2025-12-31-accounts

Charity number: 1154161

Agroforestry Research trust

Report of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025

Agroforestry Research Trust

Contents Page

For the year ended 31 December 2025

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 9-11

2

Agroforestry Research Trust

Agroforestry Research Trust

Trustees Annual Report

for the period 01.01.2025 to 31.12.2025

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 2025 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.

• (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, wildlife surveys and sustainable agriculture.

• (2) An eight-acre site at Dartington site has trials of nut trees, persimmons and other unusual crops

(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.

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.

3

Agroforestry Research Trust

A consultancy service gives advice on agroforestry systems from garden scale to large farm scale systems.

The work through 2025 was undertaken by a team of 5.5 led by the ART founder Martin Crawford.

The Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.

Achievements and performance

The year 2025 was a year of productive progress with projects. There was also a surprising episode in the spring when the landlords of the ART oldest forest garden site (The Dartington Hall Trust) gave notice quit. A large public protest helped convince them to retract the notice, but the episode did confirm that the ART would ideally like to purchase the site for long term security, should that ever become possible.

As usual, a mixture of public tours and private bookings from diverse groups were undertaken on all three of our research sites. Private tours were undertaken for businesses, official bodies, Colleges, Community organisations and land-based organisations.

The Forest garden site at Dartington continues to be the most popular site for visiting, with 80% of tours and courses happening on this site.

Interest continues in the nut trials taking place on the 8-acre site at Dartington, and a course run on growing nut crops happens here 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 underplanting in one of the forest garden areas. The processing kitchen on this site was very well used and enabled more processing and experimental use of novel crops.

We ran six of our own courses in 2024 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 new Propagation course proved highly popular, selling out on all 4 of the dates it ran.

The ART Facebook and Instagram pages are also used to disseminate news and information and have over 7000 thousand followers. A substack blog is also published.

Some 450 different species of seed and 750 different species/varieties of plant were made available online and through a mail order catalogue. Less plants were grown for sale than usual, owing to the intentional planned sale of the plant nursery to one of the ART workers in January 2026.

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

Further details

The worldwide economic situation, having affected the charity in 2024, meant that substantial changes started to be planned in 2025 to enable the charity to continue on a financial even keel. In consultation with ART, the owners of the Littlehempston site (where one the ART research sites is based) decided to sell part of it – the plant nursery and two other small plots. This fitted with the charity’s need to reduce labour costs, hence by the start of 2026 the labour force reduced to two via natural loss and redundancy. The plant nursery itself was taken over by a former employee at the start of 2026 and will continue the work that ART built.

Total income for 2025 was higher than the previous year mainly due to a significant donation towards running a Symposium in 2026. Course income also increased significantly. Generated income from selling seeds and books was roughly the same as the previous year. Sales of plants were down significantly, due to a smaller number being grown as a result of the impending sale of the nursery. Overall expenditure was significantly down compared with 2024. Wages and site costs reduced significantly. One-off redundancy costs meant that overall the accounts show a small loss; otherwise they would have nearly broken even. Expenditure has supported the key objectives of the Trust by maintaining land-based research sites, publishing useful information, maintaining the charity’s website etc.

4

Agroforestry Research Trust

Overall the charity made a small loss in 2025. The charity’s financial outlook for 2026 is good though, with much reduced anticipated expenditure and somewhat reduced income expected.

The charity does not have an endowment fund.

Policy on reserves

The Trust requires reserves for:

1. Day-to-day operating capital.

2. To enable the charity to continue to develop the research sites.

3. Funding for possible purchase of one of the research sites currently leased.

The level of net monetary assets required is in the order of £220,000, consisting of £40,000 for No.1 above, £30,000 for No.2, and £150,000 for No.3.

The level of net current assets at 31.12.2025 stood at £351,511.

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:

----- Start of picture text -----
MINNI JAIN
Minni Jain
----- End of picture text -----

----- Start of picture text -----
03/03/2026
----- End of picture text -----

Signature

Print name

Date

5

Agroforestry Research Trust

Independent Examiners report to the Trustees

For the year ended 31 December 2025

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2025.

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:

1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act; or

2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

3. 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

24.02.2026

6

Agroforestry Research Trust

Statement of Financial Activities For the year ended 31 December 2025

Notes Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies Charitable activities 2 Total Other Income: Bank Interest Expenditure on: Charitable activities Total Net income Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward	Unrestricted funds 2025 2024 £ £ 55,675 2,740 162,785 190,163
	218,460 192,904
	6,159 6,676 (246,995) (275,572)
	(246,995) (275,572)
	(22,377) (75,992) 373,888 449,881
	351,511 373,888

7

Agroforestry Research Trust

Statement of Financial Position For the year ended 31 December 2025

Notes Fixed assets Tangible assets Current assets Cash at bank and in hand VAT Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Net assets The funds of the charity unrestricted income funds Total funds		2025 4,369 4,369 343,403 5,825 349,228 2,086 351,511 351,511 351,511 351,511		2024 6,646
				6,646
				363,494 3,862
				367,356 115 367,242
				373,888
				373,888
				373,888

8

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 recognized at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).

2. Income from donations and legacies

	Unrestricted	Total 2025	Total 2024
Donations and legacies	55,675	55,675	2,740

3. Income from charitable activities

Unrestricted funds Tours and Courses Books and Publications Seeds and plants	2025 £ 47,266 9,280 106,239 162,785	2024 £ 36,891 10,191 143,082
		190,164

9

Agroforestry Research Trust

4 Expenditure on charitable activities

Expenditure on charitable activities
Tours and Courses Books and Publications Seeds and plants Research/maintenance	Unrestricted Total 2025 Total 2024 3,705 3,705 4,134 4,940 4,940 5,511 61,749 61,749 68,893 176,602 176,602 197,034
	246,995 246,995 275,572

5. Staff costs and emoluments

Total staff costs for the year ended 31 December 2025 were: Salaries and wages 6. Debtors VAT	2025 £ 140,425 140,425 2025 £ 5,825 5,825		2024 £ 164,621 164,621 2024 £ 3,862
			3,862

7. Tangible fixed assets

10

Agroforestry Research Trust

Cost or valuation At 01 January 2025 Additions Disposal At 31 December 2025 Depreciation At 01 January 2025 Charge for year Eliminated on disposal At 31 December 2025 Net book values At 31 December 2025 At 31 December 2024	Plant and Machinery £ 86,640 - - 86,640 86,640 - - 86,640 - -	Motor Vehicles £ 8,480 - 8,480 - 8,480 - 8,480 - - -	Computer Equipment £ 9,834 - - 9,834 3,188 2,278 - 5,466 4,369 6,646	Total £ 104,954 - 8,480 96,474
				98,308 2,278 8,480 92,105.85
				4,369
				6,646

8. Unrestricted funds General Previous year General	Analysis of assets between funds Tangible fixed assets Net current assets/(liabilities) £ £ 4,369 347,143 4,369 347,143 Tangible fixed assets Net current assets/(liabilities) £ £ 6,646 367,242 6,646 367,242	Net Assets £ 351,511
		351,511
		Net Assets £ 373,888
		373,888

11

Document Information

Document

Title Financial statement 31 December 2025 new ID edb1ac20-a81d-473a-a111-9247a9e54bc7 Status Signed Sender Tatiana Blana ([e-mail]) Dept/business Triple Bottom Line Accounting Dept/business ID triple-bottom-line-accounting PDF Certified True

Recipients

Name	Role	Authentication	Sign time
Minni Jain [e-mail]	Signer	Email	Tue, 03 Mar 2026 21:28:35 +0000
History
Event	Email	IP address	Date/Time
Financial statement 31 December 2025 new created by Tatiana Blana	[e-mail] 46.17.160.196		Mon, 02 Mar 2026 17:16:37 +0000
Financial statement 31 December 2025 new emailed to Minni Jain	[e-mail]		Mon, 02 Mar 2026 17:16:37 +0000
[e-mail] opened
email for document Financial	[e-mail]		Mon, 02 Mar 2026 17:24:54 +0000
statement 31 December 2025 new
Financial statement 31 December
2025 new visited by Minni Jain	[e-mail]	109.151.244.43	Mon, 02 Mar 2026 20:11:24 +0000
[e-mail]
Financial statement 31 December
2025 new emailed to Minni Jain	[e-mail]		Tue, 03 Mar 2026 21:23:39 +0000
[e-mail]
Financial statement 31 December
2025 new visited by Minni Jain	[e-mail]	109.151.244.43	Tue, 03 Mar 2026 21:23:52 +0000
[e-mail]
Signature applied (page 5)	[e-mail]	109.151.244.43	Tue, 03 Mar 2026 21:26:25 +0000
Ticked checkbox for statement: I
confirm that I am authorised to	[e-mail]	109.151.244.43	Tue, 03 Mar 2026 21:28:35 +0000
accept the terms of this document.
Ticked checkbox for statement: I
understand that accepting the terms of this document creates a legally	[e-mail]	109.151.244.43	Tue, 03 Mar 2026 21:28:35 +0000
binding obligation.
Signer offered option to accept or reject document	[e-mail]	109.151.244.43	Tue, 03 Mar 2026 21:28:35 +0000
Clicked button with text: By clicking
this button I hereby ACCEPT the	[e-mail]	109.151.244.43	Tue, 03 Mar 2026 21:28:35 +0000
terms of this document
Financial statement 31 December
2025 new completed by Minni Jain	[e-mail]	109.151.244.43	Tue, 03 Mar 2026 21:28:35 +0000
[e-mail]
'Financial statement 31 December '	[e-mail]		Tue, 03 Mar 2026 21:28:35 +0000

Financial statement 31 December 2025 new created by Tatiana Blana Financial statement 31 December 2025 new emailed to Minni Jain [e-mail] opened email for document Financial statement 31 December 2025 new Financial statement 31 December 2025 new visited by Minni Jain [e-mail] Financial statement 31 December 2025 new emailed to Minni Jain [e-mail] Financial statement 31 December 2025 new visited by Minni Jain [e-mail] Signature applied (page 5) Ticked checkbox for statement: I confirm that I am authorised to accept the terms of this document. Ticked checkbox for statement: I understand that accepting the terms of this document creates a legally binding obligation. Signer offered option to accept or reject document Clicked button with text: By clicking this button I hereby ACCEPT the terms of this document Financial statement 31 December 2025 new completed by Minni Jain [e-mail] 'Financial statement 31 December 2025 new' completed.