2024-09-30-accounts

Annual Report October 2023 to September 2024

View East from the Discovery Centre

Friends of Combe Valley is a Registered (in England) Charity Number: 1163581

Annual report October 2023 – September 2024

Friends of Combe Valley

Introduction

Our work has continued and in particular the community garden around the Discovery Centre is increasingly well established and more people have learned about the park’s beauty.

The southern border of the car park in June

Events

Presentation to Councillors and Council Officers: January 27

A number of councillors in both Hastings and Rother are very active in their support of the park, but we wanted to offer others a chance to learn about the park at a special meeting. At the meeting Julie Willard provided information about Friends of Combe Valley, Emma Ramsden explained the role of Groundwork (GW) as agents of the Combe Valley Countryside Park CIC (CIC) and her role as their manager in the park, Pete Hunnisett described the different habitats of the Combe Valley Park and Jamie Parsons outlined the project of Sussex Wildlife Trust to clear back the reed beds.

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Friends of Combe Valley

Annual report October 2023 – September 2024

The Great Big Green Week – June 9

In June we had our third Great Big Green event, which increased awareness of the Park's role as a green space and its importance in developing a diverse and healthy environment, with an emphasis on preventing further climate change.

The weather was dry but windy and mainly sunny, so stalls were set up outside, with a variety of activities and games. Inside the Discovery Centre there was an excellent exhibition of wildlife photographs and documents about the Country Park plus a display of recipes for swapping and copying.

There was a good attendance with about 80 visitors and around 20 children as well as 30 people linked to stalls and 14 volunteers from the Friends: not forgetting 6 Morris dancers plus an accordionist

Open day on September 29

This successful open day was a chance to welcome people to the Discovery Centre and the park generally, to show-case what we do, encourage people to join the Friends and become volunteers in the park. About 50 people attended and we gained 7 new members, with many offering to volunteer.

Cliff with his hand made rake and on the right the exhibition inside the Discovery Centre

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Friends of Combe Valley

Annual report October 2023 – September 2024

Nature Detectives

Emma Ramsden, who is employed by Groundwork South (GW) on behalf of the Combe Valley Countryside Park CIC (the CIC) continued to provide sessions in the park for families, which she started through the Friends in the summer of 2021. In total 9 Nature Detectives days have been delivered this year, 5 with GW in collaboration with

FCV and 4 by GW as stand-alone events or incorporated in the Big Green Day and the Open Day.

97 children and 67 adults have participated meaning that 164 people have engaged in these sessions in 2024. Session have included nature discovery both in the Combe Valley Community Garden and on the beach at Glyne Gap. They have also included gardening for wildlife, simple herb growing and plenty of nature and seasonally focused arts and

crafts.

Ten FCV volunteers have contributed their time and effort to these sessions over the year giving 64 volunteer hours to these sessions.

Social Evenings

In January 2024 Julie Willard arranged a social evening to give people connected to the park an opportunity to get together, to relax - natter, do craft work and play board games. This has become a regular feature now the fourth Wednesday of the month and provides an informal venue for members and subscribers to get together .

Conservation work

This has been a very productive year for the FCV Volunteers, along with the support of the CIC, working alongside (GW) and ably assisted by corporate volunteers from Hastings Direct.

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Friends of Combe Valley

Annual report October 2023 – September 2024

Highlights include:

The Community Garden

Planting of new mixed native hedging around the Community Garden, including stripping off turf and erecting stock fencing to offer protection. Subsequent mulching, weeding, watering and on-going care has enabled the whips to get established and survive the dry summer period. Hedge trees have been planted within the hedge line, with margins left uncut to help create corridors, promote bio-diversity and provide cover for small mammals and overwintering for invertebrates.

The tree line between the middle and third tier has been extended by planting additional native trees, further improving the provision of wildlife corridors. The installation of protective cages, mulching and an intensive watering programme enabled the trees to get well established through the dry summer period.

Natural meadow expansion on the newly extended Community Garden area has been encouraged and managed with the inclusion of mown winding pathways to enable visitors to appreciate the flora and fauna with minimal disturbance. An on-going meadow management plan will see

rotational mowing, with “cut and clear” operations to ensure a mixed habitat is maintained whilst wildflower colonisation is promoted.

The Native Tree Nursery has been established within the Community Garden space. This area has been enclosed by stock fencing and a perimeter hedge, to provide protection and shelter for the trees, along with more diversity of habitat. The fence posts are already being adopted as perches for several species of birds.

The Friends Meadow is an on-going project which goes from strength to strength, the “cut and clear” mowing management scheme is aiding the establishment of a diversely populated meadow space, again with mown pathways to enable visitors to appreciate the space up close with minimal disturbance. Further yellow rattle seed has been dispersed to help weaken the grass and further encourage wild flower growth.

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Annual report October 2023 – September 2024

Friends of Combe Valley

We have seen a marked increase in the numbers of insects, small mammals, feeding birds and hunting raptors within the Community Garden Space.

Elsewhere in the Park

The Haven Copse and Combe Hedge at the eastern edge of tier three is maintained with weeding, “cut and clear” of the surrounding grass, replacement of saplings, mulching and watering. Although watering at this more remote location present logistical problems.

Work continues to manage Ash Die Back within the “Long Wood”. Periodically wind felled trees are safely lowered to the ground and local use is made of the timber within the wood as wildlife habitat piles and towers.

On-going park maintenance projects include the cutting up and removal of fallen trees on the dismantled railway, cutting up and removal of a fallen tree in the Gorringe, clearing and cutting back vegetation on footpaths, litter picks around the park and along the beach and a major

clean up after an incursion by travellers, along with repairs to damaged raised beds. A group of gardeners have repaired, painted and planted up the original raised beds with a selection of flowers and herbs.

Hastings Direct volunteers joined the Friends to further extend the elevated pathway (Platform One), to enable walkers to navigate around a normally flooded section of the Dismantled Railway. Other volunteers from Hastings Direct have assisted n the digging out of the meadow/car park pathway.

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Friends of Combe Valley

Annual report October 2023 – September 2024

Signs for the park

New park signage has been designed and purchased. The replacement of signs at various entrances to the park is being undertaken by the Friends, with just 5 left for installation. A survey is also on-going to record of the condition of the existing marker posts within the park, with a view to renovating / replacing them in due course.

Furniture

The Friends have constructed and erected five new rustic benches from locally coppiced sweet chestnut. These are located throughout the Community Garden and provide a number of very welcome places for visitors to rest a while to appreciate the beauty of the space.

Booklets

A successful application was made to the Aviva Wild Isles Fund for funding to create and publish three booklets about the flora and fauna of the park, to be given free to visitors to the park. The scheme involved crowdfunding for

the project with Aviva match funding the amounts raised. East Sussex County Council also supported the project with similar match funding. 26 members of the public supported the project, raising just under £600, which with money from ESCC and Aviva took the total to just under £2000.

The first booklet on butterfly and moth species was published in August, with the other two on birds and insects were published in November. The booklets were written by Pete Hunnisett who used his photos to illustrate the text and designed by Karl Beaney.

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Friends of Combe Valley

Annual report October 2023 – September 2024

Rainwater harvesting

In August East Sussex County Council gave us a grant to use the roof of the storage container to harvest rainwater. The design and installation of a pitched roof was started in September and has been completed since then.

Future plans

On-going and future projects by the Friends include

• Along the western edge of the Friends Meadow erection of several bays of sweet chestnut post and rail fencing in the traditional Sussex style, to create a feature.

• Between the meadow and car park continuing the pathway to enable safer movement for visitors.

• The grass area around the picnic benches in front of the Discovery Centre is to be reinforced with a rubber grid through which the grass can grow.

• In the work area to the side of the Friends storage container installing a removable shelter to provide protection from rain and sun.

• Installing water containers at Eastern end of Tier Three for localised water supply to maintain Haven Copse and Combe Hedge

• To create a vehicle entrance to tier two from the Freshfields car park to make the community garden vehicle free, whilst maintaining access for ambulance, contractor and Environment Agency vehicles.

Warden service

The warden service has continued more informally since there are fewer incidents. As has been noted in previous reports the presence of the wardens helps contribute to the peace of the park.

Making caterpillars on an open day

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Friends of Combe Valley

Annual report October 2023 – September 2024

Volunteers

The activities outlined in this report rely on volunteers and their contribution is substantial. The following are the totals, from our records and estimates of time spent on:

• i. Conservation work about 2,200 hours, including the regular Thursday mornings and numerous other tasks around the park

• ii. Other events – about 500 hours over the events set out above, the social evenings and events in partnership with GWS for the CIC

• iii. Wardens – this has not been formally recorded: currently 6 wardens walk regularly in the park and deal, as appropriate, with any information received about the park.

• iv. Administration, including dealing with calls about security and planning issues, as well as design help from Karl amounts to about 1,200 hours during the year.

Overall about 4,100 hours during the year, with a comparatively small band of volunteers, now numbering around 50 and we continue to welcome new volunteers and all their help is much appreciated.

In addition, Hastings Direct has sent several teams of volunteers over the year to help in the park, and their help is much appreciated.

We were delighted that Julie Willard’s substantial contribution to our work was recognised with her award as a volunteer of the year by Hastings Voluntary Action at their AGM in November 2023.

Like any army of any worth, the Friends march on their stomachs. The volunteers are very appreciative of the refreshments provided after the Thursday Volunteering sessions. All manner of culinary delights are served up by Teresa, to whom many thanks are due.

Members and Subscribers

During the year as we got used to using Mailchimp, we have divided our members into subscribers, who have not paid a subscription during the current year and members, who have paid. We have 101 subscribers, of whom 3 do not have email addresses, so contact is less regular and 74 members.

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Friends of Combe Valley

Annual report October 2023 – September 2024

We do not want to exclude anyone because they do not have the means to contribute, so we accept £1 a year as the minimum amount for membership and we are grateful that most members pay £10 a year.

42 of our members subscribe on a direct debit through Donorbox, which is collected on line or by a standing order to our bank account (which saves on the charges of Donorbox). Altogether these contribute a regular annual payment of £376.

We are very grateful for all these contributions to our work.

Issues in Park

Unfortunately the park continues to attract problems: there is some antisocial behaviour and still too much litter is left behind, but more importantly continued pressure from development proposals threaten the park.

Bulverhythe Recreation Ground:

Last year there were plans to put a golf driving range and club house on the upper tier in front of the Discovery Centre, this was dropped, but it was followed by a proposal by Hastings And Rother Sports Trust which owns Horntye Park Sports Complex to move their grounds to the upper tier also with a clubhouse directly in front of the Discovery Centre. Both FCV and the CIC objected to this proposal and it appears that they are moving elsewhere.

In response, FCV got together with the CIC and GW to discuss a plan for the whole of the Bulverhythe Recreation Ground, to ensure that the whole area is maintained for both organised sport and informal recreation as well as enhancing the biodiversity of the whole area.

For the lower tier, which was threatened with a housing development by Hastings BC, we are working towards the possibility of creating a wet woodland which would ameliorate the regular flooding as well as providing a pleasant area for walking and indeed more active exercise. One

particular proposal is to join the raised walkways at both the western and eastern end of the bund by the Gorringe Stream, to make a path for pedestrians and cyclists which would be above the current flood levels and so accessible all the year round.

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Friends of Combe Valley Annual report October 2023 – September 2024

For the upper tier with the Discovery Centre, we are proposing to extend the community garden further to the east and provide an exercise track around the whole tier.

Antisocial behaviour

Reference has already been made to the problems of litter in the park.

There was again an attempt by travellers to take over the field around the Discovery Centre. They were quickly moved on, but once again they proved themselves to be very messy visitors.

Funding

Reference has already been made to the Booklet project and the grant from East Sussex County Council for the rainwater project. We also continue to work closely with the CIC and GW, in implementing funding which they obtain.

A special thanks is due to Julie Willard, who as in previous years ran a plant sale from her home raising money for Friends of Combe Valley

Conclusion

It is good to report that although there continue to be challenges, we have been able to contribute to the development of the park with the CIC and their agents GW.

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Friends of Combe Valley

Annual report October 2023 – September 2024

Links and contacts

Friends of Combe Valley

Combe Valley Countryside Park Café & Discovery Centre Freshfields, Bexhill, East Sussex, TN38 8FB email: [e-mail] website: https://friendsofcombevalley.co.uk/

Combe Valley Countryside Park

https://combevalleycountrysidepark.com/

Groundwork South

h ttps://www.groundwork.org.uk/hubs/south/

correspondence to William Ackroyd 501 Bexhill Road St Leonards on Sea TN38 8AT 01424 539 739 07419 741266

Bee orchids near the Discovery Centre

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Friends of Combe Valley Icharrty Number111635811 ¢NDs Friends of Combe Valley Registered Charity Number: 1163581 Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 30th September 2024

Friends of Combe VallÈy Icharity Number111635811 CONTENTS OFTHE FINANaALsfATEMENts FOR PERIOD ENDED 30- SEPTEMBER 2024 CONTENTS Page Report of the Trustees 2to5 Independent Examinerfs Report Receipts and Payments Account Statement of Assets and Lrabilities Notes to the Accounts 9tolO IIPoge

Friends of Combe Valley (Charity Number {11635811 TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30- SEPTEMBER 2024 The committee of Friends of C0mL￿ Valley presents Its annual rel￿)rt and financial ststements for the year ended 30, September 2024. ORGANISATKINAL INFORMATION Name of Charlty: Friend5 Of Combe Valley PriKlpal Address: 501 Bexhill Road, St Leonard5-on-Sea. East Sussex TN38 8AT Legal Ststus: Charltable Incorporated Organisation ICIOI Registered Charity Numbw: 1163581 Governlng D(xument: Constitution adopted 1510912015 Amended on 0310412019 Amended 2310212021 Truste￿. Peter Clarke- Chair Ire-appoirbted 06/12120221 William Ackroyd - TreaSu￿r Ire-appointed 05/12120231 Christopher Dadswell- Vice Chair (re-appointed 05112120231 Will Kemp Irtrappointed 06112120221 Karl Beaney (re-appointed 06112120221 Cliff Willard lapwinted 18112120201 Ellse Liversedge Iresigned 05112120231 Anna Sabin (appointed 0811212021 Emma Ramsden (appointed 08112120211 Wirginia Vilela lapwjinted 08112120211 Stephanne Collins- Secretary lapwinted 08112120211 Joanna Brewerton lapFK)inted 08112120211 Bankers: The Co-operative Bank Independent Examlners: Lorraine Brown Blue Ridge Accounting se￿1￿$ Ltd The Old Court House North Trade Road Battle East Sussex TN33 OEX 21Poge

Friends of Combe Valley Icharty Number11163581) TRusfEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30- SEPTEMBER 2024 The trustees submit their annual report and financial statements for Friends of Combe Valley for the period ended 30th September 2024. STRucfuRE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMEMr Friends of Combe Valley IFCVI has a committee of Trustees govemed by a constitution adopted 1910912015, Amended 0310412019 and 2310212021. Day to day management ofthe Charity is vested in the Trustees, who are elected and Co￿pted under the terms of the constttution. The Committee of Trustees shall have no less than three and no more than twelve members. Trustees are appointed on a 3-year rotational basis at the Annual General Meeting. The names of the Trustees are shown on page 2 ofthis documenL The method adopted forthe recruitment and appointment of new trustees is contained within the onstitution. AIMS AND OBJEcnvES: The objects of FCV are to work w¥thin the Combe Haven Valley and in particular within the boundaries of the Combe Valley Countryside ParL. To promote the conservation. protertion. and improvement of the physical and natural environment, including biodiversity. In particular but not exclusivety by. encouraging the public to use and enjoy the area and tts fauna and flora. b. To advance the education of the public in the consemtion, protection, and improvement of the physical and natural environment PU8UC BENEFIT The Trustees have considered their dLity to have due ￿gard to public benefrt guidance Pltblished by the Charity Commission, and in their opinion the enclosed report on the achievements and performance demonstrates that they have complied therewith. BACKGROUND FCV was registered as a charity wlth Trustees in 2015, it became inactive for a number of years, after which it was restruttured in the Sprin8 of 2019 and became a Charitable 1nwrrx￿ated Or8anlsatlon, a membership association with limited liability for its member5. In May 2019 FCV took over the running of the cafe at the Discovery Centre In the Combe Valley Countryside Park. The cafe closed in March 2020. It re-opened ft)r nearty three months in the spring of 2022 but was forced to close because of the lack of volunteers. Currently it 15 open for special events. The Comte Valley Countryside Park CIC is responsible for the management of the park and does that through Groundwork South CIC (GWSI. who are their agents under a Service Level Agreement. 31Page

Friends of Combe Valley {Charity Number (1163581) TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30- SEPTEMBER 2024IConVd_) ACHIEVEMENTS, PERFORMANCE AND FufuRE PLAN5 FCV'S work and attivities have continued to expand. Membership have increased to 175. including both attive members who are able to offer direct assEStan￿ with the work and informal members who offer support and assistance as and when they can. Thi5 year it has continued to consolidate the work being done with the benefit of existin8 fLtnding. In particular in the development and expansion of the community garden with the Combe Valley Countryside Park CIC and their agents Groundwork SoLrth CIQ It dÈd receive a grant from the East Sussex County Council for £2.230 to buy materials for a rainwater haNesting 5YStem on the roof of the storage container, which is owned and managed by FCV. Future Plans l. Continue to develop the relationship wrth the Combe Valley Countryslde Pat* CIC and Groundwork South CIC in expanding its work in the park. 2. To continue conservation work within the park. in conjunction with Combe Valley Countryside Park CIC and Groundwork South CIC 3. ContirFue discussions on the future development of the parK to protect its environment and as appropriate enable access, working with the Combe Valley Countryside Park CIC and Groundwork South CIC. 4. More inforn)ation is contained in our full Annual Report for the year. FINANCIAL REVIEW Financial Positi¢)n FCV reported that the finan￿ are in a stable and credttable condttyon. Receipts in the year were £8,82412023 £5.9851 and payments were £6,06612023 £8,751) resulting in a surplus of £2.75912023 £2.766 deficit) for the year. The net fund resetve at 30th September 2024 totalled £9.75912023 £7.(XQl, of which £6,446 are protected fvnds. RISKS, POUCIES AND SAFEGUARDS The Trustees have considered the major risks faced bythe organisation to establish policies and systems to mitigate those risks. RESERVES AND INVESTMENT pouaES In line with guidance by the Charity Commission. the trustees endeavour to build up its reserves to enable the charity to fulfil Its objectives and financial plans. 41Poge

Friend5 of Combe Valley (Charity Number111635811 TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30- SEPTEMBER 2024 IConVd_I This report wa5 approved by the Board of Trustees on _ on its behalf by-. . and signed PKo• Pete Clarke Chair of the mmtttee of Tr es liam Ackroyd Trustee and Treasurer 51Page

Friends of Combe Valley Icharity Number (1163581) INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUStEES OF FRIENDS OF COMBE VALLEY CIO FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30- SEPTEMBER 2024 I report to the charity trustees on my eXaMinat￿n of the accounts of Friends of Combe Valley Charitable Incorporated Organisation ICIOI for the year ended 30 September 2024. Respertive responsi6ilities of trustees and examiner The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an avdit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Chartties Act 2011 Ithe Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to- examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charttles Act 2011. to follow the procedures13id down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission lunder section 14515llbl of the Charities Art 2011. and to state whether partiojlar matters have come to my attention. Basls of Indeper¥lent exwThinerfs report My examination was carried out in accordan￿ with General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also include5 consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the trustees conceming any such matters. The procedures vndertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a'twe and fairf view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the ststement below. Independent examinerfs ststement In connection with my examination. no matter has come to my attention.. which gNes me reasonable cause to believe that in any materlal respect the requirements.. to keep accounting records in accordance wtth section 130 of the Charities Act 2011; and to prepare accounts which accord wtth accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or 2. to which, in my opinion, attention shoukl be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed= Lorraine Brown Blue Ridge Accounting Seryices Ltd The 01(1 Court House North Trade Road Battle East Sussex TN33 OEX 61Poge

Friends of Combe Valley (Charity Number111635811 Receipts and Payments account For the year ended 30th September 2024 2024 2023 Totsl Total Funds Funds Funds Funds RECEirrs Grants 4,137 2.566 4.137 2,566 2,121 500 Beach Hut Membership & donations Events 2,165 1.026 157 2,121 Rec'd from CIC Sundrylmisc Total Recelpts 1.991 145 2,121 6,703 8A24 5,984 PAYMENTS Grant disbltrsements Beach Hut 1,255 1.328 2.443 2,583 2,443 89 5,611 2,287 12 Food 89 Adrninistralfve experKllture: Misc expenses Stationery Website 143 143 60 nsurance 157 157 157 Professional fees 350 350 350 Bank charges Activities Equlpment costs Total Payments Net receiptsllpaymentsl Funds at start of this period Transfers between funds Funds at end of this period 25 25 29 125 125 79 82 125 2,294 (1731 3.771 1932 6,066 2,759 8.751 12,7661 3.441 3.559 9.766 45 145) 3,313 9,759 7,￿0 71Poge

Friends of Combe Valley Icharity Number111635811 Statement of assets and liabilities at 30th September 2024 2024 2023 Totsl Total Funds Funds Funds Funds Cash funds Bank account Cash In hand Cash float at café Totsl cash fvnds 2.799 6,446 9,245 6,555 420 25 25 3,313 9,759 7.￿0 2023 Totsl Totsl Funds Funds Funds Debts owed to the chafity Grourtdwor*s CIC nd to whlch asset be Current Value Assets retained fortht Equipment l Tools Various 11,995 3,267 Fwnd to whlth alxfrty Amount due When due cur￿Tht Uablfftles Debts owed by the charity These financial statements are approved by the Board of Trustees on............-.........................._.............. and signed on its behaw bv: Pete Clarke Chair of the Com ee of Trustees royd tee and Treasurer 81Poge

Friends of Combe Valley (Charity NumLei11163581) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30- SEPTEMBER 2024 1. Receipts and Payments accounts Receipts and payments accounts are ststements that summarise the movement of cash into and out of the organisation during the financial year. In this context'cash" indudes cash equivalents, for example. bank accounts where cash can be readily withdrawn to pay for debts as they become due. Tru5teg remuneratlon and ber*fits Trustees re￿iVed no remuneration or benefrts in this period. During the year reirnbursable expenses totslling £1,758 were paid to 3 Trustees for out-of- pocket expenses relating to purchases made on the Charit￿S behalf. 3. staff C¢>s The Charity had no staff costs in the year. 4. Previous period comparlson The financial year end of the charity is 30 September 2024. The previous perlod's figures have been included for comparison. 5. Restrirted fund These are fijnds given to the charty. subject to specific restrictions Set bythe donor, but still within the general objects of the charity. Grants Hastings Direct 1.585 -85 ProIett Beach Hut Project Bexhill Town coU￿n 510 Wild Isles CroknJthJ#der -577 L330 ESCC -524 1.7 th3lkClrffOC 187 -187 Totsl 3￿59 -u16 6. Governance Costs Independent EXaMinat￿n fee for yearond accounts 2024 £350; {2023 £3501. 91Poge

Friends of Combe Valley (Charity Number11163581) NOTES TO THE AccouKrs FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30- SEPTEMBER 2024 7. Assets relained forthe dwrttvs own use Equipmentrrools COST Bfwd at 1st Oaober 2023 Addltlons 11,995 At 30Lh September 2024 11,995 REDu￿10N IN VALUE Blwd at 1st October 2023 Charge for the year 15.061) 13,6671 (8,728) At 30th September 2024 CURRENT VALUE At 30th September 2024 3.267 At 30th September 2023 6,934 IOIPJge