**SHIPTON-UNDER-WYCHWOOD WILD GARDEN AND WOODS TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
CHARITY NUMBER: 1133334 COMPANY NUMBER: 07030839
## **SHIPTON-UNDER-WYCHWOOD WILD GARDEN AND WOODS (a company limited by guarantee)**
TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024
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**SHIPTON-UNDER-WYCHWOOD WILD GARDEN AND WOODS TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
## **Reference and administrative information**
|**Charity Name**|Shipton-under-Wychwood Wild Garden and Woods|
|---|---|
|**Charity Registered Number**1133334||
|**Company Registered Number**07030839||
|**Registered Office**|New Beaconsfield Hall|
||Station Road|
||Shipton-under-Wychwood|
||Oxfordshire|
||OX7 6BQ|
|**Trustees/Directors**|Mr R Arnold (Treasurer)|
||Mr R Dyer (Company Secretary)|
||Mr J Huntingford (Chairman)|
||Mrs J Mavin|
||Mr J Mehrtens (resigned Sep23)|
||Mr J Pratt|
||Mr G Smith|
||Ms C Timms|
||Mrs C Trevers|
||Mr J Watson (resigned Sep24)|
||Dr D Yules|
|**Reviewing Accountant**|Richard Boyns ACA|
|**Bankers**|HSBC UK Bank plc|
||17, Market Place|
||Banbury|
||Oxfordshire|
||OX16 5ED|
|**Solicitors**|Johnson and Gaunt|
||47 North Bar,|
||Banbury, Oxfordshire,|
||OX16 0TJ|
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## **SHIPTON-UNDER-WYCHWOOD WILD GARDEN AND WOODS**
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
The charity is a company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 26 September 2009, registered as a charity on 17 December 2009 and governed by a Memorandum and Articles of Association, which are dated 20 September 2009. In the event of the company being wound up members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £10.
The directors of the company are also charity trustees for the purposes of charity law. All Trustees give their time voluntarily and received no remuneration from the charity.
The charity acts as a fund-raising body and manager of its acquired properties for the objects set out in its Memorandum and Articles of Association.
The governing body is its Board of Trustees. Trustees are elected at the Annual General Meeting or appointed by a resolution of the Trustees. At each Annual General Meeting one third of the Trustees retire, by rotation, and may offer themselves for re-election, and the appointment of any trustees appointed since the last Annual General Meeting has to be confirmed. Any member may be nominated at the Annual General Meeting to be a Trustee; the total number of Trustees allowed is set at a minimum of three with no maximum.
## **Principal activity**
The company’s principal activity during the year ended 30 September 2024 was to raise funds, to carry out necessary maintenance work and to manage the Wychwood Wild Garden as a place of public access and enjoyment.
## **Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities**
The Trustees are responsible for preparing and approving this report.
The Trustees are required to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and the incoming resources and application of resources, including the net income or expenditure for the year. In preparing those financial statements the Trustees are required to:-
- Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
- Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- State whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements and
- Prepare financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume the company will continue in business.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
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## **SHIPTON-UNDER-WYCHWOOD WILD GARDEN AND WOODS**
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
## **Achievements and Performance**
The Wild Garden seems to remain as popular as ever, with a good mix of visitors from outside the local area. Some messages left by one-off donors:
- _“Amazing work done to the Wild Garden and so happy it is being kept alive and thriving. Thank you to all concerned”_
- _“The Wild Garden is a wonderful local amenity”_
- _“Keep up the good work in the garden, so impressed with it all!”_
- _“You do a great job on the upkeep”_
- _“Lovely unexpected place "_
Membership numbers have risen to 161 from the previous year’s 150. We decided this year to try and engage with potential new members face to face. This was done over four events, once in the Wild Garden itself, the Shipton PC APM, followed by stands at both the Milton and Shipton Fairs. This has proved to be very successful, with 17 new members within this financial year, with most joining after one of these four events.
In December we shared the cost of some drainage work along Dog Kennel Lane with the adjacent landowner. The works involved excavation and replacing some drainage pipework to allow a better flow of water into the Wild Garden.
A lot of work has gone into raising funds for the top (basin) pond (at the time of writing this report we have received £39,840). We are therefore able to report that the dredging work on the top pond has been carried out. Local contractor Sam Peet and his staff had to cope with some awful weather whilst undertaking these works and we are extremely grateful for what they have done in some very trying conditions. The island has been cleared of self-set shrubs and trees and the stone walls have been restored, using only volunteers to do this work. It was felt that by using stone, the island would be restored to its original look. We are now constructing a removable bridge to allow us to access this area and replant with suitable vegetation. Further work to improve the bank on the western side will be carried out over the ensuing months, and the water level will be restored to its normal depth.
We will also address the problem of rectifying the damage done to the paths caused by the work and the recent storms. It is hoped that we will also improve other paths to make them more "all weather" useable by wheelchair and buggy visitors.
In addition to our weekly Tuesday morning volunteer session, we held two well attended Saturday morning working parties which helped to clear up rubbish, resurface paths and generally improve the Garden. All in all, we have a lot of volunteer support throughout the year and our thanks go out to all who have helped. It would be difficult to keep the Wild Garden looking as good as it does without this vital support.
In September 2024, Mike Watson resigned from the board. Mike has been an integral part of the Wild Garden since the first discussions in early 2009, about buying the land for the local community. He was the first chairman and led the Company through all the changes that have taken place. We are extremely grateful for all his hard work and continuing dedication.
Rob Dyer has been appointed Company Secretary.
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**SHIPTON-UNDER-WYCHWOOD WILD GARDEN AND WOODS TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
## **Financial Review**
The financial position of the charity continues to be satisfactory with cash at bank and in hand of £62,044, of which £28,390 was raised specifical for work to the Upper Pond and is held as restricted funds. Net assets as at 30 September 2024 totalled £114,044. Unrestricted Income for the year is marginally up on the previous year. Standing orders and annual pledges for the future maintenance of the Wild Garden currently stand at £8,987 per annum at the date of signing these accounts. Donations from the gate cash boxes and logs continue to make useful contributions.
## **Reserves Policy**
The Trustees have examined the charity’s requirements for reserves in light of the estimated basic annual running costs of The Wild Garden. A policy has been established whereby the unrestricted funds not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets held by the charity should be at least equal to approximately 18 months expenditure on running costs. The unrestricted reserves as at 30 September 2024 were £38,191 and approximately 18 months expenditure on running costs (excluding specific projects) have been estimated at £12,750. The Trustees consider that the present level of unrestricted funds is sufficient.
## **Risk Review**
The Trustees identify and review the major risks to which the charity is exposed and ensure that systems are in place to mitigate these risks.
The risks to which we are exposed include database management, financial, environmental, compliance and operational risks and where appropriate, systems or procedures have been established to mitigate the risks. We ensure that we have adequate insurance in place, monitor our reserves policy, monitor our financial activities, pay particular attention to keeping our members informed about our activities, and comply with company and charity law and regulation.
We provide regular newsletters to our members and invite feedback on any issues via telephone or email. Our aim is to respond to calls and emails within 24 hours.
We monitor the Wild Garden on an annual basis for signs of serious tree diseases and for invasive species. Ash Dieback will continue to be a threat for a number of years and a number of ash trees in particularly vulnerable areas were removed. Our management approach to Ash Dieback is selective cutting back and felling as needed. We monitor for Japanese Knotweed and Giant Hogweed, no new outbreaks were detected during the year. Signal crayfish have progressed from the Evenlode up the canals to the ponds, they will be monitored and if necessary trapped and destroyed to reduce numbers and protect the fish in these areas.
Our ponds and canals are registered as fisheries with the Environment Agency, allowing us to benefit from restocking with native fish. Care is taken to avoid any non-native species being introduced into the water system which would violate our license.
We use monitoring cameras from time to time to help identify and control anti-social behaviour, they were not used during the year.
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**SHIPTON-UNDER-WYCHWOOD WILD GARDEN AND WOODS TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
## **Objectives and Public Benefit**
The Trustees consider that they have complied with the Charities Act which states that charity trustees must ‘have regard’ to the public benefit guidance ‘when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance is relevant’.
The Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 requires charity trustees to include a statement in their Trustees’ Annual Report as to whether they have complied with that duty. The Trustees are satisfied that they have taken full regard of the public benefits guidance when making a decision to which the guidance is relevant or where they have decided to depart from the guidance, they have good reasons for doing so. We regularly review the workings and effectiveness of our governance policies and update these as needed, new policies are added as required by both law and experience.
## **Public Access and Participation**
Our charitable objectives require that we manage the Wild Garden for the benefit of both residents and visitors to the area. There have been no physical restrictions on access during the year. We ask the public to respect the peace and tranquillity of the space and to keep children under control and dogs on leads at all times. Membership of the company is open to all who pledge an annual subscription of £30 or more. As at 30 September 2024 we had 161 members, including both Shipton and Milton Parish Councils as Representative Members.
## **Conservation, Restoration and Management**
The restoration and management of the Wild Garden is guided by the Management Plan updated in September 2022. A copy of the Management Plan is available on our website. The overall objectives of the plan are to maintain the formality of the Avenue and the Round Pond, to restore the water system so that it supports a reasonable fish stock and to maintain the remainder of the woodlands with a minimum of intervention.
## **Education**
The key objective of the education initiatives, as set out in the Management Plan, is to encourage a responsible attitude towards, and a wider appreciation of, our local natural and physical environment. While the Garden was never intended to become an adventure playground, it should nevertheless allow popular and peaceful enjoyment of the Wild Garden by all and foster a positive approach to the environment. We have been encouraged by the increase in use from the Scouts and Cubs, as well as the number of children attending our Saturday working parties during the year.
## **Small company provisions**
This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions in Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime. The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity. The Trustees are satisfied that the company is exempt from, and has not been subject to, an audit.
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**SHIPTON-UNDER-WYCHWOOD WILD GARDEN AND WOODS TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
This report was approved by the Trustees on 19/01/2024 and signed on their behalf by:
**Jeremy Huntingford** Chairman
## **ACCOUNTANTS’ REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF SHIPTON-UNDER-WYCHWOOD WILD GARDEN AND WOODS**
I have completed an independent examination of the Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements (the “Annual Report”) for the year ended 30 September 2024 in light of applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice, and no matters have come to my attention that would suggest that the Annual Report does not either comply with such standards or statements, or give a true and fair view. However, the Trustees are reminded that ultimately it is their responsibility to ensure compliance and that undue reliance should not be placed upon my examination in this regard.
**Richard Boyns ACA**
Dated: **8[th] January 2025**
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**SHIPTON-UNDER-WYCHWOOD WILD GARDEN AND WOODS TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
## **(INCORPORATING THE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
|**Income and endowment from**
Membership subscriptions
Donations and grants
Activities/Events
Interest received
Tax claimed under Gift Aid
**Total Income and endowment**
**Expenditure on Governance and**
**administration**
Insurance
West Oxfordshire DC - emptying dog bins
AGM costs and general administrative
costs
Advertising
**Maintenance**
Wood for bridge repairs
Tree work and surveys
Fuel for tractor/chainsaws
Chainsaw repairs
Sundries
Materials
Repairs /servicing of tractor
**Equipment costs**
Battery for tractor
Roofing and timber for new log store
Tools
Inflatable Boat
**Specific Projects**
Works to paths
Dog Kennel Lane
Upper Pond
**Total expenditure**
**Net income and endowments**
**Funds brought forward 2023**
**Funds carried forward**|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**Total 2024**
**Total 2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
7,452
0
7,452
6,783
4,828
28,390
33,218
2,405
168
0
168
2,155
800
0
800
359
2,267
0
2,267
2,261|
|---|---|
||**15,515**
**28,390**
**43,905**
**13,963**|
||576
0
576
1,560
1,045
0
1,045
833
616
0
616
572
164
0
164
135
0
0
0
48
6,096
0
6,096
5,664
59
0
59
67
0
0
0
86
0
0
0
27
255
0
255
0
0
0
0
650
0
0
0
95
0
0
0
187
56
0
56
56
45
0
45
0
0
0
0
1,605
2,579
0
2,579
0
0
2,577
2,577
0|
||**11,491**
**2,577**
**14,068**
**11,585**|
||**4,024**
**25,813**
**29,837**
**2,378**
**34,167**
**50,000**
**84,167**
**81,789**
**38,191**
**75,813**
**114,004**
**84,167**|
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**SHIPTON-UNDER-WYCHWOOD WILD GARDEN AND WOODS TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
## **BALANCE SHEET AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 COMPANY NUMBER 07030839 CHARITY NUMBER 1133334**
|**Notes**
**Fixed Assets**
Freehold Land
2
**Current Assets**
Debtors
11
Cash at bank and in hand
3
Less Creditors
**Net Assets**
**Reserves**
Unrestricted
1
Restricted
1|**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
50,000
50,000
1,960
0
62,044
34,167|
|---|---|
||0
0|
||**114,004**
**84,167**|
||38,191
34,167
75,813
50,000
**114,004**
**84,167**|
The Trustees are satisfied that the company is entitled to exemption from the requirement to obtain an audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 and that members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Act.
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**SHIPTON-UNDER-WYCHWOOD WILD GARDEN AND WOODS**
**TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to the accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions in Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006, applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime. The accounts have been prepared having due regard to the Charities SORP (FRS 102).
|**Statement of Cash Flows and Reconciliation to Net Income**|**2024**|**2023**|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|
|Net Income for the reporting period|29,837|2,378|
|(Increase)/decrease in debtors|(1,960)|224|
|Increase/(decrease) in creditors|0|0|
|Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities|27,877|2,602|
|Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period|27,877|2,602|
|Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the reporting period|34,167|31,565|
|Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period|62,044|34,167|
The Financial Statements were approved by the Trustees on 19/01/2024.
## **Jeremy Huntingford**
Chairman
**Richard Arnold** Treasurer
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**SHIPTON-UNDER-WYCHWOOD WILD GARDEN AND WOODS TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
## **1. Accounting Policies**
- The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” published in 2005 and revised in the Charities SORP(FRS 102), and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective January 2016).
- Donations and grants received are usually recognised in full in the year in which they are received.
- Resources expended are accounted for on a cash basis and have been aggregated under appropriate headings. Costs of generating funds are the expenses incurred with fund raising events. Governance and administration costs are those incurred in connection with the administration of the charity and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.
- Unrestricted Funds are funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.
- Restricted Funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions of the donors or which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes. The Restricted Funds in the Balance Sheet of the charity relate to the acquisition of The Wild Garden and funds raised for works to the Upper Pond.
- Freehold Land is carried at cost less any impairment if any.
2. The charity has purchased the Freehold of 12.5 acres of land at Shipton-under-Wychwood (known as The Wild Garden) at a cost of £50,000 with the intention of meeting the charity’s objects as set out in its Memorandum of Association
3. The charity has no investments; all surplus funds are deposited with our bank.
4. The charity does not have any employees.
5. The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
6. Related Party Transactions. All transactions with trustees are carried out on an arms-length basis. There were no such transactions during the year ended 30 September 2024 apart from £1,370 reimbursed to 7 trustees in respect of costs incurred in equipment and sundry costs relating to The Wild Garden projects, newsletters and AGM.
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**SHIPTON-UNDER-WYCHWOOD WILD GARDEN AND WOODS TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
7. Trustees’ remuneration and expenses. No remuneration directly or indirectly out of the funds of the charity was paid or payable for the year to any trustee or to any person or persons known to be connected with them. Expenses totalling £1,370 have been incurred by trustees during the year, all of which has been reimbursed.
8. The charity is not part of a group and it does not have any subsidiaries.
9. The charity has no capital commitments, nor has it given any guarantees to any third party. Neither has it received nor granted any loans or made any ex-gratia payments.
10. Membership. At the end of the financial year we had 161 members compared to 150 at the end of the prior year.
## 11. Debtors
|Tax reclaimed under gift aid|**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
1,960
0
**1,960**
**0**|
|---|---|
12. The company does not have a share capital, being limited by guarantee.
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