NATlaMAL GALDE SCHEME .. Old &WbeaTr Sty&KertQ ConlBriKe National Garden SchemeAnnual Report 2023 Chairman's introduction 2023 sawthe National Garden Scheme achieleaslgnfficant milestone in that for firtt time in charty'5 Iiear- one hundred year history the gardens raised a total of more than £4 million. This was achieved thanks to the hard V￿rk and comminient of our garden owners and volunteer5 and. on behalf of all the Trusrees. I would like to extend our sincere th￿kS to them ail at the start of thIsAnnU￿ Report As dettiled in Section 6 of the repor¢ the increased level of garden income underpinned record donations to our bweficll￿ whith V￿re dlstributed before the end of 2023 viiths)u¢ any payments being Ca￿led over for distribution in the followlng year, a5 has been necessary in the previous two years. The l•tl of the donations emphasise5 our charws ongoln& lonz-term commitment to our six major nursing and health beneficiarie& including our founder. the Queen's Nursing knstltuth.Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and ever since. the contribution of these charitR5 to the national health and social ore system ha5 been in¢wsIn￿Y srynifi(3rt 50 we are proLvJ to continue our dHrity's suppw¢ We a150 extendEd our Gardens and Health programme in 2023. In addition to our annual donatlons to Horntio's Garden. Maggies and the Arry Benevolent Fund. the Trustees agreed donation5 to MencaB Sue Ryder and Thri¥e for specific garden projetts that each charlty wil carryouLSince its InCep￿0n in 2016 with the publIcat￿n of the lthng's Fund rep¢Xt Gardens and Healdlcommissioned by the National Garden Scheme, we have donatsd nearty £2.3 mllllon to dlffer¢nt c[Xrt￿es under this prowdmme. over England,Wales and N¢Jrthern Ireland. In many cases the projects introduce Peop￿ to both zardening and to the National Garden Sthe￿￿ and pmvide a welcome facility or refuge for many who otheMse have no acce55 to a 8arden or wider 8￿￿ space. D￿1$ of all these progrnmmés and our other activitles are set ou¢ kn the pages of thls reporL One notable We conttnue with our ann(Rl donatlons to tharltles achievemeni which came In 2023 and which will bear 5UPPOrt or trdin fdrdeners and we are very pleased to fruit in 2024. vfis the acceptsnce of the Natior)al Garden make the signfficart contribution to the prdeninz and Stheme to have a large show garden at the 2024 Chelsea horticU￿uTr1 industry whith this invohe5. As wdl as Flower Show.This ha5 been made possible by thegenerous our ongoing suppor¢ for PerennraL one of the National $￿pOrt of kniect Giving Back (bLtPL Garden Schemes most long-standing beneficiarie& we which accepted our proposal in April 2023 and make a major ¢ontrlbutlon to English Heritsges Historic which will fulty fund the show zarden.The garden is being and Botanic Garden Trainlng ￿fftme and to the d¢siEned byTom Stuart-smtth who 15 not only one of the Professional Ganlener's TrusLa5 well as funding individual most intemationalty renowned garden designers of today apprèntices at the Garden Museum and the Na￿ana1 but also a long-terni supporter of the Natlonal Garden Botsmc GardernV*dle& Stheme who will celebrate 30 years of opening his own garden In 2024.we I¢￿k forward to gNing fvll details of the showgarden and the mnt in our 2024Annual Report The fourth area of the National Garden StheTh￿'s charitable donations is our Communlty Garden Grnnts progTrmme which continues to grow imprnssiyety. After an unprecedented number of application5 from all over the England. Wales and Northern Ireknd. the Tru5tee5 agreed to d¢nate a total OF £26QOOO to fund 86 drfferent projecN This brings the total numbEr of community drdens supported to nearly 300, facil￿ating their unique Combination of diversity and inclusion to coMmun￿e$ all RupertTylar Chairnian Trustees'Annual Report 2023 TheTrustees submit theirAnnLTral Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 3 1st December 2023 Contents l. Objectives 2. History 3. Strategy 4. Operational Actiwties 5. Fundrai5in& Costs and Net Income 6. Beneficiary Policy and Dlstributlons 7. BeneficiaryActÉvttie5 8. Community Gardens 9. Garden5 and HEalth l O. Sustainability and BiodiYer5ity I l. Dlgital Chamels 12. Risk Management 13. IrThE5trnen( Distribution and Reserves Policy 14. Legacies and Centenary Fund 15. ConstI￿tion. Governan￿, Struttut* and Management 16. Publlc Bene 17. Fred Carr 18. Statement ofTru5tees' Responsibilities The finanoal stotements hove been prepored in ottordonce with the occounting Polraes set out in Nots I to the financiol statements and compty the ComPonie5 Aa 2006 and-Accountinz and Reporting by Charities.. Statement of Recommended Practi￿ appfvcoble in the UK ond Republic o[Ireland (FRS 102)"(effectiYe l Jonuory 2019). National Garden SchemeAnnual Report 2023 l. Objectives As i resuk of the Nationil Garden Sthemes long-term commitment to its nursing beneficiarie& r( has become the most signffjicant cumulative charitable supporter of nursiivd in the country and the single krgest funder of most of the indbvbdual beneficiary charitie& The primary objective of the chariry is to raise money for nursin8 and health charities by orsanislng the opening of gardens of qualty to the public.The charity also champion5 the benefft5 of garden5 for people's heakh and wellbein¥.The achievement of these objettives is based on long-terni strategic planning against which the ch2rity5 annual perforniance and achievements are measured. 3. Strategy HIstori￿lIY the National Garden Scheme's strategy has focused on growlng its core activity of intreasing funds raised by garden openin¥5 and the ￿ key Strategic priorities have been to increase the number of garder opening and to reach a wder audience in order to attract more visitors. 2. History The charity was founded in 1927 by the Queen's Nursing Institute. to raise fvnds to 5UPPOrt district nur5ifbg Ythich the QNI organT5ed and managed prior to the introduction of the National Health Service.The Trustee5 of the QNI invited owners of outstanding fdrdens to open to public vi5itor5 for one day and do￿te the funds raised to the Institute. In 1927 som& 600 gardens opened. they all charged one shilling and they raised £&OOO.As well as the fundraising success this scFMie broke new social ground in offer4ng public access to private Eardens for all in rrfurn for a modest contrtbutyon to tharity.This principle of inclusiveness has been a key charathristic of the National Garden Scheme ever since. More recentty. the charity has pioneernd promoting the benefits of gardens and gardening for publlc and individual health and welkbeing (See Section 9). TheTrustee5 believe that thi5 15 an area of growing importance artd one to which the charity is uniquety posits.oned to contribute.This includes the charity's growing commitment t0 5UPPQrting community gardens with an annu￿ programme of grants to projects all 0￿r the country (see Section 8). The effect of the pandemic on ￿rden opening in 2020 and 2021 and the greatly increased public awarenes$ that resulted from our other fvndraising activlties led to a re-evaluation of the char￿$ Strategic prioritie& Opening 8arden5 to Visitors to ra15e funds remains the core attrvity, but broadening fijndraising activitie5 and appealing ro different audience5 are being deyeloped. These considwations inflLwced the Straogic Plan 2021-25 vknlch has fr>ur mteglc prlorfdes: This core activity of opening private gardens to Visitors has remained largety unchanged since 1927 although the quantTty and variety of gardens has grown considerab￿. As well ￿ traditional large country g￿en$,there are now large numbers of smaller gardens opening in towns and citie5 or together in group5 In villages.The wider variety al$0 includes allotments, school and h05pice gardens. In a re￿r[Oble testament to the loyalty of garden owner$ 70 of the 600 gardens that orignally opened in 1927 are still opening today. Wlden our publlc ￿Ch- as diversfy our portfolio of gardens that open we wlll engage with an increasingty diverse audience of people opening their garden&visitors and other sUpp(￿*r$. The durity was part of the Queens Nursing hsci¢ute from its foundatlon until 1980 when the QNI established the National Girdens Scheme Charitabte TrusL In 2005 the charlty incorporated as a company limthl by guardntee.. and in 2017 the charitys name became the NatIo￿al Garden Stheme. Increase supporter engagement and loyalty- fvrth¢r nurture and develop our relationship5 with garden owners and the growing audience of visitors and other supporter5. Trdnsfom) our di£ltal p￿￿On￿$ infrdStructure- our actyvlties a￿ increasingty reliant on our di&tal platforms which we will continue to dèvelop to meet demand. Ever since its establishmenLthe National Garden kheme ha5 Cortinued to focu5 it5 annual donations on supporting nursing and health. In recent year5. It has extended the donations policy to support other charities whose work is consistert with Its programme for gardens and heakh.The 2023 donation5 took the total since the charirfs foundation to over £70 million. Creats financial resilience- in additlon to our trnditional sOu￿e of income from garden openings which funds our annual donations, further develop other income streams to Strengthen our ￿$111c￿re rtr li A he0￿lfvI summ¢revEiiing for our onnuql fvndroi5ing Eclo ut3rDughton Gronge . miseL4 over £41.OGO fvr the Notiortd Garden Scheme National Garden Scheme Annual Report 2023 4. Uperational Activities (2022= 5,599) and 1.01 I P022:1,120) gardens opened by arrangement- either In additlon to set open days or onty by arrdngemenL The National Gardèn S¢hÈme continues to organis¢ the voluntary opening of 8arden5 throu8hout the countie5 of Entsnd andWale5 and, Sin￿ 2022. in Northern Ireland and the Channel Island Desptte all ofthe above fyures decreasing from the previou5 year, and On￿ a modest increase in thè average admission charged. the gardens achieved a notable milestone in raising more than £4 million for the first time. Garden income totalled £4,165,116 a &5% increase on 2022 (£3,838,254). The great rnajoriry of the gardens are Private￿ owned and not othErwi5e acce55ible to Vi51tors. Each County has a team, led by a County Organiser, who are all volunteer&They are responsible for organising and supporting garden openings within their counties, as well as for ensuring garden5 are of a standard which visitors ave Come to expect over many decade5.The National Garden Scheme provide5 comprehensive public liability insurnnce for all gardens that open. This includes £39,363 (2022: £42.231) dlstrlbuted by garden owners to a l¢xal charity of their choice from their total admissions income. In addition, a further £227.623 (2022.. £207,087) was raised on garden open days by the s￿e of teas and plants organised by ¢)ther charities which retained the proceed5 of th95e sales. This has resulted in a total of £266,986 being distrd?uted nationwde for the benefit of numerous small local charitable organisation& The head office at Hatchlands Pdrk In Surrey co- ordinates the charity's activitie& produces the 2nnLFal guidebook (The Gardenvisitor's Handbooky and p￿rnoteS the garden openings through the website, social media channe15 and the app. Both the Handbook and websr¢e provide all relevant detsils of gardens opening in each county. Promotion of garden5 15 enhanced by counry bookjets (containing indfvidual county 5e¢¢lons from the Handbook> vthlch are distributed in their particular are2. The charity hotd5 a major event fundraisinz event per year. In 2023 it was held at Broughton Grange in Oxfordshlre in September, by kn'nd pernii5sion of the owners vtho open the garden regularly for the Nation￿ Garden Scheme and raised £41.000.We extend particular thanks to Blue Boolthe e¥￿t spon50r and to Babytonstoren which generou5ty sponsored the wlne. The cPArity's financial operations have chinged dramatically in recent years. In 2019 the charity's gardeTropening operntion was cash onty. Funds continue to ¢ome from gardens as cash, but atso through the akernative channe15 of cashless payments and online booking5- both of whrch are now available to all gardens the charity's online booking system and ard read¢r5. In 2023 16% of net garden income was cashless and 7% ￿rne from bookings. The 2023 Annu￿ Lecture at the Royal Geographial Society was giyen by the renowned garden writer and journ21ist Robli LanÉ Fox and raised £&21 O from ticket sale& Earlier Èn the year we ¢ortinued the popular online ks with a further series which raised £6.000. In July. the charity organised its fourth Great British Garden Party.This vns held for the first ttme in 2020 in re5pon5e to the re5triction5 of the pandemic and to enable the tharity to engage with a Nwder aUdiW￿ of people, beyond its core group of Supporters who open their gardens.The 2023 Great British Garden Party raised mtsrè than £21,OCQ including £8.500 from our event partner.T￿kin8TableS. 5. Fundraising, Costs and Net Income Funds are rni$ed from admission ch¥ges and the sale of refreshments and pknts at garden openings. Gardens open on one or more Specific da￿ andlor by arrangement Opening by arrangement is when a garden owner 5pecrfie5 that during a certain period tjy are available to take booking5 for a private ViSiL These a￿ particularly appropriate for groups but are often available for individuals or small number5 af people. The charity's unrestricted income is further irKreased from varloLt5 50urce5 including sponsorship.we are particularly grdteful to our core 5pon50r Inve5tec Wealth & Investments. Royalties and donation5 are received from corporate partners. notab5y GrNfin Glasshouse5. Revenue also comes from sales of the GardenVisit0rf5 Handbogk and advertising in that book and County Booklets.The sale of merchandise and many indNidual donations also make Ydluable contribu¢ions. Income Irom all the5¢ Other sources tot4ll¢d £461230 P022: £449.440). increasing mainty due to more advertising in County Booklets and more support from commercial parn)erships.We are very grateful to all A total of 3,345. gardens {2022: 3,586) opened in the year. induding 1.056 {2022..1,121) vthich opened a5 part of a group.The gardens held a total of 5.146 opening5 those who support the clwity in this Y¥ay enabling us to donate even more of the furKts raised at Eardens to beneficiaries. TheTru5tee5 continued their COMM￿Ment to fund specific projects as part of the charity's wider Gardens and Health agenda and, in 2023,the followtng Gardens and Health pwments V￿re made.. Total unrestricted income for the year was £4,842.467 (2022: £4,593.449) £ pald £130.000 Total costs for the year were £1,512,994 (2022.. £1.3S6.787). Maggies Centre5 ABFThe Soldierfs Charity £ Ic￿.000 Net income available for distribution to beneficFaries for 2023 was a record total of £3.364.995 (2022: £3.258,842}. an increase of 3.3%. Non-garden re￿￿e$ cover a signrficant proportion of the operating costs and consequently InCre￿e the proportion of garden revenues Hi the year that are donated to beneficiaries in that year. For many years, thi5 rntio ha5 been in excess of 8VA and in 2022 it was 82%. In 2023 theTrustees decided to uso some ofthe accumulatsd unrestricted reserves brought forw3rd and some of the accumulated funds in the Legacy Fund and this In￿aSed the ratio in 2013 to 92KTheTrustees judged ￿ appropriate and prudent to use these funds in that way as the uncertainties rèsulting from thè Co¥id-19 pandèmic have now largety subsided and the balance on the Le8acy Fund vR5 in excess of that needed for the charity's development proiects. It is anticipated that the rdtio will fall back to nom)al levels in future years. Horntios Garden £90.000 Mencap £50.000 Sue Ryder £40.660 £27,300 £437.960 Th¢Tru5tee5 CQDtinued the charity's SiVPOrt f¢x th05e wothng in gardens and horticulture and the trdining of gardeners and. in 2023. the fo11¢y￿1n8 d￿atiOnS were paid to charitie5 in thi5 categorr. Charity £ pald £150,000 EnOi5h Heritsge Perennial £125,OCrfi National Botank Garden.Wales £26.000 Beneficiary Policy and Distributions Professlonal GardenersTrust £20.000 Garden Museum £18,000 Total £339,000 TheTrLTr5tees carry out a triennial review of the Beneficiary Policy. last done In 2022 and the pollcy is available from the Chief Executive. In recent yeirs there been significant growth in the chariW5 SUPPOrt for community garden projects. In 2023 86 projects were supported wrch a total of £259,058 12022.. 75 projects and £183.479}. During the year of 2023 theTrustees agreed payment of the following distributions to the charitys group of long- term nursing and health beneficiarie5 Charity Queen's Nursing Institute £ pald 7. Beneficiary Activities £475.(J)O All beneficiary charities acknowledge the level and commitment of donation5 from the National Garden Scheme through their aCt￿e support in 2 variety of w¥&The primary objective 15 to generate greater public awarene$$ of the charity through the beneficiaries. substantial neDNorks.This brings increased number5 of vSsitors to our gardens and thereby generates more fiJnd5 for u5 to be able to distribute to them. Macmillan Cancer Support £5fAI.(K)O Marie Curie £5CM).C#)O Hospice UK Carer5TruK £500.CO) £400.￿0 ParkIn￿n,$ UK £400,CX)O Every year the beneficiary charities report to the Trustèes on how donations have been used and on how they have supported the National Garden Scheme, including marketing and communications activities. Our Total £2.775,000 Natlonal Garden Scheme Annual Report 2023 Impart Report 2023.whlch is ayailable on our *Ebsite Èré gives detsils of the National Garden Schemes charitable impact both directly to indfvld￿l ￿ÈficIarles and more generalty in its campaigns and ¢ommunication> May 2023 the chaiity organised its annual Gardens and HealthWeekAs well as various activities by Drden tMer& the highlight of the week was once again the nav edicion of the hugety popular ewbooK The £itdeYellow &Jok rfGonlen5 ond Heolthp packed with stories and case studie5 from rdrden owners.garden ￿sitOrS and people involved with kneficiary tt4rities vtho have found solace and improved health and wellbeing by Immwsing thernselves in nature. 8. Community Gardens The clnrity is incrEasingly committed to supporting community garden projects vthich provide substantial benefits to local communities throughout the country. They engage and wpwt a rithty diverse range of people, induding many from ethnic minoritte5 and othw5 livinz viith meFrtal or physlcal challenges and disabilities or social Isolation. During 2023 we commissioned the enwronmental psytholo81rt Dr EmmaV*lhite to carry out resea wlth vislwr5 at a group of gardens on their open days. The re5earth fed into a rEP¢)rt written by Drvlh whlch VAS publlshed In January 2024. Equally importanL many ofthe Community garden proiects funded by the NatiorAI Garden Scheme are in some of the countrfs most socially and economlcal di5advantsged area5 where their impact is even greater. This 15 especially ￿Ident in inner-city and other urban areas where private gardens are rare arKI imiolvemerrt with a community garden offers many people their onty local acce5S to green space and gardenin& The clwlws commiiment to Gardens and Health 1$ deep-rootsd and varled, from the vision expressed In the current Strategic Plan 2021-25.'That everyone has access to zardens and Wdlues the benefits to their health, v￿lIbeing and enjoYm￿l of lrfe., to activbties in gdrden& many in partnership with beneficiary charities. and substartial financial commitment In annu31 donations a$ set out In Section & Danny Clarke. the Black Gardener. and naw National Garden S¢hemeknbas$ador added.."Its great to see this funding going to the heart of 50 many community pr4ects.These are projecc5 that will help inv¥ornte the people they support and Introduce rw audiences to the huge beneffts that gardens and gardening bring to thLyr health and wellbelng and to the envlronment around them." The Natlord Garden Stheme has made a long-term commitment to make a major contrlbution to the nding for all I I gardens beinz created by the dwity Hc*atios Garden for spirAI Injurles urtits in hospitals around the The National Garden Scheme is now the krge5t 51nzle funder of Horatio'5 Garden and the 2023 donation the first instalment for their BelPd5t In recent years the progranwne has expanded dramaticalty. a direct reflection of the burgeoning enthusiasm for and beneffts of community gardens.The Trustees consider support ft>r community garden5 to be a $￿IfICant faaor In the charity's cornmitinent to equallty, diversity arKI inclusion as set out in the Strategic art 2021-25 and artlculated in the Equoty. D￿[Sty and Inclusion Stotsment approved in 2021 and aTrAilable to read on the webslte. The National Garden Sche￿￿ has also made donations io fvnd garden$ for P*i'e's Centres for a number of years and since 2022 has a long-trrni commitmert to support this charity. In 2023 the donation of £lOO,QOO contrSbuted to the garden for the Northampton Maz8ies 10. Sustainability and Biodiversity 9. Gardens and Health The National GaNlen Scheme has championEd the benefits of ac￿$$ to gardens and green space Sin￿ the 2016 report that it comm155ianed fromThe Ktngs Fund: G7rdens and Heolth,imPlicotrons fvr Policy ond i)ractice. More recentty,the pttndemic greatty helghtened the Importance af xcess to Drdens and green Space for everyone's heakh and wellbeing. Faced with protonzed isotatw anxiety and in many cases real tragedy, there was a surge in popular apprecuttion of access to gardens and in gardening arKI in publrc realisation of the real benefft5 tlllt both offer. The Nadtjnal Garden Scheme 15 commthd to adwxatin2 and activating sU5tainability in all areas of our lives. rt partlcukrty in rardenin&We urye ewone who open5 thwr garden in suppart of the Natiorrdl Garden kheme. or who visits these ￿den5, to garden sus(wnabty. Sustsinable gardening can make a 5ub5rantial contributlon to the wlder ttAllenges of chmate ctrAn8e and biodiYer5ity. The Sustainability sta0n￿￿ mentioned below. which highlights our me55age to garden ¢)wner&vi$ltors and r4lq, nziso allotment tional L ,￿n01 Ga fter sch Somers onor. It cheme o Natlonal Garden Scheme Annual Report 2023 other sUPPOrter Sets out the following priorr(ies'. All of the National Garden Scheme's socral media channels enjoyed growth in their audiences through the year as well as growing Évidence of thelr positive impact on gard￿ visitor numbers. Facebook increased folli)wers by 6% to 43,690. X (forMertyTW￿r) iTKreased the audience of foll0v￿r$ by 4.5% to 26.534. In5tyam ha5 the largest audience and growth with an irKrea5e of 16% to just les5 than 120,1))O followers. Our YouTube channel continues with 3.400 Subscribers and received 675.800 view5 during 2023. Promoting the move to peat4ree gardenirbg by 2025 Avoiding the use of pestirides Controlllng the use of vRter Avoiding the use of ptastic and $0 minimising non-biodegrndable waste Encouraging biodiversity 12. Risk Management Through our network ofthousand5 of gardens and active 5UPPOrter5 we aim to IrfflUen￿ as wide an audience as possible. as well as through our partnerships wth theWoodlandTrust and thewildlife andwetlands TrusL TheTru5tee5 require that risk marwmertft)rm5 an irte￿I part ofthe charitys decision4mthrtd proces Identificatlon and management of rlsks to the thariws OPW7tion5 and per50nnel* perforniance and reputation Is e55ential.These risks their potential sewity and their mitigation.are Set out in the ￿sk Regi5ter.Thi5 15 revlth•Rd and updated bythe senior managemert team and approved by the Board annualty and more frequenty when circum5tance5 require.Thi5 pnxe5s is designed to regularty assess existing r￿k& Id￿tify r*w risks and to ￿SUre tFut the systems and prccedures in Pla￿ to manage the identifiejj risk5 are frt for purpose.The overriding approath to risk manwerf and a55e55ment Ss tr• be prudert arKI cautrous at all times. We encourage all gardeners to be conscious of the benefits of biodNersty in their garden and to encourage it wherever possible.we encourage the planting of a diverse rdnge of plants to efirith local habitsts. and to thereby support nature conservation. 11. Digital Channels Digital channels continue to grow in importance for the charity's operation& marketing and communication* In 2023 we continued a long-terni programme of developments to our website, financial and operating systems. as the larrer have become increasing dependent upon our IT and di¥Ttal infrastrutture in re￿n£ years. TheTnrtee5 have identified the major risk5 to the NG55 operntioTrs and fThncial security as follows.. Prolyd public heath crisis during a garden Pmlonged adYer5e weather thr￿ a ￿rden The primary diglt21 comn¥JnScatlons channels are the charity's website, y￿kty e-newsletters our Social medial andYouTube channels. Loss of IT and communications system5 Pressures on the Ilmit&l number of emp ent team grven the Looking for inforrnation about gardens was once apn the primary driver of visitors to the website.The we￿Y e-newsletters are an increasir%ly popular source of inforThtion. different audiences focus on different social media channels and our library of videos, both about our gardens and created to illustrate our beneficiary partners continue5 to be popular wlth an audience a Strong interr￿tIOnal element These are prioriti5ed in the Risk Register which 15 updated and re-e4alLHted regulaty. in the Disaster Recovery programme and in additsonal HR SLipporL Full details the Risk Managemert Polity Risk Regisw and Disaw Recovery wogramme are a￿lable from the Chid The wed all and $0 by definition brings considerdble public benefL It is the charitys chief sou of fundraising for donation5 to beneficiary charitie5 whose principal objective is public benefit in the forni of Jrsirw caring or other support for individual5. 18. Statement of Trustees, Responsibilities Compary law requires theTrustees to prepare financial statements for each financial PVK)d to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the companys activities during the period and of its financial position at the end of the period. In preparing those financial statement% theTru5tee5 are required to.. A5 the National Garden Scheme develops its programme of promoting the benefits of gardens for public and individuat heakh and wellbein& there Is increasing long terni public benefiLThe programme demonstrntes a combination of specific health and wellbeing benefits as well a5 the added potential to reduce exlstlng publlc hea￿h Costs. selett suitable accountln8 policie5 and then app them con5irtently. ' make judgements and estimate5 that arE reasonable and prudenL The expanding portFolio of community gardens funded by the National Garden Stheme will further broaden the public benefit created by the work of charity. state whether the pollcles are In accordance with appltcable accounting standards. Given the challenging economic and financial conditions which continued thmugh 2023, theTruscees actively prioritised affordability and aC￿ssIbl11￿ which have aMys been priorities of the National Garden Scheme. The abili¢y to offer an enjoyable. inforniatNe and often uplifting experience to everyone in return for a m¢)dest contribution to charity is the charity's abiding winciple and one which the Trustees will continue to champion and ernphasise. ' prepare the financial statements on the zoing concem basis unless it is not approprtate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation. TheTru5tees are re5pon5ible for keeping proper accounting record5 which disclose with r¢aJonable accuracy at any time the financial posltion of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial ststements compty wth the Companies Art 1985.They are a150 re5ponsibte for 5afe8uardin8 the assets of the charitable compiny and hence for taking reasonable Steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.TheTru5tee5 confirni that there is no infomiation releydnt to the audit of which the auditors are unaware and that theTrustees have taken the necessary ￿pS to ensure they are aware of all relwdnt audit information 2nd made sure the auditor5 avnre of 14 National Garden Scheme Annuaf Repon 2023 Jcth¢p"dent Penry Snell CBE with Fred Carr at on annual Season Launch forthe Notional Garden Schwne .>*Y,¥" National Garden SchemeAnnual Report 2023 Reference and Administrative Information PatroDThe fr>rrner Prince ofwales Auditor PerrysAudit kn￿￿ted, 4th Hoor: 399401 Strand. London WC2K OLT President Dame Mary 8erry DBE icetsPre$idert5 Elizabeth Anton:AmgelaAzis.'Ann Budden: Daphne Foulsham MBE. Vknin Mcmillan 08& Heather Skinner. Penry Sndl CBE Cwper4tive Bank 9 PrE5CQt StreeL London El 8AZ Barclay5 Bank UK PLC.147 High StreeL ildford GU13AG Emmi Bridgevrater CBE Danny Clarkn. Rachel ¢Je Tham&Akn Gray. fve SwI￿j0whlleY Sollcltors Peathw and Cq 9SAId￿l, LondonWC2B 4JF The Board ofTrurtees Charity Number 1112064 Company Number 5631421 lIn￿ted by guarantse Chairnian RupertTyler Deputy Chairman Suè Phlpps HonTreasurer Andrew Ratdiffe FCA* Auditor In accordance with the companys article& a re501ution proposing tlmt PerrysAudit Limited be reappointed as lud￿or of the compary wll be put at a Board Meetin& AritA￿erSon. Richard Badey MBE.Atty BeorknRobert5. Peter Clay (Stood down September 2023), Susan Copeland MBE* (stood down September 2023). Lucy Hall (appoirted March 2023). Maureen K£5teven*. Profe550r John Newton OBE (appoirted November 2023), Susan Paynton* Mark PorteAI.Vemon Sanderson*. DebbieThom50n' {appolrted Noyember 2023). Sir RICh￿ThomPson KQrfO (stood down September 2023). A1isonWrig￿. Mr RTyler Chalmiw of the P•oard ofTrurtees Chl•f Executive George Plunptre Head Office Hatcthland5 Part East Clarth Guddford.&wrw GU4 Dkn....... .... . .. .............. ............................................... 4-IIlsF Left &rden visits are Ptyulor throughut the >tar. storting snty*droPs and 4)rinz floww5 in lats Jonufjry Photo.'Oover Cottage. COMbr￿geshlre @ Zara Nopier 17 Independent Auditor's Report to the Trustees of the National Garden Scheme Opinion We have audited the financial statemert5 ofThe National Garden Scheme for the year ended 31 December 2023 vthich comprise and income and expenditure accoun( balance sheet and statemen¢ of ca5hltow& and notes to the financial statsments. including signfficant accounting policie&The financial reporting frameyffjrk that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom AccountTng Standard& including Financial Repor¢ing Standard 102 The Financiil Reporting Standard applioble in the UK and Republic of Ireland {un￿ed Kingdom GenerdllyAccepted Accounting Pr4ctlce). In our opinioTh the financial Sta£￿entI. - give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable compan15 affair5 a5 at 31 December 2023 and of its incoming resources application of wourte5, for the year then ended; - have b￿￿ property prepared in accordance with United Kinzdom GeneraltyAccepted Accounting Practice.. and - have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of thè Companie5 Att 2006. Basis for oplnion le condurted our audi¢ in accordance with International Standard5 onAuditing (UK) (ISA5 (UK)) arKt applicabte law. Our rnsponsibilities under those standards are further described in theAuditor'5 re5pon5ibilttie5 for the audit of the financial statements section of our reporLWe are independent of the Charity in accordance with the ethical reqU1￿ments that are relevant to our audrc of the financial ststements In the UK Including the FRC'S Ethical Stsndard, and we have fijlfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordan￿ wÉth these requiremert5.we believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is Sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opirtion. Concluslons relatlng to going concern In auditing the financial statement5, we have concluded that the Members of the BoardTrusteÈs use of the going concern basis of accounting in the Prg)ar4tI￿ of the financial statements is appropriate. Based on the y￿rk we haye performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions thaL individually or collectively, may cast Significant doubt on the Charity's ability to contynue as a going concern for a period of at leart twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for i55ue. Our re5pon5ibilitie5 and the rE5ponsibilities of theTrnstees vmh respect to going concern described in the relevant sections ol this reporL Other Informatlon The other information compri5e5 the information included in thè tnnual report other than the financial statsment$ and our auditorfs report thereon.The Trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report Our opinion on the financial ststernents does not cover the other InfomMlon and we do not expres5 any form of as5ur3nce conclusion thereon. Our re5pon5ibility is to read the other inforniation and. ift dosnz 50, consider whether the other information 15 materialty incon5iStent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audiL or otherwise appear5 to be materialty misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatènent& we are required to detemiine Yihether thi5 gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If. based on the work we have perfornied. we conclude that there 15 a material misstatement of this other irrfomiation. we are required to report that facL We have nothing to report in this regard. National Garden Scheme Annual Report 2023 IndependentAuditorfs Report (continued) to the Trustees of the National Garden Scheme Matters on whlch we are requlred to report by exceptlon Vle have nothing to report in respect ofthe following matters in relation to which the Charities (AccO￿ts and Reports) Regulations 2008 require u5 to report to you rf. in our opinion,, - the Informtion giyen in the financial statements is incon5is*nt in any mtrial re5pett with the Member5 of the Board Trustee5 repor¢ or - suffiaent accounting record5 kve not been kep( or - the firAnclal statements are r￿£ In agreement wlth the accounting record5. Lf - we have not re￿ived all the inforniation and explanation5 we require for our audlL Responslbilities OfT￿￿ee5 As explained more fvlly in the statement of Members of the 802rd Trustees responslbihties, theTrustees. who arè also the director5 of the Charity for the purpose of company law. are responsible for the preparation of the financlal statements and for being sitisfied that they w.ve a true and fair view. and for such internal control as theTrustees determine is ne(￿Sary to enable the p￿paratiOn of financial statements that are free from material misstatemenL whether due to fraud or e￿Or. In preparing the financial statement4 theTrustees are ￿pOnSible for aswsing the Charl￿5 ability to continue a5 a going concern, disclosin& as applicable, matters related to going con￿rn and using the going concern basis d accounttng unle55 theTru5tees etther intend to liquidate the charttsble company or to cease operatlons, or have no realistic altemative but to do so. Auditorfs rn5ponsibilitios for the audit of tho fIna￿la1 statam•nts We have been appolrted as audltor under settion 144 ofthe CharittesArt 2011 and report in accordan￿ with dEAct and relevant regulattons made or having effett thereunder. Our objectives are to obtain ￿sOnable aSsuTrn￿ about ¥thether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatemen¢vthether due to fraud or error. and to Issue an auditor's rèport that includès our opinion. Reasonable assurnnce 15 a high level of a55urance but is not a guarnntee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAS (UK} will ￿ny$ detect a material misstatement when it exi5r& Mi55tatements can arise from fraud or error and a￿ considered matrrial ff, individualty or in the a&gregate. they could reasonably bè expocted to influence the Èconomi¢ dec55ion5 of users taken on the basis of these financial statemen¢* 19 The gordai atVanttFI fLlen Schemes* y IJ•Yopened fvrtheTr(ttional . National Garden Scheme Annual Report 2023 Independent Auditorfs Report (continued) to theTrustees of the National Garden Scheme The extent to vthich our procedures are capable of detecting irregular￿leS, including fraud. 15 detalled below. We gained an understandlng of the legal and regulatory framework applicable to the company and the industry MI Ythich it operates. and considered the risk of acts by the company that were contrary to applicable laws and regulation& includirq fraud. We designed audit procedure5 to respond to the risl recognising that the risk of not detecting a material mis5taternent due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error. as fraud may involve delibernte concealment by.for example, ft>rgery or in*ntional misrepre5entation& or through collusion. We focused on laws and regulations which could wve rise to a material misstatement in the financial statemen including, but not limited to the Companie5Act 2006 and UK tax leglslation. Our te5t5 included agreeing the financial Statement disclosures to undertying 5UPPQrting documentation and enquiries with marHgement. We did not identify any key audit matter5 relating to irregularitie& induding fraud.As In all our audhts.we al$0 addressed the risk of management override of internal control& including testing journals and evaluating whether there wa5 evidence of bia5 by the directors that represented a risk of material misstatement due to fraud. A further description of our respon5ibilitiES is available on the Finanoal Reporttng Council's website ae https:IlvMY.frcnrg.uWauditorsresponsibilities.This description forms part of our auditor's reporL Use of our report This report Is made solely to the charl￿S trustees, as a body, in accordance with part 4 of the Charitieg (Accounts and Reports) Regulation5 21)08. Our iudit 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 purpo3e.To the fvlle5t extwtt permitted by law, VR do not acopt or assume responsibility to anyone other than the char￿Y and the charitls trustees a5 a body.for our audit workfor thls reporL or for the opinlons we ha￿ fomied. K4< ItA, ¢cc PerrysAudit Limited z4)41 t*...-...-...--.... Chartered Accountants StatutoryAudltor 4th Floor 399-4015trand London WC2R OLT 21 Statement of financial activities including income and expenditure account for the year ended 31 December 2023 Current Ilnon¢lol year Unresmcted Designated Restrlcled funds fund¥ funds 2023 2023 2023 Told 2tr23 Notes Garden income Donolion5 and legacies other fundraising activilies Investment income 4.165.116 191.969 461,230 24.152 4,165.116 310,226 461.230 32,766 36,751 81.506 5.313 3.301 Total Incomo 4,842,467 42,064 84,807 4.969,338 Expendllvre on: Charitable activities Raising funds Managemenl ond administration Investment monagemenf lees 3,591.324 ,139.811 373.183 259,058 3,850,382 1.139.811 373.183 2.128 io 2.128 Total expendtture 5,104.318 261,186 5,365,504 Net goinslllossesl on investments 35.522 10.901 46.423 Net movement In funds 1226.3291 1208,2211 84.807 1349.7431 Fund balances ot l J(Jnuary 2023 664,420 272.372 185.cm 1.121,792 Fund balances al 31 Dec•mb•r 2023 438.091 64.151 269.807 772,049 stal8ment of finarrial aCti￿lieS includes all galns and losses recognised in the year. All Income and expenditure derive continuing activities. The statement of financ4al actiwlie5 a180 complies wtth the requirements fc* an income and exFenditure account under thè Companies Act 2006. 22 Statement of financial activities including income and expenditure account (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2023 Pflor Thnan¢lol y￿¥ Unrestrlcted Delgnaled Reslficted funds lunds funds 2022 2022 Total 2022 Note$ Garden income Donations and legacies Other fundraising activities Inveslment income Charilable gront returned 3.938.254 I￿,755 449,440 3.9￿,254 316.255 449,440 8.059 75.orxj 185.CXJO 75.000 Total Income 4.593,449 8,559 185.OCKJ 4.787.lJ)8 Charitable activities Raising funds Management and admin￿tratIOn Investment management f8es 3.235,710 1.027.735 329.052 3.235.710 1.027.735 329,052 2.236 2.236 lotal èxpendllure 4.592.497 2.236 4,594.7 Net guin5 on inveslments 22,180 2,878 25,058 Net movement in lunds 23.132 9.201 185,¢XJO 217.333 Fund balances at l January 2022 641,289 263,171 91)4.460 Fund balances al 31 December 2022 664.420 272,372 185,¢ 1.121,793 23 ## **Balance sheet As at 31 December 2023** |**Fixed assets**
Intangible assets
Tangible assets
Investments
**Current assets**
Stocks - finished goods
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
**Creditors: amounts falling due within**
**one year**
Net current assets
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Income funds**
Restricted funds
Designated funds
Unrestricted funds
**Notes**
**13**
**14**
**15**
**16**
**17**
**18**|**2023**
£
4,576
345,841
470,260
820,677
(300,927)|
£
14,145
5,087
233,067
252,299
519,750
772,049
269,807
64,151
438,091
772,049|**2022**
£
5,296
65,447
842,025
912,768
(54,823)|
£
40,965
716
222,166| |---|---|---|---|---| |||||263,847
857,945| |||||1.121.792
185,000
272,372
664,420| |||||1,121,792| **24** Natiornl Garden Scheme Annual Report 2023 Balance sheet (continued) As at 31 December 2023 The compuny i% enthlled lo Ihe exemption from the aL￿1• requiremenl contained in sectton 477 01 Companies Act YJ)6. for the year ended 31 December ￿23, although an aLKfTI has been carried out under section 144 01 Ihe Charities Act 2011. The direclors ocknowledge their re5pon5ibilities lor complying wllh the requirements of the Companie5 Act 2W6 with respect lo accounting records and Ihe preparation of financial stalemenls. The members have not required the compony to obtaln an audll of its financial statements under the reqviTements ol Ihe Companies Act 2006. for Ihe year In question in accordonce wilh section 476. These Ilnonciol statements have been prepared in accordance with the ￿0¥￿lonS appllcable to companies subject to the small companies regime. The linonciol statements were approved by the Truste85 on JTl£12* Mr R TOer Chakmaln of th• Board ot TNsle Conwny ￿91￿•1￿10Th numbw 05631421 25 Statement of cash flows For year ended 31 December 2023 2023 2022 Nole$ Cosh flows from opeTallng ocllvttles Cosh lobsorbed byllgeneroled from operotions 20 1368.8951 235,868 Invesllng oclivilles Purchase of intangible assets Purchase ol tongible fixed assets Purchose ol inve51menls Proceed5 on di5posoI of investments Investment income received 118,4811 16,2551 167.7541 56,854 32,766 150.7481 18571 123.3911 48.448 8,059 Net cash vsed In Invesllng actlvltles 12.870) 118,4891 Net cash v$ed In financlng actlvllles Net (decreose)Ilncreos• In cash ond cash equlvalents 1371.7651 217.379 Cosh ond c05h equivalents at beginning ofyear 842,025 624,646 Cash and cash equlvalents al end of year 47a,260 842,025 26 Natyonal Garden ScherneAnnual Repor¢ 2023 Notes for the financial statements For the year ended 31 December 2023 Accountlng pollcles Char5ty inloTmallon The Nalional Garden Scheme is a privale company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is East Wing. Hatchlands. GuildfoTd, Surrey, GU4 7RT. l.l Accovntlng convenllon The linanciol statements have been prepared in accorclance wilh the Ch￿ty,5 goveming document. fhe Companies Act 2(X)6, FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Slandard applicable in the UK ond Republic of Ireland" I'FRS 102,1 and the Choiilies SORP "Accounting and Reporting by Charitie5= Slatement of Recommended Proctice applicable to charities preparing Iheir accounts in accordonce with the Financial Reporling Stondard applicable in the UK and Republic of Irelond IFRS 1021" leflective l January 20191. The Charity is a Public Benefit Entity as deffned by FRS 102. The linanciol slalemer)t5 are prepared in stsrling. which is the functional currency of the Ctmjrity. Monelary amounts in these finonciol statements are rounded to the nearest £1. The finonciol statements have been prepared under the historical cost convenlion. modified lo include the revaluation of certain financial instruments ol fair value. The principal accounting poficies adopted are Set out bdow. 1.2 Golng concern At the time of OPFyoving the financial stotemenls, the Trustees have o reasonable expectotion that the Charity has adequote resources to continue in operational exr5tence for the foreseeable future. Thus the Trustees continue lo adopt the going concem bosis of accounting in prepartng the financiol stotemenls. 1.3 Charllable funds Unieskncted funds are available for use at the discrelion of Ihe Trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives. Designated funds ￿e held for specific pury)oses determined by the trustees. Restricted funds ore subject to speclfic condilion5 by donors as to how Ihey may be used. The purposes and us@s of the restricted funds ore set out in the Trustees, Report. 1.4 Income Garden income, comprising admission charges and the sale of refreshmenls. plants and other ilems ol o gorden opening, is recognised a5 income at the date of the garden opening or when recewed from the garden owner whichever is lafer. VL%iting guides revenue. comprising the sale of The Gorden Vtsitor's Handbook and County booklel5, is recogni5ed a5 income af the point of sale. Advertising revenue is recognised a5 income in the year of the publication in which the relevont advertising appears. Income from other fundraising events is recognised when the event tokes place. Sponsorship. donalions and legacies are recognised as income when NGS is entitled to the relevant funds. Sale of merchandse is recognised when lille lo tt)e goods passes. 27 Notes for the financial statements (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2023 Accovntlng pollcles (Conllnued) 1.5 Expendltur• Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit lo a Ihird party, il is probable thal a transfer of economic benefit5 wll be required in setllement. ond the amount ol the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classif￿d by activity. The c05t5 01 eoch octivity ore mode LJP of the lotol ol direct costs and shared costs, including support cost5 involved in undertaking each octivity. Direct costs aftribulable lo a single activity are allocaled direcmy to that octivity. Shared costs which contribute lo m(Je thon one aclivity and support costs which are nol ottribuloble lo a single activity ￿e opportioned between Ihose activities on a basis consistenl wth the vse of resources. Central staff costs ore allocated on the basi5 of time spent. and depreciation charges are allocaled on the portion of Ihe asset's use. 1.6 Intanglble fixed assets other than goodwlu Inlangible assels acquired Separately Irom a business are recognised at cost and ore 5vbseqvently measured ot cost less accumulated amortisalion and accumulated impoirment losses. Amortisalion is recognised so os to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following base5: Software 3 years straight line 1.7 Tanglble ffxed assets Tongible fixed a5sels ￿e inilially meosured ol cost ond subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciotion and any impairment losses. Depreciation is recogni5ed so a5 to wrTle off Ihe cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over Iheir useful lives on the fdlowing bases: Equipment 3 year5 Straighl line The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an assel is determined as the difference be￿een the ￿le proceeds and the carrying value of the asset. and ￿ recognised in the statement of financiol activities. 1.8 Flxed asset Inveslments Fixed assel investmenls are initially measured at transaction price excluding Iransoction costs. ond are Subsequently measured at loir value at each reporling dote. Change5 in fair volue ore recognised in net income/lexpenditvrel lor the year. Tronsoction costs are expensed as incurred. 1.9 Stocks Stoc￿ are stated at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs lo complete and sell. Cost comprises gift items and merchandise lo be sold ond any overheads incurred in bringing the stocks to their rxesenl location and condition. Items held for distribulion at no or nominal consideration are measured al the lower of replocemenl cost and cost. 1.10 Cash and cash •qulvalents Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks and other short- lerm liquid investments wlh originol malurities of three months or less. 28 National Garden Scheme Annual Report 2023 Notes for the financial statements (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2023 Accountlng pdlcles (Contlnued) l.I l Employee beneffts The c05t of any unused holiday entitlement is recogrM5ed in the period in which the employee's seNices are received. Terminalion benetits ore recognised Imn￿dIatelY a5 an expense when the Charity is demonstrably committed to lerminate the employment of on employee or to provide teminotion benefits. Crfll¢ol accounting esllmutes and Judgem•nts In the opplication of the entity's accounting policies. th& Trustees ore required to moke ILJdgements. eslimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of ossets and liabilities that ore not readily apparent from other sources. The estlmates and ossociated oswmptions ore based on historical exp&rience ond other faclors that are considered to be relevanl. Actual results may differ from these eslimafes. The estimates and underlying assumplions are reviewed on an ongoing ba515. Revisions to accounting estimotes are recognised in the period in which the esknmale is revised where the revision offecls only thal period. or in the period of the revision and fulvre periods where the remsion affects both current and future periods. Donallons and legacles Unr•strfcled De$lgn¢Jted Restrfcted rvnds funds Funds Total Total 2023 2023 2023 2023 2022 Legacies Donalions 36.751 36,751 500 191.969 81,506 273.475 315.755 191.969 36.751 81.506 310,226 316.255 Charflable actlvllles Charltable Charilabl• Incom• Incom• 2023 2022 Advertising revenue other fundraising events other income 231.661 83,392 146.171 188.007 106.173 155,260 461,230 449,440 29 Notes for the financial statements (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2023 Investm•nts Unrestrlctèd De51gnaled Reslrlcled lund¥ funds funds Total rolol 2023 2023 2023 2023 2022 Income from quoted investrnents 24,152 5.313 3.301 32,766 8,059 Ralsln9 funds Unrestrlcled lunds Unrestrfcted funds 2023 )22 Garden opening Matketing. publicity and fundraising events 579.658 315,521 560.153 712,214 1.139.811 1,027,735 The expendilure on generating voluntory income wos less than £1 ￿,(x)0 in both yeors. 30 National Garden Scheme Annual Report 2023 Notes for the financial statements (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2023 Charltable act￿￿leS Charltable Charttable Expendllure Expenditur• 2023 2022 Nursing benellciaries Support forgardener5 Garden and heollh beneficiories Comrnunity Garden Awarc15 Garden owner donations 2.175.QXJO 2.430,000 339,WO 290.000 437,960 290,000 259.058 183.479 39.364 42.231 3,850.382 3.235.710 Audltor's remun•raNon Fees p(wable to fhe Charlvs au