**To** ## **Trustees' Annual Report for the period** Period start date Period end date 01 08 2022 31 07 2023 **From** ## Section A Reference and administration details **Charity name** ElmsWild **Other names charity is known by** 1152850 **Charity's principal address** Rose Cottage, School Road Elmswell Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk **Postcode IP30 9EA** ~~—~~ **Other names charity is known by** **Registered charity number (if any)** 1152850 |**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee(if any)**| |---|---|---|---| |Robert Victor
Boardman|Treasurer||| |2 MaryJo Feeney|Chair||| |3 Keith Harvey|||| |4 John Ibbetson|Vice-Chair||| |5 Lisa Jane Pratt||To 26 May2023|| |Hugh Geoffrey
Spencer||From 12 Sept 2022|| |Janet Mary
Spencer||From 12 Sept 2022|| |8|||| |9|||| |10|||| |11|||| |12|||| |13|||| |14|||| |15|||| |16|||| |17|||| |18
~~es~~|~~es~~|~~es~~|~~es~~| **TAR** March **2012** 1 ## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)** **Type of adviser Name Address** ## **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)** ## **Section B Structure, governance and management** ## **Description of the charity’s trusts** Constitution (Foundation Model) Type of governing document Adopted 8 April 2013 (eg. trust deed, constitution) Charitable Incorporated Organisation How the charity is constituted - (eg. trust, association, company) Appointed by existing Trustees Trustee selection methods - (eg. appointed by, elected by) ## **Additional governance issues (Optional information)** You **may choose** to include additional information, where relevant, about: - policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees; - the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works; - relationship with any related parties; ElmsWild has a Health & Safety policy and a Safeguarding policy, copies of which are given to all existing and new Trustees. Site and activity risk assessments are maintained. All are reviewed annually and circulated to all Trustees. Safety advice is given to all volunteers. Safeguarding training is undertaken by all Trustees. ElmsWild is a member of The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) and Community Action Suffolk. - ElmsWild receives advice and support from Orchards East on matters relating to the community orchard. All Trustees give their time voluntarily and received no remuneration or other benefits. - trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them. ## **Section C Objectives and activities** **Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document** - (1) To promote for the benefit of the public the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment in the parish of Elmswell, Suffolk, by the development of native species woodland, orchards and wildlife areas. - (2) To advance the education of the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment. **TAR** March **2012** 2 Trustees planned and carried out the year’s activities having due regard for the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit, which was discussed at trustee meetings. Our activities included: - Activities with people of all ages, including children from our local nursery and uniform groups, and joint activities with other community groups (e.g. village festival and exhibition, tree-planting, willow cutting and distribution). This benefits people by providing opportunities for informal learning, encouraging people’s positive interaction with the natural environment, and for community cohesion. **Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)** - Events open to the whole community, including craft sessions, Apple Day and work parties. This benefits people by providing opportunities to learn and share new skills, and to enhance their local environment. - Continuing development and maintenance of the community woodland and orchard at Lukeswood, wildlife area at Kiln Meadow, and wildflower meadow at Town Field (keeping paths and rides open, maintaining trees and hedges, maintaining wildflower areas). This benefits people by providing open green space where they can walk, take healthy exercise, be close to nature, and share these experiences with children, families, and other community members. - Creating and improving wildlife habitats (hedgerows, trees, wildflower areas, grassland, ponds) and surveying local wildlife. This benefits people by providing opportunities to explore nature on their doorstep and contribute to its conservation. - Maintaining and improving other local natural areas (e.g. public garden, mini wildflower meadows and scattered orchard), and planting trees at various sites within the village. This benefits people by providing pleasant open/green spaces for recreation and enjoyment. ## **Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)** The Trustees are very grateful for the contribution of volunteers who help maintain our wildlife and woodland sites and who also assist with community events and educational activities. In particular the Trustees would like to acknowledge: You **may choose** to include further statements, where relevant, about: - policy on grantmaking; - policy programme related investment; - contribution made by volunteers. - Help received from volunteers from BT, who have assisted with conservation work at Lukeswood. - The help and cooperation received from members of the Trefoil Guild towards community activities, and especially for keeping our first aid equipment up to date. - The help and support received from the staff of Street Farm Nursery. - Continuing advice and assistance given by members of the Suffolk Naturalists’ Society, Suffolk Biodiversity Information Service, Suffolk Wildlife Trust and Suffolk Butterfly Conservation. **TAR** March **2012** 3 Section D Achievements and performance Educational activities **Summary of the main** Members of ElmsWild continued to facilitate educational and recreational **achievements of the charity** visits by local groups, including Elmswell Rainbows, Elmswell Toddlers **during the year** and Trefoil Guild. Regular visits to Lukeswood by children and staff from Street Farm Nursery Forest School continued; a Halloween party and graduation celebration were also held for children and parents at Lukeswood. Community activities and events In September Trustees were very pleased to host Apple Day at Lukeswood again after several years’ cancellations due to pandemic restrictions. Community willow cutting was held in January and bundles distributed to residents for their own garden and craft projects. ElmsWild volunteers provided an information stall at the Village Exhibition in July and a craft demonstration stall at the Village Ukulele Festival also in July. Wildlife/conservation activities In May Trustees were very pleased to welcome a volunteer team from BT who carried out various conservation tasks at Lukeswood and the wildflower areas in the village. The annual cut and rake at Kiln Meadow, Town Field and the orchard at Lukeswood were carried out successfully in September. Work continued on establishing a wildflower meadow at Town Field, by sowing patches with wildflower seed, particularly Yellow Rattle. Trustees planted a “Sandringham” apple variety in the orchard in memory of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. The summer of 2022 was extremely hot and dry, which meant that Trustees had to take extra precautions against fire risk. Several recently planted trees were lost to drought at this time. The donation from local builders Bloor Homes of two large water containers to harvest rainwater will help to mitigate against these conditions in future. A tree nursery was established on land next to the village library, which was used to hold 500 saplings for planting out later in the year. The purchase of 3 trail cameras, thanks to a Locality Budget grant, enabled us to identify deer, foxes and badgers at Lukeswood. A small group of 9 trees and shrubs was planted on land next to houses at Clayfields, using biodegradable tree shelters. Following the discovery at Kiln Meadow of a dead sparrowhawk, subsequently tested by DEFRA and identified as suffering from bird flu, Trustees alerted other local organisations and put up warning notices at all sites. Craft activities Trustees held five spoon carving and willow weaving sessions at Lukeswood, led by local experts and open to residents to join in. Wherever possible, events made use of material from our own woodland. These activities were greatly facilitated by the purchase of a new event gazebo, tools, and tables, enabled by Locality Budget grants from our county council and district council councillors. ElmsWild Spoon Club was inaugurated in April for residents wishing to develop their skills in green woodworking. Other achievements ElmsWild renewed the agreement with Elmswell Poors Land charity to manage Town Field for a period of 3 years (instead of one) which will allow for longer-term management planning. **TAR** March **2012** 4 ## **Section E Financial review** - We hold £5381 at this year end and aim to hold at least £2000 to meet - **Brief statement of the** running costs and any unforeseen expenditure. **charity’s policy on reserves Details of any funds materially** Not applicable - **in deficit Further financial review details (Optional information)** Our main sources of income this year have been: donations from local - You **may choose** to include organisations and individuals, and Elmswell parish council; fundraising - additional information, where events; County and District Council Locality Budget grants. - relevant about:  the charity’s principal The funds raised have gone towards: sources of funds (including  Basic running costs which allow us to keep our sites open for - any fundraising); everyone to enjoy, including insurance. - how expenditure has  Maintaining/developing the woodland, orchards and wildspace, supported the key objectives including the tools and equipment required to do this.  - of the charity; Provision of new equipment to facilitate community events and activities. - investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted. - **Section F Other optional information** ~~_~~ - **Section G Declaration** - ~~_~~ **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** **Signature(s)** **Full name(s)** Mary Jo Feeney **Position (eg Secretary, Chair,** Chair **etc)** **Date** 22/05/2024 **TAR** March **2012** 5 ## **ElmsWild** **01/08/2022** **1152850** **31/07/2023** Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted Restricted Endowment 5 funds funds funds to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ Total cash funds [__saet|[ IL (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Unrestricted Restricted Endowment funds funds funds —_ =: to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ Fund to which 3 Current value é asset belongs Cost (optional) optional _ —= = Fund to which Cost (optional) Current value : asset belongs P optional ee| Fund to which Amount due When due ——=liability relates =optional optional Signed by one or two trustees on : 5 Date of behalf of all the trustees Signature Print Name approval | a bs MARY FEENEY 22/05/2024 CCXX R2 accounts (SS) 2 22/05/2024 ElmsWild Charity No. 1152850 ; Receipts and Payments Accounts ## CONFIRMATION The Trustees confirm that: No guarantees have been given by ElmsWild ClO where any potential liability is outstanding at the date of the statement of assets and liabilities. There is no debt outstanding at the date of the statement of assets and liabilities which is owed by ElmsWild CiO and which is secured by an express charge on any of the assets of the CIO. Signature: Mr fe, Print Name: MARY JO FEENEY Date of Approval: 22/05/2024 pCHARTY _ Independent examiner's report on the accoun ## Section A ## Independent Examiner’s Report Report to the trustees/ members of | EimsWild On accounts for theended year lo=>— af; ‘ee 235c a | Charity(if any)no | 1152850 - Respective The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. - responsibilities of The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year - trustees and examiner under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: - e examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act, e to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and - e to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. - Basis of independent My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given examiner’s statement by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. ## Independent in connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention examiner's statement (other than that disclosed below *) 1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements: e to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and e to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or 2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enabie a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. - Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. **----- Start of picture text -----**
Name: | MicHAEL Alon MAWSON |
1 March 2012
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IER Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address:| S ~Werce CRESCENT ErmS$werr_, ~KuRYy St EDMUNDS SvuFFeik IP30 AVG ## Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material problems. IER 2 March 2012