## **Matthews Hall Fore Street Topsham EXETER EX3 0HF Registered Charity No 1162973** 

## **ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR 1 SEPTEMBER 2021 TO 31 AUGUST 2022** 

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 2022, will replicate last year’s report.  However, for new members the Annual Report gives a brief synopsis of how the Trust is managed 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 was elected as a trustee for a further term.  Peter Gray and Roger Webster were the other two elected members of the Trust. 

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 has been appropriate, and for the sixth year the Trustees are not proposing any increase. Nevertheless, the Trustees have agreed to ask members to review their contributions to the Trust in the light of the increases in the costs of maintenance of the land and in particular the anticipated cost of the grass cutting in 2023.  The membership for the year 

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to August 2022 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, with many visitors throughout the year.  In May the Trust took part in Topsham’s “Join the Club” event with stalls both in Matthews Hall and on our land.  We received many positive comments and several new members as a result.   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. 

Unfortunately, due to the weather and other commitments, our usual contractor was unable to cut the grass on the meadows or remove the crop.  When the contractor finally confirmed that he was unable to cut the grass we arranged for a new contractor, although this was on a commercial basis rather than in exchange for the hay crop.  On the advice of the Management Committee the Trustees have agreed to employ the new contractor for the year 2022-23 in order to ensure that the hay is cut at the right time.  This will result in an increase in our annual running costs, but the Trustees consider that an increase in the annual membership fee is not necessary this year. 

Over the past years maintenance of our trees by a tree surgeon has regularly been necessary.  At the same time the tree surgeons check to see if any further work is required.  However, as it was five years since the last full report on the trees, the Trust commissioned a further full survey of the trees.  Regular inspection of our trees is recommended but no immediate surgery is required.  However, one of our older trees will need some work in the near future.  The elm trees in the northern hedge suffer from Dutch Elm Disease and die when they reach the usual size for the disease to take effect. Whereas previously the Trust allowed dead trees to remain where they fell as part of its rewilding programme, it was decided that in future log piles would be created which are more beneficial for wildlife.  Some thinning of the trees in the old woodland will also be necessary in due course. 

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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.  Consequently, no significant changes were undertaken during the year.  The trees which were planted in the first years of the Trust are now growing well and are blending in with the existing woodland.  The apple trees are also establishing and received pruning during the year to encourage their proper development. 

In June the Trust organised the planting of a commemorative oak tree to celebrate the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.  The tree was planted by people representing the organisations which set up the Goat Walk Land Trust as well as the committee which raised the funds, the Trust’s Management Committee, Topsham’s many clubs and societies, the historic families of Topsham, the town’s elected representatives, the Town’s maritime heritage, and local children. 

All those present at the celebration were then invited to help with further shovels of soil and many local people very much appreciated the chance to be involved. 

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 2022.  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 31/08/2022** 

||**Restricted**|**Unrestricted**|**Total**|_Total_|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||_2020-_|
||**Funds**|**Funds**|**Funds**|_21_|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|_£_|
|**Incoming Resources**|||||
|Donations|0|2925|2925|_3365_|
|Gift Aid|0|589|589|_631_|
|AGM bar surplus|0|0|0|_0_|
|Wayleave payment|0|86|86|_87_|
|Contribution to benches|0|0|0|_1650_|
|Bank interest|0|117|117|_180_|
|**Total income**|0|3717|**3717**|_5913_|
|**Resources Expended**|||||
|Web site|0|184|184|_217_|
|Publicity|0|0|0|_250_|
|_Charitable Activities_|||||
|Meadows|0|390|390|_475_|
|Tools and materials|0|0|0|_317_|
|Trees|0|535|535|_750_|
|New benches|0|0|0|_2500_|
|Insurance|0|358|358|_348_|
|Bank charges|0|93|93|_84_|
|_Governance_|||||
|AGM|0|0|**0**|_0_|
|Meetings room hire|0|0|**0**|_0_|
|**Total expenditure**|0|1560|**1560**|_4941_|
||______|______|______|______|
|**Surplus 21-22**|0|2157|**2157**|_972_|



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## Balance Sheet as at 31st August 2022 

|||||_2020-_|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Restricted**|**Unrestricted**|**Total**|_21_|
||**Funds**|**Fund**|**Funds**||
||**£**|**£**|**£**|_£_|
|**Fixed Assets**|||||
|Community Land|300505|0|**300505**|_300505_|
|**Current Assets**|||||
|Debtors|0|0|0|_0_|
|HMRC Gift Aid|0|589|589|_631_|
|Cash at CAF Bank|0|2950|2950|_3762_|
|Cash at Lloyds Bank|0|8193|8193|_5182_|
|Cash at Shawbrook Bank|0|20000|20000|_20000_|
|**Liabilities**|||||
|None|0|0|0|_0_|
||_______|_______|______|________|
|**Net Assets**|300505|31732|**332237**|_330080_|
|**The Funds of the Charity**|||||
|Funds B/F|300505|29575|330080|_329108_|
|21-22 Surplus|0|2157|2157|_972_|
||_______|_______|_______|_______|
|**Total Funds**|300505|31732|**332237**|_330080_|



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GOATWALKLANIyfRUST
• CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examiner's report on the
accounts
Section A
Independent Examtller'5 Report
Report to the tnwtaasl
membews of
.Ilalk Laiid Ti-.i::,
On accounts for th• y￿r
gnd¢d
31108122
Charity no
lif any)
1182973
Set out c•n pa90$
.-Js
I report to the trustees on my examination of the ac£ounts of th8 above
charity (Yhe Trust'l for the year ended 31108122.
Respon$lbllltt*s and
ba818 of r•port
A8 the ¢haWs twstees, you are resrx)n$ible for the preparation of the
accounts in afxordano with the requiren*nts of cha￿t￿P8 Arl 2011 1.the
ALfl.
l ￿pOrt in respect of my examination of the Tru5t'S accounts ¢arried out
under section 145 of the 2011 Act and ill carrying out my examination, I
have followed all the applicable Dire¢bons given by the Chartty Commission
under section 14515llbl of the Act.
Ind•￿Trdent
•x4minerfs statement I have completed my examination. I confim) that no material matter$ have
c4me to my attention in conneGlion with the examinats.on which give5 me
(2U8e to believe that in. any material ￿$peG1."
the accounting records were not kept in accordanc8 Wth Section 130
of the Chanties Ad", or
the accounts did not accord with the a￿OUntIng ￿cOrdS.. or
the account8 did not Cornply with the ap￿1¢at￿e requirements
conceming the forrn and content of account5 set out in the Charithes
(Accounts and R8wrtsl Regulations 2006 other than any requ1￿meTht
that the a￿oUnts give a 'true and fall view whiGh is not a matter
¢onsidered as part of an independent exaM￿nation.
I have no conrxms and have come across no other matter5 in connection
with the exarnination to vthich attention should be drawn in this report in
orderto enable a proper under8tarKling of the account¥ to Èe reached.
Slgned..
02111122
Nam•:
Geoffray Wllkln&on
Relevant profe$$lonal
qualificationlsl or body
Ilf any)..
IER
Oct 2018
Page 6

GOATWALKLANIyfRUST
Addr•M.'
2 Tre5illian Gardèns
Topsham
Exotor EX3 OBA
Section B
Distlosure
Only complete If the examiner needs lo highlight material matters of concern
(See CC32. Independent examinatK)n of charity accounts." diredions and
guidan￿ for examiner81.
GIV8 here bTl8f dats118 of
any item$ thattho
examlner wlshes to
disclose.
IER
O¢t 2018
Page 7