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2021-03-31-accounts

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Contents

TRUSTEES’ REPORT........................................................ 2 ACHIEVEMENTS, CHALLENGES AND FUTURE PLANS ...... 7 FINANCIAL REVIEW ..................................................... 11 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF SYLVA FOUNDATION .............................................. 13 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES ........................ 14 BALANCE SHEET .......................................................... 15 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ..................... 16 HOW YOU CAN HELP SYLVA FOUNDATION ................. 27 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 2020-21 .................................. 28

In 2020, CEO Dr Gabriel Hemery was awarded the Peter Savill Award for contributions to the British forestry industry. Pictured here following a presentation by Michelle Savill.

Front cover:

A sustainably managed forest in Dumfries & Galloway. The charity is actively engaged in supporting forest management in Scotland, and from next year will be piloting an innovative new platform to support woodland creation by Scottish landowners and managers. Photo © Gabriel Hemery

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2020-21

Trustees’ Report

Trustees’ Report

Reference and administrative details of the charity, its advisers and trustees.

The trustees, who are also the directors for the purposes of company law, present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2021.

Sylva Foundation is an environmental charity founded in 2009. The charity is active across Britain, with its headquarters in Oxfordshire.

Registration

Charity registered in England and Wales (1128516), and in Scotland (SC041892).

Charitable Company registration number 6589157.

Registered office

Sylva Wood Centre

Little Wittenham Road

Long Wittenham Oxfordshire OX14 4QT

Principal professional advisors

Banking

CAF Bank Ltd 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ

Affirmative Deposit Fund Epworth Investment Management 9 Bonhill Street London EC2A 4PE

Independent Examiner

Ajay Bahl Wenn Townsend Chartered Accountants 30 St Giles' Oxford OX1 3LE

Insurance Brokers

NFU Mutual Views Farm Barns Windmill Hill Great Milton Oxfordshire OX44 4NW

Legal Advisors

Freeths LLP 5000 Oxford Business Park South Oxford OX4 2BH

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2020-21

Trustees’ Report

Trustee Board and Staff

Patrons

Lady Audrey Wood OBE Sir Martin Wood FRS

Trustees

Chair of Trustees

Mrs Sarah Taylor

Other Trustee Board members

Dr Mary Barkham (appointed 19[th] March 2021) Dr Robin Buxton Mr Lucius Cary OBE Mr Luke Hughes Dr James Morison

Trustee, Dr Mary Barkham

Staff

Chief Executive

Dr Gabriel Hemery FICFor CEnv

Director of Operations

Paul Orsi MICFor

Other Staff members

George Dennison Forester George Kibble Web Developer Joseph Bray Head of Wood School Richard Pigott Head of Web Development Oliver Price myForest Developer Mariah Splawska Bookkeeper

Mr Jim Waterson (appointed 25[th] November 2020)

Advisors and Associates

Dr Philip Koomen Furniture & Wood Rob Penn Media Dr Gill Petrokofsky Science Alistair Yeomans Environmental Resilience

Trustee, Jim Waterson

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2020-21

Trustees’ Report

Structure, Governance and Management

Legal Structure

Sylva Foundation (‘Sylva’ or ‘the charity’) is a charity registered in England and Wales 1128516 and in Scotland SC041892, and a charitable company limited by guarantee 06589157. The company (a private company not having a share capital) was established under a Memorandum of Association (dated 11[th] March 2009, updated by Special Resolution 28[th] March 2013).

The governing body of the charity is the Trustee Board (‘the board’). Up to ten trustees may be appointed to the board. During 2020-21, no trustees retired, but we were pleased to appoint Dr Mary Barkham and Mr Jim Waterson to the board.

The day-to-day management of the charity is delegated by the Trustee Board to the Chief Executive and carried out by members of staff.

The charity’s registered address is in Oxfordshire, and this is its sole headquarters. Sylva’s activities extend across Britain, and occasionally internationally.

Statement of trustees’ responsibilities

The charity’s trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with FRS102 – The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland. The law applicable to charities in England, Wales, and Scotland requires the charity’s trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources

of the group for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the charity trustees are required to:

The charity trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that:

They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and for taking reasonable steps to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities.

Policies and Procedures

The charity has a range of policies and procedures, which are renewed at the end of each financial year or more frequently as required. Currently these include:

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2020-21

Trustees’ Report

Risk management

The charity trustees are responsible for identifying and managing the major risks facing the charity. Risk management is well-established and is considered in every aspect of our work.

We maintain a Risk Register which provides a comprehensive view of the following areas of risk:

Volunteers

We receive important assistance from volunteers, without whom some of what we have achieved would be much diminished. During 2020-21 we benefited in particular from volunteers with professional skills. One with legal expertise assisted with our compliance with data protection regulations and with a trademark enquiry. Another volunteer, is supporting us in our communications and marketing.

The community local to the Sylva Wood Centre is very supportive of our activities, including the annual Artweeks exhibition, plus the community woodland and orchard. New conservation or event volunteers are always welcome.

Please contact us direct or visit our website: sylva.org.uk/volunteer

Forester, George Dennison, supported by a grant from the John Ellerman Foundation.

The Risk Register is scrutinised annually by the Trustee Board. Following the most recent review in March 2020, the charity trustees confirm that they are satisfied with such arrangements and identified a number of strategic risks which are explained in Achievements, Challenges and Future Plans .

Fundraising activities

Our work bringing people and trees closer together is only possible because of the support of donors, funders, and other partners who contribute vital funding. Sylva Foundation is registered with the Fundraising Regulator. Alongside our own high standards in fundraising, we follow its Codes of Practice.

Oliver Price, joined Sylva as myForest Developer to support the technical development of our web software.

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2020-21

Trustees’ Report

Objectives, Activities and Public benefit

The charity’s objects are set out in the company’s memorandum of association. These are to promote the conservation of the environment for the public benefit consistent with sustainable development principles by:

The charity’s trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing objectives and activities which are described in the section Achievements, Challenges and Future plans . Sylva has a range of activities for achieving these objectives and its public benefit, combining them to best effect. For the purposes of preparing Sylva’s accounts, these activities are grouped under the following main headings:

Science

The Future Oak project is a collaborative project, led by Bangor University. See page 8.

Education

Forestry

Wood

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2020-21

Trustees’ Report

Achievements, Challenges and Future plans

This section highlights the achievements, challenges and future plans for activities under our four main work programmes of Science , Education , Forestry , and Wood .

SCIENCE

Influencing forestry policy and practice in the UK

Sylva staff continued to take a lead role in moving forward the Action plan for climate change adaptation in the forestry sector, attending meetings of the Forestry and Climate Change Working Group.

to pest and disease outbreaks, and the new Environmental Land Management scheme under development.

An infographic from the report of the BWS2020 survey which explored awareness, action, and aspiration in the forestry sector in responding to environment change.

We were contracted to support Defra in exploring stakeholder behaviours under the Resilient Treescapes project , including the design and running of a survey exploring options for incentives and regulation to support land managers in responding to threats from pests and pathogens in England. The outcomes of this work have been used to help shape government’s new Environmental Land Management scheme.

The British Woodlands Survey (BWS) is a series of surveys undertaken to gather evidence about the nations' woodlands and those who care for them, coordinated by Sylva Foundation ~~—____—_———~~ www.sylva.org.uk/bws. We ran a new survey in summer 2020, supported financially by the Forestry Commission, which aimed to explore changes over time in environmental awareness and action since the last survey on this theme in 2015. Outputs from previous surveys continue to support evidence-based policy making, including :

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2020-21

Trustees’ Report

BWS2020 attracted 1,055 people responses, 74% of whom were woodland owners or agents. The woodland area represented by the survey was 71,251 hectares; equivalent to 3% of privately-owned woodland area in Britain. In 2020, people are more aware than they were in 2015 of environmental change. There were significant increases (up to 25%) in observations of threats from drought, fire, and pathogens. Evidence from the 2020 survey is being used to review progress in meeting the Forestry and Climate Change Action Plan. While most of its actions are underway in some form, it is clear that progress overall is insufficient and that significant barriers remain. Our team will continue to support this important ‘action research’.

Conduct independent research in partnership with others to support sustainable development

In March 2021, the Future Oak project was launched. This pioneering project aims to safeguard our iconic oak trees, led by scientists from Bangor University. Sylva’s team is supporting the research, especially by providing expert silvicultural knowledge, and we will be launching a national survey among practitioners next year. www.future-oak.com

EDUCATION

Providing unique, practical resources to support primary & secondary education in sustainable forest management myForest for Education is a free, easy-to-use online application that enables any environmental educator to generate straightforward woodland management plans, maps and ecological impact assessments for woodland sites and school grounds. By the end of the year more than 2,149 environmental educators across Britain— many of them Forest School Leaders—were using the service. www.sylva.org.uk/myforest/education

Raising the profile of sustainable forest management amongst the general public

During the year Sylva staff continued to deliver education to many people. Once Covid-19 restrictions came into play, these took place online in webinars and online conferences. Our Chief Executive delivered an online talk for the Westminster Policy Forum on ‘Why trees will provide the roots for the new agricultural revolution.’ We also supported a series of talks hosted by the Institute of Chartered Forests providing information about resilience and woodland creation.

FORESTRY

Supporting the development and application of sustainable forest management

The myForest service is a flagship project of Sylva Foundation. The service provides online mapping and management tools for woodland owners and managers, enabling them to bring their woodlands into good condition for the environment, society and the economy. Numbers using the service continued to grow, and by year-end we were supporting 7,084 woodland owners and more than 1,000 agents who care for woodland properties across Britain covering more than 126,693ha. Our collaboration with Forestry Commission and Scottish Forestry continued to ensure that woodland owners can draw-up management plans compliant with the UK Forestry Standard. With ongoing funding provided by The Dulverton Trust we continued to develop the core information technology of myForest. www.myforest.org.uk

We continued to develop a Woodland Creation platform supported by Defra under the ‘Tests and Trials’ phase of the new Environmental Land Management System (replacing incentives under the Common

Agricultural Policy). Our main partners in the project are Forestry Commission and Woodland Trust. We conducted online training to land agents in the Northern Forest who later helped to test the early version of the platform, their responses helping us provide valuable feedback to Defra and helping us develop a refined version to be tested with more users during 2021. www.sylva.org.uk/woodland-creation

We began a pilot Woodland Creation platform for landowners and agents in Scotland with support from Scottish Forestry and Woodland Trust Scotland (through the Croft Woodland Project).

The Woodland Wildlife Toolkit —developed with funding from the RSPB and Woodland Trust—continued to provide woodland management advice to enhance woodland biodiversity, providing species-specific advice for a locality. Talks have been initiated with partners to explore its further development to support woodland creation. www.woodlandwildlifetoolkit.sylva.org.uk

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2020-21

Trustees’ Report

Developing a marketplace for ecosystem services

NatureBid is an environmental matchmaking platform that we’ve developed in partnership with the Environment Agency with funding from Defra. It brings those who fund environmental restoration and enhancement together with landowners who are in a position to deliver it on the ground. A core offering of NatureBid are reverse auctions which ensure value for money in delivery of environmental outcomes.

During the year we supported the delivery of multiple environmental outcomes across England. The third Woodland Carbon Guarantee (WCaG) auction took place in October with a budget of £10 million. To date the WCaG has committed to fund over 2,300ha of new woodland in England providing £16.5 million of carbon funding to farmers and landowners. A fourth Natural Flood Management auction in Somerset was completed in March, and another in Yorkshire in partnership with the Environment Agency and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. Projects in the pipeline for next year include a scheme with the Highways Agency. www.naturebid.org.uk ~~a~~

WOOD

Supporting enterprise and innovation in home-grown wood

The Sylva Wood Centre supports more than 20 small businesses that are permanently based at the centre, including those taking advantage of our start-up facilities. Our formal collaboration with Activate Learning continued with the appointment of a new ‘craftsperson-in-residence’.

Against the odds (Covid-19), we managed to complete renovation work on the former Grain Store. Two new small units in the building were subsequently let to

Students on the Professional Course at work in the new Grain Store teaching workshop. In the foreground are making projects completed for clients, including a novel beehive design.

separate businesses under our start-up terms, and one medium-sized unit was let commercially. Work started on the furnishing the remaining half of the building as

the home for our new Professional Course under the Sylva Wood School . Thanks to funding from the Aspen Trust and Oxfordshire Local Economic Partnership (European Regional Development Fund), we were able to purchase state-of-art professional woodworking machinery. In November, we welcomed five students to our first six-month Professional Course. Graduates of the programme will leave us with good technical skills in woodworking (by hand and machine), an understanding of professional standards, many hours of practical experience, competence in wood machining and the confidence to move into employment. We also see this programme as the perfect foundation for graduates to move into further study of creative design and imagine that some graduates may be keen to consider hot-

benching and business incubation opportunities within our Potato Store workshops.

The Sylva Wood School was our programme mostimpacted by Covid-19. All teaching was halted for several months, including the new Professional Course. Nonetheless, our regular online ‘Sylva Talks’ continued to gather momentum among wood workers and others with an interest in craft and design with wood.

We will be exploring the potential to further develop the site at the Sylva Wood Centre to support business enterprise, education and training. We will need to fundraise to meet these costs. www.woodschool.sylva.org.uk

Sylva’s Head of Wood School, Joseph Bray, guides a student learning on our first Professional Course.

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2020-21

Trustees’ Report

ESTATE

The charity owns 12 ha (20 acres) of land at the Sylva Wood Centre in south Oxfordshire. During the year we continued work enhancing the landscape, working closely with the local community, in line with our charitable objects.

Future Forest

This three-hectare woodland, comprising 7,500 trees, was planted in 2017 with help from volunteers. The Future Forest allows us to communicate the challenges that trees face from environmental change. Our ‘Forest Friends’ sponsorship scheme is supporting ongoing management, through volunteer engagement. A Forest School site created in this woodland continues to be used regularly by a local primary school, and by a local Forest School Leader educator to train new Forest School leaders.

We received a donation from Michelle Savill, widow of our former Chair of trustees Dr Peter Savill. A portion of these funds helped us design and install some interpretation in the Future Forest.

Community Orchard

Our new Community Orchard continues to establish well. Our annual celebration on Apple Day, involving the pressing of juice from apples collected from local gardens, was cancelled due to Covid-19.

A new interpretation panel in the Future Forest communicates the challenge of creating new woodlands which are resilient. The young trees are beginning to establish really well. In the distance, our office building (far centre) is almost hidden, while the tall elevation of the newly refurbished Grain Store (far right), with its innovative timber cladding, may remain prominent for a few more years.

House of Wessex

We continued to work with Wulfheodenas, a living history society, which is using the Anglo-Saxon building we reconstructed at the Sylva Wood Centre to educate members of the public. Due to Covid-19, we were forced to cancel a living history day but we hope to welcome the public back next year.

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2020-21

Trustees’ Report

Financial Review

This section is prepared by our trustees to offer a summary of the charity’s finances, with Notes referenced from the accounts, which form the following section of this report. The accounts comply with the requirements of FRS102 – The Financial Reporting Standard, applicable in the UK.

The finances of the charity are overseen by the trustees, together with senior staff. The Board oversees a Financial Strategy and an annual Financial Plan, which are reviewed at board meetings.

Reserves Policy

Sylva Foundation holds funds to be applied to support future activities in the form of a ‘Reserve Fund’, and Restricted funds:

Financial report for 2020-21

Introduction

During the year Sylva continued to diversify its income streams. We have been successful in attracting funding from trusts and foundations for several projects and core activities. Our business-minded approach, whereby we seek to win contracts for work that delivers our charitable objects while earning us much-needed core income, continues to prove effective. The Sylva Wood Centre is producing valuable revenue arising from business tenancies to supplement these activities.

Income

Income (£496,959) increased by 5% compared to the previous financial year (£472,374) [Statement of Financial Activities, p.14].

Income was derived from several sources including:

Fixed Assets

During 2020-21 the value of fixed assets (after depreciation) increased by 6% to £1,596,079 [Note 17], mostly comprising investments made in machinery at the Sylva Wood School which was supported by a restricted fund (see Designated Funds below).

Restricted Funds

Total Restricted Funds were £88,425 [Note 21]. Restricted Funds are derived from donations and grants with specific conditions attached, and these are accounted for separately in our operational accounts.

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2020-21

Trustees’ Report

Designated Funds

In a change from previous reporting formats, Designated Funds have been amended to reflect better the full range of funds held by the charity {Note 21], which had previously been described as Unrestricted. Additional Designated Funds now detail those funds held for activities related to Forestry/Information Technology; Education; Wood Centre; and, Core purposes. Also included for the first time is detail of the charity’s Reserve Fund (£71,625; see Reserves Policy above).

The largest proportion of Designated Funds (87%) is termed Operational Fixed Assets, mostly comprising land and buildings at the Sylva Wood Centre. Under SORP rules, these assets are shown as ‘funds’ but in fact they are physical assets and not ‘funds’ in the ordinary sense of the word. The charity’s trustees may use the assets acquired on an unrestricted basis for any charitable purpose.

Unrestricted Funds

Unrestricted Funds comprise General Funds (£140,325) arising from fundraising, consultancy, grants, rental income from the Sylva Wood Centre, and our day-to-day operations [Note 22]. These funds are used by Sylva Foundation to achieve its strategic objectives.

examination fees for the preparation of annual accounts [Note 14].

The majority of total expenditure (65%; £278,395) was spent on staff salaries [Note 15]. Staff salary costs include direct project delivery costs as well as staff time attributed to overhead costs. From our own operational accounts, we calculate overheads[2] to be £54,891 or less than 13% of our total expenditure, comprising:

Outcome for the future

We have a vital environmental message to deliver to a wide-range of stakeholders in a complex political and social landscape. Raising funds is a significant challenge, as it is for all small charities, made only more difficult due to Covid-19.

Impacts of the global pandemic on the activities of the charity have been significant and its implications are considered in the Risk Register which is reviewed regularly by the trustee board.

On a positive note, the trustees and staff have worked closely together over recent months to conceive a new five-year strategy for the charity. We have some exciting plans for the future, which we look forward coming to fruition with the support of our considerable network of partner organisations and individual supporters.

Small company provisions

This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small companies exemption.

The trustees' annual report was approved on 5[th] July 2021 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:

Expenditure

Total resources expended[1] were £437,222 [Statement of Financial Activities, p.14]. Delivery of the charity’s strategic objectives cost £432,736 [Note 10]: £204,015 (47%) in Unrestricted Funds, £40,204 (9%) in Designated Funds and £188,517 (44%) in Restricted Funds. Support costs expended on the governance of the charity were £4,486 [Note 12] all of which related to independent

Sarah Taylor Chair of Trustees

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2020-21

Independent Examiner's Report

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Sylva Foundation

I report on the accounts of the company for the year ended 31st March 2021 which are set out on pages 14 to 26.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your company’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's report

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

  4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Ajay Bahl BA BFP FCA Wenn Townsend Chartered Accountants Oxford 5[th] July 2021

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Statement of Financial Activities

Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2020-21

Statement of Financial Activities

for the year ended 31[st] March 2021

Note
Income and endowments
Donations and legacies
5
Charitable activities
6
Other trading activities
7
Government Grants Receivable
8
Investment income
9
Total income
Expenditure
Expenditure on charitable activities
10,11
Total expenditure
Net (expenditure) / income
Transfer between funds
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
22		 Unrestricted
Designated
Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
2021
£
£
£
£
49,616
-
10,000
59,616
113,380
-
196,429
309,809
120,758
-
-
120,758
5,945
-
-
5,945
831
-
-
831
290,530
-
206,429
496,959
208,501
40,204
188,517
437,222
208,501
40,204
188,517
437,222
82,029
(40,204)
17,912
59,737
(35,724)
154,679
(188,955)
-
46,305
114,475
(101,043)
59,737
94,020
1,511,129
189,468
1,794,617
140,325
1,625,604
88,425
1,854,354		 Unrestricted
Designated
Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
2020
£
£
£
£
52,024
-
105,586
157,610
41,338
-
179,024
220,362
91,535
-
-
91,535
-
-
-
-
2,867
-
-
2,867
187,764
-
284,610
472,374
218,677
-
284,100
502,777
218,677
284,100
502,777
(30,913)
-
510
(30,403)
(91,773)
1,511,129
(1,419,356)
-
(122,686)
1,511,129
(1,418,846)
(30,403)
216,706
-
1,608,314
1,825,020
94,020
1,511,129
189,468
1,794,617

All activities are continuing. There are no other gains or losses recognised during the year.

The notes on pages 16 to 26 form part of these financial statements.

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2020-21

Balance Sheet

Balance Sheet

Balance Sheet
Note 2021 2020
£ £ £ £
Fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets 17 1,596,079 1,519,529
Current assets
Debtors 18 51,062 34,339
Cash at bank and in hand 230,893 281,613
281,955 315,952
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 19 (23,680) (40,864)
Net current assets 258,275 275,088
Total assets less current liabilities 1,854,354 1,794,617
Net assets 1,854,354 1,794,617
Funds of the charity
Unrestricted funds 21 140,325 94,020
Designated Funds 21 1,625,604 1,511,129
Restricted Funds 21 88,425 189,468
Total charity funds 22 1,854,354 1,794,617

For the year ending 31[st] March 2021 the charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Trustees' responsibilities:

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime.

These financial statements were approved by the board of trustees and authorised for issue on 5[th] July 2021 and are signed on behalf of the board by:

Naval Sarah Taylor faye” Chair of Trustees

The notes on pages 16 to 26 form part of these financial statements.

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2020-21

Notes to the Financial Statement

Notes to the Financial Statements

1. General information

The charity is a private company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales, and a registered charity in England and Wales (1128516), and in Scotland (SC041892). The address of the registered office is Sylva Wood Centre, Little Wittenham Road, Long Wittenham, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 4QT.

2. Statement of compliance

These accounts have been prepared on an accruals basis and include income and expenditure as they are earned or incurred, rather than as cash is received or paid. 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 issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011, and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. These estimates and judgements are continually reviewed and are based on experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees to further any of the charity's purposes.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for a particular future project or commitment.

Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure declared by the donor or through the terms of an appeal, and fall into one of two sub-classes: restricted income funds or endowment funds.

3. Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, as modified by the revaluation of certain financial assets and liabilities and investment properties measured at fair value through income or expenditure. The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the entity.

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, including a revision of expectations for the potential impact of COVID-19 on the charity. They have concluded that the budgeted income and expenditure is sufficient with the level of reserves held for the charity to be able to continue as a going concern.

Income

All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when entitlement has passed to the charity; it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the charity and the amount can be reliably measured. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2020-21

Notes to the Financial Statement

3. Accounting policies (continued)

Income (continued)

Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is classified under headings of the statement of financial activities to which it relates:

All costs are allocated to expenditure categories reflecting the use of the resource. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs are apportioned between the activities they contribute to on a reasonable, justifiable and consistent basis.

Tangible assets

Tangible assets are initially recorded at cost, and subsequently stated at cost less any accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Any tangible assets carried at revalued amounts are recorded at the fair value at the date of revaluation less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.

An increase in the carrying amount of an asset as a result of a revaluation, is recognised in other recognised gains and losses, unless it reverses a charge for impairment that has previously been recognised as expenditure within the statement of financial activities. A decrease in the carrying amount of an asset as a result of revaluation, is recognised in other recognised gains and losses, except to which it offsets any previous revaluation gain, in which case the loss is shown within other recognised gains and losses on the statement of financial activities.

Depreciation

Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost or valuation of an asset, less its residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows:

Impairment of fixed assets

A review for indicators of impairment is carried out at each reporting date, with the recoverable amount being estimated where such indicators exist. Where the carrying value exceeds the recoverable amount, the asset is impaired accordingly. Prior impairments are also reviewed for possible reversal at each reporting date.

For the purposes of impairment testing, when it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, an estimate is made of the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs. The cash-generating unit is the smallest identifiable group of assets that includes the asset and generates cash inflows that largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets.

For impairment testing of goodwill, the goodwill acquired in a business combination is, from the acquisition date, allocated to each of the cash-generating units that are expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination, irrespective of whether other assets or liabilities of the charity are assigned to those units.

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2020-21

Notes to the Financial Statement

3. Accounting policies (continued)

Financial instruments

A financial asset or a financial liability is recognised only when the charity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at the amount receivable or payable including any related transaction costs.

Current assets and current liabilities are subsequently measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be paid or received and not discounted.

Debt instruments are subsequently measured at amortised cost.

Where investments in shares are publicly traded or their fair value can otherwise be measured reliably, the investment is subsequently measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognised in income and expenditure. All other such investments are subsequently measured at cost less impairment.

Other financial instruments, including derivatives, are initially recognised at fair value, unless payment for an asset is deferred beyond normal business terms or financed at a rate of interest that is not a market rate, in which case the asset is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument.

Any reversals of impairment are recognised immediately, to the extent that the reversal does not result in a carrying amount of the financial asset that exceeds what the carrying amount would have been had the impairment not previously been recognised.

Defined contribution plans

Contributions to defined contribution plans are recognised as an expense in the period in which the related service is provided. Prepaid contributions are recognised as an asset to the extent that the prepayment will lead to a reduction in future payments or a cash refund.

When contributions are not expected to be settled wholly within 12 months of the end of the reporting date in which the employees render the related service, the liability is measured on a discounted present value basis. The unwinding of the discount is recognised as an expense in the period in which it arises.

Other financial instruments are subsequently measured at fair value, with any changes recognised in the statement of financial activities, with the exception of hedging instruments in a designated hedging relationship.

Financial assets that are measured at cost or amortised cost are reviewed for objective evidence of impairment at the end of each reporting date. If there is objective evidence of impairment, an impairment loss is recognised under the appropriate heading in the statement of financial activities in which the initial gain was recognised.

For all equity instruments regardless of significance, and other financial assets that are individually significant, these are assessed individually for impairment. Other financial assets are either assessed individually or grouped on the basis of similar credit risk characteristics.

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2020-21

Notes to the Financial Statement

4. Limited by guarantee

The company is limited by guarantee and does not have a share capital. The trustees undertake to contribute a sum, not exceeding £1 each, to the assets of the company in the event of it being wound up.

5. Donations and Legacies

Donations – other
Charitable activities
Sale of goods/services as part of direct charitable activities
Performance-related grants
Other income from charitable activities - contractual
payments		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
49,616
49,616
Unrestricted
Funds
£
48,330
23,610
41,440
113,380		 Designated
Funds
£
-
-
Designated
Funds
£
-
-
-
-		 Restricted
Funds
£
10,000
10,000
Restricted
Funds
£
-
188,429
8,000
196,429		 Total
2021
£
59,616
59,616
Total
2021
£
48,330
212,039
49,440
309,809		 Total
2020
£
157,610
157,610
Total
2020
£
37,860
69,380
113,122
220,362

6. Charitable activities

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2020-21

Notes to the Financial Statement

7. Other trading activities

Other trading activities
Shop income
Wood Centre courses
Rental income
Other activities for generating funds		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
1,313
8,412
63,212
47,821
120,758		 Designated
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
-		 Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
-		 Total
2021
£
1,313
8,412
63,212
47,821
120,758		 Total
2020
£
3,470
22,542
61,090
4,433
91,535

8. Government Grants Receivable

Government Grants Receivable
Furlough Income Unrestricted
Funds
£
5,945
5,945		 Total
2021
£
5,945
5,945		 Total
2020
£
-
-

9. Investment income

nvestment income
Bank interest receivable Unrestricted
Funds
£
831
831		 Total
2021
£
831
831		 Total
2020
£
2,867
2,867

10. Expenditure on charitable activities by fund type

Science, Education, Forestry, & Wood Programmes
Support costs		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
204,015
4,486
208,501		 Designated
Funds
£
40,204
-
40,204		 Restricted
Funds
£
188,517
-
188,517		 Total
2021
£
432,736
4,486
437,222		 Total
2020
£
495,430
7,347
502,777

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2020-21

Notes to the Financial Statement

11. Expenditure on charitable activities by activity type

Science, Education, Forestry, & Wood Programmes
Governance costs
Analysis of support costs
Finance costs
Net income
come is stated after charging/(crediting):
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets
ndependent examination fees
ayable to the independent examiner for:
Independent examination of the financial statements
Other financial services		 Activities
undertaken
directly
£
432,736
-
432,736
Support
costs
£
4,486
4,486
2021
£
46,591
2021
£
698
3,788
4,486		 Support
costs
£
-
4,486
4,486
Total
2021
£
4,486
4,486
2020
£
33,940
2020
£
698
2,074
2,772		 Total
2021
£
432,736
4,486
437,222
Total
2020
£
7,347
7,347		 Total
2020
£
495,430
7,347
502,777

12. Analysis of support costs

13. Net income

Net income is stated after charging/(crediting):

14. Independent examination fees

Fees payable to the independent examiner for:

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2020-21

Notes to the Financial Statement

15. Staff costs

The total staff costs and employee benefits for the reporting period are analysed as follows:

2021 2020
£ £
Wages and salaries 242,137 238,123
Social security costs 24,775 20,688
Employer contributions to pension plans 11,483 11,998
278,395 270,809
The average head count of employees during the year was 8 (2020: 8). The average number of full-time equivalent employees during the year is analysed as follows:
2021 2020
No. No.
All staff 8 8

No employee received employee benefits of more than £60,000 during the year (2019: £Nil).

16. Trustee remuneration and expenses

No trustee received any remuneration during the year. No expenses were reimbursed to trustees during the year.

17. Tangible fixed assets

Cost
At 1stApril 2020
Additions
At 31st March 2021
Depreciation
At 1stApril 2020
Charge for the year
At 31st March 2021
Carrying amount
At 31stMarch 2021
At 31stMarch 2020		 Land and
buildings
£
1,613,364
59,575
1,672,939
102,235
40,204
142,439
1,530,500
1,511,129		 Equipment
£
26,313
63,566
89,879
17,913
6,387
24,300
65,579
8,400		 Total
£
1,639,677
123,141
1,762,818
120,148
46,591
166,739
1,596,079
1,519,529

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2020-21

Notes to the Financial Statement

18. Debtors

Debtors
Trade debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
VAT receivable		 2021
£
47,602
2,746
714
51,062		 2020
£
32,152
2,187
-
34,339

19. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Trade creditors
Accruals and deferred income
Social security and other taxes
Other creditors – pension		 2021
£
9,209
4,481
7,084
2,906
23,680		 2020
£
25,886
3,973
10,149
856
40,864

20. Pensions and other post-retirement benefits

Defined contribution plans

The amount recognised in income or expenditure as an expense in relation to defined contribution plans was £11,483 (2020 £11,998).

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2020-21

Notes to the Financial Statement

21. Analysis of charitable funds

Unrestricted funds
General Funds
Designated Funds
Operational Fixed Assets
Forestry/Information Technology
Education
Wood Centre
Reserve Fund
Core
Restricted funds
Forestry/Information Technology
Wood School
Education
Wood Centre
Science
Core		 At 1st April
2020
£
94,020
1,511,129
-
-
-
-
-
1,605,149
111,017
34,406
36,595
-
7,450
-
189,468		 Income
£
290,530
-
-
-
-
-
-
290,530
122,084
5,305
29,040
40,000
-
10,000
206,429		 Expenditure
£
(208,501)
(40,204)
-
-
-
-
-
(248,705)
(104,311)
(5,981)
(18,681)
(59,094)
-
(450)
(188,517)		 Transfer
£
(35,724)
59,575
6,603
272
4,937
71,625
11,667
118,955
(81,930)
(33,730)
(17,242)
21,397
(7,450)
-
(118,955)		 At 31st March
2021
£
140,325
1,530,500
6,603
272
4,937
71,625
11,667
1,765,929
46,860
-
29,712
2,303
-
9,550
88,425

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2020-21

Notes to the Financial Statement

21. Analysis of charitable funds (continued)

Analysis of charitable funds (continued)
Unrestricted funds
General Funds
Designated Funds
Operational fixed assets
Restricted funds
Forestry/Information Technology
Wood School
Education
Wood Centre
Science		 At 1st April
2019
£
216,706
-
216,706
56,376
33,512
64,117
1,454,309
-
1,608,314		 Income
£
187,764
-
187,764
128,295
29,551
58,650
60,364
7,750
284,610		 Expenditure
£
(218,677)
-
(218,677)
(73,654)
(28,657)
(86,172)
(95,317)
(300)
(284,100)		 Transfer
£
(91,773)
1,511,129
1,419,356
-
-
-
(1,419,356)
-
(1,419,356)		 At 31st March
2020
£
94,020
1,511,129
1,605,149
111,017
34,406
36,595
-
7,450
189,468

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2020-21

Notes to the Financial Statement

22. Analysis of net assets between funds

2021
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Creditors less than 1 year
2020
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Creditors less than 1 year		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
65,579
98,426
(23,680)
140,325
Unrestricted
Funds
£
8,400
126,484
(40,864)
94,020		 Designated
Funds
£
1,530,500
95,104
-
1,625,604
Designated
Funds
£
1,511,129
-
-
1,511,129		 Restricted
Funds
£
-
88,425
-
88,425
Restricted
Funds
£
-
189,468
-
189,468		 Total
Funds
£
1,596,079
281,955
(23,680)
1,854,354
Total
Funds
£
1,519,529
315,952
(40,864)
1,794,617

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Support for Sylva Foundation

Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2020-21

How you can help Sylva Foundation

Sylva Foundation relies on the help of many people and organisations. This section outlines some of the ways we currently receive support. We are always keen to receive support in different ways. Read on to find out how you could help our important work.

Donate

There are a number of ways you can donate to support Sylva. We offer specific opportunities, such as helping towards a new building, or sponsoring a bench for a startup business. We also benefit from regular small donations from people who believe in the importance of our work. Find out more: sylva.org.uk/support

Remember Sylva in your Will

Leaving a Legacy to Sylva is a powerful way to make your support for the charity live on. We believe that trees and forests underpin life on Earth, especially if cared for as part of a dynamic living landscape. Your Legacy will support our ongoing work to achieve a sustainable society and environment. We offer a number of ways to help you leave a legacy, including a home visit with our partners The Goodwill Partnership, and in England a free online Will writing service. You can read more at sylva.org.uk/legacy or contact us to discuss at: 01865 408018 or legacy@sylva.org.uk .

Campaigns and appeals

Support our campaigns and appeals, and you can help our work helping people and trees grow closer together. Subscribe to our enews at sylva.org.uk/subscribe so that you are kept up-to-date.

Training

Get involved

There are a wide range of options for you to get involved in our work. For example, this year we held workshops across Britain asking for help in developing our next national survey, and these were attended by professionals and woodland owners alike. At the local level we enjoy support from the public caring for our small estate, and promoting our work through events at the Sylva Wood Centre.

Fundraise

Sylva is not a membership charity, so is without the regular income this provides many charities. We therefore need to raise funds for specific projects and build a strong foundation of income to support our core costs. We don’t have teams of individuals fundraising for us but if you can help promote our work, especially our campaigns and appeals, you will make a difference.

Local groups

Sylva tends to work in partnership with other organisations to achieve its reach across Britain. We are most active locally via the Sylva Wood Centre in Oxfordshire, where local people can help support our Future Forest, Community Orchard, and arts events.

Volunteering

If you are looking for an exciting and interesting way to make a difference to our environment, please consider volunteering with Sylva. We have recently benefited volunteers helping with school visits, data entry, visitor welcoming, tree planting, and even a business angel. You don’t have to know anything about trees, forestry or wood to volunteer with Sylva. Find out more at sylva.org.uk/volunteer

We offer an exciting range of courses at the Sylva Wood Centre. By attending a paid course your fee will help support our work bridging significant gaps which exist in formal wood education. Find our more at sylva.org.uk/woodschool

Shopping

We have a small online shop which helps us raise much-needed income. sylva.org.uk/shop

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Support for Sylva Foundation

Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2020-21

Acknowledgements 2020-21

We are very grateful for all the support offered this year by so many individuals and organisations. We keep a list of organisational supporters on our website at: sylva.org.uk/partners

Volunteers and Community Groups

Donors and Funders

Alex Abbott Aspen Trust Alistair Yeomans The Dulverton Trust Andrew Lea Ernest Cook Trust David and Karon Whenmouth Garfield Weston Foundation Gillian Petrokofsky Heritage Lottery Fund Harriet Child Horlock Educational Trust Philip Koomen John Ellerman Foundation Robert Penn Michelle Savill Sally Richards Oxfordshire Local Economic Partnership Sheila Phillips Rowse Family Trust Shems Hadj-Nassar Sir Martin and Lady Wood Steve Ash Sylva Foundation Forest Friends Sylva Wood Centre tenants Wittenham Community Orchard Cropsharers

Business Supporters

3Keel Andrew Bax (Drayton Hive) Atkins Axminster Tools Blenheim Palace Festool Grown In Britain Soundabout Markfield Woodworking Machinery Nicholsons Oxford Botanic Garden (Oxford University) The Old Bakehouse Ltd Vastern Timber Where The Fruit Is Workshop heaven Woodlands.co.uk

NGO Partners

Activate Learning – Rycotewood Furniture Centre Argyll Small Woods Coop Bangor University Berks, Bucks, and Oxon Wildlife Trust Community Forests Trust Confor Country Land and Business Association Countryside and Community Research Institute Earth Trust FWAG south-west

Harcourt Arboretum (Oxford University) Institute of Chartered Foresters Long Wittenham C&E Primary School Long Wittenham Parish Council Oxford Brookes University Royal Forestry Society Royal Scottish Forestry Society The Oxford Trust The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Small Woodland Owners Group Small Woods Association Wild Oxfordshire Woodland Heritage Woodland Trust Wulfheodenas Living History Society Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

Statutory sector & public bodies

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Environment Agency Forest Research Forestry Commission Highways England Natural England Natural Resources Wales Oxfordshire County Council Scottish Forestry South Oxfordshire District Council

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Contact us

Sylva Foundation Sylva Wood Centre Long Wittenham Oxfordshire OX14 4QT

Tel: 01865 408018

email: info@sylva.org.uk

www.sylva.org.uk