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2023-03-31-accounts

Habitats Heritage Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23 b- (-

Habitats & Heritage

Annual Report and Accounts 2022 -23

CONTENTS

Reference and Administrative Details ........................................... 3 Message from the Chair ................................................................. 4 About Habitats & Heritage ............................................................. 5 Aims and Objectives ....................................................................... 6 Activities and Performance ............................................................ 7 Financial Review ............................................................................ 14 Governance and Management .................................................... 15 Declaration .................................................................................... 16 Independent Examiner’s Report .................................................. 17 Financial Statements .................................................................... 18

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[st] March 2023. The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and the Accounting and Reporting by Charities; Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard 102 ('FRS102')

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Habitats & Heritage

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Company Number

07469024

Registered Charity Number

1140872

Registered Office

ETNA Community Centre, 13 Rosslyn Road, Twickenham, Middlesex TW1 2AR

Trustees

Ann Hagell Chair Saima Habib Treasurer Gary Butler Adam Tyson Sharon Willoughby Stephen Houchin Appointed 25[th] September 2022 Zoe Lawrence Appointed 11[th] July 2022 Georgina Creighton Appointed 23[rd] May 2022 Dinusha de Silva Parker Appointed 11[th] July 2022, Resigned 21[st] November 2022 Rachel Owen Resigned 25[th] September 2022

Company Secretary

Victoria Phillips

Independent Examiner

R Athauda, FAIA R Athauda & Co International Accountants 306 Staines Road TWICKENHAM Middlesex TW2 5AS

Bankers

The Co-operative Bank PLC, P.O. Box 101, 1 Balloon Street, Manchester ME60 4EP

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MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

I am very pleased to introduce Habitat & Heritage’s annual report for 2022-2023

As our Activities report demonstrates, it has been a truly active year for H&H. Following the pandemic, we have found an increased interest in and emotional connection with the local environment from the communities around us in SW London. Our historic and natural resources are so important to wellbeing and belongingness, and it feels to us that our work to preserve and protect them is doubly important now that their value has been so amply demonstrated. Debates and anxiety around climate change have also significantly affected our work and become central to how we think about our task. Our role in supporting local councils to design and deliver their biodiversity action plans has been a really important part of our work in recent years.

As always, I am very grateful to my colleagues on the Board, the excellent staff, our generous funders and collaborators and our many supporters for their belief in H&H and their commitment to our vision. H&H retains a wonderful team of enthusiastic experts, who go over and beyond to deliver our projects, all of which reflect in one way or another our mission to support the extensive natural and historical heritage and climate in South and West London and to connect and enrich fragmented, degraded and isolated historic and green spaces for everyone to enjoy. We continue to develop our thinking about the synergy between habitats and heritage goals, which lies at the heart of our business plan.

Some key activities this year in our ‘Habitats’ programme have included the work achieved with young people on the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, including 200 trees planted, and the 6,400 volunteer hours logged in total in our Rewilding Arcadia project, which focuses on reducing the flood risk between Weybridge and Kew. Improving access to litter pickers and bat monitors has also been a focus.

Within our ‘Heritage’ programme, largely funded by Historic England, we continue to manage and develop an interesting set of heritage assets including the Grade II* Kilmorey Mausoleum, the St Leonard’s Air Raid Shelter and the Grove Gardens Chapel, amongst others. Improving the access to these for local residents and school groups has been a key aim, and we continue to welcome lots of people to the sites across the year. We’ve had some wonderful events, including “A night at the mausoleum” at the Kilmorey Mausoleum and a fabulous bus tour of all the H&H heritage sites on a classic Routemaster bus with the assistance of Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill. In our ‘Climate’ programme, our partnership with CREW Energy, South West London Energy Advice Partnership was very busy over the year giving advice to households in fuel poverty many of whom were severely affected by the huge price rises seen over the winter of 2022-23.

As always the year contained some farewells and welcomes. Rachel Owen left us after several years as a Trustee, during which she contributed a huge amount to our communication activities. We had a push on Board expansion which has brought the various skills of Stephen Houchin, Zoe Lawrence and Georgina Creighton onto the Trustee team.

There is still much work to be done, and we will continue over the next year to develop our programmes to protect and conserve the wonderful natural assets and rich heritage of South West London against the threats of climate change, habitat destruction and fragmentation, forgetting and neglect and commercial development. We could not do this without our connections and our partnership working, and we look forward to another year of working with you all to invest in, enjoy and conserve our local environment.

Ann Hagell, Chair of Trustees

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Habitats & Heritage Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23

ABOUT HABITATS & HERITAGE

Habitats & Heritage is the local charity that acts for the natural and historic environment and climate in south and west London. Our mission is to protect and restore our threatened rivers, green spaces, parks and historic built environment for the benefit of the whole community, for this and future generations.

We are based in Twickenham and work across the London Boroughs of Richmond, Hounslow, Kingston, Wandsworth, Ealing, Sutton and Merton.

Vision and values

Our vision is a restored and extensive natural and historical heritage for south and west London. We want to enrich and connect degraded and isolated green spaces across our urban landscape and to restore neglected historical structures and landscapes that would otherwise fall to ruin or disappear. We want to make those special local places accessible and inviting to all to explore, enjoy and feel part of.

We promote an accessible and inclusive approach to our environmental and historical heritage and seek to deepen people’s sense of wellbeing, belonging and pride in place through learning and appreciation of the local environment. We promote sustainable lifestyles and recognise the interconnectedness of all aspects of human activity.

Our values:

History and governance

Habitats & Heritage is a registered charity (no 1140872) and a company limited by guarantee (no. 7469024) established in 2011 under the name South West London Environment Network (SWLEN). The charity was renamed and rebranded Habitats & Heritage in November 2020 following merger with Environment Trust, a sister charity established in 1984.

The Board of Trustees governs Habitats & Heritage. Operational management is delegated to the executive led by Chief Executive, Colin Cooper. There are a number of committees and subgroups reporting to the board.

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Habitats & Heritage Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Public benefit

The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in Section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and that the activities carried out by Habitats & Heritage during the year were all undertaken in order to further its objects. A detailed explanation is shown under activities and performance.

Charitable Objects

Habitats & Heritage was set up with the following objects:

  1. To promote sustainable development for the benefit of the public, principally, but not exclusively, in South West London and surrounding areas by:

  2. Building the capacity of third sector organisations which are working on projects which aim to achieve sustainable development for the benefit of the public by providing them with support, information and services;

  3. Promoting the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment, the prudent use of resources, and sustainable means of achieving economic growth and regeneration;

  4. Advancing the education and awareness of the public in subjects relating to sustainable development and the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment and the prudent use of resources, and promoting and conducting study and research in such subjects, provided that the useful results of such study and research are disseminated to the public at large.

  5. To promote, organise and facilitate cooperation and partnership working between third sector, statutory and other relevant bodies in the achievement of the above purposes within the area of benefit.

Habitats & Heritage aims:

a) To protect and restore our threatened rivers, green spaces, parks and historic built environment, and extend them through connecting them along green corridors, and new community spaces.

b) To protect and restore historical built environment for this and future generations, and through engagement with this heritage to deepen peoples’ sense of belonging and pride in place.

c) To realise the mutuality between urban historical and natural heritage goals.

d) To promote an accessible and inclusive approach to our environmental and historical heritage through opportunities for all communities and individuals to be part of restoring, experiencing and co-creating new spaces and becoming part of a larger movement for change.

e) To promote learning for people of all ages and to deepen appreciation of our local natural and built environment

f) To promote a more sustainable lifestyle which recognises the inter-connectedness of all aspects of human activity.

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Habitats & Heritage Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23

ACTIVITIES AND PERFORMANCE

The themes of our work are Habitats, Heritage, Climate and Community. Collaboration is an over-arching theme.

Habitats

All About Bats. Talk at Kensington prep school.

Four meetings have occurred. The participants are from Hounslow, Richmond and Kingston. We are looking into the way we communicate with young people, creating targeting strategies, what barriers the young people face in engaging with the environment. We are also looking at how they would like to see the steering group shaping and developing and working to co-create the group to get the most from it. There have been some difficulties, recruiting young people but through the cocreation we are seeing a increase in interest. We now must work to utilise the group to have the biggest impact in local environment possible.

Youth Volunteering

Green Hubs

In April, our Duke of Edinburgh volunteers helped plant over 200 trees to create songbird nesting habitat on Petersham Common. Species included hawthorn, blackthorn, spindle, hazel, dogwood, beech, oak and hornbeam. We hope that the habitat created and the wildlife supported will be enjoyed by future generations, for hundreds of years to come.

Last year our Duke of Edinburgh students spent 5 sessions helping to set up at Warren Gardens Wildlife Haven in Twickenham. In these sessions they gained landscaping experience, using tools like saws and bill hooks, creating habitats such as a dead hedge and stag beetle loggery, and planting a number of wildlife friendly evergreens, shrubs, bulbs as well as flower, pollen, nectar and berry producing plants.

We held a number of litter picking sessions for our youth volunteers, including a particularly successful day at Blenheim Park where volunteers collected 36 large bags of rubbish, preventing pollution to the park and Longford River.

We have created a youth steering group – currently 8 participants aged 16 – 25.

We currently have 17 active green hubs where we are actively involved and supporting and 36 created in total to date. As we build this project we look to add a strategic element to the green hub project, supported by the connectivity strategy. Green Hubs will continue to be an active project with H&H building small space biodiversity improvements. We have seen approximately 95 volunteers involved in the project throughout the year. The hubs have included community gardens, mini orchards and ‘re-wilded’ areas.

Rewilding Arcadia

We are coming to the end of Phase One of the Rewilding Arcadia project with Thames Landscape Strategy and have logged over 6,400 volunteer hours across our practical volunteer projects which has included willow spiling, planting, hedge laying, balsam bashing, citizen science and vegetation management. Even with this level of volunteering we would be able to deploy more volunteers on the practical nature conservation days. We have engaged 1,700 people across 20 talks, 15 walks, 7 consultations/pop-ups and 6 fair events. Throughout Phase One, our aim was to engage with local people about the use nature-

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Habitats & Heritage Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23

based solutions to reduce flood risk along the Arcadian Thames (between Weybridge and Kew) and to secure community buy-in for future floodplain restoration. Overall, we have been largely successful in our aim and the feedback we have received has been overwhelmingly positive.

enhanced by a project extending from the source in Harrow to the confluence at Isleworth, funded by Thames Water. In our work with Let’s Go Outside and Learn we have supported community groups in developing projects and seeking funding.

Talks and presentations

Improving green spaces in Merton

Activity has included creation of a community orchard, 15 mixed fruit trees planted and increasing the communities use of park. 43 volunteers were engaged in the project through planting sessions and workshops. Workshops have included apple press, music, walk and talks, mask making and tree walks. They have targeted groups who are at risk of crime and gangs, multicultural groups, school groups and mental health groups. There is an informal ‘friends group’ formed of 7 people for ongoing care. The challenges have been developing new partnerships in a new borough for H&H to work with and reliability of volunteers and partners.

Corporate Volunteering

Volunteering with us is a great way for companies to promote team work and benefit the environment. We worked with several companies, for example, Be Richmond, who engaged small companies in helping to clear litter from the Thames during the annual drawoff.

Biodiversity Action Plans

We have supported the development and delivery of Biodiversity Action Plans in London Borough of Richmond and Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames.

Bat Projects

Our bat detectors were put up at 30 locations across Richmond. The detectors spent more than 1,680 hours on-site collecting data and found evidence of 8 bat species.

Smarter Water Catchment

The River Crane and associated rivers and streams and the parks alongside are being

Amongst our talks this year was a visit to Kensington Prep School to deliver an educational assembly about local bats to over 300 students as part of British Science Week. Money raised by the Kensington Prep Eco Warriors was kindly donated to our “Batting for Bats” campaign, which went towards the purchase of new acoustic bat detector equipment. Young students were able to see tangible impacts of their efforts in the local environment.

Heritage

Grove Gardens Chapel

Burton Mausoleum & Project

We have continued to seek funding to conserve the mausoleum of Sir Richard & Lady Burton in Mortlake. The project includes the full restoration of the structure combined with an education project focussed on the travels of Richard Burton, British imperialism and the influence the empire has had on the lives of modern day Muslims.

Grove Gardens Chapel:

The building continues to show severe signs of subsidence attributed to climate change. H&H is working closely with Historic England and contractors to resolve the issue and bring the building back into use. Funding bids have been

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Habitats & Heritage Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23

submitted to fund appraisals and capital works. It is hoped that stabilisation works may commence in the latter part of 2023.

pipeline including one to the Mortlake with East Sheen Society and the Richmond Society.

Heritage Events

St. Leonards Court Air Raid Shelter:

H&H continues to make use of the air raid shelter for educational visits by local school children. Such visits are undertaken with the assistance of the Mortlake with East Sheen Society volunteers whom H&H work closely with. The freeholder of the estate has recently transferred to new owners and a new working relationship is being developed. It is hoped that the annual licence to make use of the structure is renewed and lease is granted in due course.

Bazalgette Mausoleum

H&H recommissioned Odgers conservation to undertake afresh condition survey in January with the financial backing of the Rochester Bridge Trust. The Rochester Bridge Trust have agreed to an in-principle grant of £25k towards to £35k restoration bill. An education and interpretation plan is now being drafted to accompany the conservation project. Vineyard Passage Burial Ground: H&H continue to support an informal volunteer group who maintain the burial ground by holding their funds and insuring their activities. H&H monitor progress and ensure all activities are conducted safely and to the correct conservation standards.

Research volunteers

H&H continues to employ the efforts of volunteers to conduct research into the projects. This had included research into the architect of the St. Leonards Court estate, the records relating to Grove Gardens Chapel and the stories of the women associated with our sites who had been largely footnoted.

Talks & Presentations

H&H continues to give talks to interested groups upon request. Two talks have recently been given to the Richmond Good Neighbours Group and the FISH Neighbourhood Group about Sir Joseph Bazalgette and the Great Stink of London. Two more talks are in the

H&H has laid on several heritage events over the course of the year including several cinema nights at the Grove Gardens Chapel. These events have opened the building up to a new audience and given the site a meanwhile use. A night at the mausoleum event was held at the Kilmorey Mausoleum which allowed visitors to experience the site after dark. This event attracted a large audience from across London. A bus tour of all the H&H heritage sites was conducted using a classic Routemaster bus with the assistance of Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill. This enabled trustees, stakeholders and funders to explore all the sites in one day for the first time.

Climate

South West London Energy Advice Partnership

Our partnership with CREW Energy, South West London Energy Advice Partnership (www.swleap.org.uk), was very busy over the year giving advice to households in fuel poverty many of whom were severely affected by the huge price rises seen over the winter of 2022-23. We promote the service mainly via other charities, community centres, local council officers, housing associations and local councillors and we gave introductory talks explaining the service to 120 people. We are lucky to be assisted by a team of 6-8 volunteers who receive training, help at events and accompany staff on home visits. We carried out 320 home visits across the London Boroughs of Richmond, Wandsworth and Merton, conducted 140 detailed advice sessions by telephone, attended 65 events at which we talked to and advised an additional

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Habitats & Heritage Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23

1200 people, and gave 11 online talks reaching 205 people. We estimate that this work will save our clients at least £110,000 per year as well as avoiding considerable carbon dioxide emissions. We are very grateful to the Energy Saving Trust’s Energy Industry Redress Scheme and the London Boroughs of Richmond and Wandsworth for funding this work during the year.

Community

Planting an orchard with local residents in Merton

Friends of Parks Groups

We helped two new Friends’ Groups established in Richmond Borough as well as two in Hounslow Borough. We supported many others with advice, marketing, advertising and practical work on site with Duke of Edinburgh and corporate volunteers. We facilitated four Friends Forum events.

guidelines and risk assessment around Richmond Borough.

In the financial year of 2022 - 2023, around 210 people borrowed our litter pickers. Some groups such as Hampton Heath Friends, have kept the pickers to run weekly events year round. These were used by local friends of parks groups like Barnes Common Limited for their annual Barnes Big Clean Up, Friends of Palewell Common and new groups that recently formed like Friends of Nursery Green. Individuals and local schools also borrowed our equipment.

We continue lending our litter picking equipment to local groups while providing support in best practices such as risk assessment templates and advice.

IT Support for Groups

This year, we have facilitated website creation to the newly formed Friend of Nursery Green and Grove Gardens Teddington groups.

MailChimp continues to be a preferred tool for groups to communicate with their members and stake holders. We helped friends groups such as Friend of Northcote Nature Reserve to desing and send out their newsletters through MailChimp while helping new groups such as Grove Gardens Teddington with training sessions to learn the basics of MailChimp

Crane Valley Smarter Water Catchment

We have supported voluntary groups along the the River Crane and other rivers in the catchment, bringing people together in common purpose to protect the environment. We have worked with Let’s Go Outside and Learn and other partners to develop a Public Engagement Strategy. This work is part of the Crane Valley Partnership’s programme to improve water courses throughout the catchment, from Harrow to the Thames.

Litter Picking

Over the past year, several local groups and individuals have set up or continued regular litter picking events thanks to our support in loaning equipment and giving advice on safety

Groups such as Friends of Ham Lands have also approach us requesting help to design visual material including posters, broachers and business cards

Communication

Our newsletter Habitats & Heritage News Events and Opportunities for Individuals has now 2,493 active subscriptions. There was a decrease compared to last year’s 3,314 subscribers- This is because we performed a cleanup and removed those who haven’t shown an interest in our newsletter in the past year. We have an opening rate of 52%, meaning around 1,200 people are reading our news. We also send news and events to our 70 individual financial supporters.

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Habitats & Heritage Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23

Our newsletter for Environmental groups in Richmond and Hounslow goes bimonthly to 258 active subscribers.

Social Media

We continue to steadily grow our audience. By May 5th 2023, we had 3,705 Twitter followers (compared to 3,562 in 2022) , 1,693 Instagram followers (1,484 in 2022) and 1,952 followers on Facebook (1,860in 2022).

Our Nature in Richmond Borough Facebook group is our most popular group with 6.9K members.

We also reach audiences on LinkedIn and Nextdoor.

Events

Events to raise funds are also opportunities to engage people in the aims and work of the charity. We ran a popular Plant Sale at Kilmorey Mausoleum and our Secret Art Sale brought in more than four hundred entries including many by established artists and members of the Royal Academy, as well as, providing an opportunity for artists of all ages and abilities to celebrate and reflect on the challenges to our environment.

Artist and illustrator Axel Scheffler put on a wonderful show for our benefit, bringing delight to young children and families and helping to raise £7,000 for the charity.

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Habitats & Heritage Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2022 - 2023

680 VOLUNTEERS!

We worked with 680 volunteers across all of our projects including nature conservation, biodiversity and heritage. A huge thank you to all of them, without whom our work would not be possible.

1880+ VOLUNTEER HOURS!

Our practical nature volunteers have racked up an incredible 1880 hours to create habitats, remove invasive species and support biodiversity across south & west London.

1,000 VISITORS TO OUR HERITAGE SITES!

We have welcomed 1,000 people across our 6 heritage sites! Visitors enjoyed events such as cinema at the chapel and spooky nights at the mausoleum. We also welcomed group visits from students and are looking forward to welcoming even more next year!

FAMILY EVENTS

173 families have joined our activities and events which included nature-related activities and workshops such as learning how to build bee hotels and bird boxes.

WE ARE SAVING LOCAL BATS!

Our bat detectors were put up at 30 locations across Richmond - The detectors spent more than 1,680 hours on-site collecting data! We are crowdfunding to buy a second Anabat detector to expand our reach and protect more

15 NEW GREEN HUBS CREATED!

We have created 15 new Green Hubs this year, which has included the planting of Thousands of bulbs, 20 fruit trees and countless pollinator-friendly plants. Offering habitats and reconnecting wildlife corridors across south and west London.

460 ENERGY HOME VISITS & CONSULTATIONS!

We have conducted 320 home visits and 140 detailed telephone advice consultations in properties across Richmond, Wandsworth and Merton as part of our SWLeap project in partnership with Crew Energy.

HELPING PEOPLE SAVE ON ENERGY BILLS!

Through our energy visits, the estimated financial savings for vulnerable people so far are £110,000 per year and we also have given “light touch” advice to 1400 other people at events and talks.

160 COMMUNITY GROUPS SUPPORTED!

Habitats & Heritage have supported 160 Friends of Park groups throughout 2022 and have set up 4 new groups. These groups communicatively have resulted in thousands of volunteer hours to improve and maintain our local green spaces.

330 PEOPLE WENT ON LITTER PICKING!

140 volunteers turned out to help at our litter-picking event during the annual Thames Draw Off. Throughout the year, more than 10 community groups involving at least 190 people, borrowed our litter-picking equipment to conduct their own clean-ups across the borough.

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Habitats & Heritage Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23

THANKS TO ALL OUR SUPPORTERS:

Achieving for Children (AfC) Arnold Clark Charity Axel Scheffler Be Richmond Cantor Hindson Chapman Charitable Trust Cisco Coca Cola Crane Valley Community Interest Company Crane Valley Partnership CREW Energy D S Smith Charitable Trust Dose of Nature Ealing Parks Foundation Ecclesiastical Insurance Charitable Fund Edward Stannard Energy Saving Trust English Heritage (Marble Hill) ETNA Community Centre Father Thames Trust Feel Good and Grow Active Richmond Friends of Kneller Gardens Friends of the River Crane Environment Geoff Acton and Eileen McManus, The Mayor and Mayor Consort (2020-2022), London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Hayburn Trust Heathrow Community Trust Historic England Hubbub, with Starbucks Independent Merton Green Spaces Forum DWP Kickstart Scheme

Kingston Environment Forum Kingston Technology Kingston Voluntary Action Let's Go Outside & Learn London Borough of Hounslow London Borough of Merton London Borough of Richmond upon Thames London Friends of Green Spaces Network Merton Climate Action Group Mortlake and East Sheen Society (MESS) Multicultural Richmond National Lottery Community Fund Pamela Fleming Parks for London People’s Postcode Lottery Redington Ltd Richmond Biodiversity Partnership Richmond Council for Voluntary Service (Richmond CVS) Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames St Margaret's Fair Charity Stefania Horne Thames Landscape Strategy Thames Water The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) Wild Minds Project

Thanks also to many individual sponsors and donors to our projects and general work.

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Habitats & Heritage Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Principal funding sources

The principal sources of funding during the year 2022-23 were: (1) grants awarded to Habitats & Heritage to carry out work which is in accordance with its objects and (2) donations from members of the public through subscription and fund-raising events.

In 2022-23 grants were given by Historic England, the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, the Energy Saving Trust and many other donors listed in the Annual Report in this document. The Trustees are very grateful to these organisations and individuals for their support.

Funds in deficit

There were no funds in deficit at the end of the accounting year.

Investment policy and objectives

Habitats & Heritage does not have significant funds to invest and funds above those needed to deal with day to day transactions are kept on bank deposit.

Funds held as custodian for others

Habitats & Heritage did not hold any funds as custodian for others during 2022/23.

Reserves Policy

H&H aims to hold sufficient funds to ensure that Habitats & Heritage can meet its obligations. We aim to build reserves of unrestricted funds sufficient for at least three months of core costs (i.e. other than specific projects) in addition to closing down costs. In 2022/23 the target was £60,000.

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Habitats & Heritage Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23

GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

Habitats & Heritage is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association.

History of Habitats & Heritage

Habitats & Heritage was set up to promote sustainable development mainly in South West London and to foster partnership working. The name Habitats & Heritage was adopted by South West London Environment Network (SWLEN), retaining the company and charity numbers and registering changes to the Articles of Association. SWLEN became a registered Company and Charity in 2010-11. The Articles of Association were amended by special resolution on 25th November 2020. In 2020-21 Habitats & Heritage assumed responsibility for all assets and liabilities of Environment Trust, which deregistered as a Company and Charity during 2021-22.

Recruitment and appointment of new Trustees

The Trustee Board of Habitats & Heritage is made up of a minimum of five and a maximum of fifteen Trustees. As at 31st March 2023 there were eight Trustees.

Organisational structure

The Board of Trustees governs Habitats & Heritage. The Board meets a minimum every two months and has several sub-committees overseeing aspects of the work in more detail. Day to day running of Habitats & Heritage is delegated to the Chief Executive Officer. A number of projects carry out specific activities under the management of a project leader who reports to the Chief Executive Officer.

Related Parties

The Trustees confirm that there were no transactions with related parties during the period.

Risk Management

The Trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which Habitats & Heritage is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud or error.

The Trustees’ strategy is to review the risks that Habitats & Heritage faces on a regular basis and to integrate risk into the strategic and business planning process. It has a risk register which is regularly reviewed by the Board.

New Trustees undergo an induction programme to brief them on their legal obligations under charity and company law, the contents of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, Annual Review and Business plans, Habitats & Heritage’s decision-making process, and its financial performance including the most recent financial statements. During this induction new Trustees meet staff, volunteers and existing Trustees of Habitats & Heritage.

.

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Habitats & Heritage Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23

DECLARATION

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Signed

Ann Hagell, Chair and Trustee

Dated: 31 July 2023

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Habitats & Heritage Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT

Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Habitats & Heritage Charitable Company (‘the Company’).

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 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

Since the Company’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I a member of the Association of International Accountants which is one of the listed bodies. 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.

Signed:

Name: R Athauda, Fellow of the Association of International Accountants Address: R Athauda & Co., 306 Staines Road, Twickenham, Middx,TW2 5AS

Date: 15[th] September 2023

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Habitats & Heritage Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Statement of financial activities for the year ending 31st March 2023

Unrestricted
funds		 Restricted
funds		 2022/23
Total funds		 2021/22
Total funds
Notes £ £ £
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM:
Investment income 3 153 153 17
0
Incoming resources from charitable
activities		 0
Activities forgeneratingfunds 0
Grants and contracts 4 4,891 328,588 333,479 366,400
Donations and legacies 19,292 5,820 25,112 13,501
Gift aid 260 508 768 1,433
Fund-raisingevents 25,555 4,634 30,189 17,681
TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES 50,151
339,550
389,701
399,032
EXPENDITURE ON:
Charitable activities
Promote sustainable development for
the benefit of the public principally in
South West London		 5 65,219 301,419 366,638 300,804
Cost ofgeneratingfunds 6,584 6,584 4,152
Support costs 22,149 8,617 30,766 27,050
Governance costs 1,250 1,250 950
TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED 95,202
310,036
405,238
332,956
NET INCOME/EXPENDITURE
Before transfer -45,051
29,514
-15,537
66,076
Gross transfer between funds 6 43,612
-43,612
Net incoming/outgoingresources -1,439
-14,098
-15,537
66,076
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward 28,634
127,221
155,855
89,779
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 27,195
113,123
140,318
155,855

18

Habitats & Heritage Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23

Balance sheet at 31 March 2023
Notes Unrestricted
funds
£		 Restricted
funds
£		 31/3/2023
Total funds
£		 31/3/2022
Total funds
£
FIXED ASSETS 7 801 801 801
CURRENT ASSETS
Investment and leases 8 10 10 10
Debtors and prepayments 9 618 2,065 2,683 4654
Cash at bank 29,054 116,371 145,425 158,171
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS
29,682
118,436
148,118
162,835
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Creditors:
Amounts falling due
within one year		 10 3,288 5,313 8,601 7,781
NET CURRENT ASSETS
26,394
113,123
139,517
155,054
NET TOTAL ASSETS
27,195
113,123
140,318
155,855
FUNDS
UNRESTRICTED FUNDS 27,195 27,195 28,634
RESTRICTED FUNDS 113,123 113,123 127,221
TOTAL FUNDS
27,195
113,123
140,318
155,855

19

Habitats & Heritage Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31[st] March 2023.

The Trustees have not required the charitable company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31[st] March 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 the 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 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.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small charitable companies and with the Financial Reporting Standard 102 (FRS102). The company therefore claims exemption from preparing a cash flow statement.

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on the 31 July 2023 and were signed on its behalf by:

Ann Hagell

Chair &Trustee

Saima Habib

Treasurer & Trustee

20

Habitats & Heritage Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ending 31st March 2023

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Accounting convention

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Companies Act 2006 and the Statement of Recommended Practice for Accounting and Reporting by Charities (2019).

Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included on the Statement of Financial Activities when the Charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.

Resources expended

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

One work of art valued at £800 is capitalised and expected not to depreciate. Other assets valued at less than £2,000 are not capitalised. Assets worth £2,000 or more are depreciated over the useful lifetime of the asset.

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds may be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the Trustees.

Restricted funds may 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 a particular restricted purpose. Restricted funds were transferred from Environment Trust with the consent of funders and with the obligation to use the funds for the specified purpose.

Funds are detailed by name in the notes to the Financial Statements. See ‘Movement in Funds’ on page 23

Hire purchase and leasing commitments

Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the statement of financial activities on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.

2. TRUSTEES REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

Trustees’ Expenses

No Trustees were paid expenses during the year.

3. INVESTMENT INCOME

4. 2022/23
2021/22
Bank account interest
£
153
£
17
INCOMING FUNDS
Grants and Contracts
2022/23
2021/22
Totalgrants
£
333,479
£
366,400

21

Habitats & Heritage Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23

The two largest grants in 2022/23 were:

5. EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

Staff numbers 2022/23
2021/22
Average headcount 13
12
Full time equivalent 9.3
8.4
Consultancy andpayments to other organisations 2022/23 2021/22
CREW Energy SWLEAP project and L B
Richmond Energy2023		 £ 45,013 £ 18,041
Friends of Kneller Gardens Crowd-fundingcampaign £ - £ 5,587
Grove Gardens Chapel Buildinginspection £ 600 £ 2,025
Merton May project Merton May £ 8,800 £ -
Other £ - £ 4,022
TOTAL £ 54,413 £ 29,675

6.

TRANSFERS OF FUNDS

Net transfers from Restricted to Unrestricted Funds were £43,612, as detailed in Movement of Funds table p 24. Reasons for transfers were: agreed Full Cost Recovery with funders; supporting deficit of Restricted Fund; and surplus funds from projects completed to satisfaction of funders.

7. FIXED ASSETS

One work of art valued at £800 is capitalised and is expected not to depreciate.

8. INVESTMENT AND LEASES

The long term lease of Grove Gardens Chapel is valued at £10.

9. DEBTORS – AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2022/23 2021/22
Prepayments £ 2,683 £ 2,399
Sundrydebtors £ £ 2,254
Total £ 2,683 £ 4,653

10. CREDITORS – AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2022/23 2021/22
Independent Examination Fee £ 1,250 £ 950
Deferred Income £ 0 £ -
Other creditors £ 7,352 £ 6,831
Total £ 8,602 £ 7,781

22

MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

£ OPENING
BALANCE
1/4/2022		 INCOMING
RESOURCES		 RESOURCES
EXPENDED		 TRANSFER
OF FUNDS		 MOVEMENT
IN YEAR		 CLOSING
BALANCE
31/3/2023
UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
FIXED ASSETS 801 801
LEASE 10 10
GENERAL FUNDS 13,323 45,260 -94,478 43,612 -5,606 7,717
CORPORATE VOLUNTEERING 14,500 4,891 -724 4,167 18,667
UNRESTRICTED FUNDS TOTAL 28,634 50,151 -95,202 43,612 -1,439 27,195
RESTRICTED FUNDS
RICHMOND PARKS 1,754 58,242 -40,727 -17,280 235 1,989
L B RICHMOND COVID FUND 2,518 0 0 -2,518 -2,518 0
HOUNSLOW PARKS 304 5,750 0 -1,150 4,600 4,904
DONKEY WOOD AND BRAZIL MILL 3,153 0 0 0 0 3,153
BURTON'S TOMB 13,074 376 0 0 376 13,450
HISTORIC ENGLAND: CAPACITY 13,709 58,389 -57,815 -1,000 -426 13,283
GREEN HUBS POSTCODE LOTTERY 9,541 0 0 0 0 9,541
BE RICHMOND 6,267 0 -5,832 0 -5,832 435
BIODIVERSITY SURVEY 2,390 0 -808 -1,582 -2,390 0
VINEYARD PASSAGE BURIAL GROUND 4,322 0 -23 0 -23 4,299
GROVE GARDENS CHAPEL RESTORATION 7,493 350 -4,189 0 -3,839 3,654
MARLOW CRESCENT 9,500 0 0 0 0 9,500
MOATED MANOR CO-OP FUNDS 1,667 0 0 0 0 1,667
KINGSTON GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE 500 0 0 0 0 500
SURBITON STREAM THAMES WATER 2,500 0 0 0 0 2,500
ST LEONARDS COURT AIR RAID SHELTER 579 675 0 0 675 1,254
GREEN HUBS: L B RICHMOND upon THAMES 17,221 4,634 -13,144 0 -8,510 8,711
D S SMITH 3,000 0 0 0 0 3,000
EST / SWLEAP ENERGY 1,383 71,300 -64,827 -3,301 3,172 4,555
2021 CLIMATE WEEK 2,592 0 -495 -2,097 -2,592 0
GRIMWOOD ROAD 1,975 0 0 -1,975 -1,975 0
KICKSTART 526 4,459 0 -4,985 -526 0
TLS REWILDING ARCADIA 2,219 55,059 -53,170 -2,800 -911 1,308
FEEL GOOD & GROW ACTIVE RICHMOND 2,458 0 -2,458 0 -2,458 0
SWC CRANE 484 13,850 -13,918 0 -68 416
KINGSTON BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN
(KBAP)		 0 17,740 -13,027 0 4,713 4,713
L B MERTON 16,092 0 -13,979 -1,230 -15,209 883
ECO FESTIVAL 0 5,000 -4,806 -194 0 0
BATTING FOR BATS 0 1,150 0 0 1,150 1,150
WARREN GARDENS 0 7,952 -4,874 0 3,078 3,078
AWARDS FOR ALL YOUTH VOLUNTEERING 0 12,850 -2,464 -500 9,886 9,886
L B RICHMOND ENERGY 2023 0 21,774 -13,480 -3,000 5,294 5,294
RESTRICTED FUNDS TOTAL 127,221 339,550 -310,036 -43,612 -14,098 113,123
GRAND TOTAL ALL FUNDS 155,855 389,701 -405,238 0 -15,537 140,318

23 Habitats & Heritage Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT

Detailed statement of financial
activities 2022/23 £		 2022/23
Unrestricted
Funds		 2022/23
Restricted
Funds		 2022/23 Total 2021/22
Total
INCOMING RESOURCES
Investment Income
Bank interest 153 153 17
Activitiesforgenerating funds
Grants and contracts 4,891 328,588 333,479 366,400
Donations and legacies 19,292 5,820 25,112 13,501
Gift Aid 260 508 768 1,433
Fundraisingevents 25,555 4,634 30,189 17,681
TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES 50,151 339,550 389,701 399,032
RESOURCES EXPENDED
Charitable Activities
Salaries and NI Costs 63,660 227,133 290,793 248,248
Consultancyandgrantsgiven 54,413 54,413 29,675
Project purchases and miscellaneous
costs		 17,612 17,612 15,697
Subscriptions 1,559 490 2,049 1,706
Travel,subsistence and training 1,771 1,771 3,614
Sundry project costs 979
Depreciation 885
Total Charitable Activities 65,219 301,419 366,638 300,804
Support Costs
Salaries allocated to support costs 9,094 9,094 5,766
Office Costs 4,178 3,532 7,710 3,916
Insurance 1,729 2,595 4,324 3,747
Rent 4,202 2,444 6,646 6,929
Telephone and internet 932 46 978 1,141
Travel,subsistence and training 968 968 574
Website and IT 1,046 1,046 4,977
Total Support Costs 22,149 8,617 30,766 27,050
Cost of Generating Funds
Fund raisingcosts 6,584 6,584 4,152
Total Cost of Generating Funds 6,584 0 6,584 4,152
Governance Costs
Independent Examiner's Fees 1,250 1,250 950
Total Governance Costs 1,250 0 1,250 950
TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED 95,202 310,036 405,238 332,956
Net Income before Fund Transfers -45,051 29,514 -15,537 66,076
Fund Transfers 43,612 -43,612
Net Income / Expenditure after Fund
Transfers		 -1,439 -14,098 -15,537 66,076

24 Habitats & Heritage Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23