## **The North Devon Biosphere Foundation**
**Charity No. 1156589**
**Company No. 04462420**
**Trustees' Report**
**31 March 2021**
**The North Devon Biosphere Foundation**
The Trustees, who are also directors of The North Devon Biosphere Foundation “the Foundation” for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the unaudited financial statements of the Foundation for the year ended 31 March 2020.
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS**
## **Company No. 04462420**
## **Charity No.**
**1156589**
## **Registered Office**
Park Farmhouse Horwood
Bideford Devon EX39 4PE
## **Directors and Trustees**
The Directors of the charitable company are its Trustees for the purposes of charity law. The following Directors and Trustees served during the
year:
P.R. Byers
A.D. Collyer Resigned 31 December 2020 Dr. R.C. Daniels R.W. Down B. Grosvenor Resigned 12[th] Feb 2021
T.M. Jones M. A. Tucker
## **Company Secretary**
P. R. Byers
## **Accountants**
## **Bankers**
Frances Clark Lloyds Bank Plc Exeter Cross Street EX39 4AX Barnstaple Devon EX31 1BE
Page 2
**The North Devon Biosphere Foundation**
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
The objective of the North Devon Biosphere Foundation (“the Foundation”) is to promote sustainable development for the benefit of the public by the preservation, conservation and protection of the environment and the prudent use of natural resources; the promotion of sustainable means of achieving economic growth and regeneration; to advance the education of the public in subjects related to sustainable development, protection, enhancement and rehabilitation of the environment. In particular the Foundation works to develop partnerships and manage projects for a sustainable future within the North Devon Biosphere.
As Trustees of the Foundation we have given due consideration to the Charity Commission's published guidance on the Public Benefit Requirement under the Charities Act 2011. During the period the Foundation continued to support the aims and activities of the UNESCO designated North Devon Biosphere Reserve. We met this aim by managing external funds made available for a number of projects in the biosphere reserve, including those designed to reduce pollution in the estuary of the Taw and Torridge, reduce flood risk, and encourage sustainable stewardship of our rivers, wetlands and woods. The Foundation continues to hold funds from the former charity The Silvanus Trust, which it uses to support woodland development projects.
The Foundation is grateful for the continued support from partners, including Devon County Council, North Devon and Torridge District Councils. We were also delighted to receive assistance from Natural England, the Forestry Commission, the Environment Agency, the Woodland Trust and South West Water Limited towards development of our capabilities and for specific projects.
## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE**
Our projects included continuation of the Estuary Project funded by the Environment Agency for an extra and final year. This aims to reduce diffuse pollution from agriculture and reduce flood risk, in association with a project on natural flood management, and its documentation funded by Natural England.
Our Woods for Water project continues to improve water quality and reduce downstream flood risk to local communities. This was delivered with Environment Agency via Devon County Council and leveraging finance from other sectors for the implementation. We also continue to operate the Taw Valley Facilitation Fund which has brought farmers together to share experience and focus on minimising environmental impact. In the latter part of the year we were successful in getting a Defra award for implementing a major tree planting initiative for approximately £100,000 to plant 20,000 trees. In this year we also delivered a partnership programme with South West Water and Environment Agency to reduce the bacteria loading in the Umber catchment using nature-based solutions to improve the bathing water quality at Combe Martin, and therefore improve community wellbeing.
The COVID pandemic has seen a curbing of our marine activity along with the reduction of the ream due to contracts ending on certain funding streams. The trust had applied for the
Page 3
**The North Devon Biosphere Foundation**
Green Recovery Challenge Fund but was unsuccessful.
The Pledge for Nature project, seed funded by crowd funding which allowed us to successfully apply for funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund continued with nimble adaptation to the pandemic through on line engagement, and then when regulations allowed, outdoor events. The project is successful and is drawing its next phase of funding from the Lottery Heritage Fund. Pledge for Nature is a campaign to galvanise community action for nature’s recovery across the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere. The project is for an initial period of three years.
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
The Foundation is governed by its Memorandum and Articles incorporated 17 June 2002 as amended by its Certificate of Incorporation on Change of Name dated 28 October 2010 and articles adopted by special resolution dated 26 February 2014 as amended by special resolution(s) dated 15 September 2017.
The Board meets regularly throughout the year, minutes are recorded and matters discussed include financial, operational, strategic and risk assessments. The Board invites operational members of the Biosphere Service to meetings as appropriate.
The Foundation is actively seeking new Trustees to ensure the skills at board level are commensurate with existing activities and plans for the future development. the year.
New trustees are provided with an induction programme to familiarise them with the Foundation and their obligations as trustees under the Charities Act 2011. New trustees are provided with copies of the minutes of previous Trustee meetings and are encouraged to consult with the pre-existing Trustees on any issues they wish to discuss.
Tony Colyer and Brett Grosvenor stood down as trustees In December and February, respectively. Tony had brought good financial knowledge to the board and we remain grateful for his efforts. Brett, stood down to ensure that his role did not conflict interests in his day work. His dynamism and ideas for developing the trust have been instrumental in its development to date.
In January 2021, the trust appointed its first CEO. This is a post seconded from the County Council to help develop the Foundation as an institute. The post is on loan form DCC for a fixed period and subject to negotiation as the Foundation increases capacity.
Page 4
**The North Devon Biosphere Foundation**
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Foundation and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Foundation and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The Trustees are also responsible for the maintenance and integrity of information included on the company's website.
The above report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime as set out in Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 and in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102).
Signed on behalf of the board
Tim Jones Chairman of the Trustees
Andrew Bell,
CEO North Devon Biosphere Foundation
Page 5
## **The North Devon Biosphere Foundation**
# **Annual Report and Unaudited Financial Statements**
**Year ended 31 March 2021**
**Company Registration No: 04462420 Charity Registration No: 1156589**
## **The North Devon Biosphere Foundation**
|**Contents**|**Page**|
|---|---|
|Trustees’ Annual Report (incorporating the Directors’ Report)|1|
|Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees|6|
|Statement of Financial Activities||
|(incorporating the Income and Expenditure Account)|7|
|Balance Sheet|8|
|Notes and Accounting Policies|9|
**The North Devon Biosphere Foundation** Year ended 31 March 2021
## Trustees’ Annual Report
The trustees present their annual report and financial statements of the charitable company for the year ended 31 March 2021. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the Charities Act 2011, and 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).
## **1. Objectives and activities for the public benefit**
The objective of the North Devon Biosphere Foundation (“the Foundation”) is to promote sustainable development for the benefit of the public by the preservation, conservation and protection of the environment and the prudent use of natural resources; the promotion of sustainable means of achieving economic growth and regeneration; to advance the education of the public in subjects related to sustainable development, protection, enhancement and rehabilitation of the environment. In particular the Foundation works to develop partnerships and manage projects for a sustainable future within the North Devon Biosphere.
As Trustees of the Foundation we have given due consideration to the Charity Commission's published guidance on the Public Benefit Requirement under the Charities Act 2011.
During the period the Foundation continued to support the aims and activities of the UNESCO designated North Devon Biosphere Reserve. We met this aim by managing external funds made available for a number of projects in the biosphere reserve, including those designed to reduce pollution in the estuary of the Taw and Torridge, reduce flood risk, and encourage sustainable stewardship of our rivers, wetlands and woods. The Foundation continues to hold funds from the former charity The Silvanus Trust, which it uses to support woodland development projects.
The Foundation is grateful for the continued support from partners, including Devon County Council, North Devon and Torridge District Councils. We were also delighted to receive assistance from Natural England, the Forestry Commission, the Environment Agency, the Woodland Trust and South West Water Limited towards development of our capabilities and for specific projects.
## **2. Achievements and performance**
Our projects included continuation of the Estuary Project funded by the Environment Agency for an extra and final year. This aims to reduce diffuse pollution from agriculture and reduce flood risk, in association with a project on natural flood management, and its documentation funded by Natural England.
Our Woods for Water project continues to improve water quality and reduce downstream flood risk to local communities. This was delivered with the Environment Agency via Devon County Council and leveraging finance from other sectors for the implementation. We also continue to operate the Taw Valley Facilitation Fund which has brought farmers together to share experience and focus on minimising environmental impact. In the latter part of the year we were successful in getting a Defra award for implementing a major tree planting initiative for approximately £100,000 to plant 20,000 trees. In this year we also delivered a partnership programme with South West Water and Environment Agency to reduce the bacteria loading in the Umber catchment using nature-based solutions to improve the bathing water quality at Combe Martin, and therefore improve community wellbeing.
1
## **The North Devon Biosphere Foundation**
Year ended 31 March 2021
## Trustees’ Annual Report
The COVID pandemic has seen a curbing of our marine activity along with the reduction of the ream due to contracts ending on certain funding streams. The trust had applied for the Green Recovery Challenge Fund but was unsuccessful.
The Pledge for Nature project, seed funded by crowd funding which allowed us to successfully apply for funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund continued with nimble adaptation to the pandemic through on line engagement, and then when regulations allowed, outdoor events. The project is successful and is drawing its next phase of funding from the Lottery Heritage Fund. Pledge for Nature is a campaign to galvanise community action for nature’s recovery across the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere. The project is for an initial period of three years.
## **3. Financial review**
The Trustees consider the financial performance by the Foundation during the year to have been satisfactory. The Foundation holds funds deferred for future periods, therefore no fundamental uncertainty exists over its ability to continue as a going concern.
At the balance sheet date, the Foundation held reserves totalling £320,600. Of these, £172,458 represented restricted income funds and £133,303 represented Designated Funds. Restricted income funds are those held by the Foundation for a purpose specified by the donor or appeal, Designated Funds are earmarked by the Trustees for a specific purpose, usually in consultation with the donor.
The amount of reserves the Foundation held at the end of the reporting period after making allowances for any restricted funds, and the amount of any designations was £14,839. The Trustees aim to have reserves, along with annual contributions from Devon County Council and Torridge District Council which amount so some £32,000 per annum towards operational costs – accordingly have sufficient funds to cover projected running costs for the next twelve months. The Foundation is also aiming to build capacity to manage future growth and part of the general funds represents a donation intended to finance this capacity building.
## **4. Structure, governance and management**
The Foundation is governed by its Memorandum and Articles incorporated 17 June 2002 as amended by its Certificate of Incorporation on Change of Name dated 28 October 2010 and articles adopted by special resolution dated 26 February 2014 as amended by special resolution(s) dated 15 September 2017.
The Board meets regularly throughout the year, minutes are recorded and matters discussed include financial, operational, strategic and risk assessments. The Board invites operational members of the Biosphere Service to meetings as appropriate.
The Foundation is actively seeking new Trustees to ensure the skills at board level are commensurate with existing activities and plans for the future development. the year.
New trustees are provided with an induction programme to familiarise them with the Foundation and their obligations as trustees under the Charities Act 2011. New trustees are provided with copies of the minutes of previous Trustee meetings and are encouraged to consult with the pre-existing Trustees on any issues they wish to discuss.
Tony Colyer and Brett Grosvenor stood down as trustees In December and February, respectively. Tony had brought good financial knowledge to the board and we remain grateful for his efforts. Brett, stood down to
2
## **The North Devon Biosphere Foundation**
Year ended 31 March 2021
## Trustees’ Annual Report
ensure that his role did not conflict interests in his day work. His dynamism and ideas for developing the trust have been instrumental in its development to date.
In January 2021, the trust appointed its first CEO. This is a post seconded from the County Council to help develop the Foundation as an institute. The post is on loan from DCC for a fixed period and subject to negotiation as the Foundation increases capacity.
3
## **The North Devon Biosphere Foundation**
Year ended 31 March 2021
Trustees’ Annual Report
## **5. Reference and administrative details**
**Registered Number** 04462420 **Registered Charity Number** 1156589 **Registered Office** Park Farmhouse Horwood Bideford Devon EX39 4PE **Trustees and directors** P R Byers A D Collyer (resigned 31 December 2020) R C Daniels R W Down B Grosvenor (resigned 12 February 2021) T M Jones (Chairman) M A Tucker **Company Secretary** P R Byers **Independent Examiner** Neil Hitchings FCA Francis Clark LLP Chartered Accountants Centenary House Peninsula Park Rydon Lane EXETER EX2 7XE **Bankers** Lloyds Bank plc Cross Street Barnstaple Devon EX31 1BE
4
## **The North Devon Biosphere Foundation**
Year ended 31 March 2021
## Trustees’ Annual Report
## **Trustees’ Responsibilities in Relation to the Financial Statements**
The charity trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing a trustees’ annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charity for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. 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.
## **Small Company Provisions**
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions for small companies under Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.
## **Signed on behalf of the Board**
**T M Jones (Chairman)** Trustee
5
## **The North Devon Biosphere Foundation**
Year ended 31 March 2021
## Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees
I report on the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 March 2021.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity’s trustees of the Charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
Since the Charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the ICAEW, which is one of the listed bodies.
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:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act 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; or
4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)).
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.
Signed:
Neil Hitchings FCA Francis Clark LLP Chartered Accountants Centenary House Peninsula Park Rydon Lane Exeter EX2 7XE
6
**The North Devon Biosphere Foundation** Year ended 31 March 2021
## Statement of Financial Activities
## (incorporating the Income and Expenditure Account)
|||||**2021**|**2020**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**Restricted**|**Unrestricted**|**Total**|**Total**|
|||**funds**|**funds**|**funds**|**funds**|
|||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**INCOME**|**Notes**|||||
|**Donations and legacies**|3|-|16,900|**16,900**|6,102|
|**Charitable activities**|4|140,132|215,123|**355,255**|286,829|
|**Other trading activities**|5|-|-|**-**|20|
|||–––––––|–––––––|–––––––|–––––––|
|**Total income**||140,132|232,023|**372,155**|292,951|
|||–––––––|–––––––|–––––––|–––––––|
|**EXPENDITURE**||||||
|Charitable activities - projects|6|147,699|238,005|**385,704**|139,556|
|- other|7|-|48,903|**48,903**|2,770|
|||–––––––|–––––––|–––––––|–––––––|
|**Total expenditure**||147,699|286,908|**434,607**|142,326|
|||–––––––|–––––––|–––––––|–––––––|
|**Net Income/(expenditure) for the year**||(7,567)|(54,885)|**(62,452)**|150,625|
|**Transfers between funds**|17|12,672|(12,672)|**-**|-|
|||–––––––|–––––––|–––––––|–––––––|
|**Net movement in funds**||5,105|(67,557)|**(62,452)**|150,625|
|**Reconciliation of funds**||||||
|Total funds brought forward||167,353|215,699|**383,052**|232,427|
|||–––––––|–––––––|–––––––|–––––––|
|**Total funds carried forward**||172,458|148,142|**320,600**|383,052|
|||══════|══════|**══════**|══════|
|**2021**||||||
|||||**2021**|**2020**|
|||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Represented by:**||||||
|Fixed assets||-|187|**187**|250|
|Net current assets||172,458|147,955|**320,413**|382,802|
|||–––––––|–––––––|–––––––|–––––––|
|||172,458|148,142|**320,600**|383,052|
|||══════|══════|══════|══════|
|**2020**||||||
|||||**2020**|**2019**|
|||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Represented by:**||||||
|Fixed assets||-|250|**250**|334|
|Net current assets||167,353|215,449|**382,802**|232,093|
|||–––––––|–––––––|–––––––|–––––––|
|||167,353|215,699|**383,052**|232,427|
|||══════|══════|══════|══════|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
7
## **The North Devon Biosphere Foundation**
## 31 March 2021
## Balance Sheet
|||**2021**|**2020**|
|---|---|---|---|
||**Notes**|**£**|**£**|
|**Fixed assets**||||
|Tangible assets|11|**187**|250|
|||–––––––|–––––––|
|||**187**|250|
|||–––––––|–––––––|
|**Current assets**||||
|Debtors|12|**70,216**|105,751|
|Cash at bank and in hand||**316,537**|284,181|
|||–––––––|–––––––|
|||**386,753**|389,932|
|**Creditors**- Amounts falling||||
|due within one year|13|**(66,340)**|(7,130)|
|||–––––––|–––––––|
|**Net current assets**||**320,413**|382,802|
|||–––––––|–––––––|
|Total assets less current liabilities||**320,600**|383,052|
|||–––––––|–––––––|
|**Net assets**||**320,600**|383,052|
|||**══════**|══════|
|**The Funds of the Charity**||||
|**Income funds**||||
|Restricted funds|15|**172,458**|167,353|
|Unrestricted funds - General funds|15|**14,839**|44,416|
|- Designated funds|15|**133,303**|171,283|
|||–––––––|–––––––|
|**Total charity funds**||**320,600**|383,052|
|||**══════**|══════|
The trustees are satisfied that the charity is entitled to exemption from the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 (the Act) relating to the audit of the financial statements for the year by virtue of section 477, and that no member or members have requested an audit pursuant to section 476 of the Act.
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for:
- (i) ensuring that the charity keeps adequate accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act, and
- (ii) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity as at the end of the financial year and of its profit or loss for the financial year in accordance with the requirements of sections 394 and 395, and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Act relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charity.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions for small companies under Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
These financial statements were approved by the members of the Board on and are signed on their behalf by:
## **M A Tucker Trustee**
## **Registered Company Number: 04462420**
8
## **The North Devon Biosphere Foundation** 31 March 2021
## Notes to the financial statements
## 1 **Accounting policies**
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, except for investments which are included at market value, and in accordance with 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) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
The North Devon Biosphere Foundation meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historic cost or transaction value, unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note.
The North Devon Biosphere Foundation is a company limited by guarantee and therefore has no share capital.
The Charity was incorporated in England and Wales and details of the registered office can be found in the reference and administration section of the trustees report.
The functional currency of the charity is considered to be pounds sterling because it is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the charitable company operates.
The trustees are not aware of any material uncertainties in relation to going concern.
## (b) **Fund accounting**
Funds held by the charity are either:
## _**Restricted funds**_
These funds represent funds that can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
## _**Unrestricted general fund**_
Unrestricted funds are available to spend on any charitable purpose.
## _**Designated funds**_
These are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes.
9
**The North Devon Biosphere Foundation** 31 March 2021
Notes to the financial statements
.
## **1. Accounting policies (continued)**
## (c) **Tangible fixed assets and depreciation**
Tangible fixed assets are included in the accounts at cost and are depreciated over their estimated useful lives at the following rates:
Plant & Machinery
- 25% per annum on the reducing balance basis
- (d) **Income**
Income is recognised where there is entitlement, certainty of receipt and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Donated services and facilities are included income (with an equivalent amount in expenditure) where the benefit is reasonably quantifiable, measurable and material. The value of volunteer help is not included in the financial statements.
## (f) **Expenditure**
Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis and includes irrecoverable VAT, reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates.
Expenditure on charitable activities comprises costs of delivering environmental projects and other support costs.
Governance costs are those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirement of the charity including independent examiners fees.
## (g) **Financial instruments**
The company only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments which are initially recognised at transaction value. The company holds the following financial instruments:
- Short term trade and other debtors and creditors
## **2 Legal status of the charity**
The charity is a private company limited by guarantee and has no share capital.
10
## **The North Devon Biosphere Foundation** 31 March 2021
Notes to the financial statements
## **3 Donations and legacies**
|**Donations and legacies**|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**2021**|**2021**|**2021**|**2020**|
||**Restricted**|**Unrestricted**|**Total**|**Total**|
||**Funds**|**Funds**|||
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|Donated services and gifts in kind|-|16,900|**16,900**|6,102|
||––––––|––––––|––––––|–––––––|
||-|16,900|**16,900**|6,102|
||══════|══════|══════|══════|
Income from donations and legacies of £16,900 (2020: £6,102) is unrestricted.
## **4 Income from charitable activities**
||**2021**|**2021**|**2021**|**2020**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Restricted**|**Unrestricted**|**Total**|**Total**|
||**Funds**|**Funds**|||
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|Environmental projects|140,132|215,123|**355,255**|286,829|
||––––––|––––––|––––––|–––––––|
||140,132|215,123|**355,255**|286,829|
||══════|══════|══════|══════|
Included in the 2021 total of £355,255 is unrestricted income of £215,123 (2020: £150,470) and restricted income of £140,132 (2020: £136,359).
## **5 Income from other trading activities**
|||**2021**|**2021**|**2021**|**2020**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**Restricted**|**Unrestricted**|**Total**|**Total**|
|||**Funds**|**Funds**|||
|||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
||Hire of trailer|-|**-**|**-**|20|
|||––––––|––––––|––––––|–––––––|
|||-|-|**-**|20|
|||══════|══════|══════|══════|
||Income from trading activities is unrestricted.|||||
|**6**|**Expenditure on charitable activities - projects**|||||
|||**2021**|**2021**|**2021**|**2020**|
|||**Restricted**|**Unrestricted**|**Total**|**Total**|
|||**Funds**|**Funds**|||
|||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
||Environmental projects|147,699|238,005|**385,704**|139,556|
|||––––––|––––––|––––––|–––––––|
|||147,699|238,005|**385,704**|139,556|
|||══════|══════|══════|══════|
Expenditure on Environmental projects was £385,704 (2020: £139,556) of which £238,005 (2020: £77,541) was unrestricted and £147,699 (2020: £62,015) was restricted.
11
## **The North Devon Biosphere Foundation** 31 March 2021
Notes to the financial statements
## **7 Expenditure on charitable activities - other**
||**2021**|**2021**|**2021**|**2020**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Restricted**|**Unrestricted**|**Total**|**Total**|
||**Funds**|**Funds**|||
|**Support costs**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|General administrative costs|-|18,207|18,207|1,183|
|Consultancy|-|28,073|28,073|-|
|Legal and professional cost|-|2,560|2,560|1,503|
|Depreciation|-|63|63|84|
||–––––––|–––––––|–––––––|–––––––|
||-|48,903|48,903|2,770|
||══════|══════|══════|══════|
Included in legal and professional costs are Independent Examiner’s fees of £1,200. Consultancy relates to fees paid to Passmore & Passmore during the year in relation to capacity building for the Foundation.
The charity did not have any employees.
## **9 Taxation**
The company is a registered charity, and its charitable activities are exempt from corporation tax.
## **10 Trustees’ emoluments and key management personnel**
No remuneration was received by the trustees during the year and no trustees were reimbursed for expenditure (2020: £nil reimbursed expenses). The key management personnel of the Trust comprise the trustees.
## **11 Fixed assets – tangible**
|**Fixed assets – tangible**|||
|---|---|---|
||**Plant &**||
||**Machinery**|**Total**|
||**£**|**£**|
|**Cost**|||
|At 1 April 2020|2,714|2,714|
|Additions|-|-|
||------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
|**At 31 March 2021**|**2,714**|**2,714**|
||====================================|====================================|
|**Depreciation**|||
|At 1 April 2020|2,464|2,464|
|Charge for the year|63|63|
||------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
|**At 31 March 2021**|**2,527**|**2,527**|
||====================================|====================================|
|**Net book value**|||
|**At 31 March 2021**|**187**|**187**|
||====================================|====================================|
|At 31 March 2020|250|250|
||====================================|====================================|
12
## **The North Devon Biosphere Foundation**
## 31 March 2021
## Notes to the financial statements
|**12**|**Debtors**|||
|---|---|---|---|
|||**2021**|**2020**|
|||**£**|**£**|
||**Due within one year:-**|||
||Trade Debtors|**69,852**|35,751|
||Prepayments and accrued income|**364**|70,000|
|||–––––––|–––––––|
|||**70,216**|105,751|
|||**══════**|**══════**|
|**13**|**Creditors**|||
|||**2021**|**2020**|
|||**£**|**£**|
||**Amounts falling due within one year:**|||
||Trade creditors|**63,780**|4,157|
||Accruals and deferred income|**2,560**|2,973|
|||–––––––|–––––––|
|||**66,340**|7,130|
|||**══════**|**══════**|
## **14 Control**
The charity is under the control of its Trustees.
13
## **The North Devon Biosphere Foundation** 31 March 2021
## Notes to the financial statements
## **17 Funds**
|**2021**|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**1 April**|**Incoming**|**Resources**|**Transfers**|**31 March**|
|||**2020**|**resources**|**Expended**||**2021**|
|**Restricted funds:**||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|Pledge for Nature||48,673|3,653|(27,918)|-|**24,408**|
|Catchment plan writing/|||||||
|Foundation capacity building||18,100|-|(18,100)|-|**-**|
|Signage||2,700|-|-|(2,700)|**-**|
|Silvanus and SW Woodland fund||29,820||(553)|-|**29,267**|
|Taw Valley Facilitation fund||1,879|10,261|(9,100)|-|**3,040**|
|PAWS Challenge Fund||26,419|-|(1,000)|-|**25,419**|
|Natural flood management||24,215|9,000|-|-|**33,215**|
|DEFRA wood||-|99,008|(86,610)|-|**12,398**|
|River Axe Kilmington STW||-|10,000|-|-|**10,000**|
|Biodiversity offsets Boode Farm||||(821)|20,000|**19,179**|
|Other restricted funds||15,547|8,210|(3,597)|(4,628)|**15,532**|
|||–––––––|–––––––|–––––––|–––––––|**–––––––**|
|||167,353|140,132|(147,699)|12,672|**172,458**|
|**Unrestricted funds:**|||||||
|_General funds:_||44,416|17,550|(48,903)|1,776|**14,839**|
|_Designated funds:_|||||||
|Visitor investment||8,197|-|-|-|**8,197**|
|Tarka Trail development||8,100|-|-|(8,100)|**-**|
|Taw/Torridge project||4,212|-|-|(4,212)|**-**|
|Climate friendly farming||2,000|-|-|(2,000)|**-**|
|Woodland enterprise zone||29,017|1,000|-|(5,000)|**25,017**|
|Estuary project||74,529|73,500|(144,953)|(3,076)|**-**|
|Marine Management Natural||17,000|-|-|-|**17,000**|
|Capital|||||||
|BIRD project||-|31,250|(33,448)|2,198|**-**|
|Smart Biosphere||-|63,580|(9,014)|-|**54,566**|
|NCM
–
Natural|Capital|-|40,000|(48,252)|8,252|**-**|
|Marketplace|||||||
|Other designated funds||28,228|5,143|(2,338)|(2,510)|**28,523**|
|||–––––––|–––––––|–––––––|–––––––|**–––––––**|
|||171,283|214,473|(238,005)|(14,448)|**133,303**|
|||–––––––|–––––––|–––––––|–––––––|**–––––––**|
|Total funds||383,052|372,155|434,607|-|**320,600**|
|||══════|══════|══════|══════|**══════**|
14
## **The North Devon Biosphere Foundation** 31 March 2021
## Notes to the financial statements
|**2020**||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**1 April**|**Incoming**|**Expenditure**|**Transfers**|**31 March**|
||**2019**|**resources**|||**2020**|
|**Restricted funds:**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|Pledge for Nature|-|56,628|(7,955)|-|**48,673**|
|Catchment plan writing||||||
|Foundation capacity building|18,100|-|-|-|**18,100**|
|Signage|2,700|-|-|-|**2,700**|
|Pioneer Short Film|8,004|2,750|(10,754)|-|**-**|
|Silvanus and SW Woodland||||||
|funds|29,820|-|-|-|**29,820**|
|Taw Valley Facilitation fund|-|23,675|(21,796)|-|**1,879**|
|PAWS Challenge Fund|11,419|15,000|-|-|**26,419**|
|Other restricted funds|22,966|38,306|(21,510)|-|**39,762**|
||–––––––|–––––––|–––––––|–––––––|**–––––––**|
||93,009|136,359|(62,015)|-|**167,353**|
|**Unrestricted funds:**||||||
|**_General funds:_**|21,915|39,309|(16,808)|-|**44,416**|
|**_Designated funds:_**||||||
|Visitor investment|10,697|-|(2,500)|-|**8,197**|
|Tarka Trail development|8,100|-|-|-|**8,100**|
|Taw/Torridge project|4,212|-|-|-|**4,212**|
|Climate friendly farming|2,000|-|-|-|**2,000**|
|Woodland enterprise zone|19,800|10,000|(783)|-|**29,017**|
|Estuary project|61,466|72,283|(59,220)|-|**74,529**|
|Marine Management Natural||||||
|Capital|-|17,000|-|-|**17,000**|
|Other designated funds|11,228|18,000|(1,000)|-|**28,228**|
||–––––––|–––––––|–––––––|–––––––|**–––––––**|
||117,503|117,283|(63,503)|-|**171,283**|
||–––––––|–––––––|–––––––|–––––––|**–––––––**|
|**Total funds**|232,427|292,951|(142,326)|-|**383,052**|
||══════|══════|══════|══════|**══════**|
Purposes and restrictions in relation to the funds: _Restricted funds:_
Pledge for Nature
Catchment plan writing/ Foundation capacity building Signage Pioneer Short Films Silvanus and SW Woodland Funds Taw Valley Facilitation fund
PAWS Challenge Fund
Financing a campaign to galvanise community action for nature’s recovery.
To develop the economic impact of sustainably managed woodland.
To provide environmental signage. Financing the production of short films entitled Journey to the Sea. To support the aims of the former Silvanus Trust
Bringing over 80 farmers and foresters together to share experience and focus on collaboration to improve the natural environment at a landscape level.
To restore ancient woodland.
15
## **The North Devon Biosphere Foundation** 31 March 2021
## Notes to the financial statements
Other restricted funds Including Natural Flood Management; Nature’s Tonic; Timber Girls; Diffuse Pollution; and, Year 2 Woods for Water
Supporting developments in natural flood management; supporting the Devon Wildlife Trust Chair with joint administration of the North Devon Catchment Partnership; contributing to a pilot approach to increasing outdoor activity and a ‘connection with nature’ to improve mental health and wellbeing; Providing farm advice and grant aid to implement measures to reduce diffuse pollution; a project celebrating the WWI Women’s Forestry Service; and supporting Woods for Water related activities for Natural Flood Management benefits across three catchment areas.
_Designated funds:_ Visitor investment Tarka Trail development Taw/Torridge Project Climate friendly farming Woodland enterprise zone Estuary project
Marine Management Natural Capital Other designated funds Including Marine Conservation Zone; BR Climate Policy and Evidence Contract; Braunton Marsh Biodiversity Action Plan; Biosphere Forum event; Pearl Mussel Conservation; and, DCC Torridge Catchment
To provide future business support.
To increase the use of the Tarka Trail in a sustainable way.
For projects in the Taw and Torridge estuary.
To support the development of climate friendly farming methods.
To support the establishment of a woodland enterprise zone. To reduce pollution and improve flood management in the Taw and Torridge estuary.
Supporting natural capital approaches to improving marine environment as highlighted through the Marine Pioneer project.
Development of marine conservation zone; to produce a synthesis of the local impacts of climate and the actions being undertaken by partners in the area to mitigate and adapt at a local scale; to develop a biodiversity plan for the freshwater wetlands in the estuary area and secure a strategy for their effective re-location as sea level rise turns the existing marshes more saline; to support a public event for people to learn more about what the Biosphere Reserve does and give their on what it can do in the future; contributing to the Devon Freshwater Pearl Mussel conservation plan, including feasibility survey on the River Torridge; and, developing the catchment of Torridge.
## **18 Related parties**
There were no material related party transactions requiring disclosure.
16
## The North Devon Biosphere Foundation
Registered in England & Wales - Company number: 04462420, Charity number: 1156589
Registered Office:
FRANCIS CLARK LLP Centenary House Peninsula Park Rydon Lane Exeter EX2 7XE
Park Farmhouse Horwood Bideford Devon EX39 4PE
Dear Sirs
## **Financial Statements of The North Devon Biosphere Foundation for the year ended 31 March 2021**
The following representations are given to you in connection with your review of the charitable company’s financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2021.
We confirm that the following representations are made on the basis of enquiries of management and staff of the charitable company with relevant knowledge and experience (and, where appropriate, of inspection of supporting documentation) sufficient to satisfy ourselves that we can properly make each of the following representations to you.
## 1. **Responsibility for the Financial Statements**
We acknowledge as trustees our responsibility for the financial statements which you have prepared on our behalf for the charitable company and in particular confirm that we have selected suitable accounting policies and applied them consistently and made judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.
We also acknowledge our responsibilities for:
- a. Keeping adequate accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and which enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006, UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (UK GAAP) and Statement of Recommended Practice ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities’ (Charities SORP (FRS 102)).
- b. Safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
## 2. **Assets**
We confirm that all assets have been included in the balance sheet and exist.
We confirm that the charitable company has satisfactory title to all assets, and there are no liens or encumbrances on the assets except for those disclosed in the financial statements
We confirm that the cost (or value) of all the assets in the balance sheet is fairly stated.
We confirm that depreciation has been provided on all fixed assets with a limited economic life in accordance with the stated accounting policy. In our opinion, the rates of depreciation are reasonable.
## 3. **Liabilities**
All liabilities of the charitable company of which we have knowledge are included in the appropriate classifications and we have no knowledge of any pending litigation or other claims against the charitable
company, or any contingent liabilities or capital commitments. No liabilities are ‘secured’ by reason of suppliers restricting the transfer of title to goods supplied.
The charitable company has no charitable commitments at the balance sheet date, other than as included or disclosed in the financial statements.
## 4. **Income and expenditure**
We confirm that all income and expenses have been fully recorded and correctly classified in the correct fund.
We confirm that all grants, donations and other income, including those subject to special terms or conditions or received for restricted purpose, have been notified to you. There have been no breaches of terms or conditions during the period regarding the application of such income.
## 5. **Transactions with trustees**
The charitable company has not at any time during the year had any transactions with trustees or connected or related parties other than as disclosed in the financial statements.
The charitable company has had at no time during the year any arrangement, transaction or agreement to provide credit facilities (including loans, quasi-loans or credit transactions) for trustees, nor to guarantee or provide security for such matters, except as disclosed in note to the financial statements.
## 6. **Related parties**
We confirm that we are aware that a related party of the charitable company is a person or organisation which either (directly or indirectly) controls, has joint control of, or significantly influences the charitable company or vice versa and as a result will include: trustees, other key management, close family and other business interests of the previous. We confirm that we have disclosed to you the identity of all related parties and all the related party relationships and transactions of which we are aware.
## 7. **Completeness of Information**
All the accounting records have been made available to you for the purpose of preparing the financial statements and all the transactions undertaken by the charitable company have been properly reflected and recorded in the accounting records. All other records and related information, including minutes of all management and trustees’ meetings (held during the year and up to the date of this letter) have been made available to you.
## 8. **Going Concern**
We confirm that, in our considered opinion, the charitable company is able to continue trading for the foreseeable future and for at least one year from the date of this letter. In arriving at this opinion, the trustees have considered the charitable company’s current financial position, its current level of activity and all other relevant information.
## 9. **Post balance sheet events**
There has been no event since the balance sheet date which requires disclosure or which would materially affect the amounts in the accounts, other than those already disclosed or included in the financial statements.
## 10. **Laws and Regulations**
We confirm that there are no Laws or Regulations that are central to the charitable company’s ability to conduct its business that may have an impact on amounts or disclosures in the financial statements.
## 11. **Reporting to regulator**
We confirm that we are not aware of any matters of material significance that should be reported to the Charity Commission.
Yours faithfully
Tim Jones Chair of Trustees
…………………………………………. Trustee
13/12/2021…………………………………………. Date