benefits from the income of a permanent endowment held within the ‘old’ charity (no. 801265). 

In March 2009 a new incorporated charity, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust (ARC), was set up.   The activities of The HCT were undertaken in the name of the new organisation with the intention of transferring all its assets and activities to Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust in the financial year 2010/11.  Transfer of the operational assets was completed, in so far as is possible with the signing of a Deed of Transfer on 1[st] April 2011, however the endowment funds remain held by HCT.  The capital in the endowments cannot be spent, however the income derived from these is passed across, as agreed by Trustees, to provide operating income for ARC.  The Trustees have agreed that the boards of Trustees for both HCT and ARC shall be composed of the same individuals, thus ensuring that the interests of the two charities are considered collectively while remaining as separate legal entities. 

This report covers the financial year 1[st] April 2024 to 31[st] March 2025. 

## b. The Trust’s Aims for 2024/25 

All new lease agreements are now drawn up in the name of ARC.  All new leases are now in the name of ARC. The Trust will continue to hold endowments to gift the income generated from these across to ARC as the operating charity to take forward its charitable activities to support herpetofauna conservation. 



## 2. Key activities 

During 2024/25 The HCT: 

- Received, and passed to ARC, the income derived from the endowment funds. 

- Held three Trustees Meetings in the year, with the AGM being held in March. 

## 

## 

A Board of Trustees consisting of no less than three and no more than ten members directs the Trust.   New Trustees are selected and appointed by the existing Board of Trustees at their formal meetings.  The constitution requires the retirement of one third of the Trustees at each AGM, but these posts can be re-appointed at the meeting.  The Trustees held formal business meetings three times during the financial year, on 6th July and 23rd November 2024 and 15th March 2025. The Finance sub-committee met on 21st June and 8th October 2024 and 23rd February 2025. 

The current procedure of not advertising for Trustees remains, however the Trust is looking to attract a more diverse Board. The approach used to elect new Trustees is to identify interested individuals who are then invited to submit a biography and to meet with representative Trustees or attend a Trustees’ Meeting, where a decision is made on their being invited to join the Board.  New Trustees are provided with a copy of the Memorandum and Articles of Association and are invited to the Office to see the operation of the Trust.  Relevant training courses identified by Staff and Trustees are brought to the Trustees’ attention.  All Trustees of HCT are also Trustees of Amphibian and Reptile Conservation. 

The Trust has no staff; any activity through The HCT was undertaken by the staff at ARC. 

## a. Statement of Compliance 

The Trust has complied with all laws and regulations applicable to the Charitable Company. 

## 4. Summary of financial position for 2024/25 

## a. Overview 

The HCT had total income for the year of £383,267 (£389,639 2023/24).  This was investment income from its endowment funds. 

The Trust had a total expenditure of £425,681 (£430,628 2023/24) as follows: 

- Donation to ARC of £383,267 (£389,639 2023/24). Made up of investment income and fund balances carried forward as at 31[st] March 2025. 



- £42,414 (£40,989 2023/24) of expenditure incurred through Investment Management Fees for 2024/25.  These fees have been deducted from the Endowment Fund balance. 

## 5. Future priorities and development of the Trust 

The operational aspects of the HCT have, from 1[st] April 2010, been taken forward by ARC. The Trust remains as an extant charity, with a view to managing the endowments on behalf of ARC and effective delivery of this function will remain the key purpose of the Trust. During 2025/26 we will finalise the transfer of the Trust’s remaining assets and liabilities to ARC, with a view to winding down the Trust. 

## 6. Trustees (Directors) and Secretary 

Mr Jonathan Webster (Chairman) Mr Howard Inns (Vice- Chairman) Mr Jeremy Bruce MSc, BA (Treasurer) Dr Roger Mitchell BSc, MSc, PhD, CBiol, FRSB Professor Richard Griffiths BSc, PhD, FRSB Dr Robert Jehle BSc, PhD Mr David Elliott, BSc, MBA Miss Rebecca Turner, BSc, MSc Mrs Stephanie Davies 

Company Secretary: Dr Tony Gent BSc, PhD, CBiol, MRSB 

Signed: 

Company Secretary 



Docusign Envelope ID: B0AFB09D-326E-4257-83F8-A3017B1AE787 

**Charity Number: 1109031** 

**Company Number: 05389839** 

## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

**REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 



Docusign Envelope ID: B0AFB09D-326E-4257-83F8-A3017B1AE787 

**1** 

**THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

## **CONTENTS** 

- 2-3. Constitution and Officers 4-5. Report of the Trustees/(Directors) 6-9. Report of the Independent Auditors 10. Income and Expenditure Account 11. Statement of Financial Activities 12. Balance Sheet 

- 13-18. Notes to the Financial Statements 



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**2** 

## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST CONSTITUTION AND OFFICERS YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

## **Constitution** 

The Herpetological Conservation Trust is a registered charity constituted under a Memorandum and Articles of Association incorporated 11 March 2005. The Registered Charity number is 1109031. 

## **Objects** 

The objects of the charity are: 

- 1) To promote and advance the conservation of amphibians and reptiles, their habitats and the wider environment on which they depend; 

- 2) To establish and maintain herpetofauna nature reserves and to undertake habitat management and to promote the study of and appreciation of sustainable practices in such nature reserves. 

- 3) To execute, promote, support, and publish research relevant to species and habitat conservation pertinent to amphibians and reptiles. 

- 4) To advance the education of the public in herpetological conservation and conservation of the environment. 

- 5) To advance the above-mentioned objects in the British Isles, Europe and elsewhere in the world. 

## **Trustees (Directors)** 

Mr Jonathan Webster (Chairman) Mr Howard Inns (Vice-Chairman) Dr Roger Mitchell PhD, CBiol, FRSB (Treasurer) Mr Jeremy Bruce MSc BA Ms Stephanie Davies (resigned 18 August 2025) Mr David Elliot BSc, MBA Professor Richard Griffiths BSc, PhD, FRSB Dr Robert Jehle BSc, PhD Mrs Rebecca Turner BSc, MSc 

## **Secretary** 

Dr Tony Gent BSc, PhD, CBiol, MRSB 

## **Key Staff** 

Dr Tony Gent BSc, PhD, CBiol, MRSB (Chief Executive Officer) Mrs Philippa Goodwin (Admin & Finance Manager) Mr James Foster, BSc, MSc, MCIEEM (Conservation Director) 

The Trustees are appointed by approval of the full Board of Trustees. 

## **Registered office** 

744-748 Christchurch Road Boscombe Bournemouth Dorset BH7 6BZ 

## **Auditors** 

PKF Francis Clark Chartered Accountants & Statutory Auditors Towngate House 2-8 Parkstone Road Poole BH15 2PW 



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## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST CONSTITUTION AND OFFICERS YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

## **Solicitors** 

Lester Aldridge Russell House Oxford Road Bournemouth Dorset BH8 8EX 

## **Bankers** 

Lloyds Bank Plc 45-47 Old Christchurch Road Bournemouth Dorset BH1 1ED 

## **Investment Managers** 

Rathbones Group Plc 30 Gresham Street London EC2V 7QN 

Schroder & Co Ltd 1 London Wall Place London EC2Y 5AU 



Docusign Envelope ID: B0AFB09D-326E-4257-83F8-A3017B1AE787 

**4** 

## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES/(DIRECTORS)** 

## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

The Trustees present their Report, together with the audited Financial Statements, for the year ended 31 March 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” FRS 102 in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity. 

## **Review of Activities** 

The Trustees have produced a separate Annual Report 2024/25 reviewing the Trust Activities for the Herpetological Conservation Trust and the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust which incorporates the necessary narrative information required by the Statement of Recommended Practice. 

On 1 April 2011, a transfer agreement between the Herpetological Conservation Trust and Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust became effective. This is intended to rationalise the way in which the two charities work by transferring all the assets and liabilities relating to the operational work of the Herpetological Conservation Trust to Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust. The agreement states that all assets and liabilities excluding the Permanent Endowment Fund be transferred from Herpetological Conservation Trust to Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust. 

## **Trustees** 

The full list of Trustees is shown on page 2. 

## **Public Benefit** 

The Trustees have given due regard to public benefit when planning the charity’s activities, in accordance with the Charity Commission’s Guidance on Public Benefit. 

The annual report sets out our activities, achievements and performance during the year, which are directly related to the objects and purposes for which the charity exists. The charity achieves its principal objects and purposes through the conservation elements of biodiversity for people now and in the future, offering general and specialist advice free to members of the public, landowners and land managers and managing a suite of nature reserves. These benefits are directly related to the aims of the charity and are fully compliant with the Charity Commission Principles on Public Benefit. 

## **Reserves Policy** 

The reserves held relate purely to the permanent endowment fund. 

The restricted and unrestricted reserves held at 31 March 2011 were transferred to Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust. The reserves policy following this transfer is to balance the endowment fund value and return by appropriate investment. 

The trustees consider this to be adequate and appropriate. 

## **Risk Management** 

During the year the trustees reconsidered the major risks to which the charity is exposed and the procedures currently in place to mitigate these. The management of these and any other risks will be kept under annual review. 



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## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES/(DIRECTORS)** 

## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

## **Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities** 

The trustees (who are also directors of The Herpetological Conservation Trust for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland". 

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to: 

- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; 

- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; 

- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; 

- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards comprising FRS 102 have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and 

- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation. 

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. 

In so far as the trustees are aware: 

- there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company’s auditor is unaware; and 

- the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information. 

## **Auditors** 

A resolution to re-appoint PKF Francis Clark for the ensuing year will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting in accordance with Section 485 of the Companies Act 2006. 

## **Small Company Provisions** 

The report of the trustees has been prepared taking advantage of the small companies exemption of section 415A of the Companies Act 2006. 

16 December 2025 

This report was approved by the board on …………………………………. and signed on its behalf. 

On behalf of the Trustees 

Jonathan Webster (Chairman) Director 



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## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

## **Opinion** 

We have audited the financial statements of The Herpetological Conservation Trust (the 'charity') for the year ended 31 March 2025, which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, Balance Sheet, and Notes to the Financial Statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is United Kingdom Accounting Standards, comprising Charities SORP - FRS 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and applicable law (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). 

In our opinion the financial statements: 

- give a true and fair view of the state of the charity's affairs as at 31 March 2025 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended; 

- have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and 

- have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. 

## **Basis for opinion** 

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the auditor responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. 

## **Conclusions relating to going concern** 

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. 

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the original financial statements were authorised for issue. 

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report. 

## **Other information** 

The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. 

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. 

We have nothing to report in this regard. 



Docusign Envelope ID: B0AFB09D-326E-4257-83F8-A3017B1AE787 

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## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

## **Opinion on other matter prescribed by the Companies Act 2006** 

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit: 

- the information given in the Trustees Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and 

- the Trustees Report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements. 

## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception** 

In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees Report. 

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: 

- adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or 

- the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or 

- certain disclosures of trustees remuneration specified by law are not made; or 

- we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit. 

## **Responsibilities of trustees** 

As explained more fully in the Statement of trustees Responsibilities (set out on page 5), the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. 

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. 

## **Auditor responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements** 

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements. 

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below: 



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## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

As part of our audit planning, we obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework that is applicable to the Charity. We gained an understanding of the Charity and the sector in which the Charity operates as part of this assessment to identify the key laws and regulations affecting the Charity. As part of this, we reviewed the Charity’s website for an indication of any regulations in place and discussed these with the relevant individuals responsible for compliance. The key regulations we identified was Charity legislation. We also considered those laws and regulations that have a direct impact on the preparation of the financial statements such as the Charities Act 2011 and Charities SORP - FRS 102. 

We discussed with management how the compliance with laws and regulations is monitored and discussed policies and procedures in place. We also identified the individuals who have responsibility for ensuring that the Charity complies with laws and regulations and deals with reporting any issues if they arise. As part of our planning procedures, we assessed the risk of any non-compliance with laws and regulations on the Charity’s ability to continue trading and the risk of material misstatement to the accounts. 

Based on this understanding we designed our audit procedures to identify non-compliance with such laws and regulations. Our procedures involved the following: 

- Enquiries of management and trustees regarding their knowledge of any non-compliance with laws and regulations that could affect the financial statements. As part of these enquiries we also discussed with management whether there have been any known instances, allegations or suspicions of fraud. 

- Reviewed filings with the Charity Commission and whether there were any serious incident reports made during the year. 

- Reviewed Board minutes. 

- Audited the risk of management override of controls, including through testing journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness. 

- Reviewed estimates and judgements made in the accounts for any indication of bias. 

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate omissions, collusion, forgery, misrepresentations, or the override of internal controls. We are also less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations that are not closely related to events and transactions reflected in the financial statements. 

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report. 



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## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

## **Use of our report** 

This report is made solely to the charitable company's trustees, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and its trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. 

_Adrian Way FCA FCCA (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of PKF Francis Clark, Statutory Auditor Towngate House 2 – 8 Parkstone Road Poole BH15 2PW_ 

17 December 2025 _Date:………………………………_ 



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**10** 

## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

## **INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT** 

## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

|**Note**<br>Gross income<br> 2<br>Total expenditure<br> 4 / 5<br>Net (deficit) for the year|**2025**<br>**£**<br>383,267<br>(425,681)<br>(42,414)|**2024**<br>**£**<br>389,639<br>(430,628)<br>(40,989)|
|---|---|---|



The notes on pages 13 to 18 form part of these Financial Statements. 



Docusign Envelope ID: B0AFB09D-326E-4257-83F8-A3017B1AE787 

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## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES** 

## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

|||**Unrestricted**|**Unrestricted**|**Endowment**|**Total**|**Total**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**Funds**||**Fund**|**2025**|**2024**|
||**Note**|**£**||**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Income and endowments**|||||||
|**from:**|||||||
|Investment income|2|**383,267**||**-**|**383,267**|389,639|
|**Total income and**|||||||
|**endowments**||**383,267**||**-**|**383,267**|389,639|
|**Expenditure on:**|||||||
|Raising funds|4||**-**|**42,414**|**42,414**|40,989|
|Charitable activities|5|**383,267**||**-**|**383,267**|389,639|
|**Total expenditure**||**383,267**||**42,414**|**425,681**|430,628|
|**Net gains/(losses) on**|||||||
|**investments**|||||||
|Realised|||**-**|**24,068**|**24,068**|(1,477)|
|Unrealised|||**-**|**64,567**|**64,567**|138,425|
|**Net income/(expenditure)**|||**-**|**46,221**|**46,221**|95,959|
|Gross transfers between|||||||
|funds|10||**-**|**-**|**-**|-|
|**Net movement in funds**|||**-**|**46,221**|**46,221**|95,959|
|**Reconciliation of funds**|||||||
|Total funds brought forward|||**-**|**6,167,724**|**6,167,724**|6,071,765|
|**Total funds carried**|||||||
|**forward**|10||**-**|**6,213,945**|**6,213,945**|6,167,724|



All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities. 

The notes on pages 13 to 18 form part of these Financial Statements. 



Docusign Envelope ID: B0AFB09D-326E-4257-83F8-A3017B1AE787 

**12** 

## **Company Number: 05389839** 

## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

## **BALANCE SHEET** 

## **AS AT 31 MARCH 2025** 

|||**2025**|**2025**|**2024**|**2024**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Note**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Fixed assets**||||||
|Investments|6||**5,986,423**||5,917,479|
|**Current assets**||||||
|Debtors|7|**71,643**||70,346||
|Cash at bank and in hand||**155,879**||179,899||
|||**227,522**||280,623||
|**Creditors –**amounts falling due within one||||||
|year|8|**-**|||-|
|**Net current assets**|||**227,522**||250,245|
|**Total assets less current liabilities**|||**6,213,945**||6,167,724|
|**Funds of the charity**||||||
|Endowment fund|10||**6,213,945**||6,167,724|
|**Total charity funds**|||**6,213,945**||6,167,724|



Approved by the Board of Trustees on 22 November 2025 and signed on its behalf: 

Jonathan Webster (Chairman) Director 

The notes on pages 13 to 18 form part of these Financial Statements. 



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**13** 

## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

## **1. Summary of significant accounting policies** 

## a) General information and basis of preparation 

The Herpetological Conservation Trust is a charitable company registered in the United Kingdom. The address of the registered office is given in the charity information on page 2 of these financial statements. The nature of the charity’s operations and principal activities are as detailed on page 2 and 4. 

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Companies Act 2006 and UK Generally Accepted Practice. 

The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis and under the historical cost convention, modified to include certain items at fair value. The financial statements are prepared in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity. 

The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of the financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all years presented unless otherwise stated. 

## b) Funds 

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes. 

Endowment funds represent those assets which must be held permanently by the charity, principally the 1991 Fund and the Appointed Fund. Income arising on the endowment funds can be used in accordance with the objects of the charity and is included as unrestricted income. Any capital gains or losses arising on the investments form part of the fund. Investment management charges and legal advice relating to the fund are charged against the fund. 

## c) Income recognition 

All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the charity is legally entitled to the income after any performance conditions have been met, the amount can be measured reliably and it is probable that the income will be received. 

Donations represent voluntary amounts receivable during the period and are recognised where entitlement has been established, there is certainty of receipt and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability. Gift-Aid income is included gross of attributable tax recoverable. 

Investment income including interest receivable is recognised in the period in which it is earned and is included gross of attributable tax recoverable. 

## d) Expenditure recognition 

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under the principal categories of charitable and other expenditure rather than the type of expense. Governance costs are the expenses arising in respect of the constitutional and statutory affairs of the charitable company. 



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**14** 

## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

## **1. Summary of significant accounting policies** (continued) 

## e) Investments 

Investments held as fixed assets are held under a discretionary management agreement, on behalf of the Fund’s Trustees, and are valued on the basis of the market value of the investments and uninvested cash comprising the portfolio (excluding accrued interest) at the accounting date. Income from this Fund is recognised on an accruals basis in the Statement of Financial Activities. 

Market value for equities and fixed-interest securities is the last traded price or the closing midmarket quoted price. For unit trusts, the mid-market price prevailing on the balance sheet date is used. Accrued interest is excluded from the valuation of fixed interest stocks but is included in debtors as accrued income. 

## f) Taxation 

The charity is an exempt charity within the meaning of schedule 3 of the Charities Act 2011 and is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. 

The Trust is not registered for Value Added Tax (VAT) and is therefore unable to reclaim any input tax it suffers on its purchases. Expenditure in the Accounts is therefore shown inclusive of VAT where appropriate. 

## g) Going concern 

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis as the trustees believe that no material uncertainties exist. The trustees have considered the level of funds held and the expected level of income and expenditure for 12 months from authorising these financial statements. The budgeted income and expenditure is sufficient with the level of reserves for the charity to be able to continue as a going concern. 

## h) Debtors and creditors 

Debtors and creditors with no stated interest rate and receivable/payable within one year are recorded at transaction price. Any losses arising on impairment are recognised in expenditure. 

## i) Cash at bank and in hand 

Cash at bank and in hand comprise short term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value. 



Docusign Envelope ID: B0AFB09D-326E-4257-83F8-A3017B1AE787 

**15** 

## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

## **2. Investment income (unrestricted funds)** 

|**2.**|**Investment income (unrestricted funds)**|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**2025**||**2024**||
|||**£**||**£**||
||Investment income on the 1991 fund|**158,211**||153,618||
||Investment income on the appointed fund|**225,056**||236,021||
|||**383,267**||389,639||
|**3.**|**Net incoming resources**|||||
|||**2025**||**2024**||
|||**£**||**£**||
||Are stated after charging/crediting:|||||
||Auditors’ remuneration||-||-|
||The auditors’ remuneration for the Herpetological Conservation Trust is paid for by||the|Amphibian|and|
||Reptile Conservation Trust and is disclosed in their financial statements.|||||
|**4.**|**Raising funds (endowment funds)**|||||
|||**2025**||**2024**||
|||**£**||**£**||
||Investment management fees|**42,414**||40,989||
|||**42,414**||40,989||
|**5.**|**Charitable activities (unrestricted funds)**|||||
||**Donations made**|||||
|||**2025**||**2024**||
|||**£**||**£**||
||Donation paid to The Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust|**383,267**||389,639||





Docusign Envelope ID: B0AFB09D-326E-4257-83F8-A3017B1AE787 

**16** 

## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

## **6. Investments** 

|**i**<br>**Listed**<br>**nvestments**<br>**£**<br>**Cost or valuation**<br>At 1 April 2024<br>5,917,479<br>Additions<br>216,849<br>Disposals<br>(212,472)<br>Revaluation<br>64,567<br>At 31 March 2025<br>5,986,423<br>**Impairment**<br>At 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025<br>-<br>**Carrying amount**<br>At 31 March 2025<br>5,986,423<br>At 31 March 2024<br>5,917,479<br>Investments at fair value comprise:<br>**2025**<br>**£**<br>UK Quoted Securities:<br>Fixed interest<br>**671,879**<br>Equities<br>**2,093,056**<br>Overseas equities<br>**2,262,397**<br>Other investments<br>**959,091**<br>Market value of investments at 31 March 2025<br>**5,986,423**<br>Cash held by Investment Managers<br>**155,879**<br>**6,142,302**|**Total**<br>**£**<br>5,917,479<br>216,849<br>(212,472)<br>64,567|
|---|---|
||5,986,423|
||-|
||5,986,423|
||5,917,479|
||**2024**<br>**£**<br>610,637<br>1,987,413<br>2,340,047<br>979,382|
||5,917,479<br>179,899|
||6,097,378|



## **7. Debtors** 

|Prepayments and accrued income<br>Amounts owed by Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust|**2025**<br>**£**<br>**55,258**<br>**16,385**<br>**71,643**|**2024**<br>**£**<br>46,033<br>24,313<br>70,346|
|---|---|---|





Docusign Envelope ID: B0AFB09D-326E-4257-83F8-A3017B1AE787 

**17** 

## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

## **8. Creditors falling due within one year** 

||**2025**||**2024**||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**£**||**£**||
|Amounts owed to Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust||**-**||-|



## **9. Controlling entity** 

The charity is controlled by the trustees who are all directors of the charitable company. 

## **10. Funds** 

|Endowment fund (the 1991 Fund)<br>Endowment fund (the Appointed Fund)|**2025**<br>**£**<br>**2,403,446**<br>**3,810,499**<br>**6,213,945**|**2024**<br>**£**<br>2,359,999<br>3,807,725|
|---|---|---|
|||6,167,724|



The Funds comprise: 

## **Endowment fund** 

|Original Endowment in 1991<br>Original gift (29 April 2010)<br>Realised and Unrealised net gains<br>**Corresponding assets:**<br>Investments<br>Accrued income<br>Other current assets|**1991**<br>**Fund**<br>**£**<br>**1,500,000**<br>**-**<br>**903,446**<br>**2,403,446**<br>**2,263,258**<br>**38,170**<br>**102,018**<br>**2,403,446**|**Appointed**<br>**Fund**<br>**Total**<br>**2025**<br>**Total**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**-**<br>**1,500,000**<br>1,500,000<br>**3,054,077**<br>**3,054,077**<br>3,054,077<br>**756,422**<br>**1,659,868**<br>1,613,647<br>**3,810,499**<br>**6,213,945**<br>6,167,724<br>**3,723,165**<br>**5,986,423**<br>5,917,479<br>**33,473**<br>**71,643**<br>70,346<br>**53,861**<br>**155,879**<br>179,899<br>**3,810,499**<br>**6,213,945**<br>6,167,724|
|---|---|---|



Unrestricted expenditure of £Nil (2024: expenditure of £Nil) was transferred from/to the Endowment Fund to maintain its value. 



Docusign Envelope ID: B0AFB09D-326E-4257-83F8-A3017B1AE787 

**18** 

## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

## **11. Related party transactions** 

During the year, the Herpetological Conservation Trust made the donation shown in note 5 to Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust, a charity with which the Trust has a transfer agreement (see page 4). 

At the year-end, £16,385 was owed from Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust (2024: £24,313), which is included in creditors. 

No remuneration or reimbursed expenditure was paid to Trustees. 



Docusign Envelope ID: B0AFB09D-326E-4257-83F8-A3017B1AE787 

**Charity Number: 1109031** 

**Company Number: 05389839** 

## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

**REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 



Docusign Envelope ID: B0AFB09D-326E-4257-83F8-A3017B1AE787 

**1** 

**THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

## **CONTENTS** 

- 2-3. Constitution and Officers 4-5. Report of the Trustees/(Directors) 6-9. Report of the Independent Auditors 10. Income and Expenditure Account 11. Statement of Financial Activities 12. Balance Sheet 

- 13-18. Notes to the Financial Statements 



Docusign Envelope ID: B0AFB09D-326E-4257-83F8-A3017B1AE787 

**2** 

## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST CONSTITUTION AND OFFICERS YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

## **Constitution** 

The Herpetological Conservation Trust is a registered charity constituted under a Memorandum and Articles of Association incorporated 11 March 2005. The Registered Charity number is 1109031. 

## **Objects** 

The objects of the charity are: 

- 1) To promote and advance the conservation of amphibians and reptiles, their habitats and the wider environment on which they depend; 

- 2) To establish and maintain herpetofauna nature reserves and to undertake habitat management and to promote the study of and appreciation of sustainable practices in such nature reserves. 

- 3) To execute, promote, support, and publish research relevant to species and habitat conservation pertinent to amphibians and reptiles. 

- 4) To advance the education of the public in herpetological conservation and conservation of the environment. 

- 5) To advance the above-mentioned objects in the British Isles, Europe and elsewhere in the world. 

## **Trustees (Directors)** 

Mr Jonathan Webster (Chairman) Mr Howard Inns (Vice-Chairman) Dr Roger Mitchell PhD, CBiol, FRSB (Treasurer) Mr Jeremy Bruce MSc BA Ms Stephanie Davies (resigned 18 August 2025) Mr David Elliot BSc, MBA Professor Richard Griffiths BSc, PhD, FRSB Dr Robert Jehle BSc, PhD Mrs Rebecca Turner BSc, MSc 

## **Secretary** 

Dr Tony Gent BSc, PhD, CBiol, MRSB 

## **Key Staff** 

Dr Tony Gent BSc, PhD, CBiol, MRSB (Chief Executive Officer) Mrs Philippa Goodwin (Admin & Finance Manager) Mr James Foster, BSc, MSc, MCIEEM (Conservation Director) 

The Trustees are appointed by approval of the full Board of Trustees. 

## **Registered office** 

744-748 Christchurch Road Boscombe Bournemouth Dorset BH7 6BZ 

## **Auditors** 

PKF Francis Clark Chartered Accountants & Statutory Auditors Towngate House 2-8 Parkstone Road Poole BH15 2PW 



Docusign Envelope ID: B0AFB09D-326E-4257-83F8-A3017B1AE787 

**3** 

## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST CONSTITUTION AND OFFICERS YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

## **Solicitors** 

Lester Aldridge Russell House Oxford Road Bournemouth Dorset BH8 8EX 

## **Bankers** 

Lloyds Bank Plc 45-47 Old Christchurch Road Bournemouth Dorset BH1 1ED 

## **Investment Managers** 

Rathbones Group Plc 30 Gresham Street London EC2V 7QN 

Schroder & Co Ltd 1 London Wall Place London EC2Y 5AU 



Docusign Envelope ID: B0AFB09D-326E-4257-83F8-A3017B1AE787 

**4** 

## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES/(DIRECTORS)** 

## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

The Trustees present their Report, together with the audited Financial Statements, for the year ended 31 March 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” FRS 102 in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity. 

## **Review of Activities** 

The Trustees have produced a separate Annual Report 2024/25 reviewing the Trust Activities for the Herpetological Conservation Trust and the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust which incorporates the necessary narrative information required by the Statement of Recommended Practice. 

On 1 April 2011, a transfer agreement between the Herpetological Conservation Trust and Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust became effective. This is intended to rationalise the way in which the two charities work by transferring all the assets and liabilities relating to the operational work of the Herpetological Conservation Trust to Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust. The agreement states that all assets and liabilities excluding the Permanent Endowment Fund be transferred from Herpetological Conservation Trust to Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust. 

## **Trustees** 

The full list of Trustees is shown on page 2. 

## **Public Benefit** 

The Trustees have given due regard to public benefit when planning the charity’s activities, in accordance with the Charity Commission’s Guidance on Public Benefit. 

The annual report sets out our activities, achievements and performance during the year, which are directly related to the objects and purposes for which the charity exists. The charity achieves its principal objects and purposes through the conservation elements of biodiversity for people now and in the future, offering general and specialist advice free to members of the public, landowners and land managers and managing a suite of nature reserves. These benefits are directly related to the aims of the charity and are fully compliant with the Charity Commission Principles on Public Benefit. 

## **Reserves Policy** 

The reserves held relate purely to the permanent endowment fund. 

The restricted and unrestricted reserves held at 31 March 2011 were transferred to Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust. The reserves policy following this transfer is to balance the endowment fund value and return by appropriate investment. 

The trustees consider this to be adequate and appropriate. 

## **Risk Management** 

During the year the trustees reconsidered the major risks to which the charity is exposed and the procedures currently in place to mitigate these. The management of these and any other risks will be kept under annual review. 



Docusign Envelope ID: B0AFB09D-326E-4257-83F8-A3017B1AE787 

**5** 

## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES/(DIRECTORS)** 

## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

## **Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities** 

The trustees (who are also directors of The Herpetological Conservation Trust for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland". 

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to: 

- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; 

- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; 

- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; 

- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards comprising FRS 102 have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and 

- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation. 

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. 

In so far as the trustees are aware: 

- there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company’s auditor is unaware; and 

- the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information. 

## **Auditors** 

A resolution to re-appoint PKF Francis Clark for the ensuing year will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting in accordance with Section 485 of the Companies Act 2006. 

## **Small Company Provisions** 

The report of the trustees has been prepared taking advantage of the small companies exemption of section 415A of the Companies Act 2006. 

16 December 2025 

This report was approved by the board on …………………………………. and signed on its behalf. 

On behalf of the Trustees 

Jonathan Webster (Chairman) Director 



Docusign Envelope ID: B0AFB09D-326E-4257-83F8-A3017B1AE787 

**6** 

## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

## **Opinion** 

We have audited the financial statements of The Herpetological Conservation Trust (the 'charity') for the year ended 31 March 2025, which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, Balance Sheet, and Notes to the Financial Statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is United Kingdom Accounting Standards, comprising Charities SORP - FRS 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and applicable law (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). 

In our opinion the financial statements: 

- give a true and fair view of the state of the charity's affairs as at 31 March 2025 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended; 

- have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and 

- have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. 

## **Basis for opinion** 

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the auditor responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. 

## **Conclusions relating to going concern** 

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. 

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the original financial statements were authorised for issue. 

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report. 

## **Other information** 

The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. 

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. 

We have nothing to report in this regard. 



Docusign Envelope ID: B0AFB09D-326E-4257-83F8-A3017B1AE787 

**7** 

## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

## **Opinion on other matter prescribed by the Companies Act 2006** 

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit: 

- the information given in the Trustees Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and 

- the Trustees Report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements. 

## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception** 

In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees Report. 

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: 

- adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or 

- the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or 

- certain disclosures of trustees remuneration specified by law are not made; or 

- we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit. 

## **Responsibilities of trustees** 

As explained more fully in the Statement of trustees Responsibilities (set out on page 5), the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. 

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. 

## **Auditor responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements** 

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements. 

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below: 



Docusign Envelope ID: B0AFB09D-326E-4257-83F8-A3017B1AE787 

**8** 

## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

As part of our audit planning, we obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework that is applicable to the Charity. We gained an understanding of the Charity and the sector in which the Charity operates as part of this assessment to identify the key laws and regulations affecting the Charity. As part of this, we reviewed the Charity’s website for an indication of any regulations in place and discussed these with the relevant individuals responsible for compliance. The key regulations we identified was Charity legislation. We also considered those laws and regulations that have a direct impact on the preparation of the financial statements such as the Charities Act 2011 and Charities SORP - FRS 102. 

We discussed with management how the compliance with laws and regulations is monitored and discussed policies and procedures in place. We also identified the individuals who have responsibility for ensuring that the Charity complies with laws and regulations and deals with reporting any issues if they arise. As part of our planning procedures, we assessed the risk of any non-compliance with laws and regulations on the Charity’s ability to continue trading and the risk of material misstatement to the accounts. 

Based on this understanding we designed our audit procedures to identify non-compliance with such laws and regulations. Our procedures involved the following: 

- Enquiries of management and trustees regarding their knowledge of any non-compliance with laws and regulations that could affect the financial statements. As part of these enquiries we also discussed with management whether there have been any known instances, allegations or suspicions of fraud. 

- Reviewed filings with the Charity Commission and whether there were any serious incident reports made during the year. 

- Reviewed Board minutes. 

- Audited the risk of management override of controls, including through testing journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness. 

- Reviewed estimates and judgements made in the accounts for any indication of bias. 

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate omissions, collusion, forgery, misrepresentations, or the override of internal controls. We are also less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations that are not closely related to events and transactions reflected in the financial statements. 

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report. 



Docusign Envelope ID: B0AFB09D-326E-4257-83F8-A3017B1AE787 

**9** 

## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

## **Use of our report** 

This report is made solely to the charitable company's trustees, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and its trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. 

_Adrian Way FCA FCCA (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of PKF Francis Clark, Statutory Auditor Towngate House 2 – 8 Parkstone Road Poole BH15 2PW_ 

17 December 2025 _Date:………………………………_ 



Docusign Envelope ID: B0AFB09D-326E-4257-83F8-A3017B1AE787 

**10** 

## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

## **INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT** 

## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

|**Note**<br>Gross income<br> 2<br>Total expenditure<br> 4 / 5<br>Net (deficit) for the year|**2025**<br>**£**<br>383,267<br>(425,681)<br>(42,414)|**2024**<br>**£**<br>389,639<br>(430,628)<br>(40,989)|
|---|---|---|



The notes on pages 13 to 18 form part of these Financial Statements. 



Docusign Envelope ID: B0AFB09D-326E-4257-83F8-A3017B1AE787 

**11** 

## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES** 

## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

|||**Unrestricted**|**Unrestricted**|**Endowment**|**Total**|**Total**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**Funds**||**Fund**|**2025**|**2024**|
||**Note**|**£**||**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Income and endowments**|||||||
|**from:**|||||||
|Investment income|2|**383,267**||**-**|**383,267**|389,639|
|**Total income and**|||||||
|**endowments**||**383,267**||**-**|**383,267**|389,639|
|**Expenditure on:**|||||||
|Raising funds|4||**-**|**42,414**|**42,414**|40,989|
|Charitable activities|5|**383,267**||**-**|**383,267**|389,639|
|**Total expenditure**||**383,267**||**42,414**|**425,681**|430,628|
|**Net gains/(losses) on**|||||||
|**investments**|||||||
|Realised|||**-**|**24,068**|**24,068**|(1,477)|
|Unrealised|||**-**|**64,567**|**64,567**|138,425|
|**Net income/(expenditure)**|||**-**|**46,221**|**46,221**|95,959|
|Gross transfers between|||||||
|funds|10||**-**|**-**|**-**|-|
|**Net movement in funds**|||**-**|**46,221**|**46,221**|95,959|
|**Reconciliation of funds**|||||||
|Total funds brought forward|||**-**|**6,167,724**|**6,167,724**|6,071,765|
|**Total funds carried**|||||||
|**forward**|10||**-**|**6,213,945**|**6,213,945**|6,167,724|



All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities. 

The notes on pages 13 to 18 form part of these Financial Statements. 



Docusign Envelope ID: B0AFB09D-326E-4257-83F8-A3017B1AE787 

**12** 

## **Company Number: 05389839** 

## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

## **BALANCE SHEET** 

## **AS AT 31 MARCH 2025** 

|||**2025**|**2025**|**2024**|**2024**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Note**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Fixed assets**||||||
|Investments|6||**5,986,423**||5,917,479|
|**Current assets**||||||
|Debtors|7|**71,643**||70,346||
|Cash at bank and in hand||**155,879**||179,899||
|||**227,522**||280,623||
|**Creditors –**amounts falling due within one||||||
|year|8|**-**|||-|
|**Net current assets**|||**227,522**||250,245|
|**Total assets less current liabilities**|||**6,213,945**||6,167,724|
|**Funds of the charity**||||||
|Endowment fund|10||**6,213,945**||6,167,724|
|**Total charity funds**|||**6,213,945**||6,167,724|



Approved by the Board of Trustees on 22 November 2025 and signed on its behalf: 

Jonathan Webster (Chairman) Director 

The notes on pages 13 to 18 form part of these Financial Statements. 



Docusign Envelope ID: B0AFB09D-326E-4257-83F8-A3017B1AE787 

**13** 

## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

## **1. Summary of significant accounting policies** 

## a) General information and basis of preparation 

The Herpetological Conservation Trust is a charitable company registered in the United Kingdom. The address of the registered office is given in the charity information on page 2 of these financial statements. The nature of the charity’s operations and principal activities are as detailed on page 2 and 4. 

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Companies Act 2006 and UK Generally Accepted Practice. 

The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis and under the historical cost convention, modified to include certain items at fair value. The financial statements are prepared in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity. 

The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of the financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all years presented unless otherwise stated. 

## b) Funds 

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes. 

Endowment funds represent those assets which must be held permanently by the charity, principally the 1991 Fund and the Appointed Fund. Income arising on the endowment funds can be used in accordance with the objects of the charity and is included as unrestricted income. Any capital gains or losses arising on the investments form part of the fund. Investment management charges and legal advice relating to the fund are charged against the fund. 

## c) Income recognition 

All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the charity is legally entitled to the income after any performance conditions have been met, the amount can be measured reliably and it is probable that the income will be received. 

Donations represent voluntary amounts receivable during the period and are recognised where entitlement has been established, there is certainty of receipt and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability. Gift-Aid income is included gross of attributable tax recoverable. 

Investment income including interest receivable is recognised in the period in which it is earned and is included gross of attributable tax recoverable. 

## d) Expenditure recognition 

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under the principal categories of charitable and other expenditure rather than the type of expense. Governance costs are the expenses arising in respect of the constitutional and statutory affairs of the charitable company. 



Docusign Envelope ID: B0AFB09D-326E-4257-83F8-A3017B1AE787 

**14** 

## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

## **1. Summary of significant accounting policies** (continued) 

## e) Investments 

Investments held as fixed assets are held under a discretionary management agreement, on behalf of the Fund’s Trustees, and are valued on the basis of the market value of the investments and uninvested cash comprising the portfolio (excluding accrued interest) at the accounting date. Income from this Fund is recognised on an accruals basis in the Statement of Financial Activities. 

Market value for equities and fixed-interest securities is the last traded price or the closing midmarket quoted price. For unit trusts, the mid-market price prevailing on the balance sheet date is used. Accrued interest is excluded from the valuation of fixed interest stocks but is included in debtors as accrued income. 

## f) Taxation 

The charity is an exempt charity within the meaning of schedule 3 of the Charities Act 2011 and is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. 

The Trust is not registered for Value Added Tax (VAT) and is therefore unable to reclaim any input tax it suffers on its purchases. Expenditure in the Accounts is therefore shown inclusive of VAT where appropriate. 

## g) Going concern 

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis as the trustees believe that no material uncertainties exist. The trustees have considered the level of funds held and the expected level of income and expenditure for 12 months from authorising these financial statements. The budgeted income and expenditure is sufficient with the level of reserves for the charity to be able to continue as a going concern. 

## h) Debtors and creditors 

Debtors and creditors with no stated interest rate and receivable/payable within one year are recorded at transaction price. Any losses arising on impairment are recognised in expenditure. 

## i) Cash at bank and in hand 

Cash at bank and in hand comprise short term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value. 



Docusign Envelope ID: B0AFB09D-326E-4257-83F8-A3017B1AE787 

**15** 

## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

## **2. Investment income (unrestricted funds)** 

|**2.**|**Investment income (unrestricted funds)**|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**2025**||**2024**||
|||**£**||**£**||
||Investment income on the 1991 fund|**158,211**||153,618||
||Investment income on the appointed fund|**225,056**||236,021||
|||**383,267**||389,639||
|**3.**|**Net incoming resources**|||||
|||**2025**||**2024**||
|||**£**||**£**||
||Are stated after charging/crediting:|||||
||Auditors’ remuneration||-||-|
||The auditors’ remuneration for the Herpetological Conservation Trust is paid for by||the|Amphibian|and|
||Reptile Conservation Trust and is disclosed in their financial statements.|||||
|**4.**|**Raising funds (endowment funds)**|||||
|||**2025**||**2024**||
|||**£**||**£**||
||Investment management fees|**42,414**||40,989||
|||**42,414**||40,989||
|**5.**|**Charitable activities (unrestricted funds)**|||||
||**Donations made**|||||
|||**2025**||**2024**||
|||**£**||**£**||
||Donation paid to The Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust|**383,267**||389,639||





Docusign Envelope ID: B0AFB09D-326E-4257-83F8-A3017B1AE787 

**16** 

## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

## **6. Investments** 

|**i**<br>**Listed**<br>**nvestments**<br>**£**<br>**Cost or valuation**<br>At 1 April 2024<br>5,917,479<br>Additions<br>216,849<br>Disposals<br>(212,472)<br>Revaluation<br>64,567<br>At 31 March 2025<br>5,986,423<br>**Impairment**<br>At 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025<br>-<br>**Carrying amount**<br>At 31 March 2025<br>5,986,423<br>At 31 March 2024<br>5,917,479<br>Investments at fair value comprise:<br>**2025**<br>**£**<br>UK Quoted Securities:<br>Fixed interest<br>**671,879**<br>Equities<br>**2,093,056**<br>Overseas equities<br>**2,262,397**<br>Other investments<br>**959,091**<br>Market value of investments at 31 March 2025<br>**5,986,423**<br>Cash held by Investment Managers<br>**155,879**<br>**6,142,302**|**Total**<br>**£**<br>5,917,479<br>216,849<br>(212,472)<br>64,567|
|---|---|
||5,986,423|
||-|
||5,986,423|
||5,917,479|
||**2024**<br>**£**<br>610,637<br>1,987,413<br>2,340,047<br>979,382|
||5,917,479<br>179,899|
||6,097,378|



## **7. Debtors** 

|Prepayments and accrued income<br>Amounts owed by Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust|**2025**<br>**£**<br>**55,258**<br>**16,385**<br>**71,643**|**2024**<br>**£**<br>46,033<br>24,313<br>70,346|
|---|---|---|





Docusign Envelope ID: B0AFB09D-326E-4257-83F8-A3017B1AE787 

**17** 

## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

## **8. Creditors falling due within one year** 

||**2025**||**2024**||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**£**||**£**||
|Amounts owed to Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust||**-**||-|



## **9. Controlling entity** 

The charity is controlled by the trustees who are all directors of the charitable company. 

## **10. Funds** 

|Endowment fund (the 1991 Fund)<br>Endowment fund (the Appointed Fund)|**2025**<br>**£**<br>**2,403,446**<br>**3,810,499**<br>**6,213,945**|**2024**<br>**£**<br>2,359,999<br>3,807,725|
|---|---|---|
|||6,167,724|



The Funds comprise: 

## **Endowment fund** 

|Original Endowment in 1991<br>Original gift (29 April 2010)<br>Realised and Unrealised net gains<br>**Corresponding assets:**<br>Investments<br>Accrued income<br>Other current assets|**1991**<br>**Fund**<br>**£**<br>**1,500,000**<br>**-**<br>**903,446**<br>**2,403,446**<br>**2,263,258**<br>**38,170**<br>**102,018**<br>**2,403,446**|**Appointed**<br>**Fund**<br>**Total**<br>**2025**<br>**Total**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**-**<br>**1,500,000**<br>1,500,000<br>**3,054,077**<br>**3,054,077**<br>3,054,077<br>**756,422**<br>**1,659,868**<br>1,613,647<br>**3,810,499**<br>**6,213,945**<br>6,167,724<br>**3,723,165**<br>**5,986,423**<br>5,917,479<br>**33,473**<br>**71,643**<br>70,346<br>**53,861**<br>**155,879**<br>179,899<br>**3,810,499**<br>**6,213,945**<br>6,167,724|
|---|---|---|



Unrestricted expenditure of £Nil (2024: expenditure of £Nil) was transferred from/to the Endowment Fund to maintain its value. 



Docusign Envelope ID: B0AFB09D-326E-4257-83F8-A3017B1AE787 

**18** 

## **THE HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION TRUST** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

## **11. Related party transactions** 

During the year, the Herpetological Conservation Trust made the donation shown in note 5 to Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust, a charity with which the Trust has a transfer agreement (see page 4). 

At the year-end, £16,385 was owed from Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust (2024: £24,313), which is included in creditors. 

No remuneration or reimbursed expenditure was paid to Trustees.