Charfty reglstratlon number: 1160912 The Exmoor Society Annual Report and Finandal Slatements for the Year Ended 31 May 2025 WESTCOTTS CHARTERID ACCOUNTANTS a BUSIMGSS AOVISER5 The Exmoorsoclety Contents Reference and Administrative Details Trustees, Report 2to6 Independent Examlner'B Report Statement of Financial Activltles Balance Sheet Notes to the Financial Statements 10t024 The Exmoor Soclety Reference and Administrative Detalls Chalr Ms Kate O'sulllvan Trustees: Mr Nigel Hester Mr Charles O'connor Mrs Anne May Mr (Alast8ir) Bruce Mclniosh Mr Darren Sherwood Mrs Jill E¢Jwards Ms Kate O'sullivan Dr Keith Howe (resigned 28 September 2024) Ms Lisa Eden Mrs Christina Wllliams (resigned 3 April 2025) Dr Steven Emery (appointed 28 September 2024) Treasurer Ms Salty Cralg-Hapdey Charity Registratlon Number 1160912 Principal Office 34 High Street Dulverton Somerset TA22 9EX Indépandent Examlner Catherine Williams FCA DChA Westcotts (SW) LLP 47 Boutport Street Bamstaple Devon EX311SQ Page 1 The Exmoor Society Trustees. Report The trustees present the annual report together with the financial statements of the charlty for the year ended 31 May 2025. Structure. governance and management Organisation The charity is administered by its prlnclpal officers (Chair. Vice-chalrs and Treasurer) actlng with the advi￿ and consent of trustees and the advS¢e of various advisory groups. All officers and trustees are elected by the Society at its Annual General Meeting. The Society employs I￿0 part tlme administrators (one of whom has legal trainlng). The Society makes frequent use of voluntary help by its members. The Board of trustees (Executive Committee, as the trustee board is defined th8 societys constltution) meets bi-monthly. Funds and Policies Funds held by the Charity are elther: Restricted Funds. belng funds that can only be used for particular restricted purposes wfjthin the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when Specified by the donor or when funds are raised for partlcular restricted purpose5, Unrestricted Funds, b8lng funds that can be used in accordance with the charitable oblects at the dlscretlon of the trustee8. It Is the policy of the Society to maintain unrestricted funds, which are the free reBerves of the charity. at a level that equates to approximately two years of net expenditure on its charitable Purposes. Its administrative costs and other overheads. In addition it has always pursued th8 objective of carrying sufficient additional reserves to fund the slgnlficant Costs that mlght become necessary if the Society ever needed In the view of its Executlv& Committee to launch any formal or legal action in furtheran¢e of prirnary aim set out under the 'Objectives and adivities" paragraphs below. Combining these two purposes, the Soclety seeks to maintain free reserves at a level of not18ss than £100,000. Unrestricted fund5 exceeded thls level Ihroughout the year. The Executive Committee invites members when renewing their subscriptions to add generously by dOna￿on. if they can, and to slgn Glft Aid forms that enable the Society to recover tax on both subscriptions and donations. Page 2 The Exmoor Society Trustees. Report (continued) Structurej governance and management Investment Pollcy and Risk Policy. The Society has reviewed its Investrnent Policy during thé year. It conlinues to keep its long-term resenies, invested in a range of funds managed by CCLA, the UK'S largest manager of charitsble assets. It keep5 a tranche of funds likely to be needed in the shorter term on deposit. The Executive Committee keeps under regular review the major straleglc and operdtlonal risks that the Society faces and confirms that adequate procedures and safeguards have been established to address these risks. Objectives and activities The object of the Society is: To promote the conservation and protection of Exmoor National Park for the public benefrt. This will be achieved by',- a) protecting, promoting and enhanclng Its landscape. wlldllf8 and hk8torical envlronment b) safeguarding public access and recreation appropriate lo the Nation81 Park c) scrutlnlslng polldes whlch affecl Exmoor d) contributing to the Town & Country planning system, and monitoring its applicatlon e) acting as a resource centr8 for obtainlng & disseminatlng Information via its unlque archtve. fj recording, studying and publishing informatlon on aspects of Exmoor g) promotlng an understandlng of Exmoor h) encouraging actNities beneflcial to local communitie8 and the wider public The trustees confimi that they have referred to the Charity Commission's guidance on publlc b8nefit when reviewing the SoCiet￿s objectives. planning activities and making awards. The chair, on behalf of the trustees. report8 on the Socielrfs year generally at Ihe AGM. Page 3 The Exmoor Society Trustees. Report {continued) Achlevements and pertormance The major achlevements in the financial year include the followlng:_ ENJOYING and INFORMING Launch of the book, Exmoor Farms.. A Year on the Moor to Gelebrale the 70th Anniversary of Exmoor National Park and the 10th Anniversary of Exmoor Hill Farming Network at Cutcombe Market. Followed by a month long exhibition of the photographs at White Rock Cottage The photograph5 taken by secondary school pupils from Bamstsple and Ilfracombe after fami visits organised by Ihe Society were exhibited at the Exrnoor Farms exhibition. in Bamstaple Library and East Quay Arts Centre in Minehead To celebrate our Alfred Vowles photography competition, we hosted a digital exhibition of the entries and a talk by the judge, eminent wildlrfe photographer Andrew Mccarthy We launched the Exmoor Society Archlve Award. to honour people who contribute to Exmoor's cultural and natural history. Won by Caroline Giddens for her work catalogLJing Exrnoo¢s fauna over the last 50 years The Exmoor Society joined the festival Church servi￿ in Simonsbath as part of Slmon5b8th Festival The Society Archive worked on two Sarge exhibitions, has built a network of volunteers. and continues to develop with new material and increased use by researchers We contlnue our Series of extremely popular lalks Indudlng one by ornithologist Joan Castello, on the Moorland Bird Survey. that the Exmoor Society helped to fund There have been four Exmoor Scavenge events including one on lambing and another at our Pinnacle Award winner, Fran 8ullard's poultry farm. These are aimed at families with young thildren to introduce them to nature and the sp8cial qualities of Exmoor Our walks programme wlth expert guides continues to attract large numbers and enthusiastic support and included our first'Bolving Walk. wlth Charles Harding Celebrated our second Meaéows Day wlth a mornlng and an aftemoon of talks, walks and expert adv1￿ at Hollam Estate, Dulverton Held another Spring Clean Litt8r Pick near Heath Poult Cross The Malcolm McEwan Research Fund Award was mad& to intern, Mary Peberdy, to research the issue of specie5 reintroductions on Exmoor. sperafically Pine Martens and the White Tailed Sea Eagle PROTECTING and CAMPAIGNING Rivers Day in Simonsbath that launched our Waters of Exmoor campaign. included talks on the work by the Nation21 Trust in Porlock and Ueli Zelwegger on the impact and marketing of pet pesticides In May we held our highly successful conference in patknership with Exmoor National Park Authority, on The Waters of Exrnoor The Stop Pet Pesticides polluting our rivers Gqmpaign started an online petition that ha5 been viewed by over 85.000 people. In addltion we wrote to the minister responsible and continue to actively lobby for control of these chemlcals We wrote and met with Exmoor's MPS. lan Roome and Rachel Gllmour, to discuss Exmoor National Park govemance reform, water quality and planning protection for designated areas Page 4 The Exmoor Society Trustees. Report (continued) In response to the insensitive bridge repair outslde Exford, a meeting was held with Somerset Highways and the ENPA to promoté awareness of the importance of the historic envlronment in road repairs and street fumiture We wrote a letter tc all the telecoms provlders outlining their new statutory duty to further the purposes of national parks {Levelllng Up and Regeneration Act) in the provlsion of any new masts We responded to a number of different plannlng applications includlng those for a telecoms mast at Llllycombe, the bungalow at Hur15tone Point, the proposal for an affordable dwelllng in Cutcombe, the housing development in Wheddon Cross, th8 Lynlon to Barnstaple Railway, and solar panels at Badgworthy and Washford SOCIETY NEWS We compl8ted the purchas8 of No 34 High Street. Dulverton wth generous 5UPPOrt from a local foundation, thus providlng a secure homè for the library. archive and office The Bolve, our monthly a-n8ws18tter for members and supporters, continues to be well received. generating new Snterast In the Society and Exmoor We have furth8r updated our website with the inclusion of the Waters of Exmoor digit81 archlve. The archive section will go live later this year and our social medla presence Is growlng We welcomed Dr Steve Emery to the board and nominated Tara Wrlght, Victoria lThine. Linda Blanthard. Mark Newall and Mark Ansell. who will be propos8d for election at thls y&arfs AGM Flnan¢ial review Total Income for the year ending 31 May 2025 was £146,998. This figur6 was increased by a slzeable legacy amountlng to £51.451. Wlthout this extraordinary Income, revenue was £95,547, an Increase from £56.471 in 2024 due to an increase in investment income and donations. The new legacy monies were held in cash and bank deposlt at the year end pending Investment and expendlbJr8 on No 34. Exlstlng funds were held in CCLA COIF funds or bank deposiL Total expenditure Was £108,232 compared wilh £93,326 in 2024. The incroase is mainly 85 a result of additlonal expendllure on the Exmoor Farms Book project. Total assets Increased to £938.746 (2024: £911,241). Page 5 The Exmoor Society Trustees. Report (contlnued) s￿￿ement of Trustees, Re5ponslbilities The Irustees are responsible for preparing the trustees. report and the financial statements in accordance with the United Kingdom Accounling Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Pra¢ticel and applicable law and regulations. The law app51cable to charities requires the trustees Lo prepare financial Statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustee5 are required to". select suitable accounting palicies and then apply them consistenuy: observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent: stste whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subjecl to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and prepare the financial statements on thè going Goncem basis unless it is inapproprrate to presum8 that the charity will continue In buslness. The trustees are responsible for k&8ping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial ststements comply with the Charities Art 2011, the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, and the provislons of the constitution. The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assels of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the preventlon and detection of fraud and other irregularitl8S. The trustees are responsible for the Maintenan￿ and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable companls WebS￿e. Leglslalion governing the preparation and dissemination of financlal statements may differ from legislatlon In other jurisdictions. The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charily on .1¥: lo. Ls and slgned on Its behalf by. Mr (Alas Tnjstee air) Bruce Mclntosh Ms Kate O'sullivan Chair and trustee Page 6 The Exmoor SoGlety Independent Examinor's Report to the trustees of The Exmoor Soclety I report to the trustees on my examlnation of the 8ccounts of The Exmoor Society for the year ended 31 May 2025. Responslbllltlas and basis of report As the charlty trustees of The Exmoor Society you ar& responslbl8 for the preparation of th8 accounts in accordance wlth the requlremonts ofthe Charities Act 2011 I'the Act'l. I report In respect of Tny examination of the The Exmoor Society's accounts carrled out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and In carrylng out my examination I have follow6d all the appll¢able Directions glven by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent examln8r'$ statement I have completed my examinatlon. I conflrm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any m8teri81 respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of The Exmoor Society as required by section 130 of the Act,, or 2. the accounts do not accord wlth those rècords. or 3. the ac¢ounts do not comply wlth the accounting requirements concernlng the fomi and content of accounts set out in the Charitles (Accounts and Reports) Regulatlons 2008 other than any requlrement that the accounts glve a and fair view, which is not a matt8r considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in conn8ction with the examination to which aitention should be drawn in this report in order to enabl8 a proper understsndlng of the accounts to be r8ached. Catherine Willlam5 FCA DChA Independent Examiner Westcotts (SW) LLP 47 Boulport Street Bamstaple Devon EX31 1SQ Date:..% Page 7 The Exmoor Soclety Statement of Financlal Activities for the Year Ended 31 May 2025 Unrestrlcted funds Restricted funds Total 2025 Total 2024 Note Income and Endowments from: Donations and legacies Charitable activities Other tradlng activitles Investment income 85,101 28,492 2,569 30.836 85,101 28,492 2,569 30,836 280.451 24,907 1,523 15,048 Total income 146,998 146.998 321.929 Expenditure on: Raising funds Charitable activities (2,432) (104,800) (2,432) (105,800) 514 {93.840) (1,000) Total expenditure Gainsllosses on investment assets <107,232) (1,000) (108.232) (93.326) (11,261) (11,261 34,405 Nel Incomel(expendlture) Net movement in fund8 28.505 (1.000 27,505 283,008 28,505 (1,000) 27,505 263.008 Reconclllation of funds Totsl funds brought foN8rd Total funds carried forward 21 849,095 62,146 911,241 648,233 877,600 61,146 938,746 911,241 All of the charity's activities derive from contlnulng operations during the abov& twc periods. The funds breakdown for 2024 is shown in note 21. The notes on pages 10 to 24 form an Integral part of these financial statements. Page 8 The Exmoor Society (Registration number: 1160912) Balance Sheet as at 31 May 2025 2025 2024 Note Flxed assets Investments Tangible assets 16 15 583,280 136,739 494.541 9.634 720,019 504,175 Current assets stocks Debtors Cash al bank and in hand 17 18 19 3.634 6.451 219.737 4.651 5.301 405.122 229,822 415.074 Credltors: Amounts falllng due within one year 20 111,095) 18.008) Net current assets 218,727 407,066 Net assets 938,746 911,241 Funds of the charity: Restrlcted Income funds Restricted funds 61,146 62.146 Unrestricted incorne funds Unrestrlcted funds 877.600 849,095 Total funds 21 938.746 911,241 he financlal slatements on pages 8 to 24 were approved by the trustees, and authorised for Issue on l*.-.Lf).X.. and signed on their behalf by: Mr (Alastsir) Bruce Mclntosh Trustee Ms l