2023-03-31-accounts - Buckinghamshire Conservation Trust

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Bucks Conservation Trust Chairman’s Annual Report 2022-23

The outstanding achievement of this year has been the completion of the cycleway through Quarrendon Leas connecting Berryfields to Buckingham Park, the north east quadrant of what is hoped will become a circular ‘garden’ route around the whole town of Aylesbury. A successful opening event was held in October for all involved, including the naming of the route St Peter’s Greenway. The true test of its value has been the instant popularity of the route with cyclists and walkers. Although this meant a lot more on-site presence from the Trust during the construction phase, the whole project team from the planners and designers, engineers and contractors, were a pleasure to work with and were amenable to undertaking small ancillary tasks arising from the scheme which made a huge difference to the Trust.

All that remains is some final legal work on the formal allocation of maintenance responsibilities, some continuing work on stiles, gateways and bridges on the footpaths, and moving the sheep crush to a more suitable location. However, Thames Water are still unresponsive to our request to restore the water supply for livestock.

Last year’s donation of ‘The Wilderness’ by Taylor Wimpey to the Trust enabled St Peter’s Way to connect through what had been previously an impenetrable thicket of thorns to Buckingham Park. This transformation of a far corner of Quarrendon Leas was achieved at no cost to the Trust, but we are indebted to our Trustee Anne Davies for her legal expertise in reviewing on the board’s behalf all the legal aspects of the transfer carried out for us by Buckinghamshire Council.

The other major achievement this year, enabled by the donation made last year by Barratt/David Wilson Homes, and making a significant improvement to the appearance of St Peter’s Church, has been the work around the one remaining wall, all of the Ancient Monument that remains above ground, The surrounding ground has been levelled, and the railings removed prior to repositioning. Further work will include wildflower seeding, planting, interpretation boards, and corresponding website.

In July the Trust were again delighted to welcome Bucks Young Archaeologists on to the site with some of the most advanced technical equipment available to modern archaeology. The group, facilitated and inspired by Trustee Kim Biddulph, invited board members in December to an impressive presentation of their findings in the area of the former moated manor house and the Elizabethan water garden, adjacent to St. Peter’s.

It has once again been a year of continued scholarship as both Garry Marshall and Richard Gem have had articles published on their studies of documents relating to periods in the history of the site, which have been circulated to the board.

allowing the Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM) to be well managed as well as improving the diversity of flora and fauna.

The Trust has now commenced its 5 year ‘mirror’ agreement with DEFRA replacing previous funding schemes. Details of the successor Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS) are still embryonic. Other financial matters such as the change of bank account, increased payments, and invoice approval feature in the financial reports.

In December the Trustees thanked Chris Smith who retired from his role overseeing the Trust’s accounts.

Additionally I would like to thank all the Trustees for their commitment, and all the expert tasks and enquiries they have undertaken for the ultimate benefit of the SAM and the natural environment of the Quarrendon Leas estate in general; and the Chief Officer and Company Secretary Michael Woods, for a successful year despite suffering the adversity of ill health, from which we all hope he is now well on the way to recovery.

Avril Davies June 2023

Buckinghamshire Conservation Trust

Income and Expenditure Account for the year ended 31st March 2023

£ 278 15,210 13,400 10,000 1,072	2022 £ INCOME Grants RPA Farm payments Countryside stewardship Fundraising donations Rents & wayleaves Other income 39,960 EXPENDITURE Chief Officer fees Site management Site security Countryside stewardship Conservation / restoration IT related expenses Marketing & interpretation Maintenance & materials Equipment & tools Project expenditure Bank charges Insurance Companies House Miscellaneous 33,761 6,199Suplus / (deficit) for the year	£ - 12,981 16,340 2,740 1,073 180
12,000 18,797 220 515 120 880 13 1,216		13,249 954 243 - 6,102 1,122 - 2,567 - 2,913 14 542 13 1,405

2023 £

33,314

29,124

4,190