amphibian and reptile conservation Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Annual report 2020121 Introduction Backgroijnd to the Organisation The Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Trust IARCI was established as a registered charity (Charity Number 11301881 in July 2009 and as an incorporated company (Company N umber 69329721 in June 2009 in England to lake on the charitable objectives of the Herpetological Conservation Trust IHCTI. It was intènded lo complete the transfer of HCT'S assets to ARC during the financial year 2010111 However, this was not possible and some remain to be transferred. On 24th June 2013 ARC also became a registered charity in Scotland Scottish Charity number SC044097. The Trust's charitable objects are. To promote and advance (directly or indirectly) the conservation and welfare of amphibians and reptiles, their habitats and the wider environment on which they depend., To establish and maintain amphibian and reptile nature reserves and to undertake habrtal management, reclamation, remediation and restoration and to promote the study of and appreciation of sustainable practices in such nature reserves and elsewhere., To execute, promote, support and publish research relevant to species and habitat conservation pertinent to amphibians and reptiles., To advance the education and awareness of the public in amphibian and reptile conservation and conservation of the environment., To advance the above mentioned objects in the UK. Europe and elsewhere in the world. ARC is a UK based organisation and the focus of our work i8 largely within the UK. However, our remit and our influence extend into Europe and beyond, where we work with other nature eonservation organisations, government bodies and European Inslilulions. such as the Council of Europe and the European Commission. This allows us to influence conservation actions for threatened amphibians and reptiles away from the UK, influence European legislation and advice which affects the UK, and also to use our influence and knowledge to guide conservation effort at h)me. This reF)Ort covers the financial year from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021. The Trust's aims for 2020121 The Business Plan and five-year strategie plan12016117 10 20201211 were reviewed to provide a Work Plan for 2020121 and lo guide ARC'S future priorities. During the year 2020121 ARC aimed to.. ARC Annual Report 2020-2021 www.arc-Irusl.Drg amphlblan and reptlle conservalion Governance and management Continue wth the transfer of assets from HCT with regard to ils nature reseNes, ensuring that as leases come up for renewal they are renewed in the name of Amphibian and Reptile Conservation. Review and refine the organisational strategy and structure fof 2020r21 forwards to ensure efficient working of the Trust and lo assess the most appropriate way forward for ensuring a sustainable and effective organisation. Finalise and deliver the Work Plan 2020121. Continue to tightly monitor the budget system, via the management accounts. and lo review and restructure the budget and accoLJnls lo reflect the changes lo the structure and workslreams. Maintain our programme of reviewing and revising the staff handbook and contracts of employment lo ensure compliance with Current employment law. Maintain our programme of Trustees Meetings and meetings of sub-groups of Trustees. including the Finance & Operations sub-group. Further invest in fundiaising and developing and implementing the fundraising strategy. Review the imp8Ct of Covid-19 on the Trust and ils income streams arid ability to deliver projects across the organisalion Own nature reserves Continue lo maintain and manage our network of nature reserves looking to ensure effective and sustainable management. Engage with discussion on new funding mechanisms ensuring that we have a clear understanding of these schemes and that we seek funding where appropriate for our nature ieserves and in particular looking to bring them into the Countryside Stewardship scheme from 2018 and beyond as the existing HLS agreements expire. A small number of siles remain in the HLS funding stream but these will transfer to CS in due couise. Continue lo develop CMSI - with a view lo producing sile management plans. Species programmes Explore partnership arrangements wrth the slatulory nature Conservation agencies and where possible look for opportunities lo develop funded projects with them. Further develop the species action plans and produce reintroduction and monitoring plans for the rare herpetofauna. Develop and implement monrtoring and surveillance programmes and management of national recording schemes subject to funding. Develop ARC'S species data management. Input lo policy, notably to the 25-year plan for the environment and developing and applying the concept of Favourable Conservation Slalus, providing example FCS slalemenls for al least two species and investigating opportunit￿5 for pilot projects lo demonstrate the application of the concept. Continue the Snakes in the Heather, project. following the success of the HLF bid submitted in 2018119. Input to strategic licensing including working wfth Natural England and the Nalurespace Partnership. Maintain leading role and delivery of recovery programme5 for the rare species of amphibian and reptile including the pool frog, nallerja¢k, sand lizard and smooth snake. Engage with and further develop the European herpetologi¢al network RACE and explore project funding opportunities, including for a project defining Important Herpelofauna Areas in Europe. ARC Annual Report 2020-2021 www.arc-trusl.org amphlblan and reptile coriservation Maintain an overview of herpetofauna conservation in the UK Overseas Territories and look for opportunities for ARC'S involvement here especially through developing collaboralwe pattnerships with organisations in both the UK and the Overseas Territories. Communications and outreach Further develop and implement the Communications strategy. Plan and deliver the Herpetofauna Workers Meeting in 2021. Produce Hop Gossip and the ARC e-Newsletter and undertake a review of ARC'S publications. Further develop Friends and Corporate Supporter strategy and expand our supporter base and implement a n8w'members' scheme. Administration. finance and organisational development Develop our financial management and planning systems lo align effectively w((h the Strategy and Costed Plan. Continue lo develop strategic relationships lo support the Trust, notably with the NGO sectoi, and particularly including Rethink Nature li.e. other species based NGOS), Freshwater Habilals Trust and with local amphibians and reptile groups. Continue lo review and implement changes following the review of our IT systems in order to make the oiganisalion more resilient for the future. Ensure compliance with reporting requirèments. Ensure effeclNe Governance and management of the Trust with a programme of Trustees Meetings, Finance & OperatlDn Sub-committee meetings and Senior Staff Management Team meetings. Maintain programme of health and safely. Ensure programme of 51aff ieporting to Trustees and Staff appraisals, Review staff structure and undertake review of all staff job descriptions and contracts and in light of a proposed Strategy Review. Increase levels of fundraising support and develop fundraising programme amongst staff base. Ensure compliance with GDPR and that the necessary processes are in place lo er¢able compliance. To continue with the commercial consultancy arm IARC ESLI to develop this further, to look opportunistically al projects and contracts, with a view lo building on this in the future. Regional programmes Continue with the South Wales ' Connecting the Dragons, pro'ecl following the successful bid submitted lo HLF in 2018119. Continue lo develop Species on the Edge" a 8ack from the Brink-type project in Scotland. following a funded 'development' phase.. Continue lo look for further funding opportunities for our work in Scolland,. Continue to develop the Back from the Blink style project in Wales. Continue involvement with the HLF funded 88ck from the Brink project via the programme group and continue with the final year of the Gems the Dunes project. Science Further develop our science strategy and develop relationships wth academic inslitulions.. establish partnerships with PhD projects. Support science projects including, for example through CASE studenlships. ARC Annual Report 2020-2021 WWW.3rc-Irust.org amphlbian and reptlle conservation Training Implement ARC'S training plan.. Undertake Commercial training, and in particu18r with Field Studies Council. Develop the volunteer training programme. Undertake ad hcc contract training. The organisation of the Trust Trustees: Officers. Staff and structure The Trust is governed by a Board of Trustees consisting of no less than three a￿1 no more than twelve members 8nd this Board of Trustees directs the Trust. New Trustees are selected and appointed by the existing Board of Trustees at their formal meetings. The constitution requires the retirement of one third of the Trustees al each AGM (held al March Trustees. Meeting), but these posts can be re-appointed al the meeting. The Trustees held formal business meetings three limes during the financial year, on 18th July and 21. November 2020 and 13th March 2021. The Finance sub- committee mel on 10th June and 16th October 2020 and 18th February 2021. An EGM was held on 15th April 2020 to discuss the costs of implementing a new CRM system lo manage our volunteers and other centrally held data. 11 was agreed lo go ahead with this work and this has been developed and implemented over the year. Due lo Covid- 19, all of these meetings were held virtually. It is not the current procedure of the Trust to advertise for Trust&es. The approach Used to elect new Trustees is lo identify interested individuals who are then invited to submit a biography and to meet with a number of Trustees or attend a Trustees, Meeting, where a decision is made on their being invited to join the Board. New Trustees are provided with a copy of the Memorandum and Articles of Association and are invited lo the Office to see the operation of the Trust. We continue lo encourage Trustees to engage with the organisation's Work Stream Working Groups. Relevant training courses identified by Staff and Trustees are brought to the Trustees, attention. All Trustees of Amphibian and Reptile Consèrvation Trust are also Trustees of HCT. A Finance and Operations Committee seNes an executive function and consists of Jonathan Webster, Trustee (Chairl, Dr Roger Mitchell, Trustee (Chair of Fin & aps Committee), Jeremy Bruce,Trustee ITreasurerl. Dr Tony Gent, Chief Executive, Jim Foster, Conservation Director, and Helen Wraight, Administrative & Finance Manager (Secretary). This Committee's duties are lo report lo the Board of Trustees on all major financial matters (including advising on the pay and benefits for key management personnel and others), on such business as is deputed lo it by Board, and on any matters which do not fall within the province of any other Group of ARC. The Committee is also responsible for any urgent business which needs lo be dea with at short notice. Day lo day running of the Trust is delegated lo the Chief Executive Officer with key decisions, such as the approv81 of the Strategy and Business Plan, budget and employment of senior staff, being referred back lo the Board of Trustees. The Trust manages risk through the Board of Trustees and senior staff ￿th the focus of this aclniity being the Trust's Finance sub-committee. Key risks. Covering all aspects of the Trust's work, are identified in a Risk Register that is reviewed annually and levels of risk and Tniligalion measures are considered. A review of the Risk Register was undertaken during the year. ARC AnnLJal Report 2020-2021 www.arc-Irust org amphlblan and reptlle coiiservation Throughout the year we reviewed our three main areas of risk, these being the fInar￿la1 management of the Trust, the health, safety and wellbèing of Trust staff and ensuring that there is appropriate insurance in place lo safeguard the Trust and ils activities. In order to mitigate against these risks we have sel out three strategies which are detailed in the audited financial statements. Within the Trust there is a defined slructure wrth clear management and reporting lines. The Trust coordinates Ils programmes of work through a Senior Staff Management Team, consisting of Dr Tony Gent ICEOI, Jim Foster (Conservation Director), Helen Wraight (Administration & Finance Manager), Gary Powell (Senior Reserves Manager), Dr Karen Haysom Ispecies ProgTammes Manager), Dr John Wilkinson Iscience Programmes Manager) and Anju Sarpal Ioutreach and Communications Manager). The board mel regularly throughout the year to oversee the work of the organisalion. During the reporting period the Trust employed 47 members of staff, on full-time or part-lime conlracls, although not all were empbyed al the same time. At the end of March 2021, the Trust was employing 36 full-time and 8 part-lime staff. During the year we also had contract assistance from other fieldworkers who worked closely with the staff of ARC. Throughout the year the Trust continued lo use Contractors, supervised by ARC staff, lo carry out significant work for the Trust. These conliaclor activities included habilal management and professional advice. Our management work, and especially our volunteer rnanagemenl schedule, was severely impacted by Covid during the year. In the early part of 2020 the Trust was, like others, in lockdown and were unable to carry out our winter managernenl programme. As the srtualion eased we were able to allow staff out lo warden sites. The impact of Covid and the public using our sites for their daily exercise meant that there was increased pressure on our reserves. The Trust followed all government advice throughout the lockdown and the easing and as things progressed, we were able to allow small numbers of volunteers back on sile lo undertake some management work, maintaining social distance and good hygiene precautions at all limes. Volunteers were very grateful lo be able to get back out into the field. During the summer of 2020 we were unable lo provide work placements for students from local schools due to Covid-19. It is uncertain if we will be able lo offer this in the coming year, bul we will follow any guidance given on this. We had a small number of PhD projects running during the year and ARC'S input to these was undertaken remotely. Vve remain grateful for the assistance from volunteers who helped with field surveys, al events and with conservation management tasks. We also had the assistance of a number of voluntary wardens who helped provide valuable extra oversight of our reserves throughout the year. Our staff training programme was impacted by Covid over the year. Three formal staff meetings were held via Teams during the year and in addition to this, we held monthly 'calch up, Teams meetings for staff and weekly drop in coffee meetings via Teams lo enable staff to continue lo interact and try and avoid people feeling loo isolated. Meetings of the Workstream Working Groups that oversee the delivery of the work plan and feed into the Business Plan and Strategy were also held via Teams. We continued to develop and review our policies and procedures during the year, and to update the ARC Staff Handbook and contracts of employment lo comply with the lalest employment legislation. ARC Annu81 Report 2020-2021 www.arc-trust org amphibian and reptlle conservalion b. Health & Safety Health & Safety is discussed formally by staff at all staff meetings and continues lo be a high priority for the Trust. The Chief Executive Officer ensured that the Trustees were both kept informed of, and given the opportunity to discuss health and safely issues al all Trustees, Meetings. During 2020-21 this was even more important in light of Covid-19 and lockdown re51rictions. The Trust's Health & Safety GroLJP consists of Richard Sharp (Heatth & Safety Officerl, Tony Gent, Helen Wraighl. Yvelle Martin and Bryony Davison. The group mel on three occasions during the year and prior lo the dates of our Trustee Meetings lo ensure that any issues could be included for the Trustee's Meeting Agenda and discussed by the Board of Trustees. Al the regular meetings the Health & Safety Group discuss the development and updating of policies and procedures. The group continued to revise our generic risk assessments and continued work on our lone working procedures. Our He8￿h & Safety Officer undertook the annual revision of our Health and Safety policy and prodLJ¢ed an annual report on Health & Safely within the Trust. The EAP (Employee Assistance PTogrammel has proved useful and it was agreed to continue this for employees. A stress survey was undertaken by our H&S Officer and will be repealed in light of Covid. It was noted that several employees were struggling with remote working and staff were kept up lo dale with changes in government guidance relating lo Covid-19. Vvhen lifting of some reslriclions allowed, the Trust looked at gelling staff back out in the field where possible. Our Health & Safety Officer continued lo represent the Trust at NGO Conservation Safely Group meetings throughout the year. These meetings allow for an exchange of Health & Safety information and practices and specific issues can ie raised at this forum. Fiinding and £iJpport The Trust continued with the development of ils 'Friends' supporter base throLJghoul the year, led by our Outreach and Communications Manager. 11 is planned lo relaunch the Friends scheme as a 'membership' scheme later in 2021. The Trust continued lo use the services of a Fundraiser on a conlraclual basis to help develop our fundraising strategy and lo assist with project funding and core funding bids, lo maximise income to the Trust. The Trust iemains a signed up Charity with the Fundraising ReguL81or. We would like lo thank the following organisalions for their financial support during the year.. Anglian Water Banister Charitable Trust Building Wildlife Cox-skuse Fafflily Trust Flintshire County Council Green Recovery Challenge Fund Helvellyn Herpetological Congervation Trust Jersey Government Landfill Tax North Wales National Lottery Heritage Fund Natural England Nalurespace Natural Resources Wales Postcode Lottery (Wales) ARC Annual Report 2020-2021 www.arc-trusl.org amphlblan and reptlle conservation Poslcode Lollery (England) Redrow R.S. MacDonald Rural Payments Agency Scollish Natural Heritage South Downs Nalinal Park Welsh Government The Trust remains grateful for the donations il receives from individuals throughout the year. which, where possible, are maximised through Gift AKJ. In particular we would like lo thank a large number of individuals who donated towards the purchase of our nature reserve al Blackmoor which completed in 2021. The Trust again successfully tendered lor a number of small projects throughout the yeai and these added to the Trust's income. The Trust was unable to carry out Its usual programme of training events for the commercial sector during 2020121 due lo Covid-19 restrictions. It is hoped lo be able to resume this in 2021122. The Trust is grateful to the many volunteers and supporters who continue lo assist us in our work during the year, including help with field conservation management work, survey and monitoring and supporting us al shows and events and with fundraising effort. Volunteers were very keen lo gel back out in the field as soon as restrictions allowed. The Trust remains an active member of Wildlrfe & Countryside Link IW&CLI - a network of over 60 environmental bodies repiesenling a joint membership of over 8 million people- that promotes the development of stTong environmental poI￿Y and legislation in England and at the Vvestminsler Parliament. ARC is also a member of Wales Environment Link and Scottish Environmental Link, the equivalent 'sisler bodies, lo W&CL for Wales and Scotland respectively. ARC remains dedicated lo working in partnership,. in particular, we maintained our invohjement wth the Rethink Nature partnership of seven species NGOS, comprising the Bal Conservation Trust, RSP8. Planllile, Bullerfly Conservation. Buglife, Bumble Bee Conservation and ARC, inc5uding exploring further landscape scale collaborative projects. We maintained an aetive involvement with the network of Amphibian & Reptile Groups and other specialist NGOS, and notably Freshwater Habitats Trusland Norfolk Wildlife Trust. We have become increasingly active with TePOP, a nebmork of monitoring organsialions coordinated by JNCC. We maintained our relationship wrth European NGO'S, continuing lo work both through the Reptile and Amphibian Conservation Europe IRACEI coalition. and through our continued involvement with the Socielas Europaea Herpetologica ISEHI. RACE continued lo represent ARC'S interests on the European Habitats Forum. d. Statement of compliance The Trust has complied with all laws and regulations applicable lo the Charitable Company. 4. Summary of financial position for 2020121 ARC had total incoming resources for the year of £2.188,3821£2,071,308 20191201 and total expenditure of £1.783,3561£1,901,790 20191201 (see Figs 1 & 21, The HCT donation of £338.6291£358,746 20191201 is made up of investment income from two endowment funds. ARC Annual Report 2020-2021 www.arc-lrusl.org amphlbian and reptile conservalion Total Income £2,188,382 (ARC ONLY) Project funding HCT donation Lottery funding Other donations Fundraising/ Misc income ARC investments Contracts Government St3tutory Agencies/ RPA Figure 1 Proportion of Income by source The Trustees maintain a financial reserve for discretionary use and as a cushion in the event of financial short-fall on a year to year basis as outlined in the Trust's 'ReSe￿e$ Policy,. The total funds held is £6,839,0091£5,928,291 191201 of which £5,581,291 (£4,943,954 191201 relates lo restricted funds. Of our lolal funds, £1,228,568 is held as Fixed Assets and £4,066,435 is held as Investments. After making allowances for these two figures our"free° reserve lolals £884,986. Full details of our financial posf(ion are given in our audited accounts for the period. We continued our relationship with PKF Francis Clark as our appointed accounlanls, and through the year had nLJmerous liaison meetings to ensure effective financial management. We continued to produce In-house monthly management accounts lo allow beller tocking of income and expenditure over the year. DiscuSs￿nS with our accountants allow us lo apportion incomel expenditure to the respective organisalions and lo allocate staff costs and oveiheads to relevant work programmes. Whilst the bookkeeping was moved to an independent company to comply with current legislation, the business closed during the pandemic and training was given to staff lo perform this fLJnction in-house. PKF have retained the role of assisting with any queries lo help us transition during this lime. The onset of the Covid-19 pandern￿ at the end of the 2019120 financial year did not hit hard at the lime as the Trust has a robust Trustee Resetves policy to draw on. 11 was considered that il was unlikely that the Trusts finances would be impacted hugely in 2020121 bul that our investment income was more likely lo be adversely affected in the following year when returns on investments was likely lo be down. ARC Annual Report 2020-2021 www.ar¢-Irus1.org amphlblan and reptlle coiiservalion Total Expenditure £1,783,356 (ARC ONLY) Development of ARC Policy & Management & Administration Information & Comrnunication Public engagement & training Research & monitoring Own Sites European & Overseas Species ConseNation Figure 2 Proportlon of Expendlture by work area S. Achievements and performance for 202012021 OINn £itps The management of sites under our control remains a key element of our conservation strategy. OLJr sites are split between the Weald, Dorset, Hampshire, Norfolk, Cumbria and Wales. The nature of our control varies between sites. We own 24 reserves, which are mostly heathland siles in Dorset, Surrey and Hampshire, covering 339 ha. During the year we acquired a strip ol land al Parley Common. amounting lo c.20ha. This was owned by the local Ferndown Golf Club bul was sandwiched between land already ownedlmanaged by the Trust. Fundraising effort helped to secure the purchase. The rest of the siles are in Dorsel, Parley194.69hal, Great Ovens Hill147.8 hal., Lions Hill141.31 hal., Dunyeats Hill139.71 hal, Norden121.8 hal,. Corfe Bluff16 54 hal., Malchams House Slope13.57 hal.. Corfe Hills17.9 hal, Noon Hill 14.94 hal,. Ham Common 'Fuel Depot'13.88 h81". East Worgrel15.17 hal,. Green Pool 13.99 hal., TTigon14.16 hal., Holnesl10.47 hal. Canford Cliffsl Martello Road10.28 hal., Uplon 'Ess0'10.36 ha),. and 'Purbeck Close'10.04 hal", in Surrey these are Witley 124.19 hal., Hankley Gornez12.93 hal, Gong Hill11.62 hal.. in Hampshire, Blackmoor 120hal and in Cumbria. Hyton Marsh13 hal and Wales. While Lion10 9 hal. Other siles are covered by a variety of different leases, agreements and Iicences. Our programme of site management is run by our Senior Reserves Manager Gary Powell, and overseen in Dorset by Senior Field Officer Chris Dresh and in Surrey and Harnpshire by our Weald Reserves Manager Rob Free. Some issues with the funding from RPA remain bul we have made significant progress and built up a better dialogue that is enabling us lo resolve these issues more effectively. After some Covid 19 related drsruption we continued with our extensive management programme which includes scrub and tree removal, provision of bare sand and bracken management as well as w8rdening. ARC Annual Report 2D20-2021 www.ar¢-trust.org amphibian and reptile conservation This work inVo￿ed the Trust's field team, professional contractors and volunteers and continued lo be recorded on the CMSI system. Further work has continued on developing the planning and repo¥ting elements of CMSI as well as assessing other similar systems.. This will allow us to have a central system for planning, recording and reporting all habitat management work against an agreed 5 year plan. We are developing and improving our overall longor term management planning The management for most of oui reserves is funded via the Countryside Stewardship ICS) scheme. In January 2021 we started new Countryside Stewardship schemes., in Dorsel on West Moors, a 60+ hectare military sfce wrth extensive good quality reptile habitat and In Norfolk on our pool frog site. Both have large scale capital works planned for the next two ye8rs. Some of our sites remain in the older HLS scheme but these will transfer lo CS over the next few years. The Trust iemains an active partner in the Dorsel Urban Heath partnership which involves directing resources achieved through planning conditions on development lo offsetting the impacts of additional housing on heathlands, as well as the Firewise Communities project, aimed al increasing resilience to fire for residents near heaths. Although our programme of work was impacted by Covid 19 our regular volunteer tasks now continue lo be held in both the Dorset and Weald areas during the winter and summer seasons, assisting wth our nature reserves management programme. These have proved very popular and remain valuable in helping the Trust achieve rts programme of management work throughout the year and in promoting the Trust locally. We maintained support for local liaison groups assctiated wth our siles lo gain support and input lo the management work on our sites. b. Con8ervation Projects We continue to work to improve the conservation slalus of amphibians and reptiles across the countries of the UK, working with both governmental and non-governmental bodies, private organisalions and volunteers. We have maintained engagement with slalulory biodiversity strategies, seeking to influence their development and promoting herpelofauna conservation through them. The Trust continued the delivery phases of both of the National Lottery Heritage Fund INLHFI funded projects 'Connecling the Dragons, lin Wales) and 'Snakes in the Heather, lin south of England) during 2020121. Both projects received four years funding from the NLHF and will deliver a wide range of benefits lo herpetofauna, the countryside and the public during this lime. Reslriclions imposed by Covid-19 precautions impacted on both projects but good progress has still been made. Our response to the constraints of the pandemic has included a shift lo online delivery of some engagement activities. Discussions with the funders have helped to make appropriate adap18tions to delivery of agreed aclivilies. We maintained contact with our project volunteers lo keep them updated of the situation. We continue to manage nature reseNes in north Wales. ARC has worked in partnership with Flintshire County Council on a range of amphibian and reptile projects across the region. ARC'S North Wales Offi￿r continued to be successful in securing additional funding from small projectslgranls throughout the year to help with ARC'S work in North Wales. ARC Annual Report 2020-2021 WWN.arc-Irusl.org amphlblan and reptile coiiservalion Key achievements through working on spècies conservatiTon plans and programmes ARC continued to run Herpetofauna Liaison Group meetings. which provide a focus for discussion among ARC and extemal bodies including government agencies and ARG UK. We continued our programme of species Working Group meetings wlh external partners for the rare reptiles, nallerjack load, pool frog. great crested newi and adder. The Trust remained actively involved with biodiversity policy work direct￿ and through Wildlife & Countryside Link lin England), Wales Environment Link and Scottish Environment Link. We continue to promote our biodiversity work through the annual Herpetofauna Workers Meeting which we jointly organise and run wrth ARG UK. The 2021 event was held online, using a specialist platform that allowed considerable audience interaction, and proved lo be highly successful. The event included 8 variety of presentslions and workshops and remains a very popular event with all those involved in herpetological conservation. The meeting will continue as a vehicle for bringing together a large number of like-minded people from a variety of backgrounds to discuss future conservation issues facing our native herpelofauna. B)Lk fioiFI tIIL' Bi'iiik dfficl tlir., GL)riis ir? Ilie DiJftip.s i)rojocl ARC'S Gems in th8 Dun8s team carried out another year of activities (x) the Sefton Coast. The project is a landscape-level, muki-species project that is being managed by ARC. The Gems in the Dunes team work on the conservation of sand lizards, natlerjack toads, northern dune tiger beetles and other dune wildlife on the Sefton Coast dunes. Activities include monitoring, hab(tat management, training. landowner liaison and engagement with local communities. Covid-19 reslricli>ns meant some changes to activities in 2020-21 bul a good range of engagement with local people, volunteers and landowners was maintained. Gems in the Dunes is part of 8aGk from the Brink a larger, national programme to recover threatened species, involving the seven Rethink Nature NGO partners and Natural England Rai e i"L'ptilL's Throughout the year we continued our species recovery work for rare reptiles, including our long-running sa￿1 lizard reintroduction programme and engaging with landowneis over management of rare reptile habitat. Rare amphibi3175 We maintained the programme of regional recorders meetings that are essential for achieving effèctive national monitoring of nallerjack loads. We continued lo make improvements lo the online recording system used for monitoring and improved the underlying maps. We continued to provide site management advice directly to landowners and offered training courses to volunteers regarding monitoring for natterjack loads. ARC continued lo work in partnership with the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Forestry England and other partners on the recovery of the pool frog, This has included undertaking habitat management St the fiisl reintroduction sile which is leased to ARC. We were awarded a significant grant from the Green Recovery Challenge Fund lo undertake further work for pool frogs, with three project officers reciuiled toward the end of 2020- 21. The main activity under this award will be in 2021-22. Gror?I Cicstc,d Ne¥vt ARC organised the half-yearly great crested newt Working Group meetings. We contributed to the development of new ways of licensing development impacts on great crested newts by liaising with Natural England on national and local projects and by engaging with the district licensing scheme (run by Nalurespace with Newt Conservation Partnership, Freshwater Habitats Trust, DICE and others). We remain part of the Natural England's Great Crested Newt Expert Licensing Panel. ARC Annual Report 2020-2021 www.arc-1rust.org amphibian and reptlle conservation Scoltisli Piojocls ARC continued a project in Scotland working on the conservation of and education about reptiles in Scotland, and in particular adders, This included selling up a free online library of adder photographs in order lo reduce disturbance lo wild addeis and lo help people gain easy access lo hBh quality images. ARC was involved in the development of a large scale conservation project, Species on the Edge, in Scotland with the Rethink Nature Partnership and Naturescol. The development phase started in autumn 2020 and ARC recruited a Proje¢l Development Officer to work on this. focusing on a landscape-scale project on the north sO￿Y Coast. Welsh Projects ARC has been involved in developing the Natur am Bythl Programme, a partnership between Rethink Nature and Natural Resources Wales that uses the same principles as Back from the 8rink and Species on the Edge to help species recovery al landscape scale, through collaboration. Overseas ARC remains a member of the UK Overseas Territories Forum and engaged with the group in connection with work in the Caribbean territories and European Crown Dependencies. Awareness and Education ARC training programme was impacted on by Covid-19 throughout the year for both volunteers and professionals, although we continued lo undertake training when it was possible. We unfortunately had to cancel our programme of volunteer training in Wales due lo the pandemic. Howard Inns, Vice-chair of TrLJStees continued lo provide news items in British Wildlife magazine on herpelofauna. Volunteer input in Surrey was also impacted during the year and volunteer tasks that were normally held on a weekly basis to help with conservation management on the Surrey sites had lo be curtailed until il was safe lo relook al this. The Tiust continued with a programme of walks and talks around our reserves in Dorsel, Surrey, Hampshire and Cumbria and we continued lo attend a number of events both locally and nationally. ARC continued lo receive a number of referral calls from the RSPCA on the subjed of snakes in gardens and identification. The Trusts enquiries, inbox also continued lo be busy with queries from the public on issues ranging from planning to advice on caring for herpelofauna found in the garden. We found that one impact of the pandemic was that a much laiger section of the public used our reserves for 'exerci5e' during lockdown and as a resum we saw an increase in the number of enquiries, both by phone, email and website. We corrtinued with our review of the FAQ section of our website wrth the aim of updating the advice currently available lo the public and making il more informative. ARC remained busy with its media work throughout the year and our following continues lo grow. As a result of lockdown, we increased the amount of news and information going out on social media and this saw an uptake in followers, with over 14,000 folSowers on Facebook lup 1.5kl and YouTube1300 plus subscribers and 28.5k views) and over 16,700 followers on Twiller. lan increase of 2.2kl. We continued lo grow our followers on Inslagram12.4k plus followersl and Linked Iri (now 9.5k followers) and have focused on promoting the work of the Trust throughout lockdown. ARC Annual Report 2020-2021 www.arc-Irus1.or9 amphlblan and reptile 12 coiiservalion ARC has further developed and updated guidelines for staff on using the Trusts, social media and the Trust continued to produce two editions of Hop Gossip during the year for our 'ARC Friends,. Visitors lo the website continue lo sign up lo receive ARC bi- monthly e-newsleller. Data taken from Google Analytics shows that between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021. the ARC website was visited by 343,305 users lup 89.7010 fiom the previous yearl and received 726,304 page views lup 65.20/0 from the previous yearl. The most popular websi(e pages continue lo be the species information pages and FAQS. This years focus has been on quality conlenl with calls lo actions in order lo reach new audiences which has seen a significant increase in engagemenl140,000 plus followers). We have supported the joint S￿la1 media communications being undertaken by partners such as Back from the Brink, Natural England, Rethink Nature and Widllife & Countryside Link. During Autumn 2020 we carried out our annual joint social media campaign in partnership with The British Hedgehog Preservation Society. This campaign aims lo raise awareness of small animals in bonfires and was, again. a great success and we hope lo work together again next year. We also carried out social media campaigns for Volunteer week, World Frog Day, Amphibian Awareness Week, Reptile Awareness Day, World Lizard Day and World Snake Day. With the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown. our Communications department, along with our Science and pioject staff, looked al new ways lo deliver our work and keep people engaged. We ran a nLJmber of online ID courses, qurizes aimed at both adults and children and we will be looking lo hold the 2020121 Friends Day. Science Meeting and Herpelofauna Workers Meeting virtually. which will include drone footage, presentations and Q&A sessions. Media highlights in the year were News al 10, BBC Radio 4 Today programme and the suite of national broadsheet newspapers and national podcast platforms. d. Research and Monitoring We continue to develop our rnoni(oring and surveillance aclwities on a number of different fronts. We further developed ARC'S rnonitoring strategy arid species mon(toring plans. During the year we continued negotiations with ESRI on the procurement of the ArcGIS Online Hub platform which was Installed in late January 2020. We also continued working on updating ARC'S data sharing policy. We maintained relationships with a numbef of further and higher educational establishments throughout the year and continued involvement in PhD studies including lil investigating UK load declines in partnership with the Universities of Wolverhampton and Salford,. lill studying impacts of invasive alpine newts with University of PlymoLJlh and ZSL and liiil analyses of monitoring data and ils application to describing sl8tU8 with University of Kent and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. With Natural England, we continued our work developing the National Red lists for Brttain's amphibians and reptiles. The annual ARC and British Herpelological Society scientif￿ Meeting was held on 5th December 2020, virtLJally for the first lime due lo Covid-19. There was a good variety of talks and the event remain a popular annual meeting and sells out every year. ARC Annual Report 2020-2021 www.arc-trusl.org amphibian and reptlle conservation Policy and Legislation A considerable amount of advocacy was generated around proposed policy and legislative changes and notably in England. Key areas of work revolved around proposed changes lo the Land Use Planning systems, agriculture and biodiversity policy- the latter notably through the Environment Bill, the 25-year plan. Nature Recovery Networks, Local Nature Recovery Strategies and tree planting plans Telaled lo climate change mitigation. We have engaged with proposals lo develop statutory biodiversity largels both within the English legislation and for the UK as a whole through NGQ partnerships. ARC has remained actively involved in the development of new legislation and policy across the UK, through engagement ¥Mth the 'Link' partnerships in England, Scotland and Wales, through working directly with Government and the nature conservation agencies and through working on practical implementation projects, such as our continuing active involvement with the implemenlalion of 'Dislrict Level Licensing, for great crested newts. Covid-19 significantly reduced the scope for face lo face meetings and the majority of meetings were held remotely via Teams or Zoom. f. De.veloping ARC The Covid pandemic meant that the new offices remained largely closed and staff were all home based and meeting remotely during the yeai. Prior lo the onset of the pandemic, the Trust had invested in new IT systems, which allowed the organisation to continue lo operate effectively. While maintaing nearly all staff in post throughout the year, Covid impacted on the development and delivery of field work and projects where face to face aclivtiies, includirig training and volunteer engagement had lo be curtailed. The development of new projects and work that required face lo lace discussions, and in particular the planned revision of our strategic plan, were significantly impacted by Covid,. the development of ARC'S new strategy was deferred to year 2021122. Governance of the Trust is uridertaken by the Board of Trustees, who met remotely three times during the yeai al formal Trustees Meetings and via sa eparate sub-group to oversee financial adminislralion of the Trust. The Staff Handbook was updated to ensure compliance with current employment regulations and Contracls of Employment were reviewed over the year and amended to reflect changes in employment legislation. The Trust's dedicated IT officer continued lo develop systems lo ensure compliance witj GDPR and also lo develop our IT capabilities going forwards. We have continued a programme of work looking al our IT infraslru¢lure lo make the organisation more resilient and secure and just prior lo Covid-19 lockdown in March we rolled out Office 365 across the Trust which enabled us lo continue lo work remotely and carry out most of our usual day lo day activities. We launched a new inlranel facility called ARChive during the year. In addition, the Trust initiated an update of our Customer Relationship Management ICRMI software to help support the Trust's working with volunteers and suporters across different projects. The Trust is pleased lo report that into 2020121 we were oble to continue working effectively and furloughed orily two members of staff for as short a time as possible. This has reflected well on the Trust with our funders. We have maintained a dialogue with our funders over any issues during lockdown lo ensure that our projects can still deliver their objectives. ARC Annual Report 2020-2021 www arc-1rusl.org amphibian and repllle 14 Loi)servation We retained the services of a contract fundraiser working part time for ARC during the year. This post continued lo contribute to the development of a broad fundraising strategy, integiating with the various work streams across the organisation. The Trust benefrted from the legacies programme pul in place in 2018119 with several small legacies received throughout 2020-21 and the fundraiser continued lo directly pursue fundraising bids for both projects and core funds. ARC Ecological Setvices Limited, our consultancy arm. continued lo run a small number of contracts over the year. The consultancy continues lo offer one of the best options for bringing unreslricled funds into ARC and discussions in 2018119 on developing the consultancy further culminated in an effort lo rècruit an Ecologist in 2019-20 to drive the consultancy forward. However, we were unable to fill the role and rt was agreed lo continue lo maximise opportunities as they arose and to review the sf(uation again in the future. The Board of Directors of ARC ESL provided feedback to ARC TrLJStees at the ARC Tfuslee Meetings. g. Effective workino The Trust continued its programme of Senior Staff Management Team Meeting5, Health & Safely Meetings, Trustees, Meetings, Staff Meetings and budgetary meetings with accounlanls. ARC produced in-house monthly mar¢agemenl accounts to assist with financial tracking and planning. These were circulated and discussed regularly with the Finance and Operations sub-committee who feedback to Trustees. The system of staff appraisals was maintained and individual training needs identified and addressed. We continued wth outsourcing of the Trust's payroll but, due to Covid, our outsourced bookkeeper ceased trading and training was given to bring this in- house. We continued lo use external Human Resource advice and expertise with regard to staffing, policy and procedural issues. Outsourcing these areas of work offers the most efficient and cost effective way of dealing with these issues. We continue working with our pension providers and payroll department to ensure that aLrto-eniolmenl is up to date and that we are compliant in all aspects. 6. Future priorities and development of the Trust The ARC Business Plan 8nd Work Plan for 2020121 were updated lo start planning ARC'S future priori(ies. During the year 202112022 ARC will.. Governance and management Aim lo complete the transfer of assets from HCT with regard to its reserves as and when new leases are required. Review progress of last five year plan and develop the organisalional strategy and structure for 2021122 until 2025126 which was put back due to Covid-19. Finalise and deliver the Work Plan 2021122. Continue lo lightly monitor the budget system, via the management accounts, and lo review the structure lo reflect any changes lo the workslreams. Maintain our programme of reviewing and revising the staff handbook and contracts of employment lo ensure compliance with current employment law. Maintain our programme of Trustees Meetings and meetings of sub-groups of Trustees, including the Finance & Operations sub-group. ARC Annual Report 2020-2021 www.arc-1rus1.org amphlblan and reptlle conservation Continue lo invest in fundraising and developing and implementing the fundraising strategy. Undertake an annual review the Trusts. policies and Risk Register Own nature reserves Continue lo maintain and manage our network of nature reserves looking to ensure effective and sustainable management. Engage wth discussion on new funding mechanisms ensuring that we have clear tjnderslanding of these schemes and that we seek funding where appropriate for our nature reserves. Continue to develop and review CMSI for its suitability as a management planning tool.. Species prograrnmes Explore partnership arrangements with the statutory nature Conservation agencies for new contracts and where possible look for opportunities lo develop funded projects ￿t￿ them. Further develop the species action plans and produce reintroduction and monitoring plans for the rare herpetofauna. Develop and implement monitoring and surveillance programmes and management of national recording schemes subject to funding. Develop ARC'S species data management and access arrangements to ARC'S Living ARChive database. further developing and rolling out the use of ARC Survey Hub which is built on the the ESRI Ar¢GIS Online system. Input lo policy, including the 25-year plan for the environment, Nature Recovery Network, Local Nature Recovery Strategies and developing and applying the concept of Favourable Conservation Status, providing example FCS statements and investigating opportunitiès for pilot projects lo demonstrate the application of the concept. Continue with the delivery of externall funded projects, notably Snakes the Heather, Connecting the Dragons, Pool Frog Green Recovery Ch8ll&nge project and Back from the Brink. Maintain engagement on district licensing projects. Engage w(th and further develop the European herpelological network RACE and explore project funding opportunities, including foi a project defining Important Herpetofauna Areas in Europe. Maintain an overview of herpetofauna conservation in the UK Overseas Territories and look for opportunities for ARC'S involvement here especially through developing collaboralNe partnerships with organisations in both the UK and the Overseas Territories. Communications and outreach Further develop and implement ARC'S new membership scheme to incorporate a more exclusive offering lo individual members and families to widen ARC'S reach. Undertake a refresh of brand merchandising. Increase digital conlenl with partners and projects to deliver project funding and partner requirements. Plan and deliver the Herpetofauna Workers Meeting in 2022." In two parts both digilial and live following 2021 consullalion lo increase EDI inclusion. Produce Hop Gossip and the ARC e-Newsletter and undertake a review of ARC'S publications. ARC Annual Report 2020-2021 www.arc-trust.org amphlblan and reptile 16 coiiservation Implement a formal enquiries service, including updating FAQ'S and Teviewing the information available on the website. Develop and implement EDI policy and accreditation for the Trust in partnership with Rethink Nature and JNCC. Administration. finance and organisational development Complete revision of ARC'S strategy and communicate to both internal and external audiences. Develop our financial management and planning systems lo align effectively wrf(h ARC'S strategy and annual work plans. Continue to develop strategic relationships lo support the Trust, notably with the NGO sector, and particularly including Rethink Nature li.e. other species based NGOS), Freshwater Habitats Trust and with local amphibians and reptile groups. Continue to review and implement changes following the review of our IT systems in order to make the organisalion more resilient for the future. Further develop our new Customer Relationship Management ICRMI system to include financial aspects such as membership, merchandise sales etc. Ensure compliance with GDPR and that the necessary processes are in place lo enable compliance. Ensure compliance with reporting requirements. Ensure effective Governance and management of the Trust wth a programme of Trustees Meetings, Finance & Operation Sub-committee meetings and Senior Staff Management Team meetings. Maintain programme of health and safety management. Ensure programme of staff reporting lo Tru51ees and Staff appraisals, Review staff structure and undertake review of all staff Job descriptions and contracts and in light of a proposed Strategy Review. Increase levels of fundraising support and develop fundraising programme throughout the Trust. FLJrther develop and promote the commercial consultancy arm IARCESLI and btjild on the achievable income with a view to providing financial support for the charity. Regional programmes Continue the SoLJlh Wales 'Connecting the Dragons, project delivery phase. Implement the submission for the delivery phase ol the 'Species on the Edge, project in Scotland which has been delayed Ljnlil Maich 2022. Continue with the Scollish project. funded by RS MacDonald and other funders, which began in September 2021. To continue lo look for funding opportunities to address the shortfall in the next stage of the project. Continue lo engage wlh Nalur am Byth project in Wales lfvith a view to applying for funding for Phase 2 (Deliveryl. The development phase began in September 2021. Continue our work on the Sefton Coast, which began through the Gems in the Dunes project and seek further funding to continue this work. Science Take forward existing PhD projects and engage with academic inslitulions. Further develop the Trust's Science Strategy. Run the annual ARCIBHS Science Meeting in 2021. Publish ARC work in scientific journals. ARC Annual Report 2020-2D21 www.arc-trust.org amphlblan and reptile conservation Training Develop ARC'S training plan.. Undertake Commercial training, and in particular with Field Studies Council. Develop the volunteer training programrne to compliment ARCS new initiatives on monitoring. 7. Patrons, Trustees and Staff Patrons The Earl of Malmesbury Chris Packham lolo Williams Lucy Cooke Trustees (Directors) Mr Jonathan Webster (Chairman) Mr Howard Inns (Vice- Chairman) Professor Trevor Beebee BSC, PhD Dr Roger Mbtchell CBiol, Fi.Bid, PhD, FRSB ITreasurerl Mrs Jan Clemons Bsc, MRSB Professor Richard Griffilhs BSC, PhD, FRSB Mrs Pip Perry MBE Mr Jeremy Bruce MSC, BA Dr Robert Jehle BSC, PhD The Trustees are appointed by approval of the full Board of Trustees. Staff Dr Tony Gent PhD, CBiol, MRSB Mr Jim Foster BSC, MSC, MCIEEM Mr Gary Powell Mrs Helen Wraight Miss Angela Reynolds Bsc Mrs Martine Vvatkins Mr Martin O'Neill Ms Anju Sarpal BA., MICPR Chart Mrs Kim Boughey Bsc, MRes Dr John Wilkinson BSC, PhD Dr Rob Ward Bsc, Msc, PhD Dr Karen Haysom Bsc. PhD Mr Ben Limburn Bsc Chief Executive Officer Conservation Director Senior Reserves Manager Administration and Finance Manager Administrative Support Officer Assl Administration & Finance Officer Communications & Outreach Manager Communications & Outreach Manager Friendship & E-communicalions Officer Science Programme Manager Data and GIS Officer Species Programmes Manager Snakes in the Heather cr(izen scien￿ and Operations Officer Snakes in the Heather Public Engagement and Education Officer Reptile Conservation Officer Amphibian Conservation Officer Cumbri8 Natterjack Officer Great Crested Newt offi￿rI Species Coordinator Gems in the Dunes Project Manager Gems in the Dunes Project Officer Mr Owain Masters Mr Nicholas MouY**Restricted**|**Total Funds**|**Total Funds**| |||**Funds**||**Funds**|**2021**|**2020**| |||**£**||**£**|**£**|**£**| |Tangible Fixed Assets||**372,732**||**855,836**|**1,228,568**|1,256,712| |Investments|||**-**|**4,066,435**|**4,066,435**|3,590,357| |Current assets||**1,100,085**||**659,020**|**1,759,105**|1,421,868| |Creditors: amounts falling due within 1|year|
**(215,099)**||**-**|**(215,099)**|(340,646)| |||__________||__________|__________|__________| |Net assets||**1,257,718**||**5,581,291**|**6,839,009**|5,928,291| |||__________||__________|__________|__________| **28** **AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE CONSERVATION TRUST** **NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** ## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021** ## **22. Fund reconciliation (cont)** ## **Charity** |**Charity**||||| |---|---|---|---|---| ||**Brought**|**Net Incoming/**|**Transfers**|**Carried**| ||**forward**|**(Outgoing)**|**between**|**forward**| ||**1.4.2020**|**Resources**|**Funds**|**31.3.2021**| ||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**| |**Restricted**||||| |Species|16,322|62,847|-|**79,169**| |Rare Amphibians|-|96,038|-|**96,038-**| |Rare Reptiles|-|1000|-|**1,000**| |Research and Monitoring|-|-|-|**-**| |Other Areas|-|-|-|**-**| |Weald|1,437|(1,437)|-|**-**| |Dorset|-|22,665|-|**22,665**| |Funds received and used for fixed||||| |assets|875,690|(19,854)|-|**855,836**| |Investment portfolio|3,590,357|476,078|-|**4,066,435**| |Legacy Income (for sites)|460,148|-|-|**460,148**| |||__________
|__________|__________| ||__________|||| ||4,943,954|637,337|-|**5,581,291**| |**Unrestricted**|1,002,492|264,018|-|**1,266,510**| |||__________
|__________|__________| ||_________|||| |**Total**|5,946,446|901,355|-|**6,847,801**| ||__________|__________
|__________|__________| ## **Analysis of net assets between funds** ||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total Funds**|**Total Funds**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||**Funds**|**Funds**|**2021**|**2020**| ||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**| |Tangible Fixed Assets|**372,732**|**855,836**|**1,228,568**|1,256,712| |Investments|**100**|**4,066,435**|**4,066,535**|3,590,457| |Current assets|**1,104,465**|**659,020**|**1,763,485**|1,437,773| |Creditors: amounts falling due within 1 year|
**(210,787)**|**-**|**(210,787)**|(338,496)| ||__________|__________|__________|__________| |Net assets|**1,266,510**|**5,581,291**|**6,847,801**|5,946,446| ||__________|__________|__________|__________| ## **23. Contingent Liabilities** a) There are three grants received that will be required to be repaid if certain conditions are not met. The EU grant, received via the RSPB, of £42,500 in 1996 is repayable if the land at Great Ovens is subsequently sold and the Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £62,516 is repayable if the land ceases to be used for approved purposes. The EU grant of £19,646 received for Worgret Heath is repayable if the land is subsequently sold. Also, the Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £103,125 received in 2001 for Lions Hill is repayable if that land ceases to be used for approved purposes or is sold. - b) The SSSI land at Noon Hill is subject to a restriction, if it is subsequently sold. Any sale proceeds are to be donated to the RNLI and not retained by The HCT. - c) Should the land at Norden and Corfe Bluff be sold, the use of the proceeds would be subject to restriction. **29** **AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE CONSERVATION TRUST** ## **NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** ## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021** ## **24. Donated assets** - a) A piece of land which consists of a near-vertical cliff face was donated to the Trust in 2000. No value has been attributed to this donation due to the nature of the land. - b) A further piece of land was acquired under Section 106 requirements. The HCT have received funds to manage the land, but there was no consideration paid for the land itself. No value has been attributed due to the restrictions placed on the land and the resultant deemed negligible value. ## **25. Related party transactions** See note 13 for details of trustee expenses and remuneration. During the year Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust had the following transactions with The Herpetological Conservation Trust, a charity with which ARC has a transfer agreement. **2021 2020 £ £** Donation received from HCT **338,629** 358,746 At the year end £15,348 was due from ARC to HCT (2020: £52,113) which is included in creditors/debtors (see note 18/19). **30** **AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE CONSERVATION TRUST** ## **DETAILED INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT (CHARITY ONLY) YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021** ||**2021**|**2020**| |---|---|---| ||**£**|**£**| |**INCOME**||| |**By organisation**||| |Natural Resources Wales|**100**|-| |Welsh Sites|**18,851**|19,773| |Welsh Government Mechanisms|**24,262**|9,422| |Scottish Natural Heritage|**12,323**|9,482| |RPA - Single Payment Scheme|**106,414**|63,998| |Natural England – HLS Maintenance|**444,627**|411,282| |Natural England - HLS Capital|**304,332**|292,730| |Natural England – Memorandum of Agreements|**44,587**|9,000| |Natural England – RPA clawback|**56,825**|(111,862)| |HWM|**9,729**|23,219| |Anglian Water|**5,000**|5,000| |Norfolk WT/HLF|**-**|-| |Heritage Lottery Fund|**406,024**|307,980| |BAT conservation Trust|**-**|-| |Dampney Trust||500| |Postcode Lottery Wales|**-**|-| |Naturescape|**32,538**|44,360| |Jersey Multi Taxer|**2,100**|2,449| |SITA/Landfill|**1,945**|20,800| |Wales and West Housing|**-**|-| |North Wales Trunk Road|**-**|-| |ProSeurv Coed Darcy|**-**|-| |RS MacDonald Grant|**-**|15,000| ||**_________**__|| |||___________| ||**1,469,657**|1,123,133| ||**_________**__|| |||___________| |**VOLUNTARY INCOME**||| |Donations|**25,004**|25,533| |Donation from HCT|**338,629**|358,746| |Friends income|**16,069**|11,354| |Government grants|**3,396**|-| ||**_________**__|| |||___________| ||**383,098**|395,633| ||**_________**__|| |||___________| |**OTHER INCOME**||| |Bank interest|**112**|517| |ARC ES Loan interest|**526**|-| |Investment income|**220,897**|236,434| |Miscellaneous contracts|**33,365**|23,800| |Training income|**-**|6,666| |Sponsorship/fundraising|**82,527**|280,534| |Miscellaneous income|**388**|388| |Book sales|**551**|1,113| |Card sales|**8**|876| |Scientific Meeting Fund|**1,175**|2,214| ||**___________**|| |||___________| ||**339,549**|552,542| ||**___________**|| |||___________| |**TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES**|**2,192,304**|2,071,308| ||**___________**|___________| **31** **AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE CONSERVATION TRUST** ## **DETAILED INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT (CHARITY ONLY) YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021** ||**2021**|**2020**| |---|---|---| ||**£**|**£**| |**EXPENDITURE**||| |Chemicals|**5,135**|1,598| |Tools, equipment and servicing|**20,997**|20,738| |Volunteer management expenses|**1,321**|1,142| |Photography|**-**|-| |Travel and subsistence|**13,318**|34,862| |Labour costs|**229**|187| |Contract management|**93,251**|70,900| |Printing/publications|**18,907**|13,405| |Captive breeding|**1,639**|703| |Volunteer monitoring costs|**5,552**|1,182| |Translation services|**-**|-| |Contract survey|**4,135**|10,230| |Consultancy fees|**68,632**|62,795| |Meeting expenses|**200**|4,085| |Promotional material|**60**|1,420| |Rent and service charges|**10,683**|30,554| |Venue Hire re HWM 2021 (2020)|**-**|23,904| |Rates|**-**|615| |Water rates|**-**|431| |Electricity|**3,043**|4,496| |Photocopier lease|**3,324**|4,260| |Photocopying|**911**|1,905| |PR Event|**560**|7| |Reserve leases|**35,696**|6,855| |Postage and stationery|**4,661**|4,133| |Computer costs|**10,838**|19,351| |Office maintenance|**6,845**|5,885| |Telephone|**4,537**|6,023| |Maps|**-**|13| |Mobile phones|**7,820**|7,098| |Sundries|**806**|1,245| |Bank and card charges|**708**|1,148| |Christmas costs|**-**|258| |Library and reference material|**-**|15| |Vehicle maintenance|**4,205**|11,437| |Vehicle insurance|**7,380**|8,232| |RAC membership|**570**|483| |Road fund licensing|**1,475**|1,450| |Fuel|**3,972**|5,883| |General insurance|**11,117**|12,229| |Life Insurance|**2,576**|5,718| |Squatters insurance|**755**|852| |Membership subscriptions|**4,830**|3,102| |Trustees’ expenses|**140**|768| ||**_________**|| |||_________| |Carried forward|**360,828**|391,597| **32** **AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE CONSERVATION TRUST** ## **DETAILED INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT (CHARITY ONLY) YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021** ||**2021**|**2020**| |---|---|---| ||**£**|**£**| |Brought forward|**360,828**|391,597| |Conference fees|**14,235**|3,083| |Wages and salaries|**893,758**|835,802| |Employer’s National Insurance|**78,007**|69,974| |Pension contributions|**71,813**|67,697| |Miscellaneous Contract Costs|**15,294**|30,806| |Training|**1,215**|9,363| |Accountancy and book-keeping|**34,099**|31,441| |Business Planning advice||3,360| |HR Consultancy|**3,240**|7,958| |Legal and professional|**18,796**|29,443| |Pension Management Costs|**3,658**|3,563| |Website design and maintenance|**6,996**|6,578| |Fencing, gates and signs|**1,774**|10,612| |Occupational health screening|**3,522**|3,672| |Recruitment|**784**|1,212| |Volunteer training|**-**|210| |HLS restoration|**(89,688)**|109,034| |HLS capital works|**314,562**|232,968| |Homeworking|**920**|1,065| |Fundraising materials|**-**|-| |Depreciation|**28,144**|24,681| |(Profit)/loss on sale of assets|**-**|-| |Investment Management Fees|**24,795**|27,671| ||**___________**|| |||___________| |**TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED**|**1,786,752**|1,901,790| ||**___________**|| |||___________| |**NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING) RESOURCES**|**405,552**|169,518| ||**___________**|___________| **5** **AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE CONSERVATION TRUST** ## **AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE CONSERVATION TRUST** ## **Opinion** We have audited the financial statements of Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust for the year ended 31 March 2021 which comprise the Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities, the Consolidated Balance Sheet, Consolidated Cash Flow Statement and the related notes. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United ndard In our opinion the financial statements: - give a true and fair view of the state of the group's affairs as at 31 March 2021 and of its results for the year then ended; - have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and - have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and Regulation 8 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). ## **Basis for opinion** We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. ## **Conclusions relating to going concern** accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the original financial statements were authorised for issue. Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report. ## **Other information** The charitable company trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report of the trustees (directors), other than the financial statements and except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. **6** ## **AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE CONSERVATION TRUST** ## **AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE CONSERVATION TRUST** In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard. ## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception** In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the financial statements. We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: - adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or - the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or - we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit. ## **Responsibilities of trustees** company trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the charitable company trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the charitable company trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable compan ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the charitable company trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. ## **responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements** Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements. Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below: **7** **AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE CONSERVATION TRUST** ## **AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE CONSERVATION TRUST** As part of our audit planning we obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework that is applicable to the Charity. We gained an understanding of the Charity and the sector in which the Charity operates as part of this assessment to identify the key laws and regulations affecting the Charity. As part of ication of any regulations in place and discussed these with the relevant individuals responsible for compliance. The key regulations we identified were Charity legislation, health and safety regulations and breaches of The General Data Protection Regulati We also considered those laws and regulations that have a direct impact on the preparation of the financial statements such as the Charities Act 2011 and Charities SORP - FRS 102. We discussed with management and trustees how the compliance with these laws and regulations is monitored and discussed policies and procedures in place. We also identified the individuals who have responsibility for ensuring that the Charity complies with laws and regulations and deals with reporting any issues if they arise. As part of our planning procedures, we assessed the risk of any non-compliance with accounts. Based on this understanding we designed our audit procedures to identify non-compliance with such laws and regulations. Our procedures involved the following: - Enquiries of management and trustees regarding their knowledge of any non-compliance with laws and regulations that could affect the financial statements. As part of these enquiries we also discussed with management whether there have been any known instances, allegations or suspicions of fraud, of which there were none. - Reviewed filings with the Charity Commission and whether there were any serious incident reports made during the year, of which there were none. - Discussed with management whether any reportable health and safety incidents occurred under the requirements of RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) during the year, of which there were none. - Review of the GDPR policy and enquiries to management as to the occurrence of any reportable breaches, of which there were none. - Reviewed legal and professional costs to identify any possible non-compliance or legal costs in respect of non-compliance, of which there were none. - Reviewed Board minutes. - Audited the risk of management override of controls, including through testing journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness, and evaluating the business rationale of significant transactions outside the normal course of business. - Reviewed estimates and judgements made in the accounts for any indication of bias, of which there were none. www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This des A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report. **8** ## **AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE CONSERVATION TRUST** ## **AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE CONSERVATION TRUST** ## **Use of our report** This report is made solely to the charity trustees, as a body, in accordance with chapter 3 of part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and in accordance with Section 44(1)(c) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and Regulation 10 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). Our work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable companies trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditors' report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and its trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. _Anne-Marie Gates FCCA FCA (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of PKF Francis Clark, Statutory Auditor, Towngate House 2 8 Parkstone Road, Poole, BH15 2PW_ _Date: 17 December 2021_