**REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 07318732 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1137917**
**Report of the Trustees and**
## **Unaudited Financial Statements**
**For The Year Ended 31 December 2023**
**for**
## **Gloucestershire Orchard Trust**
Kingscott Dix Limited Chartered Accountants Goodridge Court Goodridge Avenue Gloucester Gloucestershire GL2 5EN
**Gloucestershire Orchard Trust**
## **Contents of the Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 December 2023**
|||**Page**||
|---|---|---|---|
|**Report of the Trustees**|1|to|3|
|**Independent Examiner's Report**||4||
|**Statement of Financial Activities**||5||
|**Balance Sheet**|6|to|7|
|**Notes to the Financial Statements**|8|to|14|
## **Gloucestershire Orchard Trust (Registered number: 07318732)**
## **Report of the Trustees For The Year Ended 31 December 2023**
The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## **Objectives and aims**
To promote for the benefit of the public the conservation protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment by promoting biological diversity and to advance the education of the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment.
## **Significant activities**
During the year, the charity trustees prepared and agreed on a three-year plan based on the cornerstones of the Trust's approach to the conservation and celebration of Gloucestershire's orchards; Ownership, Partnership, Connections and Collections.
## Ownership
The Trust continued to use its orchards at Longney on the banks of the River Severn to demonstrate good orchard practice by hosting workshops and other events such as the Hedgerow Hero project carried out in conjunction with CPRE Gloucestershire as part of The Big Help Out. However, maintenance and use of the orchard has become increasingly problematic due to the damaged state of the access track. The precise obligations of the Trust under its access licence were reviewed and the landlord's land agent has been contacted to agree the works required to bring the track back to a useful condition. These works will be carried out in 2024, using some of the financial reserves accumulated by the Trust, and the orchard should again become accessible for courses, harvesting and regular working parties.
Work by volunteers to clear Henley Bank orchard of scrub continued during the autumn and winter of 2023, with the first two rows of old perry pear trees now completely accessible. The existence of restricted funds for the orchard allowed works to be carried out to make the trees safe and to remove some non-orchard trees. The management group for Henley Bank orchard is generating a three-year plan during 2024 which will include aspects of orchard management, protection and enhancement of the environmental value and community engagement.
Rockness orchard continued to operate successfully as a community orchard, with regular events and activities well attended by the local community.
## Partnership and Connections
During 2023 the Trust continued to run its Free Tree scheme in conjunction with Gloucestershire County Council, which made funding for orchard trees available under the Local Authority Tree Fund. By obtaining additional grant funding for guarding materials the Trust was able to support tree planting projects with local orchard owners by supplying and in many cases planting over four hundred fruit trees. The Trust has succeeded in creating strong links with local schools and charities and will continue to support their orchards as they establish over the coming years. The Trust was also successful in obtaining grants to run a series of courses relating to orchards, such as grafting, pruning and cider making workshops, utilising funding made available through Farming in Protected Landscapes.
## Collections
The Trust continues to manage the Gloucestershire Apple Collection and the Gloucestershire Plum Collection at its orchard in Longney, also a valuable collection of other fruit varieties. The recruitment of a volunteer Curator to manage these collections will enhance our ability to continue with this work.
Page 1
## **Gloucestershire Orchard Trust (Registered number: 07318732)**
## **Report of the Trustees For The Year Ended 31 December 2023**
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
## **Financial position**
The Trust's financial position at the end of 2023 was healthy, in part due to loan repayments received during the year. The incoming Treasurer made the decision to write off the value of the investment in Orchard Guardians CIC and the stock of books during the year, on the grounds that neither of these assets looked likely to be realisable as cash. Although this impacted the net expenditure for the year, the cash movement was positive. The Trust is expecting significant outlay during 2024, particularly with respect to the track improvement works at Longney, but due to the careful financial custodianship of the previous Treasurer the Trust is well placed to meet this expenditure. The Trust benefitted from generous donations during the year and from higher interest rates, which have been accessed in respect of the restricted funds for Henley Bank orchard by placing monies on a one-year deposit with Charity Bank.
## **Reserves policy**
The Trustees aim to maintain unrestricted reserves at a level sufficient to fund twelve months of unrestricted charitable expenditure. At the end of the year, unrestricted reserves were more than the level required to provide this cover. However, the Trustees also aim to maintain a sufficient reserve to be able to respond to unexpected opportunities, particularly in the event that a desirable orchard became available for acquisition, and are therefore satisfied that a relatively high level of reserves may be appropriate as long as the essential work of the Trust is being carried out effectively and at sufficient levels to meet the charitable aims.
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
## **Governing document**
Constitution as a non-profit distributing body incorporated in England and Wales and limited by guarantee.
## **Organisational structure**
On the 7th of May 2024, the Trust converted to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, subject to a new constitution submitted to and approved by the Charity Commission.
On 14th July 2023 Jim Chapman resigned as a Trustee after 13 years of service, including an extended period as Treasurer. The Trustees would like to extend their sincere thanks to Jim for his commitment and enthusiasm during this period and his ongoing support for and interest in the work of the Trust.
New Trustees are appointed as required by the existing Trustees, from those with an active interest in the aims of the Trust, with the ability to contribute to its governance and the willingness to contribute to its aims and objectives.
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS**
## **Registered Company number**
07318732 (England and Wales)
## **Registered Charity number**
1137917
## **Registered office**
The Orchard Centre Blackwell's End Hartpury Gloucestershire GL19 3DB
## **Trustees**
J A Bailey W M Brentnall H M Brent -Smith J R Chapman (resigned 14.7.23) D C P Kaspar C C Wedge A.M. Ellis D R Lindgren T S Andrews
Page 2
## **Gloucestershire Orchard Trust (Registered number: 07318732)**
## **Report of the Trustees For The Year Ended 31 December 2023**
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Company Secretary** A.M. Ellis
## **Independent Examiner**
Kingscott Dix Limited Chartered Accountants Goodridge Court Goodridge Avenue Gloucester Gloucestershire GL2 5EN
## **Bankers**
Barclays Bank Plc 12 Broad St Newent Gloucestershire
## **EVENTS SINCE THE END OF THE YEAR**
Information relating to events since the end of the year is given in the notes to the financial statements.
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 4 September 2024 and signed on its behalf by:
A.M. Ellis - Trustee
Page 3
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Gloucestershire Orchard Trust**
## **Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Gloucestershire Orchard Trust ('the Company')**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2023.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by Section 386 of the 2006 Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of Section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Mark Spashett
Kingscott Dix Limited Chartered Accountants Goodridge Court Goodridge Avenue Gloucester Gloucestershire GL2 5EN
5 September 2024
Page 4
## **Gloucestershire Orchard Trust**
## **Statement of Financial Activities For The Year Ended 31 December 2023**
|Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
2
68,753
Other trading activities
3
784
Investment income
4
624
**Total**
70,161
**EXPENDITURE ON**
Raising funds
12,984
**Charitable activities**
5
General
2,188
Other
59,220
**Total**
74,392
Net gains/(losses) on investments
(25,897)
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
(30,128)
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
Total funds brought forward
103,055
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
72,927|Restricted
funds
£
-
-
547
547
-
-
7,288
7,288
-
(6,741)
131,293
124,552|31.12.23
31.12.22
Total
Total
funds
funds
£
£
68,753
105,630
784
1,942
1,171
28
70,708
107,600
12,984
(3,240)
2,188
3,308
66,508
12,940
81,680
13,008
(25,897)
-
(36,869)
94,592
234,348
139,756
197,479
234,348|
|---|---|---|
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 5
## **Gloucestershire Orchard Trust (Registered number: 07318732)**
## **Balance Sheet 31 December 2023**
|Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
**FIXED ASSETS**
Tangible assets
9
15,575
Investments
10
-
15,575
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Stocks
11
-
Debtors
12
-
Cash at bank
58,087
58,087
**CREDITORS**
Amounts falling due within one year
13
(735)
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
57,352
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES**
72,927
**NET ASSETS**
72,927
**FUNDS**
14
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds:
Orchard Acquisition Fund
Henley Bank Orchard
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Restricted
funds
£
45,165
-
45,165
-
-
79,387
79,387
-
79,387
124,552
124,552|31.12.23
Total
funds
£
60,740
-
60,740
-
-
137,474
137,474
(735)
136,739
197,479
197,479
72,927
43,967
80,585
124,552
197,479|31.12.22
Total
funds
£
60,475
25,897
86,372
12,725
10,000
125,871
148,596
(620)
147,976
234,348
234,348
103,055
43,967
87,326
131,293
234,348|
|---|---|---|---|
The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 December 2023.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for
- (a) ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and
- (b) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 6
continued...
## **Gloucestershire Orchard Trust (Registered number: 07318732)**
## **Balance Sheet - continued 31 December 2023**
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 4 September 2024 and were signed on its behalf by:
A.M. Ellis - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 7
## **Gloucestershire Orchard Trust**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 December 2023**
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## **Basis of preparing the financial statements**
The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, with the exception of investments which are included at market value.
## **Income**
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
## **Expenditure**
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
## **Tangible fixed assets**
The Fixed assets of the Trust are the orchard at Longney and the costs of securing the water supply. Therefore no depreciation is applied to these assets.
## **Stocks**
Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value, after making due allowance for obsolete and slow moving items.
## **Taxation**
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
## **2.**
## **DONATIONS AND LEGACIES**
|**DONATIONS AND LEGACIES**|||
|---|---|---|
|Membership
Donations and grants
Gift aid|31.12.23
£
3,905
64,335
513
68,753|31.12.22
£
3,687
101,249
694|
|||105,630|
Page 8
continued...
## **Gloucestershire Orchard Trust**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued For The Year Ended 31 December 2023**
## **3. OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES**
|**3.**|**OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES**||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||31.12.23|31.12.22|
||||£|£|
||Fundraising events||784|1,942|
|**4.**|**INVESTMENT INCOME**||||
||||31.12.23|31.12.22|
||||£|£|
||Deposit account interest||1,171|28|
|**5.**|**CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS**||||
|||Direct|Support||
|||Costs|costs|Totals|
|||£|£|£|
||General||||
|||480|1,708|2,188|
## **6. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS**
No trustee was remunerated for their efforts during the year to 31st December 2023 or the year ended 31st December 2022.
## **Trustees' expenses**
The following expenses were paid at cost: James Chapman £52 David Lindgren £542 Andy Ellis £76
## **7. EX GRATIA PAYMENTS**
An honorarium of £480 (2022: £1,127) was paid by the trustees to Ann Smith, who resigned as Secretary to the Trust on 28th April 2023.
## **8.**
## **COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
|Unrestricted
fund
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
16,516
Other trading activities
1,942
Investment income
28
**Total**
18,486
**EXPENDITURE ON**
Raising funds
(3,240)|Restricted
funds
£
89,114
-
-
89,114
-|Total
funds
£
105,630
1,942
28
107,600
(3,240)|
|---|---|---|
Page 9
continued...
## **Gloucestershire Orchard Trust**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued For The Year Ended 31 December 2023**
|**8.**
**COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES - continued**
Unrestricted
fund
£
**Charitable activities**
General
3,308
Other
11,152
**Total**
11,220
**NET INCOME**
7,266
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
Total funds brought forward
95,789
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
103,055
**9.**
**TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**
**COST**
At 1 January 2023
Additions
At 31 December 2023
**NET BOOK VALUE**
At 31 December 2023
At 31 December 2022|Restricted
Total
funds
funds
£
£
-
3,308
1,788
12,940
1,788
13,008
87,326
94,592
43,967
139,756
131,293
234,348
Freehold
property
£
60,474
266
60,740
60,740
60,474|Total
funds
£
3,308
12,940|
|---|---|---|
|||13,008|
|||94,592
139,756|
|||234,348|
The assets represent the cost of acquisition of Henley Bank, the Orchard at Longney together with its water access and the legal cost of acquiring Rockness Orchard.
Page 10
continued...
**Gloucestershire Orchard Trust**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued For The Year Ended 31 December 2023**
## **10. FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS**
There were no investment assets outside the UK.
The company's investments at the balance sheet date in the share capital of companies include the following:
## **Orchard Guardians CIC**
Registered office: UK Nature of business: Orchard development
||%|||
|---|---|---|---|
|Class of share:|holding|||
|Ordinary shares of £1|33|||
|||31.12.23|31.12.22|
|||£|£|
|Aggregate capital and reserves||(12,403)|8,514|
|Loss for the year/period||(20,917)|(17,383)|
The investment has been impaired down to nil value in the balance sheet, as the associate is insolvent and the Charity is unlikely to recover the cost of its investment.
## **STOCKS**
## **11.**
|Finished goods
**DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
Amounts owed by group undertakings
**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
Accrued expenses
**MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**Restricted funds**
Orchard Acquisition Fund
Henley Bank Orchard
**TOTAL FUNDS**|At 1.1.23
£
103,055
43,967
87,326
131,293
234,348|31.12.23
£
-
31.12.23
£
-
31.12.23
£
735
Net
movement
in funds
£
(30,128)
-
(6,741)
(6,741)
(36,869)|31.12.22
£
12,725
31.12.22
£
10,000
31.12.22
£
620
At
31.12.23
£
72,927
43,967
80,585|
|---|---|---|---|
||||124,552|
||||197,479|
## **12.**
## **13.**
## **14. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
Page 11
continued...
## **Gloucestershire Orchard Trust**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued For The Year Ended 31 December 2023**
## **14. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
|Incoming
Resources
resources
expended
£
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
70,161
(74,392)
**Restricted funds**
Henley Bank Orchard
547
(7,288)
**TOTAL FUNDS**
70,708
(81,680)
**Comparatives for movement in funds**
At 1.1.22
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
95,789
**Restricted funds**
Orchard Acquisition Fund
43,967
Henley Bank Orchard
-
43,967
**TOTAL FUNDS**
139,756
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Incoming
resources
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
18,486
**Restricted funds**
Henley Bank Orchard
89,114
**TOTAL FUNDS**
107,600|Gains and
Movement
losses
in funds
£
£
(25,897)
(30,128)
-
(6,741)
(25,897)
(36,869)
Net
movement
At
in funds
31.12.22
£
£
7,266
103,055
-
43,967
87,326
87,326
87,326
131,293
94,592
234,348
Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
(11,220)
7,266
(1,788)
87,326
(13,008)
94,592|
|---|---|
Page 12
continued...
## **Gloucestershire Orchard Trust**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued For The Year Ended 31 December 2023**
## **14. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:
|**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**Restricted funds**
Orchard Acquisition Fund
Henley Bank Orchard
**TOTAL FUNDS**|At 1.1.22
£
95,789
43,967
-
43,967
139,756|Net
movement
in funds
£
(22,862)
-
80,585
80,585
57,723|At
31.12.23
£
72,927
43,967
80,585|
|---|---|---|---|
||||124,552|
||||197,479|
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
||Incoming|Resources|Gains and|Movement|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||resources|expended|losses|in funds|
||£|£|£|£|
|**Unrestricted funds**|||||
|General fund|88,647|(85,612)|(25,897)|(22,862)|
|**Restricted funds**|||||
|Henley Bank Orchard|89,661|(9,076)|-|80,585|
|**TOTAL FUNDS**|178,308|(94,688)|(25,897)|57,723|
The Orchard at Longley was acquired by donations and funding from the heritage lottery fund.
The Orchard at Henley Bank Brockworth was acquired with a fund earmarked for its restoration.
## **15. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES**
The trust paid two businesses run by Trustees at the same rates as funds were also paid to third party providers.
These trustees were:
Tim Andrews of Orchard Revival, who received £2,100 for workshops run under the scheme funded by Farming in Protected Landscapes, as referenced in the report of Trustees.
David Lindgren of The Cotswold Fruit Company Limited, received £700 for workshops run under the scheme funded by Farming in Protected Landscapes, the company also received £3,360 for tree guarding services as referenced in the Report of the Trustees.
Page 13
continued...
**Gloucestershire Orchard Trust**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued For The Year Ended 31 December 2023**
## **16. POST BALANCE SHEET EVENTS**
On the 7th of May 2024, the Trust converted to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, subject to a new constitution submitted to and approved by the Charity Commission.
Page 14