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## Xo! CHARITY COMMISSION Cai} FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
## Trustees’ Annual Report for the period From 6 April 2023 Period start date To 5April2024 Period end date Charity name: Wildlife Gardening Forum
## Charity registration number: 1156608
## Objectives and Activities
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|a|
|Summary|of the|purposes|of ||Para|1.17|a) To promote|the|conservation,|
|the|charity|as|set|out|in|its|protection|and|improvement|of the|
|governing|document|physical|and|natural|environment|of|
|gardens|and|their|biological|diversity.|
|b) To|advance|the|education|of the|
|public|in|the|conservation,|protection|
|and|improvement|of the|physical|and|
|natural|environment and|biodiversity|of|
|gardens|and|the|consequent|human|
|health|and|well-being|benefits.|
|Summary|of the|main|4|1.17 and|Gardens are|diverse and|important|
|activities|in|relation|to those|||©|habitats|for our declining|wildlife|and|
|purposes|for the|public|where|the|great|majority|of children|find|
|benefit,|in|particular,|the|their|first|direct|contact with|nature.|
|activities,|projects|or|Nearly|90%|of UK|households|have|
|services|identified|in|the|gardens|and|so|our work|can|benefit|a|
|accounts.|very|large|proportion|of the|public who|
|wish|to manage|their gardens|
|sustainably|and|with|wildlife|in|mind.|In|
|planning|and|executing|our work,|the|
|Trustees|have|given|careful|;|
|consideration|to the|Charity|
|Commission’s|general|guidance|on|
|public|benefit and|in|particular to|its|
|public|benefit guidance|on|advancing|
|education|and|on|conservation|of the|
|environment.|
|Object|a)|Promoting|conservation,|
|protection|and|improvement...|
|The Wildlife|Gardening|Forum|furthers|
|this|object through|issuing|four|
|newsletters|per year summarising|new|
|research|and|best|practice|findings. We|
|maintain|a|large website|to|provide|
|-|| access|to evidence-based|information|
|on|the science of wildlife|gardening|and|
|on|garden|organisms,|including|
|practical|guidance. We seek to inform|od|
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|the work of the many|charities|and|other|
|organisations|within|our membership|
|and|contacts. We|influence|decision|
|makers through|working|with|other|
|charities|and|disseminating|evidence.|
|The|influence|of the|Forum|on|social|
|media|has grown|remarkably|on|its|
|Facebook group and|is|developing|on|
|Instagram|and X (formerly|Twitter).|
|Our website|continues|to grow with|the|
|ambition|of being|a|‘one|stop shop|for|
|scientific|and|practical|information|
|about gardens|and|wildlife’.|It contains|
|extensive|background|information|in|
|garden|and|wildlife|science and|planting|
|for wildlife,|reviewing|information|
|largely|unavailable|to|a|general|reader.|
|By|March|2022 the|site|contained|nearly|
|400|pages|of information|and|a|further|
|120|downloadable|documents.|It|
|constitutes|the|largest compendium|of|
|freely|available|information|about|
|garden|biodiversity|anywhere on|the|
|web.|
|The|Forum’s|Manifesto,|available|in|
|English|and Welsh|on|the|website,|
|provides|a|simple|introduction|to|
|decision|makers|about the|policy|
|changes we would|like|to see|to|improve|
|the|status|of gardens|for wildlife and|
|people.|Our membership|of the|umbrella|
|organisation|Wildlife|and|Countryside|
|Link|is|allowing|the|Forum|to|contribute|
|its|voice|alongside|other|charities|in|
|environmental|issues.|
|Object|b) To advance|the|education|of|
|the|public....|
|This|object|is|addressed|through|the|
|creation|of|publications|and|
|newsletters,|provision|of|professional|
|guidance and|training|for teachers|and|
|practitioners|and|maintaining|a website|
|to|provide access|for everyone|to|
|evidence-based|information|and|advice.|
|The|Trustees|ensure|a|powerful|
|educational|outcome|by|insisting|on|
|testing|all|statements|and|guidance|in|
|our|material|and|on|our website|against|
|established|and|published|fact,|giving|
|attribution|so|that those who wish|can|
|have|access|to|original work. We|
|identify|and|point|out areas where|
|evidence|is|inadequate|and|have|
|succeeded|in|starting|research|projects|
|such|as|the RHS-run|“Plants|for Bugs|
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Project” investigating the relative value of native and non-native garden plants) where a major deficiency of evidence has let myths and assumptions stay unchallenged. While most of our focus is on biodiversity, our education objective is also concerned with the role of gardens and urban green space on human mental and physical health, and the cohesion and better function of communities. This is another relatively new field of research that has not yet become widely known among the public and decision makers but is of increasing importance as Britain becomes steadily more urban. There is great synergy between this aspect of gardens, and biodiversity conservation, and we see our role as helping to make the health research findings accessible to everyone alongside the biodiversity, and with the same standards of rigour. whether the trustees have covered by this report they have had had regard to the guidance regard to the guidance issued by the issued by the Charity Charity Commission on public benefit. Commission on public benefit
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Achievements and Performance
Sn In the tenth year of the Wildlife
Gardening Forum’s operation as a
registered charity, trustee meetings are
Summary of the main aT. mostly conducted remotely with one in-
achievements of the charity, person Away Day held at RHS Garden
identifying the difference the Wisley in Surrey in July which included
charity’s work has made to a tour of the Wildlife Garden and
the circumstances of its Orchard.
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a The Forum was able to fulfil its core
whole. purposes in a number of ways;
Building on the success of the online
conference in Jan 2023, a fortnightly
series of online talks were organised
during Feb 2024 providing a low-cost
(donation-based ticketing), travel-free
format to an audience of nearly 600.
This gave a platform to trustee experts
(Adrian Thomas covered making mini
meadows), researchers now active
practitioners in their field (Dr Tomos
Jones from North Wales Wildlife Trusts
on how gardeners can stop the spread
of invasive non-native plants and
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.
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|current|researchers.|Urban|topics|
|included|helping|moths|in|towns|and|
|cities,|and|a PhD|investigating|social|
|impacts|on|allotment and|garden|
|management and|urban|pollinator|
|communities.|Recordings were made|
|available|through|the website.|
|The|Forum’s|Facebook|presence|
|continued|to|excel|in|2023,|giving|the|
|charity|a strong|online presence and|
|channel|for messaging|through|its|
|organisational|page|(>10,000|followers)|
|and|supporting|the|both|national|and|
|international|wildlife|gardening|online|
|community|with|experienced|
|moderators|through|the|Forum’s|public|
|group|(>110,000|members).|
|The|Forum’s|extensive website|grew to|
|468|pages|and|moved|to|a|secure|‘https’|
|site|set|up.|The wildflowers|section|was|
|developed|to|direct gardeners|to|those|
|most|suitable|and|effective|at|
|supporting|wildlife|in|a|garden|
|environment.|This|would|like|to|be|
|progressed|to|cover ornamental|plants|
|too.|
|Our member’s|quarterly|newsletter|has|
|continued|to|inform|over|3,000|
|gardeners,|garden|designers,|
|landscapers,|conservationists|and|other|
|practitioners,|giving|them|the|tools|to|
|make|direct changes|to|benefit|
|biodiversity|and|the|environment.|
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## Financial Review
Review of the charity's Para 1.21 The charity’s reserves recovered in the financial position at the end period due to income from the online of the period webinar series. To generate future income to cover core charitable activities more online events are planned for the upcoming year. Any larger ambitions of the charity will need to be sought from grant funding. Statement explaining the Para 1.22 The Wildlife Gardening Forum has policy for holding reserves general funds, currently approximately stating why they are held equal to one (normal) year’s operating costs, which the Trustees consider prudent to maintain the charity’s core activities, especially given the current financial uncertainties. There are no designated or restricted funds. reserves
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|deficit|
|Explanation|of any|
|uncertainties|about|the|
|charity|continuing|as|a|going|
|concern|
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## Structure, Governance and Management
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|trusts:|
|Type|of governing|document|
|trust|deed,|royal|charter)|
|How|is the|charity|Para|1.25|Charitable|Incorporated|Organisation|
|constituted?|
|(e.g|unincorporated|
|association,|ClO)|
|Trustee|selection|methods|Appointed|by|existing|Trustees|on|the|
|including|details|of any|basis|of a Board|Skills Audit and|
|constitutional|provisions|e.g.|informal|interview.|
|election|to|post|or name|of|
|any|person|or body|entitled|
|to|appoint|one|or more|
|trustees|
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## Reference and Administrative details
Wildlife Gardening Forum Other name the charity uses Registered charity number 1156608 Charity’s principal address Mollys Lodge Little Wolford Shipston on Stour Warwickshire CV36 5NR
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GO
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Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
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1 | Helen Bostock All Year
2 Karen Murphy Hon Secretary (to Apr 2023 — Jul 2023
Jul 2023)
Judith Conroy Hon Secretary (Aug _ | All Year
2023 onwards)
3 Johan Ingles le- Apr 2023 — Jul 2023
Nobel
David Perkins || Apr2023~Jul [ 2023]
4 | Mary Jackson Po All Year
2
6|MarkGoddard ||__ |AllYear
g|AdranThomas |_| All Year
19 | Ali Vitale [| Nov 2023 - Apr 2024
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: |
‘ ; 4
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10 | Clare Wright [Now 2023 - Apr 2024
11 | Hafsah Hafeji |«| [Marr][ 2024][ -][ Apr][ 2024]
12|StephanieBird |~~= | Mar2024—Apr 2024
SO
1
2
a aT Sr
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Corporate trustees — names of the directors at the date the report was approved [Directorname [None a | a a a eseee ee See
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
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|Trusteename | Dates actedifnotforwholeyear[ ———s—‘~s~CSCSC*zd
PNome
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Funds held as custodian. trustees on behalf of others
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Description of the assets
held in this capacity
Name and objects of the
charity on whose behalf the
assets are held and how this
falls within the custodian
charity’s objects
Details of arrangements for
safe custody and
segregation of such assets
from the charity's own
assets
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## Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
|Typeof|Name|Address|
|---|---|---|
|adviser|||
|Hon.|Marc Carlton|10, Portwall Road,Chepstow,NP165DL|
|Treasurer|||
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
## Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
## Other optional information
## Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
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Full name(s) Helen Bostock Judith Conroy
Position (eg Secretary, |Chair Hon Secretary
Chair, etc)
Date! 29 (07/2
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| Tali F 1156608 FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Gy CHARITY COMMISSION |The WildlifeReceipts Gardeninaand Forumpayments accounts| CC16a For the period | 6th April 2023 To Sth April 2024 from
Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total funds Last year funds funds funds tothe nearest £ to the nearest£ to the nearest£ to the nearest£ to the nearest£ Ai Receipts Voluntary Receipts: Donations as |a [0 income ' Charitable activity: Conference pt aPeonee Ereee, =|iSC ae) de|| i ia. eeee ee ae [eene| | Ce| eee [ A2 ub total (Gross income2for| en|as)ee | |e Asset and investment sales, (see table). PPeeead Te easae (ea 2 Total receipts| 2,582 | | -| | -| | 2,582 | | 971 | A3 Payments CharitableCharitable Activity:Activity:WebsiteWorking | 886] |= =| ey Groups CharitableMailchimp Acthity: Influence J || eeee | Governanceccosts,costs || eg | 452 | | TJ [COC«dT eee tSt~SS |84 | «T03 |,es| or|) eees |es | 7 po > | CdES“C($RNNNS OCS | ee | esSub es |as EE) | total |)151] Poa Se |ee A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table a es Subtotal]. Total payments 1st]a) aay L__1,660 Net | AS of receipts/(payments) 1,071 - - 1,071 | |- 689 A6 Transfers between funds | ti re Me, as Cash funds last year end | DT [CS B87] 2a Cash funds this year end 6,628 6,628|}| 5.557) CCXX R1 accounts (SS) 4 20/07/2024
4
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|Section|B|Statement|of assets|and|liabilities|at|the|end|of the|period|
|Unrestricted|Restricted|Endowment|
|Categories|Details|funds|funds|funds|
|to|nearest £|to|nearest £|to|nearest £|
|a|—|= —|—|
|(agree|balbalances wiith|aedreceipts|and|nits|OK|OK|OK|
|Unrestricted|Restricted|Endowment|
|Details|to nearest £|to nearest £|to nearest £|
|ee ee 0|
|ae|Details|Fund to which|Cost (optional)|Current value|
|—<==a=|
|B4|Details|Fund to which|Cost (optional)|Current value|
|Assets retained for the|[|optiona|
|[||t—~CS=SsSCz Ce|
|B5 Liabilities|Petals|===rR|gr|When's|
|ee by one or two trustees on|;|
|ehalf of all the trustees|Signature|Print Name|Date of|
|CZ|approva|
|CCXX|=|
|R2 accounts (SS)|[<=|Helen BostockJudith|Conroy|20 [67 ||202,|
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