Charity number: 1154161
Agroforestry Research trust
Report of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2022
Agroforestry Research Trust
Contents Page
For the year ended 31 December 2022
Report of the Trustees 3-5 Independent Examiner’s report to the Trustees 6 Statement of Financial Activities 7 Statement of Financial Position 8 Notes to the Financial Statements 9-10
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Agroforestry Research Trust
Agroforestry Research Trust
Trustees Annual Report
for the period 01.01.2022 to 31.12.2022
Reference and administration details
The Agroforestry Research Trust is a registered Charitably Incorporated Organisation (CIO), No. 1154161. Its principal address is at 46 Hunters Moon, Dartington, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 6JT. The charity Trustees during the year to 31 December 2020 were:
Ms M Rose
Mr D Edge Ms M Jain
Senior staff: Mr M Crawford, Director
Structure, governance and management The Agroforestry Research Trust is constituted as a CIO under a constitution dated 18[th] September 2014.
New Trustees are appointed by resolution of the existing Trustee body.
Objectives and activities
Objects
To advance education for the public benefit into all aspects of temperate agroforestry systems including tree shrub and perennial crops through research and the dissemination of all useful results arising from the research, courses to teach various aspects of growing tree crops and agroforestry systems and tours of the research sites.
Main activities
Three research sites in and near Dartington, totalling 20 acres in size, are managed as agroforestry demonstrations and experiments.
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(1) The two acre Forest Garden site in Dartington demonstrates intensive agroforestry, having been started in 1994. The maturity of this site means that there is greatest public interest in visiting this, also increasing interest from researchers in the fields of carbon sequestration and sustainable agriculture.
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(2) An eight acre site at Dartington site has trials of nut trees and other unusual crops
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(3) A nine acre site at Littlehempston hosts the plant nursery, three more recent forest gardens, a forest garden greenhouse and other agroforestry experiments.
Courses are run to teach aspects of agroforestry, particularly forest gardening.
Guided tours of our research sites are conducted for the public and also private groups.
A quarterly journal is published, containing research on agroforestry and related crops.
Books are published and sold on different aspects of agroforestry and tree/shrub crops.
Seeds of many unusual agroforestry species are collected from our sites and made available.
Plants of many unusual agroforestry species are propagated and made available.
A consultancy service gives advice on agroforestry systems.
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Agroforestry Research Trust
Much of the work is undertaken by Martin Crawford, along with several workers and subcontractors, with admin support from Sandra Crawford.
The Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
Achievements and performance
The year 2022 was to some degree a return to normal after the Covid restrictions. Although the pandemic did not affect the ART very much, it did restrict the number of visitors to our sites, especially from abroad.
As usual, a mixture of public tours and private bookings from diverse groups were undertaken. Many people from the rest of Europe made their way to these, often 50% of a tour group or course. Private tours were undertaken for businesses (eg, Quorn), official bodies (eg. the Foreign Office in conjunction with a business consultant emphasising the cycling nature of the system), Colleges (eg. Bicton agricultural College, the Schumacher College) and land-based organisations (eg. the Edibles team from RHS Wisley).
The Forest garden site at Dartington continues to be the most popular site for visiting, and this system, started in 1994, is now at a stage where it looks after itself to a great degree.
Interest continues in the nut trials taking place on the 8 acre site at Dartington, and the course run on growing nut crops based here went ahead in October.. The interest in nut milks and nuts as alternative sources of oils is driving increased interest in nut crops in general.
Planting continued at the Littlehempston site, mainly in the two larger outdoor forest garden areas. Planting also continued in the ‘Forest garden greenhouse’, mainly underplanting of shrubs and ground layer plants.
We ran seven of our own courses in 2022 which were all fully booked, and remain as hybrid courses with some online content. Our main online forest gardening course is integrated under license into a certified forest gardening course run by the Orchard Project in the UK, and is also translated into French and sold under license there. It is also being translated into Spanish under a similar arrangement. A course was also held at the neighbouring Schumacher College in April, and Martin teaches on several of the Masters courses there. Filming took place for a new online course being created for Initiative Earth.
Planning started for the Second International Forest Garden / Food Forest Symposium to take place in February 2023. The previous online event was so successful that we decided to keep in an online event as the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. All the symposium materials from the first event are available free to view on the ART website.
Agroforestry News, the quarterly journal, continued to be published, with research articles on tree and shrub crops, forest gardening, pests and diseases, agroforestry systems etc.
Some 400 different species of seed and 700 different species/varieties of plant were made available online and through a mail order catalogue.
Financial review
Bankers: Lloyds Bank, 31 Fore St, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 5HH.
Independent examiner/accountant: Triple Bottom Line Accounting Limited, The Enterprise Centre, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ.
Net monetary assets at the end of the year stood at £373,703 (compared with £395,188 at the end of 2021).
Further details
Total income for 2022 was almost identical to the previous year. A significant increase in plant sales was offset by a drop in income from courses (mainly due to the fact that there was very little symposium income in 2022).
Expenditure increased significantly in a few areas: delivery costs (due to rapidly rising charges from delivery companies); research site costs (with investment in plants and infrastructure); Symposium costs (most of the costs for the 2023 symposium have been incurred in 2022); and wages (several new workers have been taken on). Expenditure has supported the key objectives of the Trust by maintaining land-based research sites, publishing useful information, maintaining the charity’s website etc.
The balances in hand at the end of the year indicate a healthy financial position.
The charity does not have an endowment fund.
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Agroforestry Research Trust
Policy on reserves
The Trust requires reserves for:
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Day-to-day operating capital.
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To enable the charity to continue to develop the research sites.
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Costs of hosting the Second International symposium in February 2023.
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Fund for a new course centre and/or worker accommodation.
The level of net monetary assets required is in the order of £340,000, consisting of £50,000 for No.1 above, £30,000 for No.2, £10,000 for No.3, and £250,000 for No.4.
The level of net current assets at 31.12.2022 stood at £373,703.
The policy on reserves is reviewed annually by the Trustees.
Funds materially in deficit
There are no funds materially in deficit.
Declaration The Trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed as a trustee on behalf of the charity’s trustees:
Signature
Print name
Date
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Agroforestry Research Trust
Independent Examiners report to the Trustees For the
year ended 31 December 2022
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2022.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiners statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should
be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Triple Bottom Line Accounting Limited
The Enterprise Centre
University of East Anglia
Norwich
Norfolk
NR4 7TJ
09/06/2023
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Agroforestry Research Trust
Statement of Financial Activities
For the year ended 31 December 2022
| Notes Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies 5,539 4,056 Charitable activities 2 226,349 Total Expenditure on: Charitable activities Total Net income Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Notes Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies 5,539 4,056 Charitable activities 2 226,349 Total Expenditure on: Charitable activities Total Net income Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Notes Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies 5,539 4,056 Charitable activities 2 226,349 Total Expenditure on: Charitable activities Total Net income Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted funds 2022 2021 £ £ 231,393 (265,894) (191,903) (265,894) ( 191,903) (34,006) 43,543 407,709 364166 373,703 407,709 231,888 235,449 |
|---|---|---|---|
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Agroforestry Research Trust
Statement of Financial Position
For the year ended 31 December 2022
| Notes Fixed assets Tangible assets Current assets Cash at bank and in hand VAT Creditors: amounts falling due witin one year Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Net assets The funds of the charity unrestricted income funds Total funds |
2022 - 367,651 6,052 - 373,703 373,703 373,703 373,703 |
2021 10,184 395,188 2,337 397,525 407,709 407,709 10 ,184 407,709 407,709 |
|---|---|---|
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Agroforestry Research Trust
1. Accounting Policies
Basis of accounting
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, except for investments which are included at market value and the revaluation of certain fixed assets and in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015)’, Financial Reporting Standard 102 the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), and the Charities Act 2011.
Agroforestry Research Trust meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).
2. Income from charitable activities
Unrestricted funds Tours and Courses Books and Publications Seeds and plants |
2022 £ 59,591 8,275 158,483 226,34 9 |
2021 £ 82,639 10,603 138,151 231,393 |
|---|---|---|
3. Staff costs and emoluments
| Total staff costs for the year ended 31 December 2022 were: Salaries and wages |
2022 £ 72,380 72,380 |
2021 £ 57,692 57,692 |
|---|---|---|
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Agroforestry Research Trust
4. Tangible fixed assets
| Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant and | Motor Vehicles | Computer | Equipment | |||
| Machinery | ||||||
| Cost or valuation | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| At 01 January 2022 | 86,640 | 8,480 | 3,000 | 98,120 | ||
| At 31 December | ||||||
| 2022 | 86 ,640 |
8 ,480 |
3 ,000 |
98 ,120 |
||
| Depreciation | ||||||
| At 01 January 2022 | 77,722 | 7,614 | 2,600 | 87,936 | ||
| Charge for year | 8,918 | 866 | 400 | 10,184 | ||
| At 31 December 2022 |
86 ,640 |
8 ,480 |
3 **,000 ** |
98 ,120 |
||
Net book values |
||||||
| At 31 December 2022 | - | - | - | |||
| - | ||||||
| At 31 December 2021 |
8 ,918 |
866 |
400 |
10 ,184 |
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sis of assets between funds |
||||||
| Tangible | Net current |
Net Assets | ||||
| fixed assets | assets/(liabilities) | |||||
| £ | £ | £ | ||||
| Unrestricted funds | ||||||
| General | - | 373,703 | 373,703 | |||
| - | 373,703 |
373,703 |
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Tangible fixed |
Net current |
Net Assets |
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| Previous year | assets | assets/(liabilities) | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | ||||
| General | 10,184 |
397,525 |
407,709 |
|||
10 ,184 |
397,525 |
407,709 |
||||
5. Analysis of assets between funds
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