Open
Spaces
J06ie
Annual Report and
Accounts 2024
25a Bell Stree( Henley-on-Thames RG9 2BA
Ema51: hq@oss.org.uk
Website: www.oss.org.uk
Charity no 1144840
Registered in England and Wales, limited company no 7846516

THE OPEN SPACES SOCIETY
Vice-presidents, officers, other trustees and staff
31 December 2024
Vice-presidenls
Diane Andrewes
Mike Clarke
Richard Mabey
Phil Wadey (F,G,L)
Graham Bathe (G)
Siuart Bain (FG}
Chris Beney
Simon Hunt (F) (to July 2024)
John Hall {L),
James Lean (F) (from March 2024)
Andrew Packman (from April 2024)
Tard-jane Sulcliffe (L)
member finance committee
- member general purposes committee
member legal committee
Staff
David (Lord) Clark
RogeT de Freitas
Chairman
Vice-chairman
Treasurer
Oiher Iruslee
General secrelary
Case officers
Kate Ashbrook
Helen Clayton
Hugh Craddock
Nicola Hodgson
Jess Tyler
Commons re-regislralion
officer
Finance officer
andcompany secrelary Lucie Henwood (to May 2024). Glynis Smith (from May
2024)
Jane Abey (to March 2024)
Frances Kerner
Membership secretary
Operalions and markeling
manager
Office a&sislant and
membership secretary
Digilal markeling and
ontenl manager
Sarah Hacking
Lucy McKean
Abbie Cavendish
Barclays Bank plc, tKicester LE87 2BB
CAF Bank Ltd. 25 King5 Hill Avenue. Kings Hill. West Malling MEI 8 4JQ
Flagslone Group Lid. Clareville House, 26-27 Oxendon Street. London SWI Y 4EL
Sollcltors:
Mercers, 50 New Stree¢ Henley-on-Thames RG9 2BX.
Richard Buxton, Dale's Brewery, Gwydir StreeL Cambridge CB12LJ
Flnanclal
Independent examiners: Villar5 Hayward LLP. Boston House. 2 Boston Road, Henley-
on-Thames RG9 1 DY
Investment advisers= JM Finn, 25 Copthall Avenue. London EC2R 7AH

Open Spaces Society
Trustees, report for 2024
Highlights of 2024
During the year we".
helped our members protect 892 commons, greens, open
spaces, and paths under threat of loss;
welcomed the government's intention, following user-
group pressure, to repeal the 2031 extinguishment of
unrecorded public rights of way;
intervened in the Dartmoor backpack-&qmping case in the
supreme court:
through legal action secured the removal of unlawful
gates from a path in North Yorkshire, and persuaded
Cornwall Council to register applications to add paths to
the defmitlve map:
celebrated the registration of seven lost commons, in
Cornwall, Devon. and North Yorkshire. totalling 200
hectares;
gave advice and support to our network of 44 local
correspondents who protect many open spaces and paths.
held a training event for our local correspondents;
boosted our legal-action fund.
Reference and administrative infonnation
Reglstered charlty name and number
The Open Spaces Society. re8lStered number 1144840.
Registered company name and number
The Open Spaces Society. ￿gIStered numE¢r 7846516.
Principal and registered office
25a Bell Street, Henley-on-Thames RG9 2BA
Names of trustees, advlsers and staff
The trustees are listed abDve, together with details of advisers and the names of the
staff.

Structure, governance, and management
Governing document
The Charity is controlled by ils goveming document. the memorandum and articles of
association, and constitutes a limited company, lirnited by guarantee, as defined by the
Companies Act 2006.
The charity is the successor to ihe Commons, Open Spaces and Footpaths Preservation
Society (registered charity numkr 214753) which was eslablished by a Irust deed dated
6 December 1963. originally having been founded in 1865. It was registered as a
company limited by guarantee on 14 November 2011.
Recruitment and appolntment of trustees
Trustees are appointed by ihe members of the company (ie the society), in accordance
wilh the memorandum and articles of association.
Related party disclosures
No transaction which would nc¢d to ￿ disclosed has been notified by any trustee. in
relation to the year. nor any balance outstanding from p￿ViOUS years.
Declaratlons of Interest
An agenda item for recording these. if any be de¢laTed, aP￿arS on the agenda for each
trustee meeting. The society's insurers require a statement to be minuied at each
(quarterly) meeting that the trustees are not aware of anything arising which might lead
to a claim on the society's indemnity ￿)lICY.
Risk-management statsment
The society mainlains a risk register which is ￿gUlarlY reviewed by trustees with
practical precautions being implemented by officer5 and staff.
Public benefit statement
Section 4 of the Charities Act 2011 requires the charity trustees to cornply with their
duty to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity
Commission in exercising their EM)wets or duties.
The trusttts are mindful of this obligation and have been referring to the guidance
when reviewing their airns and objeclive5 and in planning their future activities. They
have Considered how planned xtivilies will contribute lo the aims and objectives they
have seL
Objectives and activities for the public benefit
Summary of the charity's objects and strategy for achievlng them
The objects of ihe society are campaigning to create and conserve common land,
village greens, open spaces, and Tights of public access in town and country, in England
and Wales. These objects are furthered both locally and nationally. The society
mainlains a network of local correspondenls who can make site visits where problems
arise and submil appropriate representations regarding. for example. proposed changes
to the public-paih network. Th¢ S￿l¢lY also secures the registering of new village
greens. resists encroachments on common land, and defends common land and greens
a8ainst deregistration.

At a national level the society's unique expertise is its accumulated knowledge in the
complicated ￿e law and Common law that apply to common land and its user righis.
Bodics such as the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the
Welsh government, the National Tnjst, Natural England, and Natural Resources Wales
acknowledge the society's primacy in this area. The society is a mandalory consultee
for certain applicalions for works on common land and for changes to public rights of
The 50CiCty also endeavours to improve the law for the benefit of the public. By
challenging unacceplable proposals-through the courts if necessary-and more
generally by seeking media attention and lobbying parliaments and local auihorities. it
protects places of Etauty and interest, and achieves better public access throughout
England and Wales.
Achievements and performance, delivery of
public benefit
Summary of main achievements during the year
The unexpectedly-early g¢n¢ral ¢l¢ction (Coinciding with our AGM) in July gave us the
opportunity to lobby new minister5 about access and rights of way, and we found them
sympathetic though constrained by pressures on public funding and cost of living.
B005td by our legal-action fund we purs￿1 severnl cases in the courts and backed our
members in doing so. We renewed our appeal to members lo support the fund and were
pleased that. thanks io their generosity, we had raised a year<nd toial of £16.489.
The main achievements during the year are listed below under headings which reflect
the four main objects in our constitution.
To protsct commons. greens, and other open spaces
We responded to calls from members for advice on protection and management of at
least 153 commons. 94 greens and 320 other open spaces. Other cases and disputes
came to us from consultations from otTicial bodies or were dealt Wsth by our local
correspondents.
Our re-registration otTicer, Frances Kerner. funded by the generous legacy from Jack
Candy, continued her work on applications, submitting three in North Yorkshire. She
also pursued and defended applications we had already made in other English counties
before their registers closed to new applications on 31 tkcember 2020. and appeared at
a public hearing in Cornwall. During the year we celebrated the addition of seven
commons lo the Tegisters, covering more ihan 200 heclares, thanks lo our efforts: in
Cornwall at Bum8ullow, tA)wer Bann& Porthlowan. and West Looe Down (the last
application made by Tomas Hill with our support)" in Devon th￿e pieces of land on
Dartmoor, and at Nesfield in North Yorkshire. We began scoping the work to be done
in Wales, where the deadline for applications is 2032, five years after Cumbria and
North Yorkshire.
In October judges in the supreme court heard ihe appeal in the Dartmoor backpack-
camping case. in which we were interveners in support of ihe Dartmoor National Park
Authority. In 2023, the landowners who brought the case had105t in th¢ court of appeal
and they then applied to the supreme court. At the year's end the outcome was awaited.

Our general see￿18ry appeared in support of our meffl￿r the Gower Society at a public
inquiry in Swanseffj objecting to the inequitable exchange of part of Clyne Common to
enable dev¢loprnent for housing.
We celebrated an agreement with Clinton Devon Estates which pledged lo dedicate an
area of exchanged common land to public access under section 16 of the Countryside
and Rights of Way Act 2000- otherwi5¢. the access right would not have taken effect
until the access maps were reviewed.
We backed the New Forest Cornmoners, Defence Association in fighting the unlawful
enclosure of common land. In the end the defendant. under pressure from Natural
England as well as the court action, removed the fence.
Our enforcement officer. Jess TyleT. ¢ommenced actions at two sites in southern
England against unlawful inclosures on commons.
Applicants for WOTks on, or exchange of, comrnon land notified us of 67 cases. We
rdised objections to 31 of them.
Of the 66 statutory applications for Works which were detennined during the year, 42
were granted with no objection frorn u5. and 16 were granted despite our objection.
These included temporary fences on a nurnber of commons in Cumbria, a soil bund on
Memw Downs. Surrey" parking access on Redhill and Earlswood Common. sUr￿y'
electricity works on Laindon Common, Essex. restoration of opencast site for testing
for rdilways on Mynydd y Drum Colnmon in Powys and Neath Port Talbot. field
access on Clapham Comrnon, North Yorkshire. and exchange of land for a slorm drain
on Upper Ham Common in Worcestershire.
Five applications were rejected following our advice. These were the exchange of land
at Cockernhoe village green. Herts for construction of an a¢eess road. fencing on
Shereford Common, Norfolk, tamiac with speed humps on a bridleway on Witley
Common. Surrey. fencing on Stringers Common at Worplesdon in Surrey. and
exchange of cornrnon at Water Orton. Warwickshire. for a school access-road.
Three application8 to which ￿ had objected, were withdrawn: the exchange of laThJ at
Wolfscastle Green in Pembrokeshire (where we have inslead applied to register the
proposed replacetnent land)- a new access road across Middleham Busks in North
Yorkshire, and the extension to a car park on Bucklebury Common in West Berkshire
(which did not need consent).
Our c&se officers Hugh Crnddock and Nicola Hodgson delivered two online training
packages on common5 and greens.
To protect and enhance publlc rlghts of way and publlc access
The Henley otTice dealt with 325 requests for advice on paths, and our local
correspondents pursued many others.
The year started with publicity for a survey conducted by the BBC which showed that
paths are blocked at 32,000 points, ie an obstruclion every four and a half miles. Our
general secretary Kate Ashbrook. arKi Comwall local ¢OTrespondent Lucy Wilson, ￿re
interviewed at()ut this on television in January.
Our new legal-action fund proved invaluable. We used it to support our Membe￿ in
their campaigns lo save Waunarlwydd playing rteld in Svnnsea. Stoke Lodge playing
field in Bristol. Wilmoi Garden5, Plymouih: and Clyne Comrnon on Gower. The
outcomes on these are awaited.

We have also pursued our own cases. We have challenged a wrongly-made tempornry
trdffic regulation order in West Northamplonshire (outcome awaited). With other
organisations we threatened Comwall Council with court action for it5 failure to
mainlain an accurate ￿gIster of applications to add paths to the maTrthe council
capitulated. with ihe result ihal it and other authorities are now adopting the correct
procedure. Also acting with other or8anisations, we secured the removal of unlawful
gales from a restricted byway in Stsnwick St John, North Yorkshi￿. and we caused an
order for a byway open to all iraffic in Hotham. East Riding of Yorkshi￿, lo be
quashed when it was wrongly confim]ed as a bridleway without the changes being
advertised.
We are backing our local corresp)ndenls in serving notices under section 130A of the
Highways Act 1980 where local authorities are failing to carry out their duties to
r¢open blocked paths. At the end of the year our Wiltshire correspondeni had submitted
his claim against blocked byways to the mpAgistrdtes' court. with support fmtn our
enforcement officer.
Last year we were dismayed when the (Ihen) environment secretary, TheTèse Coffey.
brought into force the deadline for historic-path applications in England, setting it back
to 2031 but omitting any regulations to except routes from extinguishment. Throughout
the year w¢ pressed ministers to repeal this deadline and, after the election, joined other
user groups in sending a detailed letter to the new minister, Bamness Hayman.
explaining ihe diificulties of introducing the exceptions lo the deadline and instead
advocating repeal of the deadline. We N4rre delighted when. on Boxing Day, the
government aTmoun¢ed its intention to repeal 'when parliamentary time allows.. The
Welsh governmeni has also pledged to Tepeal the cut-off (which in Wales remains at
2026).
Kate Ashbrook continued to serve on the rights-of_way stakeholders, working group.
supported by Helen Clayton and Hugh Crdddock wl)o are also members of its task
forces. however, these Fx)dies remained donnant through the year.
In Wales we conlinued to work with the cross-paty group for outdoor activity. and to
press the Welsh governmenl to test some of the proposa15 in its access-refomi package
on its owm land. We continued to call for agri¢ultUTe payments to include funds for new
and improved access.
We updated and relaunched OUT inf0m￿tIOn sheet, Paih Paraphernalia, written by our
trustee and local correspondent Chris Beney. This advises on acceptable struclures on
public paths. We put this into practice on our own land, Parliament Piece in
Kenilworth. where we worked with our lessee Warwick District Council, and
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, to replace all the stiles and gates with structures to the
British Standard.
Our general secretary swjke al the 92 anniversary celebrdtion of the Kinder Scout
mass tTespass, the fiftieth-anniversary lunch of the Ringwood and Fordingbridge
Footpath Society, the final event of the All our Footpaths project, and a meeting of the
Wiltshire and Swindon local access forum, among other events. Our case officer Helen
Clayton gave three online sessions to local wuncils and assisted with two days of
restoring-the-re¢oTd training.
To secure the creation of new publSc paths and open spaces
Two definitive-map modification applications were made in the society's name by one
of our East Sussex local cotr¢5pondents. Chris Smith.

We continued to encourage local authorities and other landowners voluntarily to
register their land as town or village green, thereby giving local people rights of
¢￿allOn there and protecting it from development. We were pleased wilh a voluntary
registration at One Tree Hill. Long Ditton in Surrey (￿ured by our local
correspondent Rodney Whittaker). and of seven others in which we were not involved.
We pressed the new Minister for Housing. Communities and Local Government to
includ¢ a provision mandating develope￿ to register new greens as part of
development, and secured a meeting wilh one of her officia15 to explain this. Our call
for new greens was included as one of ten asks in A MO￿ Natural Capital coalition's
manifesto for the London mayoral election.
We signed up to the Outdoors For All coalition's manifesto and attended a pre-election
receplion in parliarnent to promote our joint calls for more and better access.
Our generdl secreiary spoke at a rally on the Isle of Wighi to press for the route of the
England Coast Path to go along the beach at Osbome House managed by English
Heritage.
Our case officer Nicola Hodgson lobbied for improvements to the National Planning
Policy Framework. which was rcvi¢wed during th¢ year, calling to strengthen the
protection for open spaces and local green space. We were dtsappointed when the
revised version was published in December with none of our proposals included.
However, celebrated the designalion of a local green space at Whitehall Road,
Blackburn, having helped a member to achieve this.
We advised more than 66 members and other inquirers alM)Ut clatming greens.
To protect the beauty of the countryside
This was the 75, anniversary of the ground-breaking National Parks and A¢¢ess to the
Countryside Act 1949. Our genernl secretary joined a celebratory event at Malham
youth hostel in November. where a pl4ue to the architect of national parks and of ihe
hostel, John Dower, was unveiled. There she was able to meet the new access minister,
Baroness (Sue) Hayman.
We worked wilh the Campaign for Nalional Parks and the Alliance of Welsh
Designated Landscapes. and strongly SUPFK)rted th¢ proposal foT a new national park in
north-east Wales.
We continued to OPFM)se plans by Skyline for a massive tourist development on Kilvey
Hill. north•e&st of Swanse4 which disregarded unrecorded access rights and public-
access land. and we objected to the ¢oun¢il'5 proposed appropriation of open space.
Our general secretary spoke at a hilliop rally in March.
We fought a development on Brent River Park in Ealing. and our local correswndent.
Marion Law. helped to p￿vent an unsightly m&sl on Mucklewick Hill. Shropshire.
Organisational management
We now have 44 local correspondents. In 2024 we appointed Katherine Evans (Essex),
Kiernn Foster {Gateshead MBC), Richard Price (west Ceredigion), a￿1 Ashley Red5ell
(Spelthorne Borough, Surrey). We were sad to lose Peter Kidner. Helen Slade. Gerry
Stewart, and Graham Wansthll and thank them for their exemplary service.
We once again ran a two￿aY trdining course for local correspondents in the Lickey
Hills, Worcestershire, in October, which was LKJth valuable and enjoyable.

We held our annual general meeting in London with an online option. In total 38
rnembers attended, and other5 participated by proxy. Voting was undertaken online.
with l 00 votes cast. Tara-jane Sutcliffe was re*lected to the board of trustees after her
first ihree-year tern. We We￿ sony that Simon Hunt stood down from our board of
trustees.
In the spring, following advertisernent arKI interviews, the trustees co-opted James Lean
and Andrew Packman to the board.
We moumed the deaths of our fornier chairnian Tim Crowther, tn￿tee John Lavery,
and Gloucestershire local correspondent Geny Stewart.
We issued 43 p￿$$ releases and published three editions of our magazine Open Space.
Staff and members appeared at leasl eight tirnes on the rndio, and seven times on
lelevision, and contributed to three videos. At the year's end we were wjised to start a
revamp of our website having done much preliminary work. Our digital marketing and
content manager. Abbie Cavendish, continued her detailed research with new
audiences, increasing our influence and reach, and therefore our campaigning clout.
On 31 December, membership stood at 2,406, a net gain of 64. This number is
comprised of 1.798 individuals. and 608 organisations and local authorities. We
welcomed 305 new voting members and 27 members WIK) had lapsed and rejoined. 26
members died during the year and a fiirther 234 lapsed.
In March our membership secretary Jane Abey left and L￿Y McKean, our office
assistant. took on the role in addilion to her existing one. We were sad that our finance
officer Lucie Henwood left us in May after seven years, but were pl￿ed io welcome
Glynis Smith in her place.
In April we celebrated 40 years in w)st of our general secretary, Kate Ashbrook, and in
October 25 years for Nicola HOdgs0￿ our ￿e officer for open 5pa¢es and greens. We
were sad to learn shortly after ihai Nicola wished to retire in January, and we began to
search for a replacement.
Our dedicated staff, Kate Ashbrook, Abbie CavendislL Helen Clayton, Hugh Craddock,
Sardh Hacking, Nicola Hodgson, Frances Kerner, Lucy McKean, Glynis Smith. and
Jess Tyler have had another busy year. We thank them warnily for their commitment
and success in furthering the work of the society.
Financial review
Financial operations
In 2024 the society's income was primarily split across investment ￿turnS, rnemkrship
subscriptions and donations.
Donations and legacies increased by £57,304 primarily due to legacies generously left
to us
we a￿ extremely gratefiil and will use this money to ensure that future
generations will enjoy common& open spaces, and paths in towns and countryside
throughout England and Wales
Investment returns have been positive with an increase of £14.604. This Wds due to
improved returns on cash and investments as well as an increase in reserves following a
large legacy in 2022. Budgeted increases in expenditure during the year were planned
via recruilment and increased legal expenditure to further our charitsble objectives.

The status of our underlying assets within the Charifund irnproved over the year with
unrealised gains of £24.665 this financial year. Plans are in place to diversify our
investments to ensure we maximise returns whilst ensuring trustees understand the
investment risks taken.
Overall. this resulted in a planned net deficit of £182.077 (2022 Was a deficit of
210,564). Despite the deficit, trustee5 are very happy with the financial health of the
society.
Legacies recognised in 2024
Peter Robert Allen. Joan Gillian GosticL William D C Lee. Julie Ann Mountain,
Donald Perriam, Sidney Riley.
We are grateful for all legacies and donatiOn5, and your gift to Ihe society will help to
ensure that fijture generdtions will enjoy commons. open spaces, and paths, in towns
and countryside throughout England and Wales.
Please see our website: www.oss.o .uklwhat-
infom]ation.
OU-can￿(￿lC
ac]e￿ for more
Reserves policy
The reserves policy ha5 been kept UTKler close review throughout the year by trustees to
ensure it w&$ flexible enough to respond to extemal economic pressures and remained
fil for purpose.
Strategic [c￿ry¢ fund: thc s￿Iety'S r￿U￿1n8 revenue is not sufficient to meet all
running costs so it is the policy of ihe trustees to mainlain a strategic ￿serVe fund
sufficient to cover the expected outgoings of the society for four years. Following a
review of the budgeL anticipating an overdll deficil, the strategic reserve fund was
revalued to £663,136 for January 2024. This is a decrease of £284,923 from 2023 to
free up reserves to help support our charitsble objectives.
The applications reserve fund. set up in 2019. currently stands al £216.000. The figure
is kept under review annually, based on experience and analysis of the ¢osls actually
incurred by the society for commons and rightS4)f-way applications.
Trustees
acknowledge this reserve is essential since the costs associated with taking applications
to Completion are variable, but can be considerable and can run over a long period.
Conclusion
Once again, this society has had an excellent year of achievemenl. We have seen the
benefit of earlier proactive work to record over 200 hectar¢s (500 ac￿$) of Common
land giving rights of access to the public on foot. and in many places also on horseback.
We have again taken on or assisted others lo take on ihose who interfere with public
rights ofa¢¢ess on ¢ornmons. grffns and paths with a high deg￿e of success.
And we've worked with those who were willing to discuss, to find solutions that met
our objectives and the landowners., to provide public benefit.
The announcement by Defra on Boxing Day to the effect that the govemment planned
to repeal the Path Extinguishment Day provisions in the Countryside and Rights of
Way Acl 2000 was ih¢ icing on our society's 2024 cake. We shall tske this as a full

success once it is removed from the statute EK)ok, but the policy statement w&$ a
welcome first step.
l thank our dedicated staff, increasing number of local corresp)ndents, and members,
and all who hav¢ helped in support of the society and its activities. I commend this
report to our members.
Signed
Phil Wadey (chairman, on behalf of the tnbstees)
Equality, inclusivity, and diversity ststement
We shall seek to undersiand, and where appropriate. reach out to those paTts of society
that are under-represented within our membership. staff, volunleers or trustees, and
potential memkrs outside our existing nelwork. We have an objective of leamin8
from relevanl groups when extending our reach.
Our vision is that everyone can enjoy publie paths a￿j open spaces through the exercise
of th¢ir rights. We work to protect, increase, enhance and champion the common land.
village greens, public paths, and open spaces in EnglaTKI and Wales. and the public's
rights to enjoy them. We want to see a thriving and beautiful countryside, cities, lowns,
and villages to which everyone has access and which all can benefit, for their well-
being and to participate fully in the enjoym¢nt. enhancemenL and protection of nature.
We want these places lo ￿ inclusive and diverse for those who live there and those
who visit them.

A5 the thartys trustees of treamiparry l•MI *0 its fty the purposes of (xmryany law) you We responsible
2rTh
Hamng sati5ned th* the finanthl Statem￿ of the company Xe not rewired to be al￿lted urlder Part 16 of
the Act and are ew for examknth. I rewt In respect of my examlnation of your charws
finandal ststements as (arritd out UTthr sedicffi 145 ofthe Ch¥ft*s 2011 {the .2011 ACYI. In ¢arrylrvd Ixit mv
sh￿thea)mpa￿s￿rlts5 Income exteedEd £250JXXJy)urexarniner rw5t be a meM1￿r of a body ￿￿ed in se£tlon 145
of the 20U I crmfffm that l to urnlwlake the examinatth because l am a member of tr￿ Ins￿￿te of
,aJ4• 6fP,AU, CT4
Nltholas M BFP, U CTA
VUl¥s Hayward UP
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Theo
Number: 07846516
Statement of Rnanclal Artfvltles
Sndudl ItKome and E
ndltwe
For thè Year Ended 31 Oecembef 2024
Endty*ment Totsl
f￿d$
funds
2024
Totsl
fvnd5
2023
funds
funds
Donations lint. Gift Aid) and1È8acies
122.564
122.%4
65,257
Charitable activities
Subscriptions
Appeols
78,860
47,974
78.860
47.974
80.05S
28.276
Othèr trading a¢tivities
Sole ofpublicotions. Trusts Royufties ett.
6.774
6.774
6,683
Investments
68.140
31A19
1.512
101.471
86.867
Total
324.312
3L819
1,512
357.643
267.138
Expenthure on:
Raislng funds
Otherpublications ¢gSts
768
450
Charitable actiwties
Staff soluries and related costs
Premises costs
Administrotion costs
Locolcorrespondents
Open Spoce ond website
Othercosts
Governancecosts
287,299
24.6%
37.757
6.394
21528
126.888
11.240
37326
325,225
24,696
44,451
6,394
22.528
129,083
11,240
286.408
16.501
35,504
6,636
15,737
80.4SS
15.491
2.195
Total
517.570
46.815
564,385
457.182
GainllLossl on investment assets
li
10.810
13,227
628
24.665
120.5201
Net lexpendlturelllrKom•
1182.448)
11.7691
1140
1182.0771 1210,5641
33,331
131A191
11.5121
1149,1171
133.5881
628
1182,0771 1210.5641
Recondllatoon of funds:
Toial funds brou￿1 forward
1.8SI.S08
24,109
2.114.097
2.324,661
Total funds carrled lorwanl
1.702.391
204.892
24.737
1,932,020
2.114.097
Pa8e 9

Fhwidal
•t31
3L1124
31.1113
Tan8lblèfmd•ssets
IrNe5tments
8.179
777,350
5,610
852,685
270296
7BS,529
1,128,591
39.568
892.595
250.025
35,7frfJ
934,904
24.999
995,603
Shortterm dtpo*ts
C•5h at in h3rn1
17
1182.188
Lbthlitie
Credito￿. du•
wtthln I￿￿Year
135.697)
110,0971
1.146.491
985506
L93I020
2,114,097
918385
216.(KK
14,973
5S3X133
948,059
226.OCrf)
23.OS9
654,3
Restrt¢ted fvr
161.513
43.379
196.203
42.277
Enthjwmertfvnth:
24,737
24,109
L932mO
2.114,097
The tharltable com￿ny1$ entIl￿dIOt￿￿1ft1rn wthrsectkn 477 ofthe Comwleskt2ri)6 fortheipar
ended 31 Decem￿201
(al erwrk¥th•tthe charttab￿ oyry¥ry&eep54crtyxth¢fecords which comthT*Ith secti￿$ 386 •nd 3WI afthe
comp￿Ie$A￿ 2(M16
(tsl prewrryflnwKld whxh ¥iewofthe ofaffairs tharits￿e companya5
•t the end of &ithfin￿lIa1 ￿ar aKlof its ¢y defot for each financial ￿¥In •¢conlan￿ wf(h the
req￿rements 394 aThl 395 •xl T*hkh rttthse compty wlth the ￿quIrernents ofthe c￿n￿rIe$Art
2(Th rel*inKtosmall thwtt•ble ¥Jiththe Financial Reporknr¢Standxd appk•ble in the Unlted
Irydom and R￿u￿rOf IrelaKI IFRS 1021.
- 2025 wue *￿ed
on Its behaifbr.
C* P DW*ley. Ch*man
S Bakn.TreayJrer
P<e io

en
ered Com
Nurnber: 07846516
Notes to the financial statements
For the Year Ended 31
ember 2024
ACCOUTrlllNG POiThS
The principal accountirva policies adopted. judgements and kty sources of estlmatlon for uncertainty in the
preparation of the financial statements are as follows:
lal Ba51s of preparatlon
The financial statements have been prepared in accordan￿ with Ac¢ountin8 and Reporting by Charities: Statement
of Recommended Pra¢ti¢e applicable to tharities preparin8 their accounts in accordance wlth the Financlal
Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021- ICharitie5 SORP IFRS 10211, the
Financial Reporting Stsndard ap￿ICable in the UK and Republic Of Ireland IFRS 102) and the Compan1￿ Act 2LX6.
The Open Spaces Society meets the definition of a public benefrt entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabllltles
are initially rewrhised at historical c05t Of transauion value unless OtheThvise stated in the relevant
accounti￿ policy note(sl.
Ibl Income re¢oÉnltlon polkies
Items of income are recognised and induded in the finanaal ststements when all of the followin8 criteria are met:
the charity has entiVement to the fvnds:
any perfom)ance conditions attathed to the Itemlsl of income have been met or are fully
within the ¢ontrol of the tharity,.
there Is sufficient ￿rtaInty that receipt of the income is considered probable, and
the arnount can be measured reliabty.
For legades, entitlement is taken as the earliest of:
the date on which the charity is aware that probate has been granted:
the estste has been finali5ed and notification has been made by the executorfsl to the
charity that a dtstribution ￿11 be made: or
- when a distribution is recer¥ed from the estate.
Receipt of a legacy. in whole or in part. is onty considered probable when the amount can be measured reliablv
and the charity has been notified of the exeoJtorfs intentK)n ro make a distribution.
¢Xher ¥oluntsry hKom¢
Voluntsry income received by way of subsuiption. donations and appeats ￿ induded in the financlal statements
when re¢*vable and the amount can be measured reliabty by the charity.
Donated senri¢es
The value of servlces prNded by volunteers has not been included in these flnancial statements.
Interest reolvable
Interest on funds held on deposit is Ir￿￿ded when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the
charity- this is normally upon notifi(ation of the interest paid or payable by the bank.
{c) Empendtture and Irrecovernble VAT
Expenditure is reco8nised oft￿ there is a legal or constTuttNe obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is
probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured rellably. Expenditure
Is classified under the followrvd activity headings=
Expendlture on Charitable activities comprise those costs incurred by the charity In the delivery of its actlvltles
and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both Costs that (an be allocated directly to wch activities and those
costs of an indlrect nature necessary to support them. Govemance costs include those costs associated with the
constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity and indude the independent examlner's fees and costs
linked to the strateglc management of the tharity-
Irrecoverable VAT is (har8ed as a cost against the acti%Aty for which the expenditurewas incurred.
Page 11

ens
stered Com
Plumber: 07846516
Notes to the finandal statements
contin
For the Year Ended 31 December 2024
ACCOU14TING POUCIES {conllr)uedl
Idl Kxed Assets
Fixed assets lexduding investments) are stated at cost less ￿M￿lated depre¢iatSon. Depreciatlon is provided 50
as to write off the asset over four years.
Investments held as fixed assets are rerdlued at mid-market value at the tsalan￿ sheet date and the gain or loss
taken io the Statement of Financial Activi
{el Fund Accountl
6eneMI fvnd - This is an unrestricted fund which is to be invested for the beneflt of the s¢xiety but femains
available to the trustees to be used for the objects of the ￿lety or for making allocations to the Strategic Reserve
fvnd.
Strategic Reserve fvnd - This is an unrestricted fvnd derfved from allocations from the General fund. It Is the policy
of the trustees to keep 48 months. reserve in th￿ fund, so that it should hold suffident to cover the society's
following 48 months, net outgoings. and to allow for an orderfy dosure of the soaety thereafter. should this
become necessary. In line with this pdicy. the fund stO￿j at £918.385 at 31 December 2024 This furtd is to be
invested for the benefft of the souety but ￿MainS available to the trustees to transfer back to the General fund In
case of need.
Appkntlons ReseNe Fund - This 15 an unrestricted fvnd derived from allocations from the General Fund. The
fvnds within this reserve are to be used to see through to completion applications to feRlster rlghts of way or
common land where the application has been made in the name of the Society. Some applications are determined
quickly and without significant cost, but for some there rnay be many years between an application being made
and its conclusion. The Trustees consider that it is appropriats to hold a reserve for this purpose $0 that protracted
appllcatlons be supported.
CtrYe¢hJoftesfvnd - The income from this restrirted fvnd may be used for the objects ofthe so¢lety that would not
normally be met from the General fund.
Candy fvnd - This is a re5trirted fvnd to be used onty for the general charitable purposes of the Open Spaces
Soclety. It Is not to be used for admintstrative expenses.
Buxtonfvnd- The income from this fund is transferred to the Society's General fvnd.
IX)NATIONS IINC GIFT AID) AND LEGAOES
31.1124 31.IL23
Legaaes
Donations
Gift excluding Gwft on appeals
104,260
5,653
12,651
42,437
7,545
15,275
122,564
65,257
APPEALS AND GIFf AID
Funds ralsed by appeaLs ovef ihe year also 8Lwated related income brya Gift Aid.
Appeal
Glft Ald on
donatlons
Total
Autumn 2023 appeal
Autumn 2024 appeal
26.234
13.433
5.251
3.056
31,485
16,489
39.667
8.307
47,974
IIICOME FROM MER TRADING ACtIVlTIES
31.12.24 31.12.23
Sales of publications
Special projects and trainin8
Trusts, royafties, commiwon etc
1,319
4,830
625
1,208
4.647
828
6,774
6.683
Page 12

Notes to the finandal ststements
iontlrtued
the Year Ended 31 December 2024
INVESTMENT If4COME
31.IL24 3L12.23
Listed investments
Cash investments
50.033
51.438
50.805
36.062
101.471
86,867
srAFF SALARIES
31.12.24
31.12.23
Gross Salaries
Employees National Insuran￿ Contributions
Employer Pension Contributions
Recruitment Costs
288.691
22.958
13,052
524
252,562
18.892
11,701
3.253
325,225
286.408
Employees with emoluments exceedin8 the Charity Commission reportiro threshold of £60.￿￿.. Nil12023". NIII
The average number of full-time equivalent employees in the year wa5 six12023- five)
PREM15ESCOSTS
31.1224 31.12.23
Rent
Li8ht and Heat
Repairs and Maintenance
Cleaning
Insuran
Raies and Water
Consumables
7,925
2.518
1.149
1,883
1,891
2.951
7,367
1,412
3,669
879
149
24,696
16,501
ADMINISTRATIOII COSTS
31.IL24 31.12.23
IT Costs
Postage, Telephone arKI Stationery
Travel and Subsistence
Depreciation of Computer/offi￿ equipment
Priniin8 and Photocopyin8
Appeal Costs
Other ExperhSes
12,019
8,339
4.270
3,408
2,8C(I
2,972
10,643
12,103
7.881
3,535
2,602
2,754
2,357
4.272
44,451
35.504
Page 13

Numbèr: 07846516
Notss to the Itnanclal stat•ments
Ya•r En
31
contlnu•d
2024
OTHER COSTS
31.12.24
31.12.23
Legal Costs
Marketing
Commons Reglstratlon Project
Subscriptions
Donations and Grants
Legacy mailin8 to the Law Society
Confèrences and Training
Books and Maps
66.941
45,764
2,195
11.646
1,301
430
761
45
28,617
34,207
3.965
9,945
2.700
430
576
15
129.083
80,455
io
GOVERNANCE COSTS
al.￿.14
31.12.23
Independent examiner's fees linduding tsxation service5
and underprovision ftr prioryearsl
AGM and trustees
Other professional fees
6,213
7,865
3,163
5,715
1,911
11,240
15,491
li
GAINSIILOSSESI ON INVESTMENT ASSETS
Unrealised gainl Ilossl ￿ revaluation of investments
24,665
120,5201
12 ANALYSIS OF FUNDS
owl
balan
Plet Sncomel
lexphdltyre) Transfers
Closlb¥
balance
Unrestrlcted funds
Strategic reserve fvrKI
Applications ￿Serve fund
Legal actton fund
General fvnd
948,059
226.C
23,059
654.390
129,6741
iio,¢)NJl
918,385
216,OCX)
14,973
553,033
18,0861
1174,3621
73,005
R¢s￿¢t*d funds
Candy fund
Creeth Jor￿$fund
196.203
42.277
155221
3.753
129.1681
12,6511
161,513
43,379
Endowmehtlunds
Buxton fund
24.109
2,140
11.5121
24.737
2,114,097
1182.0771
1,932,020
Page 14

a￿$ Socl
Number: 07846516
Com
Notesto the finan
in
For the Year Ended 31 December 2024
13
TANGIBLE FIXEDASSETS
Computer
equlpment equlpment
Total
At l January 2024
Additions
Dlsposals
10,936
3,221
50,116
2,756
61,052
5.977
At 31 December 2024
14,157
52,872
67,029
At l January 2024
Charge for the year
Disposa15
10.753
737
44.689
2,671
55.442
3.408
At 31 December 2024
11,49)
47.360
58,850
2,667
5,512
8,179
Netbook value at31 Decernber2023
183
5.427
5,610
INVESTMENTS
2024
AT MARKEf VAWE I JANUARY
Fund release
Net investment 8ainsll105ses)
8S2,685
Iirx).cooi
24.665
873,205
120,5201
AT MARKff VALUE 31 DECEMBER
777,350
852,685
There were no investment assets outside the UK. The investrnents are held primarity to provide an investment
return for the Charity.
The historical cost of ab￿0 investments at 31 December 2024 15 £620.34912023: £720,349)
15
LONG TERM OEP05tIs
2024
2023
Flagstone
270.296
16
2024
2023
Accrued income and Gift aid
Profwlonal Indemnrty Insuran￿ prepaid
39,S68
34,709
991
39,568
35,7fJ)
Page 15

Number:
516
to the fina￿131 st*è
ontinyed
For the Ye¥ Ended 31 De(eM￿ 2024
17
SHORTTERM DEPOSITS
31.1124
31.12.23
Flagstone
NatlonwSde Instant Savef
Furness Building Society
CAF Gold Ac¢tyJnt
885,571
681,797
87,741
85,0
80,366
7.024
892,595
934,904
CREDITORS: AM￿NTS FAWNG DUE WITHIN
ONE YEAR
31.12.24
31.12.23
Trade Creditors
Accruals
Other taxes and social security costs
19.SS8
8.314
7.825
4.662
5,435
35.697
10,097
19
PARUAMEKf PIECE
The society owft5 this land in Kenilworth whith is ￿ased. under a 99-year lease, to Warwick District Counul and
managed locally. No value has been placed on this land in these financial statements.
REMUNEPATION OFTRusfEES
None of the trustees received any remuneration12023- nill.
During the year books with a value of £1￿ were 501d to the society by one of the Trustees.
An a8gre8ate of £25712023.. £9171 was reimbursed to two12023- two) trustees for expenses incurred in
relation to the %Kiety'5 adivities. indudin8 attending meetings andlor actin8 a5 local correspondents.
e16