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2022-03-31-accounts

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nurturing a wood culture, growing a future

Contents

TRUSTEES’ REPORT........................................................ 2 ACHIEVEMENTS, CHALLENGES AND FUTURE PLANS ...... 7 FINANCIAL REVIEW ..................................................... 11 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF SYLVA FOUNDATION .............................................. 14 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES ........................ 15 BALANCE SHEET .......................................................... 16 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ..................... 17 HOW YOU CAN HELP SYLVA FOUNDATION ................. 28 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 2021-22 .................................. 29

Front cover:

Amy Hague, one of our students at the 2021 Summer School, tests her prototype stool for size and comfort, designed and made using homegrown beech.

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2021-22

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 2022.

Sylva Foundation is an environmental and forestry 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 2021-22

Trustees’ Report

Trustee Board and Staff

Patrons

Lady Audrey Wood OBE Sir Martin Wood FRS (1927-2021)

Trustees

‘Greetings, a great day – we’re going to change the face of forestry in the British Isles!’ Sir Martin Wood, 8[th] May 2006

Staff

Chief Executive

Dr Gabriel Hemery FICFor CEnv

Director of Operations

Paul Orsi MICFor

Chair of Trustees

Sarah Taylor

Other Trustee Board members

Dr Mary Barkham Dr Robin Buxton Lucius Cary OBE Luke Hughes Dr James Morison Jim Waterson

Other Staff members

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

Advisors and Associates

Our patron Sir Martin Wood passed away in December 2021. Martin co-founded Sylva Foundation with Gabriel Hemery in 2009 and together with his wife Audrey became Sylva Foundation’s founding Patrons. His contribution to British forestry and to the environment, is incalculable and extraordinary.

CEO Gabriel Hemery later wrote: ‘Martin’s friendship and leadership transformed my life, professionally and personally, and consequently the lives of the entire Sylva team, the thousands of people we work with, and the tens of thousands of hectares of woodland we help care for across Britain. On my office wall hangs a framed note from Martin that I found waiting on my desk on the first day we started working together on founding a new charity. In a few words, this perfectly captures Martin’s unparalleled vision, philanthropy, and humanity.’

Sir Martin Wood FRS (1927-2021) was a founding patron of Sylva Foundation.

.

Shems Hadj-Nassar Communications Dr Philip Koomen Furniture & Wood Rob Penn Media Dr Gill Petrokofsky Science Alistair Yeomans Environmental Resilience

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2021-22

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 2021-22, no trustees retired.

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 2021-22

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 received highly valuable assistance from volunteers, without whom our work would been much reduced. During the year we continued to benefit particularly from volunteers with professional skills, notably in legal matters, and in communications and marketing.

Our local community near the Sylva Wood Centre is very supportive of our activities, including the annual Artweeks exhibition, taking an active role in supporting our community woodland and orchard. We welcome volunteer conservation work parties onto our estate.

We always welcome enquiries from potential volunteers. Please contact us direct or visit our website: sylva.org.uk/volunteer

During the year we benefitted greatly from the voluntary support of experienced communications expert Shems Hadj-Nassar

The Risk Register is scrutinised annually by the Trustee Board. Following the most recent review in March 2021, 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 nurturing a wood culture and growing a future 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.

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2021-22

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 Foundation 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:

Our Vision

Our vision is for a society that cares for nature while living in harmony with it.

We envisage a wood culture where people understand and promote the good stewardship of woodlands and are mindful of their utility, while being conscious of their fragility. Future society will recognise the creative and productive value of forest products which can be derived from growing well-managed forests, and at the same time enhance their wider benefits for people and for nature. This will help result in a halt in the loss of biodiversity, a reduction in climate change, and a human society that can sustain itself.

Our actions today will be tangible in the love and respect that future generations afford our trees and forests.

Our Mission

Impact

In 2021, Sylva Foundation published its first Impact Report, highlighting its activities, progress, and contributions towards meeting its charitable objectives.

In 2021, Sylva Foundation published its first Impact woodland owners supported Report.

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2021-22

Trustees’ Report

Achievements, Challenges and Future plans

This section highlights the achievements, challenges and future plans for activities under our four key values of Innovating , Collaborating , Training , and Advocacy .

INNOVATING

To use our forestry knowledge and information technology skills, supported by state-of-art evidence, to provide innovative solutions to some of the greatest environmental challenges facing modern society.

This year we continued to support Defra in exploring stakeholder behaviours under the Resilient Treescapes project . We are assisting government in the design and testing of new incentives and regulation to support land managers in responding to threats from pests and pathogens in England. The outcomes of this work are being used to help shape government’s new Tree Health Pilot .

We supported the Future Oak project which aims to safeguard our iconic oak trees, led by scientists from Bangor University. Our native oak species are increasingly under-pressure from a variety of pests, pathogens, and changes to the landscape and climate. The project focuses particularly on Acute Oak Decline (AOD) and is exploring the role of micro-organisms in this disease. Sylva’s team undertook a national survey among land managers and owners using our British Woodlands Survey platform. The results of this work will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. www.future-oak.com

tools for woodland owners and managers, enabling them to bring their woodlands into good condition for the environment, society and the economy. Usage of the service continued to grow, and by year-end we were supporting more than 8,000 woodland owners and 1,500 agents caring for woodland across Britain covering an area greater than 141,000ha. www.myforest.org.uk

We completed research and development of 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 in England). Our main partners in the project were Forestry Commission and Woodland Trust. We will be applying lessons learnt and innovations developed in the launch of a new improved version (v.4.0) of myForest later in 2022, which will allow users to create and manage woodlands on a single innovative online platform.

We continued to develop the NatureBid environmental matchmaking platform in partnership with the Environment Agency. During the year we supported the delivery of multiple environmental outcomes across England. One of the successful schemes was run with the Highways Agency to support tree planting adjacent to highways to provide natural flood management. To date, the platform has supported the transfer of more than £30M of funding to deliver environmental measures implemented by landowners. ~~TT~~ www.naturebid.org.uk

The myForest service , a flagship project of Sylva Foundation, provides online mapping and management

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2021-22

Trustees’ Report

COLLABORATING

To work extensively and selflessly with others, recognising that collaboration is necessary to overcome the challenges of halting biodiversity loss and reducing climate change, while supporting the transition to a sustainable human society.

Sylva continued to take a lead role in supporting the work of the Forestry and Climate Change Partnership . We helped with the drafting of the new Forestry and Climate Change Accord. Thanks to funding received from a private donor, we were able to support the partnership in the design and creation of its first website: www.forestryclimatechange.uk

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 using Sylva’s myForest platform. Thanks also to innovation funding provided by the Forestry Commission, we were able to work with a group of forestry agents to offer free support to 50 landowners across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, East Sussex, and West Sussex.

We were successful in gaining an award under the Trees Call to Action Fund, to create a network of expect providers who can provide support and advice to

owners of undermanaged woodlands across England, and to those contemplating woodland creation. We will be collaborating with the Forest Canopy Foundation and Grown in Britain to deliver this major project known as Defra PIES (Protect Improve Expand Sustain) from summer 2022.

The Woodland Wildlife Toolkit —developed with funding from the RSPB and Woodland Trust in collaboration with multiple environmental partners — continued to provide woodland management advice to enhance woodland biodiversity, providing speciesspecific advice for a locality. www.woodlandwildlifetoolkit.sylva.org.uk

We initiated a new collaboration with the National Trust to design and make furniture from ash trees felled at one of its estates. The three stools were designed by our Head of Wood School , and later made by students learning on our Professional Course. The stools will be sold via the National Trust’ online shop in summer 2022.

Members of the Forestry and Climate Change Partnership steering group enjoy a tour of the Future Forest, Sylva Wood Centre. The FCCP is represented by 17 organisations representing a wide range of views across the environmental and forestry sectors.

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2021-22

Trustees’ Report

TRAINING

To deliver the training and education necessary to support the transformation of society, focussing on the stewardship of our forests and the utility of home-grown timber.

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’.

We completed the delivery of our first six-month Professional Course under the Sylva Wood School . Students graduated 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. A funding award enabled us to offer Bursaries to some students.

Students on the Professional Course worked on ‘realworld’ projects, including: a novel beehive for a local business; a resonance board for Soundabout, a charity working with children with profound learning abilities; a suite of presentation boxes for Oxford Botanic Garden, made from Tolkien’s black pine, and; furniture for Joined and Jointed. Income from these helps us off-set the training fees for students, while providing experience for them in working to commercial deadlines and production requirements.

Thanks to a private donor, we were able to initiate a Fellowship scheme , whereby through a competitive process, one graduate can remain at a bench to continue to develop their skills under the support of our team.

Thanks to a funding award, we will be appointing a new member of staff to work alongside our Head of Wood School. This will enable us to develop and advertise for a new 10-week Introductory Course , and to develop further our plans for the training.

We welcomed more than 200 architectural students from Oxford Brookes University to the Wood Centre. Their brief was to help us in our vision and plans concerning one remaining and large semi-derelict building on our site. We were astounded by the quality of their outputs which focused on home-grown timber in construction and eco-build principles.

‘What a fabulous week! This is an amazing course. I needed this course so very much. My memory of it will stay with me forever. Thank you. So much.’ Student, 2021 Summer School

Sylva hosted a Summer School for young creative people to promote design and craft using home-grown timber. Delivered in partnership with Grown in Britain, we welcomed students who were female or non-binary to design and create with less commonly used timbers. The students reported how much they appreciated the opportunity to work together as a group, supported by a significant proportion of female tutors, expressing how their experiences in higher education or industry had been overwhelmingly male-dominated.

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2021-22

Trustees’ Report

We hope this will help land managers improve the condition of their woodlands.

In summer 2021, we hosted a Home-grown Timber Summit, inviting key stakeholders from across the woodchain to join us at the Sylva Wood Centre for a day of talks and discussion. A key outcome has been the development of our first position statement concerning the challenges and opportunities in procuring homegrown wood products. As part of this work, we also developed a beta version of a Home-Grown Wood Product Selector Tool to help guide users in their procurement decisions.

ADVOCACY

To undertake advocacy to inspire one another, raise awareness, and endow people with knowledge, passion, and the shared ambition for a better and more sustainable society.

We developed the new Woodland Assessor (previously the Woodland Star Rating) with funding from the Forestry Commission. This self-assessment tool helps land managers improve practices in accordance with the UK Forestry Standard. The Woodland Assessor is now embedded within myForest. It provides users with a detailed report and certificate, recording progress from ‘Entry’ level to ‘Gold’, at which level the user’s plans are considered audit-ready for Grown in Britain certification.

Our three-hectare woodland at the Sylva Wood Centre, 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.

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2021-22

Trustees’ Report

Financial Review

This section is prepared by our trustees to offer a summary of the charity’s finances, with numbered notes (shown in square brackets) 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 2021-22

Income

Income (£499,747) increased by less than 1% compared to the previous financial year (£496,959) [Statement of Financial Activities].

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 was derived from several sources including:

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Income 2021-22
Government grants
receivable, £0, 0%
Donations and legacies,
Investment income, £68,
£56,815, 11%
0%
Other trading activities,
£113,220, 23%
Charitable activities,
£329,644, 66%
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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2021-22

Trustees’ Report

Fixed Assets

During 2021-22 the value of fixed assets (after depreciation) increased by 7% to £1,607,805 [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 £35,305 (2%) [Note 21]. Restricted Funds are derived from donations and grants with specific conditions attached, and these are accounted for separately in our operational accounts.

Designated Funds

Designated Funds [Note 21] are those funds held for activities related to Innovating, Collaborating, Training, and Advocating activities, and for Core purposes. The total value of Designated funds at 31[st] March 2022 was £1,589,982 [Note 21].

The largest proportion of Designated Funds were Operational Fixed Assets £1,503,265 (88%), 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

Funds 2021-22

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Restricted funds,
Unrestricted funds, £35,305, 2%
£186,396, 10%
Designated funds,
£1,589,982, 88%
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use the assets acquired on an unrestricted basis for any charitable purpose.

The majority of total expenditure (58%; £316,852) 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 to be £58,941 or 11% of our total expenditure, comprising:

Unrestricted Funds

Unrestricted Funds comprise General Funds (£186,396) arising from fundraising, consultancy, grants, rental income from the Sylva Wood Centre, and our day-to-day operations [Note 21]. These funds are used by Sylva Foundation to achieve its strategic objectives.

Expenditure

Total resources expended were £542,418 [Statement of Financial Activities]. Delivery of the charity’s strategic objectives cost £537,209 [Note 10] plus £5,209 of support costs [detailed in Note 14].

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2021-22

Trustees’ Report

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 remains a significant challenge, as it does for all small charities. We benefit from a diverse portfolio of income streams, and in particular our business-like approach to winning and delivering major contracts with government and others is proving successful in generating income while also helping us in delivering our charitable outcomes.

Trustees and staff continue to work closely together over to deliver our five-year strategy for the charity. We are implementing exciting plans 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 7[th] July 2022 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:

Sarah Taylor Chair of Trustees

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2021-22

Independent Examiner's Report

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Sylva Foundation

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the company for the year ended 31st March 2022 which are set out on pages 15 to 27.

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 7[th] July 2022

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Statement of Financial Activities

Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2021-22

Statement of Financial Activities

for the year ended 31[st] March 2022

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 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
2022
£
£
£
£
56,815
-
-
56,815
254,200
-
75,444
329,644
90,720
22,500
-
113,220
-
-
-
-
68
-
-
68
401,803
22,500
75,444
499,747
375,567
38,287
128,564
542,418
375,567
38,287
128,564
542,418
26,236
(15,787)
(53,120)
(42,671)
19,835
(19,835)
-
-
46,071
(35,622)
(53,120)
(42,671)
140,325
1,625,604
88,425
1,854,354
186,396
1,589,982
35,305
1,811,683		 Unrestricted
Designated
Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
2021
£
£
£
£
49,616
-
10,000
59,616
121,792
-
196,429
318,221
112,346
-
-
112,346
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
(118,955)
-
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

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

The notes on pages 17 to 27 form part of these financial statements.

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2021-22

Balance Sheet

Balance Sheet

Balance Sheet
Note 2022 2021
£ £ £ £ £ £
Fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets 17 1,607,805 1,596,079
Current assets
Debtors 18 129,370 51,062 51,062
Cash at bank and in hand 134,309 230,893 893
263,679 281,955 281,955
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 19 (59,801) (23,680)
Net current assets 203,878 258,275
Total assets less current liabilities 1,811,683 1,854,354
Net assets 1,811,683 1,854,354
Funds of the charity
Unrestricted funds 21 186,396 140,325
Designated Funds 21 1,589,982 1,625,604
Restricted Funds 21 35,305 88,425
Total charity funds 22 1,811,683 1,854,354

For the year ending 31[st] March 2022 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 7[th] July 2022 and are signed on behalf of the board by:

Navah Sarah Taylor Tayo” Chair of Trustees

The notes on pages 17 to 27 form part of these financial statements.

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2021-22

Notes to the Financial Statement

Notes to the Financial Statements

1. General information

Sylva Foundation is a charitable company registered in England and Wales (06589157), and a charity registered 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. 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 2021-22

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:

Freehold property - 4% straight line
Equipment - 25% straight line

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 2021-22

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 2021-22

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 Unrestricted
Funds
£
56,815
56,815		 Designated
Funds
£
-
-		 Restricted
Funds
£
-
-		 Total
2022
£
56,815
56,815		 Total
2021
£
59,616
59,616

6. Charitable activities

Sale of goods/services as part of direct charitable activities
Performance-related grants
Other income from charitable activities - contractual
payments		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
93,849
55,823
104,528
254,200		 Designated
Funds
£
-
-
-
-		 Restricted
Funds
£
-
75,444
-
75,444		 Total
2022
£
93,849
131,267
104,528
329,644		 Total
2021
£
56,742
212,039
49,440
318,221

7. Other trading activities

Sales income
Rental income
Other activities for generating funds		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
12,191
71,402
7,127
90,720		 Designated
Funds
£
-
-
22,500
22,500		 Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
-
-		 Total
2022
£
12,191
71,402
29,627
113,220		 Total
2021
£
1,313
63,212
47,821
112,346

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2021-22

Notes to the Financial Statement

8. Government Grants Receivable

Government Grants Receivable
Furlough Income Unrestricted
Funds
£
-
-		 Total
2022
£
-
-		 Total
2021
£
5,945
5,945

9. Investment income

nvestment income
Bank interest receivable Unrestricted
Funds
£
68
68		 Total
2022
£
68
68		 Total
2021
£
831
831

10. Expenditure on charitable activities by fund type

Science, Education, Forestry, & Wood Programmes
Support costs		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
370,358
5,209
375,567		 Designated
Funds
£
38,287
-
38,287		 Restricted
Funds
£
128,564
-
128,564		 Total
2022
£
537,209
5,209
542,418		 Total
2021
£
432,736
4,486
437,222

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2021-22

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		 Activities
undertaken
directly
£
537,209
-
537,209
Support
costs
£
5,209
5,209
2022
£
50,522		 Support
costs
£
-
5,209
5,209
Total
2022
£
5,209
5,209
2021
£
46,591		 Total
2022
£
537,209
5,209
542,418
Total
2021
£
4,486
4,486		 Total
2021
£
432,736
4,486
437,222

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:

Independent examination of the financial statements
Other financial services		 2022
£
698
4,511
5,209		 2021
£
698
3,788
4,486

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2021-22

Notes to the Financial Statement

15. Staff costs

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

2022 2021
£ £
Wages and salaries 275,435 242,137
Social security costs 28,254 24,775
Employer contributions to pension plans 13,163 11,483
316,852 278,395
The average head count of employees during the year was 9 (2021: 8). The average number of full-time equivalent employees during the year is analysed as follows:
2022 2021
No. No.
All staff 9 8

No employee received employee benefits of more than £60,000 during the year (2021: £Nil).

16. Trustee remuneration and expenses

No trustee received any remuneration during the year (2021: £Nil). No expenses were reimbursed to trustees during the year (2021: £Nil).

17. Tangible fixed assets

Cost
At 1stApril 2021
Additions
At 31st March 2022
Depreciation
At 1stApril 2021
Charge for the year
At 31st March 2022
Carrying amount
At 31stMarch 2022
At 31stMarch 2021		 Land and
buildings
£
1,672,939
14,518
1,687,457
142,439
41,754
184,193
1,503,264
1,530,500		 Equipment
£
89,879
47,730
137,609
24,300
8,768
33,068
104,541
65,579		 Total
£
1,762,818
62,248
1,825,066
166,739
50,522
217,261
1,607,805
1,596,079

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2021-22

Notes to the Financial Statement

18. Debtors

Debtors
Trade debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
VAT receivable		 2022
£
88,803
40,567
-
129,370		 2021
£
47,602
2,746
714
51,062

19. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Trade creditors
Accruals and deferred income
Social security and other taxes
Other creditors – pension
VAT payable		 2022
£
33,586
13,357
7,736
3,387
1,735
59,801		 2021
£
9,209
4,481
7,084
2,906
-
23,680

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 £13,163 (2021: £11,483).

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2021-22

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
Science
Reserve Fund
Core
Restricted funds
Forestry/Information Technology
Education
Wood Centre
Core		 At 1st April
2021
£
140,325
140,325
1,530,500
6,603
272
4,937
-
71,625
11,667
1,625,604
46,860
29,712
2,303
9,550
88,425		 Income
£
401,803
401,803
-
-
-
-
22,500
-
-
22,500
72,084
3,360
-
-
75,444		 Expenditure
£
(375,567)
(375,567)
-
(3,400)
-
(720)
(22,500)
-
(11,667)
(38,287)
(100,221)
(26,040)
(2,303)
-
(128,564)		 Transfer
£
19,835
19,835
(27,235)
-
-
-
-
7,400
-
(19,835)
-
-
-
-
-		 At 31st March
2022
£
186,396
186,396
1,503,265
3,203
272
4,217
-
79,025
-
1,589,982
18,723
7,032
-
9,550
35,305

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2021-22

Notes to the Financial Statement

21. Analysis of charitable funds (continued)

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
94,020
1,511,129
-
-
-
-
-
1,511,129
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)
(208,501)
(40,204)
-
-
-
-
-
(40,204)
(104,311)
(5,981)
(18,681)
(59,094)
-
(450)
(188,517)		 Transfer
£
(35,724)
(35,724)
59,575
6,603
272
4,937
71,625
11,667
154,679
(81,930)
(33,730)
(17,242)
21,397
(7,450)
-
(118,955)		 At 31st March
2021
£
140,325
140,325
1,530,500
6,603
272
4,937
71,625
11,667
1,625,604
46,860
-
29,712
2,303
-
9,550
88,425

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Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2021-22

Notes to the Financial Statement

22. Analysis of net assets between funds

2022
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Creditors less than 1 year
2021
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Creditors less than 1 year		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
104,541
141,656
(59,801)
186,396
Unrestricted
Funds
£
65,579
98,426
(23,680)
140,325		 Designated
Funds
£
1,503,264
86,718
-
1,589,982
Designated
Funds
£
1,530,500
95,104
-
1,625,604		 Restricted
Funds
£
-
35,305
-
35,305
Restricted
Funds
£
-
88,425
-
88,425		 Total
Funds
£
1,607,805
263,679
(59,801)
1,811,683
Total
Funds
£
1,596,079
281,955
(23,680)
1,854,354

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Support for Sylva Foundation

Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2021-22

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. If you like what we do and how we do it, please consider joining our Friends scheme. 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 .

Shopping

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

Get involved

There are a wide range of options for you to get involved in our work. 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.

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

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

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

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Support for Sylva Foundation

Sylva Foundation Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2021-22

Acknowledgements 2021-22

We are very grateful for all the support offered this year by so many individuals and organisations.

Volunteers and community groups Donors and Funders Business supporters Alex Abbott Andrew James 3Keel Alistair Yeomans Aspen Trust Andrew Bax (Drayton HIve) Andrew Lea Dulverton Trust Atkins David and Karon Whenmouth Garfield Weston Foundation Axminster Tools Gillian Petrokofsky Heritage Lottery Fund Blenheim Palace Harriet Child Horlock Educational Trust Festool Lynn Jones John Ellerman Foundation Forest Canopy Foundation Philip Koomen Michelle Savill Joined and Jointed Robert Penn Michaelis family Lamello Sally Richards Sir Martin and Lady Wood Markfield Woodworking Machinery Shems Hadj-Nassar Martin Glynn Steve Ash Mirka Sylva Foundation Forest Friends National Trust Sylva Wood Centre tenants Oxford Botanic Garden (Oxford University) Wittenham Community Orchard Cropsharers re:heat

National Trust Oxford Botanic Garden (Oxford University)

Rezatec

NGO Partners

Community Forests Trust

Confor

Earth Trust Forest Canopy Foundation FWAG south-west Grown in Britain Institute of Chartered Foresters

National Farmers Union

Royal Forestry Society

Royal Scottish Forestry Society The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Small Woodland Owners Group

Small Woods Association Victoria & Albert Museum

Woodland Trust Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

Statutory sector and other public bodies

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Environment Agency

Forest Research

Forestry Commission

National Highways

Natural England Scottish Forestry

Rural Development Initiaitves

Soundabout

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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