Wootton Conservation Trust
Charitable Incorporated Organisation
Registered Charity No 1163549
Trustees Annual Report
For the year ending 31 December 2021
Trustees:
Philip Parker (Treasurer to 11 August 2021, Chair from 23 April 2021) David Fairweather (Treasurer from 11 August 2021) Mel Leggett (to 15 December 2021)
Edward Taylor
Malcolm Barnicoat (from 9 April 2021) Marcus Brown (from 17 April 2021) Sarah Brown (from 18 October 2021)
Address:
c/o Yew Trees House, 32 Castle Road, Wootton OX20 1EG
Wootton Conservation Trust CIO, Registered Charity 1163549 Trustees’ Report and Accounts for year to 31 December 2021
Page 2 of 5
Objectives
Wootton Conservation Trust CIO (“WCT CIO” or “the CIO”) was established in 2015 by the Trustees of the Wootton Conservation Trust, registered charity 1070246 (“WCT” or “the original Trust”).
The objectives of the CIO and the original Trust are to preserve and protect for the public benefit all forms of wildlife in the civil parish of Wootton, and to advance education of the public regarding wildlife and to increase understanding and appreciation of nature, its value and its conservation, in particular by the promotion of the evolution and enhancement of the landscape and the promotion, preservation and protection of public rights of way over footpaths in the parish.
The CIO was established with the intention that the property and activities of the WCT Trust be transferred to the CIO, in order to simplify the administration of the charities, and in particular to allow the CIO to own the land directly, which is not possible for the original Trust as it is an unincorporated trust.
On 30[th] September 2019 the trustees transferred the Trust’s property and activities to the CIO, since which time the CIO has taken over the activities of the Trust and the management of Wootton water meadows and adjacent limestone grassland.
Activities and Finances
The CIO received income of £6,987 in 2021 and incurred expenditure of £1,990. Total funds at the end of the year were £10,691.
Income in 2021 consisted principally of a grant from Wild Oxfordshire (£4,892) and income from the Trust’s Higher Level Stewardship agreement with the RPA (£1,930). The grant from Wild Oxfordshire covered the cost of new fencing along the ditch between Dorn and Glyme water meadows; the Trust paid for this work in 2020.
Expenditure in 2021 was principally related to maintaining the land (topping the grass, contributions to Oxford Conservation Volunteers in exchange for work done etc) as well as insurance. Adjusting the timing of the payment for the new fencing to match the corresponding grant income, the expenditure in 2021 would have been £6,882 compared with income of £6,987, leading to a surplus of £105 for the year.
Between the summer of 2019 and March 2020 WCT benefitted from the generous donation of the proceeds of the Wootton Village Hall Talks (totalling £4,960), resulting in an accumulation of reserves. The Trustees have been considering carefully how to use these resources and have developed a plan for long term management of the land. There is a material need for replacement fencing in various areas of the land, for pollarding of trees and trimming of overgrown hedgerows, and potentially for dredging of the river to help alleviate flooding by the road bridge on Horseshoe Lane. These items are expected to represent a material cash outlay over the next few years. The Trustees expect that expenditure will materially exceed income in 2022-2024, which will deplete our reserves, and are looking into sources of additional funding to help with the planned works.
Approved by the Board of Trustees on 4 October 2022 and signed on its behalf by:
Wootton Conservation Trust CIO, Registered Charity 1163549 Trustees, Report and Accounts for year to 31 December 2021 Page3of5 David Fairweather (Treasurer)
Wootton Conservation Trust CIO, Registered Charity 1163549 Trustees’ Report and Accounts for year to 31 December 2021
Page 4 of 5
Receipts and Payments for the 12 months ended 31 December 2021
| Receipts – donations and grants Total receipts Expenditure Net income/(expenditure) Other recognised gains/(losses) Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Total cash funds last year end Total cash funds this year end |
2021 2020 Unrestricted Funds Unrestricted Funds £ £ 6,987 7,335 |
|---|---|
| 6,987 7,335 1,990 7,647 |
|
| 4,997 (312) 0 0 |
|
| 4,997 (312) 5,695 6,007 |
|
| 10,691 5,695 |
Wootton Conservation Trust CIO, Registered Charity 1163549 Trustees’ Report and Accounts for year to 31 December 2021
Page 5 of 5
Balance Sheet
Statement of Assets and Liabilities at the end of the period As at 31 December 2021
| Cash funds Other monetary assets Assets for the charity’s own use Note 1 Liabilities Total funds at this year end |
2021 2020 £ £ 10,691 5,695 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
|---|---|
| 10,691 5,695 |
Approved by the Board of Trustees on 4 October 2022 and signed on its behalf by:
Chairman Philip Parker
Treasurer David Fairweather
Notes
- WCT owns the freehold to approximately 29 acres of land near the village of Wootton, comprising largely water meadows and adjacent limestone grassland. As this was transferred from the old Trust to the CIO for nil consideration and is intended to be held in perpetuity this land is carried at zero book value.