**Rhododendron Camellia and Magnolia Group Registered Charity number 1161254** ANNUAL REPORT OF TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st OCTOBER 2022 ## **CONSTITUTION** The Rhododendron Camellia and Magnolia Group (the Group) is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and is a partner group of the Royal Horticultural Society. It is independent of the RHS but the Partnership Agreement encourages close cooperation between the two charities. The Constitution and Rules which govern the Group are published on the Group’s website http://www.rhodogrouprhs.org/information/constitution ## **PURPOSE** The purpose of the Group is to advance the education of the public in the plant genera rhododendron, camellia and magnolia and in the conservation and protection thereof by, but not by way of limitation: - a) ensuring continuity in the care of collections of the genera in public gardens by supporting professional gardeners and taxonomists through travel sponsorship and other appropriate means - b) operating a website - c) organising shows - d) producing literature - e) acting as an advisor by providing assistance in identification, conservation and reproduction of unusual or rare species or cultivars. Having regard to the Group’s aims and objectives, the Trustees believe these meet the public benefit requirements of the Charities Act 2011. ## **TRUSTEES AND MANAGEMENT** The charity trustees manage the affairs of the Group and may for that purpose exercise all its powers. The Trustees may delegate their powers and functions to the Management Committee. At least one Trustee must be present at any Management Committee Meeting. The Trustees are required to provide an Annual Report and independently examined accounts to the Charity Commission every year. The Trustees who served during the year were: Barry Cooke Dr. John Marston Graham Mills (Chairman) Alastair Stevenson **Rhododendron Camellia and Magnolia Group Registered Charity number 1161254** ANNUAL REPORT OF TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st OCTOBER 2022 ## **2021-2022 REVIEW** ## **Public facing events.** After two years of being unable to undertake face to face events we were again able to hold shows and talks. The AGM took place in May 2022 at Ramster along with the Wessex Branch show and the Centenary Cup Competition. Graham Mills was elected as Chairman. Barry Cooke and David Millais were elected as Vice Chairmen. In addition, a nearly normal set of RHS and Branch shows occurred during the year. We held one of our Management Committee meetings in London with Zoom being used for the others. Day to day running of the Group falls on the hard work and dedication of a small number of volunteers. ## **ACHIEVEMENTS** ## **Bursaries** Unlike the previous year when we were unable to make any awards because travel restrictions and lockdowns made bursary projects impossible this year was different. The Bursary Committee (John Marston, Chair, Tom Clarke, Mark Bobin, & Rama LopezRivera) made two awards in 2022: Jeremy Wilson £350 for propagation of endangered camellias and Giulio Baistrocchi £300 for research into an historic rhododendron collection at Sofiero Palace Park, Sweden . ## **The Plant Committee** During the year, further additions were made to the Group Collections of Cinnabarina Rhododendrons at Minterne and the Hardy Hybrid Collection at Ramster furnished through purchases from rhododendron nurseries and micropropagated plants from Duchy College, Rosewarne. Two magnolias for the Amos Pickard Collection at Canterbury Cathedral were delivered from a Swiss nursery and will be planted during 2023 along with further back-up plants for the collection. The planting of one new variety in the collection was chosen for the Queen’s Green Canopy Project and a special planting ceremony took place which included the Group’s presence and involvement. Routine appraisals took place of all the Group Collections. The heatwave of Summer 2022 has taken its toll on our rhododendron collections and we await the 2023 inspection to discover what will need to be replaced. The Plant Committee continued its work in further developing the database of extant taxa in the three genera and circulating the data to its members once enough data had been collected to render it useful. Many more previously unrecorded and known to be **Rhododendron Camellia and Magnolia Group Registered Charity number 1161254** ANNUAL REPORT OF TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st OCTOBER 2022 threatened hybrids were identified and sent for propagation. Moreover, many ‘lost’ hybrids are being restored to their original place of breeding. This is proving to be an important national and highly regarded repository of information, now involving several botanic gardens in the UK, and work will continue as before. The additional site for micropropagation of rare species and hybrids continues to be developed and the first produce is now being readied for distribution. There is every reason to believe that this facility will be a back-up to the Group’s usual resource. Throughout the year, the Plant Committee has worked to answer queries from the general gardening public about our three genera and to help with identification of unknown varieties in ordinary gardens and gardens open to the public undergoing restoration. ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** The Group is grateful to Simon Toms who maintained our accounts. As at the 31st October 2022 our total reserves stood at £44,250, a decrease on 2021 (£49,089). Although membership subscriptions were down over the period, book sales were significantly up along with advertising so our total income was £1,109 more than in the previous year. However costs were up across the board and we also undertook a scanning exercise, costing £3,232, on older Yearbooks so that we now have a complete set of them all in digital form. Our investment of £3,000 in the M&G Charifund lost a small sum to end on 31[st] October 2022 at £2,755 but did produce a dividend of £156 during the period. This report and the accounts will be posted on the Charity Commission website, www.charitycommission.gov.uk and at http://www.rhodogroup-rhs.org This year our accounts were independently examined by Jacky Havenga. Jacky has carried out an independent examination of the Financial Statements of the Group relating to the 2021-2022 accounts as required by the Charity Commission and provided her report accordingly. ## **APPROVAL** Approved by the Trustees on 24[th] April 2023 and signed on their behalf by the Chairman, Graham Mills. Signed: Graham Mills Date: 24[th] April 2023 Rhododendron, Camellia and Magnolia Group Registered Charity No. 1161254 Income and Expenditure Account- Year Ending 31st October 2022 2022 Total 2021 Total Unrestricted Restrirted Unrestricted Restritted Income Subscriptions Donations Gift Aid Seed Sales Book Sales Plant5 Advertising Bank Interest M&G Investment Dividends 12.874 29 12,874 779 13,933 160 13,933 160 1.116 2,034 477 75D 1,116 2,034 477 1.653 3.232 1.653 3.232 1,235 38 1.235 43 156 19,973 249 249 156 134 18,109 134 18,109 19,218 750 Expenditure Yearbook Book sales Bulletin5 Scanning Cost of Seed Sales Conservation ProiectslDonations Events/Show Equipment Print, Post & Stationery Card Transactions Costs Direct Debit Transaction Costs Sage Accounting Software Web Maintenance C05t5 RHS Society Membership RHS Aff iliation Insurance Licences Gifts 6,379 1,796 6.727 3,853 307 6,379 1,796 6.727 3,853 307 6,120 6.120 8,203 8.203 250 250 500 34 937 757 629 648 3,582 35 175 34 937 757 629 648 3,582 35 175 1,108 776 1.108 776 622 727 187 35 287 622 727 187 35 287 35 1.650 24,489 35 1.805 24.644 35 287 35 287 155 155 22,192 22.192 SURPLUSIIDÉFICITI -5,272 595 4,672 4,083 4,083 31.10.22 Finèl Accounts.¥ls Rhododendron, Camellia and Magnolia Group Registered Charity No. 1161254 Balance Sheet as at 31st October 2022 2022 2021 Current Assets Debtors.. Cash at Bank M&G Investments 41,495 2.755 44.250 46,034 3,055 49,089 Current Liabilities Subscriptions paid in advonce Creditors Net Current Assets 44,250 49,089 TOTAL ASSETS 44,250 49,089 RESERVES Restricted Funds Cenlenary Fund blf Nèt Movement of Funds Centenary Fund c/f Unrestrlrted Funds 8alance b/f Surplus 4,478 600 4,266 212 5,078 4,478 36,417 44,611 36,417 44.611 TOTAL RESERVES 41,495 49,089 Notes These accounts have been prepared on the receipts and payment5 basis The accounts were approved by the Trustees on ..fr'0¥*..................2023 am Mills- Chairman 31.10.22 Final Accounts.xls