Registered Charity 1165231 (England and Wales)
Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs
Trustees’ Annual Report and Statement of Financial Activity
1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025
January 2026
Trustees’ Annual Report and Statement of Financial Activity
1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025
| Contents | |
|---|---|
| 1 Approval of the Board of Trustees | 4 |
| 2 Executive Summary | 5 |
| 3 Reference and Administration Details | 7 |
| 3.1 Charity Name & Registration | 7 |
| 3.2 Mission Statement | 7 |
| 3.3 Charity Contact Details | 7 |
| 3.4 Organisational Structure | 8 |
| 3.5 Key Stakeholders | 9 |
| 3.6 Informal Partnerships | 10 |
| 3.7 Grantmaking and Funds | 11 |
| 3.8 Risk Assessment | 11 |
| 4 Structure, Governance and Management | 11 |
| 4.1 Type of Governance | 11 |
| 4.2 Charitable Objects | 12 |
| 4.3 Trustees | 12 |
| 4.4 Policies | 14 |
| 5 Activities, Achievements and Performance | 14 |
| 5.1 Statutory Declaration | 15 |
| 5.2 Mammal Photogrammetry | 15 |
| 5.3 Info Centre Cataloguing 17 |
|
| 5.4 “Why Dinosaurs?” Screening 17 |
| 5.5 Festival of Architecture Talks | 19 | |
|---|---|---|
| 5.6 Iguanodon Head Unveiling | 20 | |
| 5.7 “Our Dinosaurs” Screening | 22 | |
| 5.8 Additional Outreach and Public Engagement | 23 | |
| **6 ** | Research, Publications and Awards | 27 |
| **7 ** | Communications | 28 |
| 7.1 Website, newsletter and social media | 28 | |
| **8 ** | How the Public has Benefitted | 29 |
| **9 ** | Financial Review | 30 |
| 9.1 Explanation of Accounts | 30 | |
| 9.2 Remuneration | 31 | |
| 9.3 Financial Status | 32 | |
| 9.4 Details of Any Funds Materially in Deficit | 32 | |
| **10 ** | Statement of Financial Activity 2023/24 | 33 |
| 10.1 Declaration | 33 | |
| 10.2 Accounts for Financial Year 2023/24 | 33 | |
| 10.3 Statement of Assets and Liabilities | 34 | |
| 10.4 Designated or Restricted Funds | 34 | |
| **11 ** | Independent Examiner’s Report on the Accounts | 35 |
1 Approval of the Board of Trustees
The Trustees declare that they have approved the following Annual Report and Statement of Financial Activity.
Signed on behalf of the Trustees
Name: Dr A. Ellinor Michel Date: 31 January 2026
Role: Chair, Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs
2 Executive Summary
The Crystal Palace Dinosaurs are a collection of 30 life-sized sculptures of dinosaurs, marine reptiles, mammals and other extinct animals, created by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins (1807–1894) in 1854. These sculptures are the first attempt in history to portray extinct animals as full-scale, three-dimensional, living creatures and are located outdoors in Crystal Palace Park in southeast London. The sculptures are situated across a 20-acre landscape that includes several lakes and a large set of islands with constructed geologic features called ‘geological illustrations’. While the extinct animal sculptures are the most famous components of the site, we use the term ‘Crystal Palace Dinosaurs’ or simply the ‘Dinosaurs’, as a proper noun to refer to the sum total of all the components.
The site was built to provide an experiential narrative of changes in life and geology through Deep Time and also to demonstrate the geological sources of Britain’s industrial wealth in the 19th century. Although the reconstructions are often different from what we think of as ‘correct’ today, their very difference is a visible explanation on how science is an improving knowledge system, based on new evidence and better interpretation. As the birthplace of ‘Dinomania’, they are a key monument in the history of science, and a much-loved London landmark. The statues are Grade I listed on Historic England’s National Heritage List. In February 2020, Historic England added the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs to the Heritage At Risk Register, which is designed to identify sites that are most at risk of being lost as a result of neglect, decay or inappropriate development.
Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs (FCPD) is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (no. 1165231) whose purpose is to promote the long-term conservation and interpretation of the statues, geological illustrations and the landscapes that make up the site. The charity does not own the sculptures, or control access to the site. Instead, FCPD keeps a close watch. We work with the custodians of the park, the Crystal Palace Park Trust (CPPT), who manage the site on behalf of Bromley Council,, key national organisations such as Historic England, and other charities to ensure the Dinosaurs get the care and attention they need. Our aim is to ensure the Dinosaurs survive our generation intact, so they can be enjoyed for future generations.
FCPD cares deeply about public engagement. Everyone loves the Dinosaurs, and the site is as alive to visitors today as when the park opened in 1854 as the first major experiential apublic outreach on science, “the first page in the book of popularising palaeontology”. Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs keep that spirit alive and develop engagement programmes, give public lectures, encourage visitors to do more than take a few quick photographs, and help children think about the importance of science in their daily lives. We particularly aim to provide resources that will encourage others to draw their own
meaning from the site.
A key part of engagement relates to history and heritage. The Victorian story of these statues is one that fascinates all who encounter it. Yet there is much that still remains a mystery to historians. FCPD are working to unravel some of that narrative. More importantly, the Victorians weren’t the only people to encounter the Dinosaurs. What about the rest of us? No walk through the site seems to go by without hearing stories and memories from visitors. Whether it’s families on a picnic, dog walkers, couples relaxing, or grandparents sharing a story from their youth, visits to the Dinosaurs form part of life for thousands of people every year. FCPD works to capture some of those encounters so we can preserve them for the future.
FCPD is, as ever, grateful for the incredible support given to us by the public, science and heritage communities, local businesses and our partners and stakeholders. We are proud of this year’s achievements, and look forward to building on this.
3 Reference and Administration Details
3.1 Charity Name & Registration
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Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs Registration number: 1165231
Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registered with the Charity Commission on 19 January 2016.
The charity is recognised by HM Revenue & Customs for Gift Aid.
3.2 Mission Statement
Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs aims to:
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1) Conserve the Dinosaurs and their surroundings for future generations.
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2) Promote public knowledge and enjoyment of the Dinosaurs.
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3) Research the history of the Dinosaurs, and share it with the public.
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4) Work with local, national and international stakeholders to achieve the above aims.
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5) Raise funds to achieve the above aims.
Where ‘Dinosaurs’ denotes the sculptures, geological illustrations and surroundings.
3.3 Charity Contact Details
Address 88b Thicket Road, London, SE20 8DR
Email info@cpdinosaurs.org Facebook facebook.com/cpdinosaurs Instagram @cpdinosaurs Twitter @cpdinosaurs Website cpdinosaurs.org
3.4 Organisational Structure
Trustees
| Name (role) |
(Re)appointment date |
Updates during reporting Period |
|---|---|---|
| Dr A. Ellinor Michel (Chair) |
Reappointed November 2023 |
None |
| Stefan Bort (Treasurer) |
Appointed November 2023 |
None |
| Dr Jeremy Young | Reappointed November 2023 |
None |
| Dr Natasha Vasiliki Almeida |
Appointed November 2023 |
None |
| Jonathan Armistead |
Appointed January 2024 |
None |
| Simon Jeal | Appointed 2 May 2024 |
None |
| Andrew Brady | Appointed 10 Feb 2025 |
None |
| Prof. Adrian Lister | Reappointed November 2023 |
Resigned 31 December 2024 |
| Dr Jennifer Crees | Reappointed May 2021 |
Resigned 2 May 2024 |
| Neil Leaver | Appointed November 2023 |
Resigned 10 Feb 2025 |
| Lois Olmstead | Appointed February 2024 |
Resigned 10 Feb 2025 |
All trustees are registered with the Charity Commission and appointed/reappointed for a three-year term, with the exception of an initial four-year appointment of the Chair.
Meetings
The Board of Trustees meets a minimum of six times a year to coordinate projects and determine strategies for raising funds and awareness in line with the charitable objects. Board members rotate responsibility for the roles of facilitator (meeting chair) and secretary. Board meetings take place every 4-6 weeks.
Management Board
The Management Board was part of FCPD organizational structure until August 2024; subsequently, the board has consisted of only fully registered trustees. These skills are now brought in from trustees (above) or Project Partners (below) to improve clarity on governance responsibilities.
Project Partners
Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs Trustees are supported by additional advisory experts and professionals, many of whom help with practical tasks including but not limited to: communications, conservation, corporate governance, creative arts, fundraising, history of science, horticulture, museum education, outreach, palaeontology and geology, policy, public sector administration, social media, and web development. When advisors have committed to longer-term involvement with FCPD, but do not take part in strategic decisions, are not registered with the Charity Commission or regularly attend board meetings, we refer to them as ‘Project Partners’. They may lead on a project related to their skills, supported by the board. A list of current and previous Project Partners is available on our website.
Members of Staff
Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs does not employ any permanent members of staff and activities are almost wholly undertaken by volunteers.
Contractors
Contractors may be engaged for specific projects where a longer-term commitment, level of technical skill or knowledge is required which cannot be performed by volunteers.
3.5 Key Stakeholders
Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs works closely with multiple stakeholders because our aims are varied, the site and sculptures are publicly owned and of international importance in a range of disciplines.
London Borough of Bromley (LBB)
The legal owner of Crystal Palace Park and the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs.
Crystal Palace Park Trust (CPPT)
On 15 September 2023, the Crystal Palace Park Trust (CPTT) became the park’s custodian, taking over this responsibility from the London Borough of Bromley. The Trust has taken on organisation of some events and has become increasingly important to the future of the Dinosaurs. The CPPT shadowed LBB until the formal transfer of custodianship of the park, after which it assumed responsibility for the management of the whole of CP Park and its assets including the Dinosaurs. LBB delegated day-to-day decisions on maintenance and access to the CPPT at the time of transfer.
The CPPT was incorporated as a Private Company Limited by Guarantee (company number: 11360503) in 2018 and received charitable status in England and Wales in 2021 (charity number: 1193331).
Historic England (HE)
An executive non-departmental public body providing support and guidance regarding the protection of heritage assets. The Crystal Palace Dinosaurs have been listed as Grade I on Historic England’s National Register of Heritage Monuments and were placed on the ‘Heritage At Risk’ register in February 2020, making them the highest priority for conservation. In 2022/23, Historic England undertook a special study project on the site to establish baseline condition data and set out a conservation and management plan for the future.
National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF)
The largest funder of UK heritage, National Lottery Heritage Fund invests money raised by the National Lottery across the UK. In 2024, the NLHF awarded £5million in funding to London Borough of Bromley to regenerate the park, to be managed by the Crystal Palace Park Trust. This was focussed on conservation and interpretation of the CP Dinosaurs and the former Palace Terraces.
King’s College London (KCL)
King’s College London is a public research university located in London, UK. It is one of England’s oldest and most prestigious universities. Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs has collaborated with Dr Chris Manias, Department of History, KCL, who has lead on the Beyond the Dinosaurs project.
3.6 Informal Partnerships
Community Organisations
We have strong connections in Crystal Palace and Penge and often collaborate with local community organisations including:
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Crystal Palace Foundation
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Crystal Palace Museum
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Crystal Palace Park Trust (CPPT)
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Friends of Crystal Palace Park (FoCPP)
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Friends of Crystal Palace Subway
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Invisible Palace
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Palace Acapella Choir
Museums, Education and Heritage
Our links with museums, education, and heritage outreach projects include:
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Head2Head Sensory Theatre
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Emerald Ant Street Theatre & Education Company
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Pinto Productions for ‘ Why Dinosaurs? ’ feature length documentary film
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Dodo and Dinosaur - micro-publishing company
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Emma Theresa Jude - Visual Artist, Geologist and Interdisciplinary Educator
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Lyme Regis Fossil Festival
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The Natural History Museum, London (NHM)
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Kings’ College London, History Department (KCL)
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University College London (UCL)
3.7 Grantmaking and Funds
We do not give grants or invest funds.
3.8 Risk Assessment
We keep a register of risks and risk mitigation strategies for the trustees to assess at each board meeting. Each project undertaken by the FCPD is subject to an individual risk assessment.
4 Structure, Governance and Management
4.1 Type of Governance
Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, managed by a board composed of the trustees (3.4.1) and co-opted members (3.4.2).
For issues of governance, the Management Board follows a foundation model where the only voting members are the charity trustees. Co-opted board members may partake in discussions but are not eligible to vote.
When relevant, a trustee must declare any potential conflict of interest and may be requested by the board to absent themself from any related discussion or vote.
A motion will be considered passed should it gain a majority of votes. In the event of an equal number of votes, the casting vote belongs to the Chair.
The quorum is two charity trustees, or the number nearest to one third of the total number of charity trustees, whichever is greater.
4.2 Charitable Objects
The objects of Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs are:
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1) The preservation and conservation of the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, including the palaeontological statues, geological displays and related landscaping, for the public benefit.
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2) The advancement of education for the public benefit in the subjects of the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, palaeontology, biology, archaeology, history and local or national heritage and to promote science in connection with any or all of these subjects.
In the above objects the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs are a collection of over 30 statues and geological tableaux created by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins (1807–1894).
4.3 Trustees
Function and Duties of Charity Trustees
The charity trustees shall manage the affairs of the Friends of Crystal Palace DInosaurs and may for that purpose exercise all the powers of the FCPD. It is the duty of each charity trustee:
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a) To preserve and conserve the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, including the palaeontological statues, geological displays and related landscaping, for the public benefit.
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b) To exercise [their] powers and to perform [their] functions in [their] capacity as a trustee of the FCPD in the way [they decide] in good faith would be most likely to further the purposes of the FCPD
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c) To exercise, in the performance of those functions, such care and skill as is reasonable in the circumstances having regard in particular to:
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i. any special knowledge or experience that [they have] or [hold themselves] out as having
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ii. if [they act] as a charity trustee of the FCPD in the course of a business or profession, any special knowledge or experience that it is reasonable to expect of a person acting in the course of that kind of business or profession.
Trustee Selection Methods
Every trustee must be appointed or reappointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees.
In selecting individuals for appointment as charity Trustees, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs in accordance with charity law.
The charity trustees will make available to each new charity trustee, on or before [their] first appointment:
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a) A copy of the current version of [the] constitution
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b) a copy of the FCPD’s latest Trustees’ Annual Report and statement of accounts
Trustee Induction
Trustee induction includes:
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a site visit
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review of past accomplishments, and future goals
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key governance documents
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a commitment to read CC3: ‘The essential trustee: what you need to know, what you need to do’
Trustee Eligibility
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a) Every charity trustee must be a natural person.
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b) No individual may be appointed as a charity trustee of Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs:
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i. if [they are] under the age of 16 years
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ii. if [they] would automatically cease to hold office under the provisions of clause 12.1.3 [disqualified from acting as a charity trustee by virtue of sections 178-180 of the Charities Act 2011 or any statutory re-enactment or modification of that provision
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I. no one is entitled to act as a charity trustee whether on appointment or on any reappointment until [they have] expressly acknowledged, in whatever way the charity trustees decide, [their] acceptance of the office of charity trustee.
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I. At least one of the trustees of the FCPD must be 18 years of age or over. If there is no trustee aged at least 18 years, the remaining trustees may only act to call a meeting of the charity trustees, or appoint a new charity trustee.
4.4 Policies
FCPD is developing a full set of policies to support our voluntary work, as advised by the National Council on Voluntary Organisations (NCVO). In this reporting period FCPD adopted a Health & Safety Policy, available on our website and with the CPP Trust. Developing these, with input from the NCVO and CPPT, has been a major objective beginning in 2023 and is expected to be completed in early 2025. Further details will be provided in subsequent Trustees’ Annual Reports.
5 Activities, Achievements and Performance
N.B. Our highlights from the reporting period all support our charitable objectives in conservation and interpretation. Some activities are predominantly in one area or the other, though many serve both purposes. We’ve divided the project list into two areas for ease of reading, but these are, in fact, mutually reinforcing.
Table of activities as overview for 2024-25 reporting period:
| Date | Description | Location | Comments & deliverers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17/04/24 | Swing Bridge - donor recognition plaques installed |
Crystal Palace Dinosaurs | FCPD/EM, Gemma Woodfall, Cake Industries |
| 08/05/24 | Paxton School visit | Crystal Palace Dinosaurs | FCPD/SJ and SB |
| 24/05/24 | ‘Why Dinosaurs' - feature-length doc, premiere screening in Lyme Regis Fossil Festival |
Lyme Regis Fossil Festival |
Pinto Productions, EM on panel with science comms fro USA & UK |
| 18/06/24 | Nunhead Cemetery Open Day | Nunhead Cemetery | outreach stand by SJ and volunteers |
| 31/06/24 | ‘Why Dinosaurs' - feature-length doc, premier screening |
Everyman cinema, Crystal Palace |
Pinto Productions, attended by EM, SJ, JA, other FCPD supporters |
| 17/06/24 | Marian Vian school visit | Crystal Palace Dinosaurs | in conjunction with CPPT, SJ and SB |
| 27/06/24 | Rhys 3D photogrammetry talk | Paxton Centre | Festival of Architecture, RG and EM |
| 07/07/24 | Swing bridge talk | Crystal Palace Dinosaurs | Festival of Architecture, Tonkin Liu, Cake Industries and EM |
| 07/07/24 | Geological tour (Jeremy) | Crystal Palace Dinosaurs | Festival of Architecture, JY, Jon |
| Todd, EM | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 03/08/20 24 |
Dinosaur trail family event | Crystal Palace Park | With the Crystal Palace Park Trust |
| 28/09/24 | Tetzoocon - outreach stand | Bush House, Kings College London |
2 day event, presented by trustees AB, EM, and project partners Rhys Grifn, Leah Demitrou |
| 12/12/24 | Iguanodon head unveiling | Crystal Palace train station |
Arriva/TfL and FCPD collab - trustees JA, NVA, JY, EM, SB, - project partners Rhys Grifn, David Vallade, Jon Todd, |
| 17/12/24 | Penge History Group - talk | Crystal Palace Park info centre |
talk by EM, support from other trustees |
| 30/01/25 | Info Centre cataloguing | Crystal Palace | several dates, unsure, CPPT FCPD collab - trustees NVA, JY, EM, project partners Rhys Grifn, Jon Todd, |
| 05/02/25 | Photogrammetry: Mammals | Crystal Palace Park Tertiary island |
Project partner Rhys Grifn, with CPPT support |
| 22/03/25 | Palaeontology in Public launch event |
Kings College London, Strand |
Outreach by trustees AB, EM, and project partners Rhys Grifn, Leah Demitrou, talk by EM |
| 23/03/25 | "Our Dinosaurs" Screening, Crystal Palace International Film Festival |
West Norwood Picturehouse |
Mid- length doc flm made by Project Partner Ali Hazelgrove, launch attended by CPPT and xFCPD reps |
5.1 Statutory Declaration
The trustees confirm that they have paid due regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
Conservation activities
5.2 Palaeo Mammal Photogrammetry and 3D model production
Our FCPD project partner Rhys Griffin undertook outstanding photogrammetry of several mammal sculptures - including all of the Megaloceros, Anoplotherium , and Palaeotherium .
5.3 Loose Historic Assets - Information Centre Cataloguing
The historic assets found loose on the site and elsewhere were catalogued in a collaborative project between FCPD, Historic England and the CPPT. The collections are now housed in the former St Johns Ambulance Buildings until new space is found.
Interpretation, Outreach & Engagement Activities
5.4 “Why Dinosaurs?” Screenings
A Hollywood based production company included the CP Dinos as a key section in their 2.5hour documentary interviewing spokes people for the science and passion of dinosaur researchers and enthusiasts. FCPD Trustees Ellinor Michel and Sarah Jayne participated in
panel discussions during the film’s UK premiere and tour, along with other science communicators from the US and UK.
5.5 Festival of Architecture Talks
We hosted three Dinosaur-related talks and tours to celebrate the London Festival of Architecture in June 2024.
A talk about the inception, evolution, and construction of the Dinosaur swing bridge = featuring ourselves, architects Tonkin Liu, fabricators Cake Industries.
A Tour of the Geological Court by FCPD trustee and stratigraphic geologist Dr Jeremy Young. A demonstration talk on the 3D scanning of the sculptures by Rhys Griffin, digital animator and FCPD Project Partner.
5.6 Iguanodon Head Unveiling
In December 2024, we unveiled an Iguanodon head installation at Crystal Palace train station, in a venture with Arriva Rail London. The extraordinary project came about by a FCPD spotting a replica Crystal Palace Iguanodon head at an auction. The head was part of a corporate food and drink event way back in 2010, and its creator - Bompas & Parr - assisted in this project.
Arriva press release:
https://www.arrivaraillondon.co.uk/2024/12/13/a-feast-for-the-eyes-life-size-historic-dinosa ur-head-sculpture-unveiled-at-crystal-palace-london-overground-station/
5.7 “Our Dinosaurs” Screening
Text tbc. No photos.
5.8 Additional Outreach & Public Engagement
In addition to events and launches related to specific FCPD projects, this year we continued to offer a programme of in-person, public engagement for a wide variety of audiences. We achieved this through events at the park, lectures by experts on subjects related to the Dinosaurs, and attendance at external events and festivals, many facilitated by more than 15 volunteers, coordinated until July 2024 by FCPD Trustee Sarah Jayne. Highlights included:
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Talks and guided tours for local schools, reaching KS1 and KS2 pupils.
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Our volunteer-lead information stand and tours, based at the Crystal Palace Park information centre,provided information about the Dinosaurs to hundreds of park visitors until July 2024. The building was closed and demolished in early 2025.
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A stand at the Friends of Norwood Cemetery Open Day - a hugely popular community festival.
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Helping out at the Crystal Palace Park Trust Dinosaur Trail family event.
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Talks on our book with Mark Witton, The Art and Science of the Crystal Palace
Dinosaurs , to the Penge History Group.
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Outreach at two paleontology events: TetZooCon 2024, and the launch of the book
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“Palaeontology in Public”, edited by Chris Manias.
6 Research, Publications and Awards
tbc
7 Communications
FCPD continued to have an active presence online; on social media with a regular presence on Facebook and Instagram, and launched on Bluesky in November 2024.
Website
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77,000 page views
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Most visited webpage was our ‘Visitor’s guide’ page with 18,000 pageviews
Social media
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Instagram: 6,000 followers
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Facebook: 6,500 followers
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Bluesky: 1,500 followers
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Twitter/X: 7,400 followers (content on hold)
8 How the Public has Benefitted
The work of FCPD helps to promote the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs and Crystal Palace Park as a significant recreation, tourism and education destination in London. The CP Dinosaurs have long provided a free attraction for schools and families, and encouraged use of the park’s green spaces. Due to the impact of the cost of living crisis, this need remains acute as many families living in the area lack green space at home. The area around the park has a greater number of Black, Asian and minority ethnic residents than most of Bromley, giving a positive impact upon green space for those who disproportionately live within an area of deficiency.
The park is noted as a national attraction in Bromley’s Open Space Strategy[4] with a unique heritage, archaeological and historical environment. The Open Space Strategy has been developed to maximise the biodiversity, climatic, ecological, environmental, health, social and wellbeing benefits for residents and communities, as well as making its open spaces feel like ‘destinations’. The CP Dinosaurs are a headline attraction, not only conveying their own rich environmental, scientific and historical narratives, but also acting as a draw that results in additional time and uses of the park by visitors. People come for ‘the roar’, and stay for more.
The Dinosaurs positively impact the local economy. Visitors to the park use the opportunity to visit the park café, Brown & Green Life, in addition to exploring Penge and the Crystal Palace Triangle and its variety of independent shops and hospitality venues. An array of local artists and designers have been inspired to create and deliver products relating to the
sculptures; some donate a proportion of profits to our charity which supports growth of community networks.
The park holds a strategic location on both the Capital Ring and Green Chain ‘Walk London’ routes and contributes to the diverse portfolio of open spaces in Bromley and London. When possible, the Crystal Palace Park Information Centre, run by volunteers from our partner organisation, Friends of Crystal Palace Park (FoCPP), is open for visitors to learn more about the story of the Dinosaurs and the history of the park. The Centre includes interpretation displays on the history, science and conservation of the CP Dinosaurs designed in collaboration with FoCPPchair and FCPD Project Partner David Vallade. These include panel displays, hand specimens for tactile engagement and creative interpretations of the site such as a tabletop model of the Geological Court. Free postcards, maps, fliers and guide sheets are available for visitors to keep. Items such as FCPD books, cards, T-shirts and artwork are available for sale in the Information Centre with all profits returning to the charities to support further work.
Dinosaurs inspire at all ages, and we have a public programme reaching people from school ages to adults. FCPD has introduced hundreds of local children to the site through school visits and presentations, ensuring that the core message of science history reaches the next generation. In our outputs we both produce and share knowledge about one of London’s most important public sites related to the history of science, making it available and inspiring for both specialist and general audiences. Our conservation work, support of Historic England’s research project and Bromley Council’s National Lottery Heritage Fund application, and the rebuilding of Palaeotherium magnum help to ensure the CP Dinosaurs remain a visual learning experience for the public now and into the future.
9. Financial Review
9.1 Explanation of Accounts
We present our accounts in terms of income received and expenditures undertaken over the 12-month reporting period to 31 March 2025. They thus represent a summary of the actual assets held by the charity. This allows identification of expenditure of key projects run through the year and direct comparison with previous years. The income and expenditure items for the year are grouped by project where relevant. In addition, at the end of the accounts, we provide a statement of the balance of funds for each project. From this we can provide a summary of the uncommitted assets of the society.
FCPD was committed to one large externally funded project during the reporting period: the installation of a replica Iguanodon head and information boards in Crystal Palace Station. This major entry provides direct access to the park for 100s of members of the public daily, with up to 10s of thousands during big events. It also gives a potential site for public outreach and further partnership with rail organisations. This project was substantially funded by Arriva Rail, the
operator of the station and FCPD contributed match-funds of £2,559.35 to cover minor scope changes. This shows the effectiveness of partnering and use of FCPD funds to deliver our charity objectives to the benefit of our major organisational stakeholders and the general public.
Across the year FCPD spent £874.50 on running events for members of the public to gain a deeper understanding of both the history of current day scientific thought about the geological and biological issues behind the statues. Due to the change in management of the park, fewer events were run at the site but we continued to deliver events at external venues to help generate interest, deepen understanding and encourage visitors to the site.
During the financial year, we concluded a project to ensure that an appropriate intellectual property agreement was in place to allow the FCPD to generate revenue from digital 3D scans of the sculptures taken by one of our ‘Project Partners’, Rhys Griffin, who has worked as a volunteer with us since 2018, collaboratively using his professional skills to achieve mutual aims. The trustees consider that there are appropriate commercial and outreach opportunities in the future to both generate revenue and support our charitable objectives.
The general activities of FCPD include running the website, trustee meetings, production and sale of publicity items, participation in public events, and research activities. We do not have a formal membership scheme but are well-supported by the public, especially locally, through donations and purchase of promotional items. Trustee meetings are mostly online and so incurred minimal cost. Some expenditures were incurred to reimburse the costs of volunteers who give their time to support FCPD activities, following best practice as advised by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and Charity Commission.
Donations from the public continued at a satisfactory level for the level of activity, reflecting the continuing public interest in the sculptures and awareness of the urgent need for their conservation and maintenance. Donations were predominantly small amounts, with none in excess of £1,000, and totalled £3,953.36, which is broadly in line with the previous year.
Trading primarily consisted of sales of FCPD t-shirts; royalties and sales profits from the Witton & Michel book called Art & Science of the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs ; and the Benton & Nicholls book on dinosaur palaeobiology. Sale of promotional items indicate a surplus for the year, but this was distorted by both the receipts of prior sales undertaken by a Project Partner and not needing to restock any items this year. . This level of reserves, however, remains a useful resource and will allow us to continue to: (1) Fund small projects ourselves; (2) Contribute to larger projects, especially where matched-funding can leverage larger grants; and (3) Undertake projects which are funded retrospectively. The trustees consider it is prudent to maintain an operating reserves of ca £5,000 to enable us to undertake grant-funded projects with monies donated by the public. After the year end, the trustees were notified of a legacy and received the funds in the 2025 financial year, this will be fully reported in next year’s financial report but will enable us to further pursue our charitable objectives.
Up to now the costs of our administration have largely been funded by sale of merchandise. During the year the CPPT closed the park’s Information Center for reconstruction, which meant that the FCPD needed to secure its own commercial storage. This amounted to £143.32 for the last two months of the year under review and the full year costs for the 2026 financial year are estimated to be in the region of £1,430 pa, plus moving expenses. The CPPT also reduced the number of events that FCPD were able to undertake in the park during the year and requested that no merchandise be sold at these events. This has significantly reduced our
revenue-generating opportunities, meaning that our administration costs, although small, will erode our reserves. The trustees are reviewing other methods of raising revenue including online sales of merchandise.
Accounts prepared by: Stefan Bort, FCPD Treasurer, January 2026.
Accounts checked and verified by: Jonathan Clough, January 2026
9.2 Remuneration
All Trustees act in a voluntary capacity and receive no remuneration or other material benefits from their services to the Charity.
Out-of-pocket expenses necessarily and reasonably incurred by Trustees and volunteers in promoting the purposes of the Charity are reimbursed at cost.
9.3 Financial Status
The charity’s current resources from restricted and unrestricted donations are sufficient to meet its outgoings for at least next year.
All the indications are that this will remain the case for the foreseeable future.
9.4 Details of Any Funds Materially in Deficit
The Charity has no funds which are materially in deficit.
9.5 Statement of Financial Activity 2024/25
9.6 Declaration
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 Section 133.
9.7 Accounts for Financial Year 2024/25 2024 25 independent examiners report
8 Financial Review
Overall, the accounts show a surplus for the year of £849.19. This surplus is misleading due to the receipt of £1,973 of sales revenue relating to the 2023 and 2024 financial years referred to above. As a result, our reserves increased to £34,811.47
9 Statement of Financial Activity 2024/25
9.1 Declaration : The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 Section 133.
9.2 Accounts for Financial Year 2024/25
FRIENDS OF CRYSTAL PALACE DINOSAURS - ACCOUNTS FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 2024 -25
| Opening balance (from 2023-24 accounts) Uncommitted funds Funds held for Palaeo Planting Project from the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust Total General activities INCOME Donations: (via Charities Aid Foundation) Donations (via bank) Donations: (via website/paypal) Other income |
income expenditure £30,716.73 £3,245.55 £33,962.28 £1,713.78 £100.00 £2,139.58 £402.61 |
|---|---|
| EXPENDITURE Public events Trustee expenses General activities IT software costs Storage PayPal fees Iguanodon Station Sculpture project Projects – legal fees for IP agreement for 3D scans Volunteer costs Sale of promotional items Sales of books, t-shirts etc. Sales from prior years by partner bodies Purchase of books, T shirts and associated items General sales expenses Total income/expenditure Surplus for year Closing balance |
£874.50 £310.95 £268.90 £262.95 £143.32 £80.62 £2,559.35 £1,050.00 £304.87 |
|---|---|
| £4,355.97 £5,855.46 |
|
| £398.48 £1,973.00 £0.00 £22.80 |
|
| £2,371.48 £22.80 |
|
| £6,727.45 £5,878.26 £849.19 £34,811.47 |
9.3 Statement of Assets and Liabilities
| Statement of Assets & Liabilities | |
|---|---|
| Actual Bank balances on 31st March 2025 | |
| TSB Account | £26,478.33 |
| PayPal Account | £8,333.14 |
| £34,811.47 |
9.4 Designated or Restricted Funds
Funds which are committed to particular projects Funds held for the Palaeo Planting Project £3,245.55
Uncommitted funds
£31,565.2
Change in uncommitted funds over the year £849.19
10 Independent Examiners Report on the Accounts.