Matthews Hall Fore Street Topsham EXETER EX3 0HF Registered Charity No 1162973
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR 1 SEPTEMBER 2020 TO 31 AUGUST 2021
The Charity Commission requires all charities to submit an annual report containing details of a charity’s accounts, its management, how it has complied with the objects set out in its constitution and certain other specified information. Consequently, parts of this annual report, which covers the Trust’s Financial year to 31st August 2021, will replicate last year’s report. However, for new members the Annual Report gives a brief synopsis of how the Trust is manged as well as the report on our stewardship of the land during the year.
In February 2015, the Topsham Community Association and the Topsham Society jointly launched a public appeal to raise funds to buy the woodland and the fields behind the Goat Walk. Over £300,0000 was raised, the bid was successful and 6 acres of land between the Goat Walk and Bowling Green Road in Topsham, Devon, was purchased for the benefit of the people of Topsham. In August of that year a Charitable Incorporated Organisation known as the Goat Walk Land Trust, established to own and manage the land, was registered with the Charity Commission. The Trust was established with the object, set out in its constitution of “ the maintenance of the rural environment and heritage of the historic town of Topsham through the preservation and enhancement, without any permanent buildings, of the Goat Walk land for the quiet enjoyment and pleasure of the residents of Topsham and visiting members of the public at large ”.
The Trust’s constitution provides for seven trustees to hold office for three years although they may hold office for two further three-year periods. Two trustees, Frances Nieduszynska and Jeremy Rawlings, were appointed by the Topsham Society; and two, John Bradley and Christopher Buckingham, were appointed by the Topsham Community Association Ltd. Three trustees are elected by the Trust’s members voting at the Annual General Meeting. Each year one of the elected Trustees is required to retire although they may stand for three successive terms of office. At last year’s AGM Russell Osborn retired but was re-elected as a Trustee. Chris Finney and Peter Gray were the other two elected members of the Trust.
In April this year Chris Finney sadly died. He was a member of the Management Committee from the start of the Trust, a volunteer on many of our working parties and latterly a well-regarded Trustee. With his background in agricultural economics Chris was a sure pair of hands on the Board and we will greatly miss his insight and expertise. His place as a Trustee was taken on a temporary basis by Roger Webster who has been the Chairman of the Management Committee for the last two years. Roger’s tenure as
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a temporary Trustee will come to an end at the AGM but he has agreed to stand for election as a members’ Trustee.
In 2016 the Annual General Meeting approved an annual membership fee of ten pounds on the basis that this would cover the normal annual running costs of the Trust. The annual accounts annexed to this annual report show that this level of income is appropriate, and for the fourth year the Trustees are not proposing any increase. The membership for the year to August 2021 stands at 243, an increase of ten over the previous year. For a second year the Covid-19 restrictions on people meeting together has meant that there have been only limited working parties to help with the maintenance of the land. In each case the working party was limited to two groups of five volunteers, one in each field with appropriate social distancing maintained. We are fortunate that the fields can be left with comparatively little annual maintenance but some of our 121 volunteers were also able to undertake individual maintenance by the removal of the seed heads of docks when this was permitted.
The Trust was established as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation with a Membership Scheme which not only provides the income to fund the work of the Trust but also enables the community to become more involved in its organisation and governance. A Management Committee was set up by the Trust to deal with the dayto-day management of the land and the development of a long-term strategy to achieve the Trust’s aims and objectives, namely that the land should be accessible, sustainable, rural in nature, simple to manage and for the quiet enjoyment of all. Members are appointed to the Management Committee by the Trustees to whom they are responsible.
Once again the land has proved its value to the community by providing a place for quiet enjoyment of the countryside. There has been a further increase in wildflowers with the notable addition this year of a Bee Orchid. The Trustees reviewed their decision that the land should be open to the public during the pandemic and agreed that it should remain so. Our fields continue to be a joy to the people of Topsham and further afield, providing somewhere for quiet exercise, away from public roads. This was the object of the Trust when it was established, and it has been greatly appreciated by the community during this second year of the Covid restrictions.
Unfortunately, due to the weather and other commitments, our contractor was only able to cut the grass on the meadows and not remove the crop. Next year we hope to start removing the hay crop again to reduce fertility which, over the years, will result in lower grass yields and a greater number and diversity of flowering plants.
Following the successful photographic competition last year, the Trust, in partnership with Topsham Allotments and Gardens Society and Estuary League of Friends, organised a photographic competition during the summer of 2021. The quality of photographs was again of the highest standard and this year the winners were displayed at the Annual Show of the Topsham Allotment and Gardens Society.
In the past few years maintenance has been necessary on several of our trees by a tree surgeon who checks to see if any further work is required. However, during the year a
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substantial branch of one of the trees bordering Bowling Green Road was blown down in a storm and had to be removed. The Trust has consequently commissioned a further full survey of the trees on our land.
The Trust has to date taken a cautious approach to the alterations that it has made to the land. The objective of the Goat Walk Land Trust is to keep the land as rural fields with an area of woodland. This was confirmed by the public consultation which indicated a wish to develop the fields as wildflower meadows. There was also support for an increase in the area of woodland, a small orchard and two water retaining scrapes.
In response to the public consultation the Trust planted over 400 trees as small whips of about 1- 1[1] /2 feet and several larger oak and apple trees. These are now beginning to form a significant extension to the woodland. Many of the small whips have now grown to over 6 feet and this year we saw the first apples. Six local varieties of heritage apple trees were selected and these were supplemented this year by a small number of local varieties of apple. A review of the land management was undertaken last year and, in response to the request by our members, a small extension to the woodland areas was undertaken. The Trust, with the help of the Woodland Trust, planted a further 30 woodland trees to form a new, small copse in the upper field and 150 trees to thicken and diversify the hedges, and to provide a food source for wildlife. These were again planted as small whips which in the past have proved to survive much better than larger trees. We were also able to plant a limited number of additional oak trees with the help of a donation by a member.
As part of the Trust’s aim to provide better access to the land, the last two seats were purchased during the year with the aid of generous donations, one in memory of Jean and Brian Hancock. Access through the gate to the upper field was also improved by the realignment of rocks on the path and the scrapes continue to function well as a means of draining the boggy area near the gates onto Bowling Green Road.
The Trust is required as part of its annual return to the Charity Commission to include details of any serious incidents during the year. The Trustees are able to confirm that there have been no issues relating to fraud or financial crime; no unverified or suspicious donations; no significant financial losses; no safeguarding issues, nor any issues relating to terrorism or any other serious incidents. The Trust has no paid employees or advisors and does not make grants to individuals or other organisations.
This is a report of the Trust’s activities for the year to 31[st] August 2021. The woodland and meadows continue to thrive, and any changes will be gradual and consistent with the Trust’s objects and principles. The Trustees remain committed to keep the Goat Walk Land a place of quiet enjoyment for the people of Topsham and its visitors.
Chris Buckingham Chairman of the Trustees
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CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION
REGISTERED NUMBER 1162973
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR YEAR ENDED 31/08/2021
| Restricted | Unrestricted | Total | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | Funds | 2019-20 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Incoming Resources | ||||
| Donations | 0 | 3365 | 3365 | 3010 |
| Gift Aid (estimate) | 0 | 631 | 631 | 615 |
| AGM bar surplus | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 |
| Wayleave payment | 0 | 87 | 87 | 85 |
| Contributions to Benches | 0 | 1650 | 1650 | 0 |
| Bank interest | 0 | 180 | 180 | 0 |
| Total Income | 0 | 5913 | 5913 | 3740 |
| Resources Expended | ||||
| Web site | 0 | 217 | 217 | 276 |
| Publicity | 0 | 250 | 250 | 55 |
| Charitable Activities | ||||
| Meadows | 0 | 475 | 475 | 843 |
| Tools and materials | 0 | 317 | 317 | 91 |
| New Trees | 0 | 0 | 0 | 175 |
| Tree surgery | 0 | 750 | 750 | 0 |
| New benches | 0 | 2500 | 2500 | 0 |
| Insurance | 0 | 348 | 348 | 324 |
| Bank charges | 0 | 84 | 84 | 60 |
| Governance | ||||
| AGM | 0 | 0 | 0 | 121 |
| Meetings room hire | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 |
| Total expenditure | 0 | 4941 | 4941 | 1975 |
| 0 | ||||
| ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ | |
| Annual Surplus | 0 | 972 | 972 | 1765 |
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Balance Sheet as at 31st August 2021
| Restricted | Unrestricted | Total | 2019-20 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Fund | Funds | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Fixed Assets | ||||
| Community Land | 300505 | 0 | 300505 | 300505 |
| Current Assets | ||||
| Debtors | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| HMRC Gift Aid | 0 | 631 | 631 | 615 |
| Cash at CAF Bank | 91 | 3671 | 3762 | 2908 |
| Cash at Lloyds Bank | 0 | 5182 | 5182 | 5080 |
| Cash at Shawbrook Bank | 0 | 20000 | 20000 | 20000 |
| Liabilities | ||||
| None | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| _ | _ | ______ | __ | |
| Net Assets | 300596 | 29484 | 330080 | 329108 |
| The Funds of the Charity | ||||
| Funds B/F | 300596 | 28512 | 329108 | 327343 |
| 20-21 Surplus | 0 | 972 | 972 | 1765 |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | |
| Total Funds | 300596 | 29484 | 330080 | 329108 |
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GOATWALKLANIyfRUST I CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts SeGtion A Independent Examiners Report Report to th• trnst•osl members of On accounts forthè year •nded 31.0821 Charity no lif any) Iiblq?I Sèt out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the al)ove d)arity nhe Trusfl for the year gnded R•sponsiblllttg¥ and basls of r•port As the chantvs trustees, you 8r8 $nble for the preparation of the accounts in actordance wth the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 rth Actj. I report in respect of my examination or the Trust's attounts carried out under serlion 145 of the 2011 Act and in cairying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Direction8 given by the Charity Commissic under section 14515llbl of the Ad. Indepgndent I have completed my examination I confirm that no material matters have examinarf$ ststement eometo my attention in connection with the examination which 9ives me cause to bdieve that in. any materi81 respect.. the 8rLounting records were not kept in xcordancè with sectKJn 130 ol the Chanties Ad,. or the arxounts did not accord wrth the ac(y)unting r8cords.' or the 8rxounts dld not coMY wth the applicae requirements eoneeming th8 form and content of account8 set out in the Chariti8S IA¢¢ount$ and Reports) R8gulations 2008 otherthan any requirernent that the accounts give a'true and fair viewwhich is not a matter considered as part of an irnlependent examination. I have no COnM$ and have Come across no other matters in connection th the ex8min8tion to which attents.on should be drawn in this report in orderto enable a proper undetslanding of the account510 be reached. . H8ase d61gte the ynts in th8 bTroketsrflhey&) notèpply. Slgn•d- Datè: 27.10.21 NAM?: Geoff Wllklnson R•lov8nt profe8slonal quallfftrAtlonlsl or body Ilf anyl- IER Oct 2018 Page 6
GOATWALKLANIyfRUST Addr•ss: 2 Tresllllan Gardons, Topsham. Ex•t•r, EX3 OBA Section B Disclosure Only ¢omplete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concem 1888 CC32. Indgpendent exanNnation of charity accounts.. directions and guidanc£ for examiner81. Glv• here brl•f d•talL8 of arty items that th• •xamlner wishes to dl8cloJg. IER Oct 2018 Page 7