The Bishops Waltham North Pond Conservation Group
The Bishops Waltham North Pond Conservation Group Charity No. 1156703
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30th November 2021
| Contents | Page |
|---|---|
| Legal and Administrative Information | 2 |
| Report of the Management Committee | 3 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 7 |
| Balance Sheet | 8 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 9 |
1
The Bishops Waltham North Pond Conservation Group
The Bishops Waltham North Pond Conservation Group Report of the Management Committee for the Year ended 30 November 2021
The Management Committee presents its report and financial statements for the year ended 30th November 2021.
Reference and Administrative Information
Charity Name: The Bishops Waltham North Pond Conservation Group (BWNPCG) Charity registration number: 1156703 Registered Office: Jubilee Hall, Little Shore Lane, Bishops Waltham, Hants SO32 1DE Office Address: “Rareridge”, Rareridge Lane, Bishops Waltham, Hampshire SO32 1DX
Principal activity
The group’s principal activity is to manage and maintain the Area known as the Bishops Waltham North Pond. This area is owned in various parts by BWNPCG, Winchester CC and Hampshire County Council. The area, by agreement, is managed and maintained by BWNPCG for its protection and the enjoyment of the local community.
Management Committee
The management committee are mainly trustees of the charity for the purposes of the Charities Act 1993. Those not trustees are co-opted members. The 2021 AGM was not conducted because of Covid and the committee members continued in their roles. The committee asked David McLean to become a Trustee which he agreed to do this was confirmed by the other Trustees. Sadly Matthew Davidson died suddenly in November 2021 and other committee members have moved away from the area.
The following persons were in office at 30th November 2021.
Barry Jerome (Trustee and Chairman) Martin Wiltshire (Trustee) Eric Birbeck (Trustee and Vice Chairman) Gillian Overton (Trustee) John Moore (Trustee and Treasurer) Colin Palma (Trustee) David McLean (Trustee) Jenny Williams (Membership Secretary) Sue Croker (Winchester CC rep) Judy Marsh (Parish Council rep)
Changes to Trustees and committee in 2021
David McLean appointed Trustee Matthew Davidson died Nov 2021 Jane Gentry and Pat Lambert moved away Rod Pointer resigned
Bankers
– Barclays Plc, 20-97-01, 03611604, Business Banking, PO Box 10215, Wigston, LE18 9EY
Results of the Financial Year 2021
Net incoming resources for the year amounted to £649.50 (2020: £1,799). Net expenses for the year £255.39 (2020: £4,423.26)
The Charity is a “not for profit organisation”, Funds are raised through donations and grants. The Statement of Financial Activities shows: Accumulated funds of £26,133.17 as at 30[th] November 2021 (30th November 2020: £25,719).
All assets of the charity are used in the direct furtherance of the charity’s objectives.
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The Bishops Waltham North Pond Conservation Group
Our Aims and objectives
Purposes, Aims, and Outcomes
Our charity’s purposes are to act as stewards and managers of the Area known as the Bishops Waltham North Pond. We aim to achieve these objectives by recruiting members of the local community and involving them in fund raising and work parties. Work on and around the North Pond is required throughout the year to maintain the trees and clear the water channels to avoid flooding. In 2018 the large project to remove silt from areas of the pond to retain water all year round, was successfully completed. By way of further explanation, the pond is seasonal and fed from springs further up the valley; consequently, it is usually full in the winter months and dries up in summer. Fish get trapped in the receding waters and die, much to the distress of the community. All year water has enabled the fish to be saved and moved to the nearby permanent fishing pond. Over 120 community members have signed up to our organisation and support our work. For the year 2021 we concentrated on improving the viewing area and installing display panels detailing the history of the railway that exported the bricks produced in Bishops Waltham.
Ensuring our work delivers our aims
We review our aims, objectives and activities each year. This review (The Chairman’s Report) looked at what we have achieved in 2021 and our plan for the coming year.
COVID-19 rules had an effect on activities for the year. Unfortunately, it was not possible to hold an AGM in 2021 and so committee members continued in their roles. Work parties could not start until April, but volunteers continued sluice clearing and litter collection activities throughout the summer. Autumn work parties restarted in September. We had more than usual numbers of volunteers when work parties restarted and managed to complete a lot of work in a short time. There was a lot of public use of the viewing area during the Covid lockdown and throughout the year. When many places were closed or had restrictions imposed, visits to the North Pond to sit or feed the ducks were very popular. It gave a chance to relax from the mental pressures resulting from the effects of Covid. The planned wildlife surveys had to be cancelled. It is hoped to be able to pick these up in 2022. Wildlife has taken advantage of the pond holding water all year. Swans reappeared and had a family of cygnets, and many other water birds have been present throughout the year. Siting of the final Railway Information board was eventually agreed in November and will be installed in 2022. A BREEAM agreement was reached with Winchester CC Estates in November 2021. The Lower Lane Depot site had few opportunities for ecological enhancements within the planning consent. To offset this WCC proposed that some work could be carried out on the North Pond to offset this. After site meetings and discussions activities were agreed that the North Pond Group would carry out. A formal agreement was signed, and funding is being provided. Transfer of ownership of the Hampshire County Council owned part of the North Pond to either WCC or BWNPCG has been discussed for many years. Following a site visit in November this is now being progressed to transfer ownership to the North Pond Group. This should be concluded in 2022.
We have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our current and future activities. In particular, the trustees considered how the 2021 planned activities have contributed to the aims and objectives of the charity.
The Focus of our Activities
The focus of our activities continues to be the enhancement of the North Pond area and creation of a new viewing area. Alongside this is the maintenance of the trees, woodland and water channels. Another area of great concern is the welfare of the wildlife that uses the North Pond, and bird and bat nesting boxes will be installed as part of planned BREEAM work.
In 2021 the activities were focused on improving the public viewing area stopping water erosion of its banks and general maintenance. The outflow sluice has to be cleared of debris every week. Our work parties had to carry out more work on the grass area and sow fresh grass seed; plant willow saplings along the water side of the area and complete the wildflower meadow.
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The Bishops Waltham North Pond Conservation Group
How our activities deliver public benefit
Who used and benefitted from our Services
Members of the community now extensively use the new picnic area and the children delight in feeding the ducks. This has been encouraging and additional display panels, describing the history of the area, have been installed. Birds, animals and insects are more abundant and have also benefitted from our activity. Equal access to our areas is an important issue for us and we have ensured that there is adequate access for wheelchairs, baby buggies and the disabled. Children’s educational activities are encouraged to understand the habitat and pond life and be aware of the effect our project has had on the environment.
Quote from the Head of Winchester City Council, Landscapes and Open Spaces:
“The North Pond Conservation Group is one of the best examples of a conservation volunteer group I have seen, and the North Pond restoration shows what can be achieved by volunteers when they have the drive and passion to turn their ideas into practice”
How the community and wildlife have benefitted
From observations by the public and our own members, we have noticed an increase in the numbers and types of birdlife and insects that now frequent the North Pond. It has become very obvious that the pond work activity helps motivate pride and self help in the community and improves the environment.
Financial Review
We are an entirely voluntary organisation with hands-on Trustees, most of who are involved either in the work parties or behind the scenes with administration. Finances are reviewed against budget at each management meeting (usually every two months), where actual spending is compared to budget. The charity is fortunate in having a fund set aside for pond maintenance. This fund is planned to last for at least twenty years with a budgeted amount of £800 set aside for yearly maintenance. Some years this may go over budget, usually due to emergency tree maintenance, this is then clawed back over future years or with fund raising. Large projects have targeted fund raising, with the money raised prior to the work commencing. Our policy is to have the money in hand prior to the start of any planned work.
Principal Funding Sources
From its inception the charity’s funds have come from a wide range of donors, Winchester CC, Bishops Waltham PC, TESCO Bags of Help, Budgens Supermarket, The Solar Farm, individual donors, Amey, The Winchester Mayor’s fund, BREEAM fund and many others.
Investment and Reserves Policy
Investment Policy
The charity’s funds are all in a current account and due to the low rate of interest available the trustees have agreed that the money should not be moved in this financial year. This policy will be reviewed next year to see if there is a case for long term investment.
Reserves Policy
The Management Committee has examined the charity’s requirements for reserves and is satisfied that the maintenance reserve will last for the planned 20 years at an average drawdown amount of £800 per year.
Plans for Future Periods
The charity plans continuing conservation management and small projects for the North Pond in the forthcoming years subject to satisfactory funding arrangements. The aims of these activities are to increase biodiversity while also further enhancing the area for the enjoyment of the local community and to increase educational opportunities.
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The Bishops Waltham North Pond Conservation Group
Structure, Governance and Management
Governing Document, GDPR, Safeguarding, Diversity and Governance
The organisation is a charity registered with the Charity Commission number 1156703. The governing document is the charity’s constitution. We have completed our review of GDPR and have no incidents to report in 2020. During 2021 our Governance policy has been reviewed and updated in line with the recommendations of the charity commission as has our Safeguarding, Equality and Diversity policy.
Recruitment and Appointment of Management Committee
The Management Committee is made up from the charity’s trustees, who have indicated a willingness to serve on the committee, and co-opted committee members. The members of the Management Committee are re-elected annually at the AGM. The Trustees are elected to serve for a period of four years after which they must be re-elected at the next Annual General Meeting.
All members of the Management Committee give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity. Any expenses reclaimed from the charity are set out in note 7 to the accounts.
Trustee Induction and Training
Most trustees are already familiar with the practical work of the charity.
Additionally, new trustees are vetted by the committee prior to being invited for election. They are then advised to view on-line a series of short training sessions, provided by the Charity Commission to familiarise themselves with responsibilities of a trustee of the charity and the context within which it operates. They must read annually and understand:
The obligations of Management Committee members
The main documents which set out the operational framework for the charity including the Constitution, Governance, and Safeguarding, Equality and Diversity and other Policies Resourcing and the current financial position as set out in the latest published accounts Future plans and objectives
Risk Management
The Management Committee has conducted a review of the major risks to which the charity is exposed. A Risk Assessment has been established and is updated at least annually. Where appropriate, systems or procedures have been established to mitigate the risks the charity faces. Internal control risks are minimised by the implementation of procedures for authorisation of all transactions and projects. Procedures are in place to ensure compliance with health and safety, and safeguarding, equality and diversity of volunteers and third parties and internal financial controls. These procedures are periodically reviewed to ensure that they continue to meet the needs of the charity.
Responsibilities of the Management Committee
The law requires the Management Committee to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the charity as at the balance sheet date and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including income and expenditure, for the financial year. There is a policy defining Committee Roles and Responsibilities. In preparing those financial statements, the management committee has followed best practice to:
Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently, Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent, and
Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is not appropriate to assume that the charity will continue, on that basis.
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The Bishops Waltham North Pond Conservation Group
The Management Committee is responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which 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 1985. The Management Committee is also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The Charity Commission also requires the organisation to have Safeguarding, Equality and Diversity policies and a governance policy. These are in place.
Members of the Management Committee
Members of the Management Committee, who are trustees for the purpose of charity law, who served during the year and up to the date of this report are set out on page 2.
Fair Value to the Community
The Bishops Waltham North Pond Group values the help of the community and would like them to know that from inception a total hour’s equivalent value of £72,632 of work time has been donated to the pond. Also, money donations to the value of £49,523 have been applied to the project. This means that a total £122,155 has been given to preserve the pond, to the end of the accounting year 2021.
Certification of the Accounts
In accordance with the law, as the charity’s trustees, we certify that:
In so far as we are aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the company’s examiner is unaware
and
As the directors of the charity, we have taken all the steps that we ought to have taken in order to make ourselves aware of any relevant examining information and to establish that the charity’s examiner is aware of that information.
Accounts Examination
Mr J.M. Dixie, who is an independent professional person, has examined the accounts. They were signed off on 29 January 2022.
Reportable Incidences
No incidents occurred during the Financial Year 2021 that are of a nature reportable to the Charity Commission.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (issued in March 2005) and in accordance with the special provisions of Part VII of the Companies Act 1985 relating to small entities.
Approved by the Management Committee on 4 February 2022 and signed on its behalf by:
Dr. B Jerome Trustee and Chairman
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The Bishops Waltham North Pond Conservation Group
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME and EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30[th] NOVEMBER 2021
| Incoming Resources Bucket Collections Individual Donations Organisation Donations Grants Received Organisation Contributions MyDonate Gift Aid Book Sales Total Incoming Resources Resources Expended BWNPCG Administration/Maintenance Book Publishing Project Currently Historic Display Panels Total Charitable Expenditure Net Incoming Resources Fund Balances brought forward Book float and Uncashed chq 2020 Fund balances carried forward |
Notes |
2021 2020 £16 £0 £60 £110 £530 £0 £0 £1,500 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £44 £189 £649 £220 £526 £0 £0 £35 £3,898 £255 £394 £25,719 20 _ £26,133 _ |
2020 | £1,799 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
£4,423 |
||||
| -£2,624 £28,311 32 _ £25,719 _ |
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses in the year. All incoming resources and resources expended derive from continuing activities.
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The Bishops Waltham North Pond Conservation Group
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 30[th] November 2021
| CURRENT ASSETS Stock of Books Cash at Bank Book Float TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS CURRENT LIABILITIES Creditors TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES NET CURRENT ASSETS Restricted Funds: Duke’s Reserve Mayor’s Fund 2021 Project Fund BREEAM Funds Book Stocks Book cash float Unrestricted Funds: |
Notes | 2021 £414 £26,113 £20 £26,547 £0 __ £0 £26,547 £26,547 £18,904 £ 6,000 £ 600 £530 £414 £20 £26,468 £79 |
2020 £426 £25,719 £0 £26,145 -£32 ___ -£32 £26,113 £26,113 £26,030 £83 |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ___ | ____ | ||||
These accounts are prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part VII of the Companies Act 1985 relating to small entities.
Approved by the management committee on 4 February 2022 and signed on its behalf by:
J.L. Moore Trustee and Treasurer
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The Bishops Waltham North Pond Conservation Group
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30[th] NOVEMBER 2021
1. CHARITY STATUS
The organisation is a registered charity, number 1156703
2 . ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(a) Basis of preparation of financial statements. The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost accounting rules and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice on Accounting by Charities.
The company has taken advantage of the exemption from preparing a cash flow statement conferred by Financial Reporting Standard No. 1 on the grounds that it is entitled to the exemptions available in Sections 476 and 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for small companies.
- (b) Donations and voluntary income. Donations and voluntary income are accounted for gross when received.
3. CASH AT BANK
| CASH AT BANK | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | ||
| Barclays Plc Current Account | 03611604 | £26,113 | £25,719 |
| ______ | ______ |
4. GAINS AND LOSSES
The Charity recorded a net gain of £394 in 2021.
5. DIRECTORS REMUNERATION
No remuneration was paid and no expenses were reimbursed to any of the management committee during the year, except for those incurred as allowed by the charity’s constitution. No trustee or other person related to the charity had any personal interest in any contract or transaction entered into by the charity during the year.
6.
TAXATION
As a charity, The Bishops Waltham North Pond Group is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or s256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects. No tax charges have arisen in the Charity’s 2021 tax year.
7.
- FUNDS (All in one bank account)
The Dukes Reserve Fund was established to fund pond maintenance for at least 20 years. It now stands at £18,904 at year end 2021.
Restricted funds of £7,130 have been reserved for defined projects
The remaining funds of the charity as at year end 2021, £79, are unrestricted.
8.
CONTINUITY OF ACTIVITIES
The Charity operates on the basis that it generates sufficient funds from Voluntary income and its reserves to cover costs.
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Bishops Waltham North Pond Conservation Group No (if any) BW North Pond Conservation Group 1156703 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period Period start date Period end date To from 01-Dec-20 30-Nov-21
Section A Receipts and payments
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 16 60 - 530 - 44 - - 650 - - - 650 - 165 - - - 35 - - 55 255 - - - 255 394 - - 394 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ |
Total funds to the nearest £ 16 60 - 530 - 44 - - 650 - - - 650 - 165 - - - 35 - - 55 255 - - - 255 394 |
Total funds to the nearest £ 16 60 - 530 - 44 - - 650 - - - 650 - 165 - - - 35 - - 55 255 - - - 255 394 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bucket Collections | 16 | - - - - - - - - - |
16 | - | ||
| Individual Donations | 60 | 60 | 110 | |||
| Organisation Donations | - | - | - | |||
| Grants | 530 | 530 | 1,500 | |||
| Gift Aid | - | - | - | |||
| Book Sales | 44 | 44 | 189 | |||
| - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
650 | 650 | 1,799 | |||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
||||||
| - | - - - |
- | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| Sub total | - | - | - | |||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
||||||
| - | 650 | 1,799 | ||||
| Subscriptions | - | - - - - - - - - - - |
- | 10 | ||
| Insurance | 165 | 165 | 165 | |||
| Services | - | - | - | |||
| Tools and Repairs | - | - | 215 | |||
| Applications and Fees | - | - | 60 | |||
| Project Costs | 35 | 35 | 3,898 | |||
| Hall Hire,Leaflets,Displays | - | - | 76 | |||
| Book Costs | - | - | - | |||
| Admin and Web Site | 55 | 55 | - | |||
| **Sub total ** | 255 | 255 | 4,423 | |||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
||||||
| - | - - - |
- | ||||
| - | - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | - | |||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
||||||
| - | 255 | 4,423 | ||||
| 394 | - | - | 394 |
- 2,624 | ||
| - | - | - - |
- | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | |||
| 394 | - | - | 394 | - 2,624 |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
29/12/2021
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Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets |
Signature None Details Details Maintenance Fund Reserve Defined Projects Unallocated Funds Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - 18,904 - 7,150 79 - 79 26,054 Agreement Error Agreement Error Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name John Moore,Treasurer |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
|||
| Date of approval |
|||
| John Moore,Treasurer | 12/12/2021 | ||
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
29/12/2021
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Chairman's Report Dec 2020 - Nov 2021
Summary
COVID-19 rules had an effect on activities for the year. Unfortunately it was not possible to hold an AGM in 2021 and so committee members continued in their roles. Work parties could not start until April but volunteers continued sluice clearing and litter collection activities throughout the summer. Autumn work parties restarted in September. We had more than usual numbers of volunteers when work parties restarted and managed to complete a lot of work in a short time.
There was a lot of public use of the viewing area during the Covid lockdown and throughout the year. When many places were closed or had restrictions imposed, visits to the North Pond to sit or feed the ducks were very popular. It gave a chance to relax from the mental pressures resulting from the effects of Covid.
The planned wildlife surveys had to be cancelled. It is hoped to be able to pick these up in 2022. Wildlife has taken advantage of the pond holding water all year. Swans reappeared and had a family of cygnets, and many other water birds have been present throughout the year.
Siting of the final Railway Information board was eventually agreed in November and will be installed in 2022.
A BREEAM agreement was reached with Winchester CC Estates in November 2021. The Lower Lane Depot site had few opportunities for ecological enhancements within the planning consent. To offset this WCC proposed that some work could be carried out on the North Pond to offset this. After site meetings and discussions activities were agreed that the North Pond Group would carry out. A formal agreement was signed and funding is being provided.
Transfer of ownership of the Hampshire County Council owned part of the North Pond to either WCC or BWNPCG has been discussed for many years. Following a site visit in November this is now being progressed to transfer ownership to the North Pond Group. This should be concluded in 2022.
Sadly, in November, Matthew Davison who was the ecologist on our committee died suddenly. He was only 37 and in good health. Two other committee members moved away during the year. We will need to recruit new committee members for 2022.
Annual General Meeting
An AGM was not held in 2021 owing to Covid restrictions. Existing committee members agreed to continue in their roles.
Public use of the viewing areas
The new viewing area was used extensively throughout 2021 and especially during the COVID lockdown when other activities were severely restricted. One family is reported to have had their Christmas dinner at the picnic table. Families brought their children down to feed the ducks and it was generally observed as a form of release from the many constraints imposed by COVID.
1
Chairman's Report Dec 2020 - Nov 2021
Work Parties
Due to the COVID-19 lockdown at the start of the year winter/spring work parties did not start until April 3rd 2021. However after the lockdown was lifted we had more volunteers than usual and quickly caught up on work. To keep the sluice cleared and litter under control a rota of volunteers was in place during the summer months. This included two young volunteers doing activities towards their Duke of Edinburgh awards. A volunteer also took on the job of keeping the grass cut in the viewing areas and controlling weeds on the paths.
Autumn/Winter work parties were started in September 2021. The water in the North Pond dropped for a short time in September and October but heavy rain in November and December filled the pond again. This limited some of the work that we were able to carry out during our work parties. The main activity that we were not able to complete was the clearance of the channel from the Corhampton road to the Winchester road sluice. The channel was cleared for half its length but more work is needed from the pedestrian bridge down to the sluice. It also meant that we were not able to cut back excess willow growth in the pond bed area.
Railway Information Boards
Alan Inder drafted designs and co-ordinated input to create four Railway Information Boards which describe the railway heritage of Bishops Waltham. Three of these were installed in 2020 but there was controversy with the BW Gardening Club about the siting of the fourth Information board. This was eventually resolved in November 2021 and the last board will be installed once the weather improves in 2022.
Wildlife
Wildlife has taken advantage of the pond holding water all year. Swans reappeared during the winter and had a family of five cygnets. These frequented the pond throughout the summer and autumn. Many other water birds have been present throughout the year. Herons and Cormorants have been fishing on the pond, taking advantage of the large shoals of fish which have been present. A Kingfisher has also been seen occasionally. During the early part of the year fish migrated to where the Northbrook flows into the North Pond, to avoid the attentions of the Cormorants. These moved back into the main pond once the weed had grown sufficiently to make fishing more difficult for the predators. During the summer there were often large shoals of fish under the footbridge taking advantage of food thrown in for the ducks. Swans and their cygnets, Mallards, Coots and Moorhens have been the main recipients of food from the public.
BREEAM agreement reached with Winchester CC
The Lower Lane Depot site which WCC Estates were developing had few opportunities for ecological enhancements within the planning consent. To offset this WCC proposed that some work could be carried out on the North Pond to offset this. After site meetings and discussions activities were agreed that the North Pond Group would carry out. This included expanding the reedbed, creating a new wildflower meadow, installing very robust bird and bat boxes and planting trees. A formal agreement was signed in November and funding is being provided to the North Pond Conservation Group by WCC Estates and their contractors.
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Chairman's Report Dec 2020 - Nov 2021
Transfer of HCC owned part of North Pond to North Conservation Pond Group
Transfer of ownership of the Hampshire County Council owned part of the North Pond to either WCC or BWNPCG has been discussed for many years. Following a site visit in November this is now being progressed to transfer ownership to the North Pond Conservation Group. The land is being transferred at zero value on the understanding that it is only to be used for conservation and recreation activities. HCC and BWNPCG are each paying their own solicitors fees for the transfer. This should be concluded in 2022.
Sad passing of Matthew Davison and loss of other committee members
Matthew Davison, the ecologist on our committee, sadly died suddenly in November 2021. He was only 37 and in good health and it was a shock to his family and everyone who knew him. He had been a keen supporter of our work parties and was proposing to help put together a survey of the North Pond for 2022. His family dedicated a collection in his memory to the North Pond Conservation Group. A Mountain Ash tree will be planted in his memory.
Jane Gentry, who was also a Trustee, moved north and Pat Lambert, who provided regular updates on the pond from her daily walks, also moved north to join her daughter Jane. We will need to recruit new committee members for 2022. Hopefully this may be possible if Covid restrictions allow us to run our AGM in January 2022.
Surveys
One other effect of the COVID-19 lockdown was that we were not able to run our wildlife surveys. These were proposed to run from March to June to compare with a similar survey taken before restoration work started. It is hoped to be able to run these in spring 2022.
Finances
The North Pond Group's finances continued to be healthy. These are explained fully in the Treasurer's reports.
Barry Jerome Chairman Bishops Waltham North Pond Conservation Group
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Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the Charity Name trustees/ members of Bishops Waltham North Pond Conservation Group
On accounts for the 30 November 2021 Charity no 1156703 year ended (if any)
Set out on pages 1 and 2
(remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
Respective The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the responsibilities of accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not trustees and examiner required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to:
-
examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
-
to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
-
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent My examination was carried out in accordance with general examiner’s statement Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my examiner's attention statement 1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material
-
which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:
-
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and
-
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act
have not been met; or
-
to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
-
Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Signed: J M Dixie
Date: 29/01/2022
Name: John Marfield Dixie
Relevant professional MSc, DIC
IER
March 2012
1
qualification(s) or body (if any):
Address:
36 Siskin Close
Bishops Waltham Southampton, SO32 1RQ
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material problems.
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
IER
March 2012
2