Cotswold Wildlife Park
Conservation Trust
Trustees’ Report
For the year ended 31[st] March 2025
Cotswold Wildlife Park Conservation Trust is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (registered charity number 1153477)
Cotswold Wildlife Park Conservation Trust | TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2025
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Cotswold Wildlife Park Conservation Trust | TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2025
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
The Trustees present their annual report together with their receipts and payments account for the year ended 31[st] March 2025
TRUSTEES Reggie Heyworth (Chair) Jamie Craig Stuart Fox (Treasurer) PRINCIPAL OFFICE Cotswold Wildlife Park Ltd Bradwell Grove Burford Oxfordshire OX18 4JP CHARITY NUMBER 1153477 REPORTING ACCOUNTANTS Chapman Worth The Old Estate Yard High Street East Hendred Oxfordshire OX12 8JY BANKERS Nat West High Street Witney Oxfordshire OX28 6HW
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Cotswold Wildlife Park Conservation Trust | TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2025
TRUSTEES’ REPORT
Structure, governance and management
The Trust is a registered charity number 1153477 and is constituted under a declaration of trust dated 18th March 2013 and was registered with the Charity Commission on 20th August 2013.
New Trustees are appointed by the existing Trustees and serve for three years after which they may put themselves forward for re-appointment. The Trust Deed provides for a minimum of three Trustees, with no more than one-third due for re-appointment in any one year.
The Trustees communicate regularly but must hold a formal meeting twice yearly. The Trustees agree on the broad strategy and areas of activity for the Trust and consider applications received for grants regularly and at the same time review the progress of projects that are supported.
New Trustees will be chosen based on their knowledge and experience of conservation activities and other skills.
All trustees give of their time freely and no trustee's remuneration or expenses were paid in the year.
Risk management
The Trustees have considered the major risks to which the charity is exposed and have reviewed those risks and have established procedures to manage those risks. The charity is adequately funded to meet its 2024/2025 commitments.
Objectives and activities for the public benefit
The Trust's objectives are:
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1) To promote the conservation, preservation and restoration for the public benefit of the world's animal, bird, fish and plant life and its industrial, urban, natural and marine environments of ecological or scientific importance and its natural resources.
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2) To advance the education of the public in natural history, environmental studies, ecology and conservation in industrial, rural and marine environments.
To achieve our objectives, the Trust makes grants to organisations, including other charities in the UK and overseas, as well as directly funding a reserve at Madiromirafy in Madagascar for the conservation of Sifakas, Lemurs and other wildlife together with the preservation of that environment. We also receive and hold funds from other European zoos to be used for conservation activities in Madagascar. We are directly involved with other projects in Madagascar, including Assoc. Francais Sauvegarde Du Grand Hapalemur (Helpsimus), for which we provide funding and support. In the United Kingdom we are partners in a scheme to reintroduce White Storks to England as a migrant breeding here in the summer, providing both finance and expertise in the hatching of eggs and the raising of chicks. The chicks are then transferred to our partners for subsequent release when the birds are mature.
The Trustees have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission when exercising their powers.
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Cotswold Wildlife Park Conservation Trust | TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2025
Using our presence at Cotswold Wildlife Park we inform the visiting public about the Trust's activities, including giving talks about conservation, providing information about the projects we support and encouraging an interest in the conservation of the species displayed at the Wildlife Park.
Material and information from the Trust are used by Cotswold Wildlife Park's education department in its work with the local schools that visit the Park throughout the year. We support many charities and organisations whose aims coincide with our objectives.
We hold various events throughout the year at the Wildlife Park to inform the public about our activities and the charities that we support and also to raise funds for our projects.
Grant-making policy
The Trust has established its grant-making policy to achieve its objectives for the public benefit. When making grants to other organisations the Trustees carefully consider whether any grant made will be spent in such a way as to further our objectives and will be spent on direct conservation activities, environmental improvements, or education projects rather than on administrative costs.
Organisations to which grants are made will be fully investigated and where possible meetings will be held with their representatives and future progress monitored. When choosing charities to support we give preference to projects that involve animals that are kept at Cotswold Wildlife Park.
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Cotswold Wildlife Park Conservation Trust | TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2025
Activities and achievements during 2024/2025
This year, the two main areas where most support has been provided through direct contribution and financial support are:
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1) The White Stork Project – this is a reintroduction project aiming to bring white storks ( Ciconia ciconia ) back to the UK by rearing chicks for release and working with other project partners to release and monitor these birds in the wild.
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2) Lemurs in Madagascar – Our support to this area is made through supporting the work of Impact Madagascar, Helpsimus and the conservationists behind these organisations, Josia Razafindramanana and Delphine Roullet.
We also support 18 other projects and charities with purely financial contributions. Many of these projects we have supported over many years, and have been able to see the great work they have achieved over this time.
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White Stork Project
Madagascar
Other projects
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Cotswold Wildlife Park Conservation Trust | TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2025
The White Stork Project
Since 2015, we have been involved with the Knepp Castle Estate re-wilding project to establish breeding populations of White Storks in Southern England. Working together with landowners in West Sussex and the Roy Dennis Foundation, the project aims to release captive bred birds in the hope that they will once again become a breeding bird in the UK. Our focus at Cotswold Wildlife Park is producing chicks, looking after them until they are fledged and the care of breeding birds. As a key part of the White Stork Project steering team, we offer advice and support throughout the year and host any members of the teams from Wadhurst or Knepp for training days when required. We also send staff down to the release pens to advise.
Summary of breeding and releases in 2024
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33 storks bred at Cotswold Wildlife Park transferred to Knepp for release
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A proportion of these birds were fitted with trackers, and we funded £5000 towards the costs for this
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5 chicks went to Wadhurst (to bolster diminishing numbers in satellite pen)
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3 chicks were kept at the Park (two for sex ratio, one for amputated eye) (one chick also sustained a leg injury and did not survive).
Total releases from 2018 to 2024 -182 birds
The project manager, Laura Vaughan- Hirsch has continued to manage all aspects of this project at Knepp on our behalf. She has improved husbandry at Knepp with the static population and been extremely efficient with all aspects of post-release monitoring, education, fostering links with other communities involved in stork conservation and working with social media. We hosted our annual “volunteers day” for the team of Stork volunteers from Knepp and had several meetings with Laura and the White Stork Project steering team. In 2025, we will release the birds bred at the Park at the Wadhurst site to allow for the birds to increase their “home” range. We are in discussion with Dr. Aldina Franco regarding a study using our birds at the Park to assist her in her field studies in Iberia.
At the time of writing (July 2025), 48 chicks have been taken to Wadhurst and are settling into their new surroundings before being released in August.
We provided £5,000 to purchase tracking devices and £45,600 to fund Laura Vaughan-Hirsch’s salary costs (2023/24 £44,406).
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Cotswold Wildlife Park Conservation Trust | TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2025
Madagascan reserves and projects
Our primary concern within the reserves that we support is the conservation of the Crowned Sifaka and the Greater Bamboo Lemur, but incidentally, our work is also supporting many other species that appear on the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) red list as being endangered or vulnerable including other Lemur species (Red-Brown, Mongoose, Grey Mouse and Fat-Tailed), and other species such as the Big Headed Turtle, Flat Tailed Tortoise, Madagascar Heron, Madagascar Fish Eagle, Van Dam's Vanga Bird, Madagascar Flying Fox, Madagascar Marsh-Harrier and the Fossa. We have, so far, identified five fish species from Madiromirafy that are endangered.
The target species we support with Impact Madagascar is the Crowned Sifaka. Our support goes towards the upkeep of the various reserves and intervention sites, education and training and supporting the local communities.
In 2024, Impact Madagascar achieved:
370,300 saplings produced and planted across 50 hectares for reforestation and ecological restoration
100,000 hectares spread over 9 sites are under community-led conservation programmes
161,200 mangroves 2 new protected propagules planted areas across 14 hectares 6 out of 9 forest 14 community sites demonstrate a conversation significant decrease associations, engaged in natural resources in deforestation management
More than 2,400 households benefit from income-generating activities through 14 different livelihood projects
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Cotswold Wildlife Park Conservation Trust | TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2025
Wetland Sites
Impact Madagascar currently manages three wetland sites which are rich in biodiversity and vital habitat for a number of important endemic species, including the critically endangered Madagascar fish eagle ( Haliaeetus vociferoides), three species of endemic cichlid fish ( Paretroplus maculatus, Paretroplus tsimoly & Paratilapia polleni) and one of the world’s most endangered species of turtle, the Madagascar big-headed turtle (Erymnochelys madagascariensis). To help protect these important wetland areas, there are 42 wetland patrollers who monitor illegal fishing and logging activity.
Dabolava
This reserve is in the central highlands of western Madagascar and includes the dry deciduous forest fragment of Amboloando. This reserve is the southern limit of the Crowned Sifaka in the Central Western part of Madagascar. This year 19 Crowned Sifaka were observed, including 2 births. There were no fire incidents this year, with the 18km of firebreaks (10m width) successfully maintained and a further 2km installed. There is a steady increase in seedling production and reforested areas, with 24,500 saplings produced this year. Community farming projects have been successful with an increase in production seen across the market gardening (see below), corn production and rainfed rice production. We are currently holding £13,613 to be distributed to this reserve.
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Market Gardening (68 Household Participants )
Vegetable Production (Ton) Average Income/Household (AR)
2023 2024 2023 2024
9.11
120400
7.09
89000
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Ankirihitra
This reserve includes the last vestiges of forest in the Boeny region of the Ambatoboeny District. The area comprises of gallery forest along the Labohazo river, dry deciduous forests and numerous streams. A successful monitoring program in 2024 recorded 506 crowned sifaka (including 15 births), 436 red-fronted brown lemurs (including 16 births), 48 mongoose lemurs (including three births), 99 grey mouse lemurs and six species of dwarf lemur. Unfortunately, 3.8 hectares of forest were lost this year, primarily due to tree cutting, burning and wildfires. To combat this set back, 8km of firebreaks (10m wide) were installed, and awareness sessions and training were provided on bushfire prevention and emergency measures. Poultry farming was launched in Ankirihitra village with 234 chicks distributed. Honey production, as part of the beekeeping program that launched last year, has nearly doubled this year, with 15 litres of honey produced. This increase in yield has meant that the first product sales were recorded, providing a new income opportunity for the beneficiaries. We are currently holding £14,454 to be distributed to this reserve.
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Cotswold Wildlife Park Conservation Trust | TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2025
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Beekeeping (10 Trained Farmers ) Poultry Farming Launched
Honey Produced (L)
234 Chicks Distributed
2023 2024
15
8
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Madiromirafy
The reserve is based in the Betisiboka Region in the Maevatanana District and comprises of dry gallery forest and a complex and extensive aquatic system. This year we contributed £26,600 to Madiromirafy. 160 crowned sifaka and 53 red fronted brown lemurs were observed in the Mandrava forest and 122 crowned sifaka and 91 red fronted brown lemurs were observed in the Liolava forest. For the fifth consecutive year, there has been zero deforestation recorded in this reserve. 5 hectares of degraded land have been successfully restored, and 60,000 saplings have been grown in local nurseries. There has also been work carried out to improve the livelihoods and food security of the local communities. Subsistence aid was given to 514 households affected by heavy rains and flooding. Over 1,000kg of shelled groundnuts were purchased directly from community members to boost local product value and help to support rural livelihoods. Anosibe Community Primary School achieved a 100% success rate on their final year primary school exams, highlighting the dedication of the students, teachers and community. More than 400 people benefited from medical support in Mangabe, including 16 major surgeries. Rainfed rice, peanut and corn cultivation have all seen substantial increases in production this last year, but income has dropped overall due to declines in unit selling price. Since the poultry farming scheme was started in 2021, over 3,000 chickens having been successfully raised, providing income for 282 families.
Mahajeby
This is a major site in the central region of Madagascar and holds the only remaining remnant forest in the area that still supports the critically endangered crowned sifaka. The reserve is important for conservation because it contains a mixture of both terrestrial and wetland ecosystems. The main threats to the reserve include illegal logging, cattle roaming in the conservation zone, charcoal making and wildfires. The Mahajeby forests are now home to 98 crowned sifakas (an increase of 11 from last year) organised into 17 distinct groups. All of these groups are actively monitored by ten patrol guides. Deforestation in this area has remained at zero for the past three years. This year six international volunteers and researchers participated in the conservation and community development programs with a visitors camp being established. In Mahajeby, 40 lemurs from the Cheirogaleus genus have been observed, including the exciting new discovery of the crossley’s dwarf lemur ( Cheirogaleus crossley ). Over 62,000 tree seedlings were produced in nurseries and over 12 hectares of land were restored using these seedlings. Individual reforestation activities were also carried out with 50
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Cotswold Wildlife Park Conservation Trust | TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2025
households. The aim of this is to encourage local community responsibility in soil conservation, cash crops and the production of fuelwood and timber. The community growing schemes proved to be successful this year with an increase in production and income for rice. Vegetable production dropped this year but with more strategic crops selected for market there was a significant increase in household income. We are currently holding £8,319 to be distributed to this reserve.
We are also currently holding £5,462 for translocations and £2,941 to go towards community health projects. As well as the funds contributed to Madiromirafy, £1,744 has been contributed to miscellaneous projects within Impact Madagascar.
This year, we were the third largest supporter for Impact Madagascar. The largest supporter was Helpsimus, another project we support in conjunction with Impact Madagascar.
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Conservation Allies Paris Zoo
5% 5%
TUSK TRUST
Various Zoos and
17%
Foundations
20%
FFO
7%
Other
Helpsimus
9%
28%
Cotswold Wildlife Park
9%
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Cotswold Wildlife Park Conservation Trust | TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2025
We part fund Helpsimus, including EEP (European Captive Breeding Programme) and TAG (Taxon Advisory Group) for Greater Bamboo and Black and White Ruffed Lemur conservation. Helpsimus was formed in 2008 and is managed by Delphine Roullet. Helpsimus aims to find a balance between the needs of humans and those of Lemurs, so that local communities and wild fauna can cohabitate in harmony. To achieve these goals, they have developed a strategy consisting of:
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Providing Lemurs a future in an appropriate habitat
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Finding a lasting balance between the needs of the Lemurs and those of the local communities around them.
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Supporting the populations in their efforts in favour of sustainable development.
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To listen, understand and act while respecting Malagasy traditions and culture.
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Supporting children’s education, working with local schools.
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We donated £27,861 in the current year (last year £21,311).
The organisation’s project area is in south-eastern Madagascar, 4km east of the Ranomafana National Park, with Ambodigoavy in the north and Sahofika in the south and includes 700 hectares of Bamboo Forest. The area managed by Helpsimus also includes Red Bellied Lemurs, Bamboo Lemurs and Woolly Lemurs.
The population of Greater Bamboo lemurs is estimated at 500 individuals, a reduction since 2023/24 caused by the dispersal of individuals to areas outside of the protected environment. The greatest risk to the Bamboo Forest continues to be slash-and-burn activity to expand land under cultivation.
Currently, a total of 32 local guides and 2 guards are involved in the monitoring of the Greater Bamboo Lemurs and the protection of rice crops from Lemur activity. During the last crop guarding campaign (November 2024 to February 2025) guards recorded 424 attempted intrusions by Greater Bamboo Lemurs into rice fields. Only 9 were successful, and only 3 caused minor damage, thus benefiting 185 rice farmers.
There is continued efforts to secure new habitats for the Greater Bamboo Lemurs, and 5 hectares of land were acquired in early 2025 to create a link to the 40-hectare plot purchased in 2023, and preparations continue to finalise the purchase of another 14 hectares. Once funds are secured, a further 20 hectares is available. In 2024, we planted 60,000 saplings, reforesting 15 hectares of forest fragments.
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Cotswold Wildlife Park Conservation Trust | TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2025
The prolonged drought at the beginning of the year, combined with the deterioration of a local road and the collapse of the main bridge, led to the need to distribute food aid to 800 vulnerable families, despite the introduction of improved rice growing systems that raised the average yield to 3.29 tonnes per hectare.
In response to climate change on crops, the agricultural programme is evolving with the promotion of drought-resistant crops and optimised irrigation. In addition, a poultry farming programme is being prepared.
In 2024, over 3,000 children participated in environmental education activities, and we continue to work with 5 schools, financially supporting the salaries of 16 teachers. In 2024, pupils were provided with 800 school kits, comprising notebooks, pens, pencils and a ruler. Two new school buildings were built and equipped.
This year Helpsimus celebrates its 15[th] year! We have supported Helpsimus since its inception and even supported preliminary work with the Bamboo Lemur Programme. We have been a constant supporter of Helpsimus and the work of Delphine Roullet. Overleaf is a brief summary of some of the things they have managed to achieve over the last 15 years.
To help celebrate this 15[th] anniversary, Helpsimus have created a book fully dedicated to greater bamboo lemurs. It features incredible photography and stories of the charity's history and achievements. We provided the funds to translate this book into English in order to make the book available to a wider audience and are currently stocking the book in the Park gift shop for visitors to purchase. All funds raised from the sale of these books will go back to supporting Helpsimus.
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Cotswold Wildlife Park Conservation Trust | TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2025
15 Years of Lemur Conservation with Helpsimus
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----- Start of picture text -----
650 Greater Bamboo 700 lemurs from 4
lemurs living on Helpsimus different species are
conservation site. Their
monitored and
population has tripled in
directly protected
10 years!
40 guides are 5 schools are supported and 1 school dedicated to
responsible for monitoring more than 700 children environmental education
the lemurs are educated opened in 2022
3 illustrated 17 school trips
allowed more than 200
booklets telling the
stories of lemurs protected children to visit
by Helpsimus Ranomafana National Park
5 school canteens
12 schools with
1 research centre was
were created, distributing more
built in 2023 to host biologists, 23 classrooms
students and volunteers than 100,000 meals
were built
during 2023/2024
The 4 tree nurseries 3 villagers’
of the programme have associations (VOI) in
helped restore around 30 charge of managing the
natural resources on their
hectares of forest
lands
68 rice field More than 900 hectares 900 families benefit
of forest fragments are from the vegetable crop
guards help resolve
programme
human/lemur conflict protected
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Cotswold Wildlife Park Conservation Trust | TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2025
Other Projects supported by the Trust
White-tailed Eagle Reintroduction
This is a UK reintroduction project, based initially on the Isle of Wight to return this, our largest Eagle, to its traditional habitats. The reintroduction started in 2019 and, with the agreement of Natural England, will now be extended to Norfolk, where it is hoped a breeding population will be established by 2026. The project has a licence to release 60 birds over 5 years. In 2022, releases were halted because of the prevalence of Avian Influenza, so it is hoped that the release period can be extended. White-Tailed Sea Eagles, which can have wingspans of 8ft, were wiped out as a breeding species in the 18[th] century, but in the past 40 years breeding populations have been successfully reestablished in Scotland and Ireland. By December 2021, twenty-five juveniles had been released in England, all fitted with satellite transmitters, allowing us to monitor their dispersal and hopefully facilitate their return. The released birds have travelled as far north as John O’Groats, and one ventured to Denmark. Some stayed in the South of England and have been seen in Wiltshire, Dorset and near to the Brecon Beacons in Wales, before returning to the south coast. Sadly, 3 birds from previous releases died over the 2021/22 winter. On a positive note, one pair have established a bond and has been seen attempting nest building and breeding. We donated £5,815 this year (2023/24 £9,000). The project is managed by Dr Tim Mackrill from the Roy Dennis Foundation Tim has worked extensively with Osprey re-introduction.
Falklands Conservation
This trust was formed in 1979 and works with its membership in partnership with the local and international community to protect and conserve the natural environment of the Falkland Islands through direct and practical conservation work. This work includes marine management schemes monitoring the populations of Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises. The trust continues to strengthen bio-security to prevent the arrival and establishment of invasive non-native species. Current projects include replanting tussac grass to restore degraded environments. The Wildlife Park has several Penguin collection boxes, and £1,123 (2023/24 £2,636) from these was donated to the Falkland Trust.
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Cotswold Wildlife Park Conservation Trust | TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2025
Tongwe Trust
This trust was formed in 2006 to help secure and protect the Ntakata Villages’ Land Forest Reserve in south-west Tanzania for the benefit of the Tongwe people and the variety of wildlife found in the area. This includes, African Elephant, Leopard, Lion, Chimpanzee, Giant Pangolin, Zebra and Red-Tailed Monkey. The trust aims to allow the Tongwe people, formerly of the Congo basin, to acquire and manage land adjacent to Lake Tanganyika and to encourage income-generating activities, including honey production, that are environmentally friendly, together with sustainable eco-tourism projects. The trust seeks to preserve the knowledge and traditions of the Tongwe people and to train the young as trackers and guides both within and outside the Forest Park’s boundaries. To support the trust, we donated £4,966 (2023/24 £4,999). Our donation is used to pay Rangers’ salaries, food, patrol costs and expenses.
Tusk Trust
Tusk Trust has been established for over twenty-five years, funding conservation, community development and environmental education programmes across Africa. We donated a total of £430 (2023/24 £550) for general conservation work, mainly in Africa, from funds collected from visitors to the Wildlife Park. We also held a Rhino week event as a fundraiser, and this raised £906 (2023/24 £1,289), which was also donated to Tusk.
Wild Camel Protection Foundation
An estimated 1,000 individual Wild Bactrian Camels survive in the Gobi Desert and Mongolia, making the Wild Bactrian Camel the 8[th] most endangered large mammal on the planet. Captive breeding is important to protect the future of this breed, and there are breeding centres in China and Mongolia. We have committed to give a minimum annual donation of £1,000 (2023/24 £5,000) to support their breeding programme and in 2023/24 to finance a new breeding centre.
Nomad Conservation Fund
This UK charity was formed in 2022 to raise funds to help conserve wildlife and natural habitat in Tanzania’s national parks. They work with local communities promoting health, education and local community programmes to drive their conservation goals.
We contributed £6,000 in the current year (2023/24 £4,000).
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Cotswold Wildlife Park Conservation Trust | TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2025
Whitley Fund for Nature
This fund provides substantial support to many conservation projects and organisations throughout the world. Their aims are; to find and fund the most effective grassroots conservation leaders in developing countries, support the scale-up of projects with a track record of success founded on scientific evidence and community involvement, fund practical work that will have a longlasting impact on the ground, provide a platform for winners of the WFN annual awards to boost their national and international profile, work with winners of their annual awards to improve awareness of the serious problems facing biodiversity worldwide and address them through effective and inspiring solutions. We donated £2,400 to WTN this year (2023/24 £2,400).
Save the Rhino International
This charity, based in England, was formed in 1989 to conserve viable populations of critically endangered Rhinos, both in Africa and Asia. They fund several fieldbased projects and actively support environmental education programmes and anti-poaching activities. We contributed £500 in the current year (2023/24 £500).
Hornbill Research Foundation
We have supported this project in Thailand for many years. Our funding is used to pay members of the local community to monitor several Hornbill nest sites within the Budo National Park. By paying local villagers to monitor these nest sites, it discourages them from seeking to earn extra income by selling Hornbill chicks. We provided £901 funding this year (2023/24 £907). Funding and research are administered through Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Australian Wildlife Conservancy
Guided by science, Australian Wildlife Conservancy works to restore ecosystems across their sanctuaries and partnership sites, actively combating invasive weeds and feral animals, reintroducing native wildlife and strengthening the resilience of Australia’s ecosystems for future generations. Most of Australia’s wildlife is found nowhere else in the world, making its conservation of utmost importance. We donated £750 (2023/24 £750).
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Cotswold Wildlife Park Conservation Trust | TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2025
Songbird Survival
Songbird Survival Funds research into the decline in the population of British songbirds and works with like-minded organisations to promote and conserve natural habitats in which song and other small birds live. We supported their aims by donating £1,000 (2023/24 £1,000).
Conservation Planning Specialist Group
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature is a membership organisation that includes Governments and civil society organisations, including most of the world’s major zoos. It has over 1,400 members and is the global authority on the status of the natural world. It is well known for its Red List of critically endangered species. They support projects across the world and can call on a wide range of experts advising on projects and providing data, guidelines and recommendations for research and conservation activities. We contributed £813 (2023/24 £732).
Kope Lion and Safina Lion Conservation Fund
This project operates in the Ngorongoro region of Tanzania. It aims to protect Lions, monitor Lion populations and enable lasting co-existence between people and lions in Northern Tanzania. Their on-the-ground teams aim to stop the killing of Lions, but also retrieve lost livestock, warn herders of Lions’ presence, and offer wound treatment to injured livestock. They continue to find ways to reduce carnivore attacks by improving livestock enclosures, using natural materials. They also continue with education projects for the warrior age groups, their elders and leaders to reaffirm the ban on killing Lions for both ritual and retaliatory reasons and to promote positive attitudes to Lions for current and future generations. We donated £2,787 in the current year (2023/24 £679).
World Parrot Trust
The Trust’s headquarters are based in the UK, but it also has offices in the U.S.A., Canada and Australia and is active globally, supporting the conservation of all Parrot species. , This year, we donated £500 (2023/24 £500).
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Cotswold Wildlife Park Conservation Trust | TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2025
Sebakwe Black Rhino Trust
The trust works in Zimbabwe, protecting a small group of Black Rhinos and works closely with the local community through the Sebakwe Conservation Education centre. The Rhinos are protected 24/7 by a team of scouts. This year, two calves were born. Other projects supported included the supply of 10 pedal-powered sewing machines as part of our education support programme. We donated £750 in the current year (2023/24 £750).
ABConservation
This organisation is based in France but is working mainly in the Philippines, studying the Binturong, which is also known as the Bearcat. Their science and research team are based in Palawan. Binturong are listed by I.U.C.N as vulnerable. AB Conservation is active in both conservation and educational activities, including camera trapping and radio tracking. In May each year, they hold an annual Binturong Day event in which 50 zoos, including ourselves, participate. We donated £956 in the current year (2023/24 £1,000) and continue to keep a breeding pair of Binturong at the Wildlife Park.
Pallas’s Cat International Conservation Alliance
Working in the highland regions of Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Bhutan, Nepal and Turkmenistan, this project seeks to establish the range and population of Pallas Cats by involving the local population in surveys and by the use of camera traps. Research is also being carried out on threats from domestic and feral dogs, illegal trade and the use of poisons intended to manage the rodent population on farmed land. Educational material has been produced and distributed in 14 countries to raise awareness and improve Pallas Cat conservation. This year PICA hosted an online event, detailing the different projects and research being carried out. Our donation this year was £500 (2023/24 £500).
Plant Life International
Plant Life was formed in 1989 as a campaign group active in the UK and globally, working with partner organisations to encourage the conservation of wild plants and fungi. We support their aims, and we donated £500 this year (2023/24 £500).
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Cotswold Wildlife Park Conservation Trust | TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2025
Financial review and sources of fundin g
As in previous years, our main source of funding has been provided by Cotswold Wildlife Park Ltd. In the current year, £20,000 was awarded (2023/24 £210,000). We received £36,058 (2023/24 £39,792) from several European zoos, and this money is restricted for the maintenance of defined reserves and projects in Madagascar.
We collect funds from visitors to the Wildlife Park who donate to various causes through our collection boxes, including Madagascar reserves, Penguins, and Tusk. This year we raised £2,237 (2023/24 £4,090)
Our Just Giving page has generated £2,529 (2023/24 £1,186).
Special events which were held to generate funds for Lions, Rhinos, Binturongs and Lemurs raised £5,607 (2023/24 £5,479).
We received £1,332 in Gift Aid (2023/24 £1,614).
Other income, including sale of goods, filming fees, legacies and general donations etc., generated £4,391 (2023/24 £4,521).
In the current year we receive a specific £5,000 donation to provide radio tracking devices for our Stork reintroduction project.
In 2024/25 we held a large balance in Euros that were unspent from 2023/24 and changes in the exchange rate between Sterling and Euro generated a deficit of £307 (2023/24 a deficit of £817).
Total Charitable donations received in the current year were £76,847 (2023/24 £265,859).
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CWP
European Zoos
Collection boxes
Just Giving
Fundraising events
Gift Aid
Other
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Page 19
Cotswold Wildlife Park Conservation Trust | TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2025
Overhead and governance costs were £847 (2023/24 £885) and costs of generating funds was £236 (2023/24 £236). Our overhead and governance costs this year are 1.40% of total income (2023/24 0.42%).
This year our expenditure exceeded our income by £63,639 (2023/24 showed a surplus of income over expenditure of £66,249).
On 31[st] March 2025 we have £79,524 in bank balances (2023/24 £143,163), of which £62,839 is restricted or designated (2023/24 £25,716).
Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom accounting standards. The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the finances of the charity and of the receipts and payments of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements the trustees are required to:
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Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
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Observe the methods and principles of the Charities SORP;
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Make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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State whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements and;
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Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 1993, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Reserve policy
We aim to have sufficient funds available at any one time to cover at least six months of known commitments. At the end of our financial year the Trust had cash reserves of £79,524 (2024 £143,163) and we have a commitment from Cotswold Wildlife Park Ltd for continued financial support.
Investment Policy
The Trust’s funds are all held in both Sterling and Euro current accounts with NatWest Bank. There are no long-term surplus funds that require investment.
Page 20
Cotswold Wildlife Park Conservation Trust | TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2025
Principal Sources of funds
Our principal sources of funding remains an annual donation from Cotswold Wildlife Park Ltd plus donations from a number of European Zoos, which are restricted for work in Madagascar. Additionally, we generate funds from collection boxes situated around the Wildlife Park, plus donations from our Just Giving page and occasional legacies and fees from film and TV companies. We hold fundraising conservation events for specific projects and receive donations from the general public, our Just Giving page and other charitable organisations.
Approved by the Board of Trustees on 4[th] August 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
Reggie Heyworth Chair of the Board of Trustees
Page 21
Cotswold Wildlife Park Conservation Trust | TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2025
Institutions receiving grants during the year 2024/ 2025
| £ | |
|---|---|
| White Stork Project | 50,600 |
| Impact Madagascar | 28,344 |
| Helpsimus | 27,861 |
| Nomad Conservation Fund | 6000 |
| White-tailed Eagle Reintroduction | 5815 |
| Tongwe Trust | 4966 |
| Kope Lion and Safina Lion Conservation Fund | 2787 |
| Whitley Fund for Nature | 2400 |
| Tusk Trust | 1336 |
| Falklands Conservation | 1123 |
| Wild Camel Protection Foundation | 1000 |
| Songbird Survival | 1000 |
| ABConservation | 956 |
| Hornbill Research Foundation | 901 |
| Conservation Planning Specialist Group | 813 |
| Australian Wildlife Conservancy | 750 |
| Sebakwe Black Rhino Trust | 750 |
| Save the Rhino International | 500 |
| World Parrot Trust | 500 |
| Pallas’s Cat International Conservation Alliance | 500 |
| Plant Life International | 500 |
Page 22
| Cotswold Wildlife Park Conservation Trust | Cotswold Wildlife Park Conservation Trust | Cotswold Wildlife Park Conservation Trust | Cotswold Wildlife Park Conservation Trust | Cotswold Wildlife Park Conservation Trust | 1153477 | 1153477 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts andpayments accounts | CC16a | ||||||||||
| For the period from ~~ee ~~ |
1st April 2024 ~~ee~~ |
To ~~ee~~ |
31st March 2025 | ||||||||
| Section A Receipts and payments | |||||||||||
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
Total funds | Last year | |||||||
| to the nearest £ |
to the nearest | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | |||||
| A1 Receipts | |||||||||||
| Cotswold Wildlife Park Ltd | 20,000 | - | - | - | 20,000 | 210,000 | |||||
| CAF American Donor Fund | 5,000 | 5,000 | - | ||||||||
| Collection Boxes etc. | - | 7,846 | - | - | 7,846 | 9,563 | |||||
| Grants from Other Zoos | - | 36,058 | - | - | 36,058 | 38,975 | |||||
| Legacy | 1,675 | - | - | - | 1,675 | 2,000 | |||||
| Filming TV and other activities | 750 | - | - | - | 750 | 250 | |||||
| Gift Aid | 1,332 | - | - | - | 1,332 | 1,614 | |||||
| Just Giving | 2,529 | - | - | - | 2,529 | 1,186 | |||||
| Other Inome | 1,657 | - | - | - | 1,657 | 2,271 | |||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
AR) | 27,943 | 48,904 | - | - | 76,847 | 265,859 | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). - - - - - - - - - Sub total - - - - - Total receipts 27,943 48,904 - 76,847 265,859 ~~S555~~ |
|||||||||||
| A3 Payments | |||||||||||
| Charitable Grants | 127,927 | 11,475 | - | - | 139,402 | 198,489 | |||||
| Costs ofgenerating funds | 236 | - | - | - | 236 | 236 | |||||
| Accountant's Fees | 660 | - | - | - | 660 | 624 | |||||
| Bank Charges and money transfer | |||||||||||
| costs | 188 | - | - | - | 188 | 261 | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | 129,011 | 11,475 | - | - | 140,486 | 199,610 |
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) - - - - - - - - Sub total - - - - - Total payments 129,011 11,475 - 140,486 199,610 ~~SSS55—~~ |
|
|---|---|
| Net of receipts/(payments) - 101,068 37,429 - - 63,639 66,249 A5 Transfers between funds - - - - A6 Cash funds last year end - - - - 76,914 Cash funds this year end - 101,068 37,429 - - 63,639 143,163 ~~SSS55~~ |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
19/08/2025
1
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets |
Signature Reporting Accountant's Fees Details Details Nat West Sterling Account Nat West Euro Account Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Gift Aid Details |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 16,685 18,049 - 44,790 - - 16,685 62,839 Agreement Error Agreement Error Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 2,191 - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) Unrestricted 700 - - - - Print Name |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
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| Date of approval |
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CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
19/08/2025
2
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of Cotswold Wildlife Park Conservalion Trust On accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 Charlty no (If any) 1153477 Sel out on pages 1&2 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (Ihe Trust") for the year onded 31 March 2025. Responslbllltles and As the charty trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basls of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {"the Act.). I report in respect of my examlnation of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Acl and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515){b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below ') in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any rnaterlal respect.. accounting records were not kept In accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounls do not accord with the accounting records Independent examlner's statement I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in conneclion with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the words in the brack8ts if they do not apply. Slgned: Date: Name: Anna Chapman Relevant professlonal quallflcatlon(s) or body (If any): FCA Address: Chapman Worth Limited 2 The Old Estate Yard High Street East Hendred Oxfordshire. OX12 8JY IER October 2018
Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: dir8Ctions and guidance for examiners). NIA Give here brief dgtails of any Items that the examlner wishes to disclose. IER October 2018