Principal address
ANDOVER TREES UNITED
Registered Charity Number 1167574
Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2023
Westcott Old Salisbury Road Abbotts Ann Andover SP11 7NH
Trustees
John Baxter resigned 5 September 2022 Wendy L Davis Daniel J Lobb Susan Risdale Tim Rolt Elizabeth B Scrace (Treasurer)
Structure, governance and management
Andover Trees United became a registered charity on 9 June 2016. The charity is governed by its constitution dated 31 May 2016.
Trustee selection methods
Potential trustees are interviewed by the board of trustees. All trustees are appointed at the Annual General Meeting and serve for a period of up to one year. The board may co-opt people to serve as trustees until the next AGM.
Risk Management
The trustees are responsible for identifying and managing risks to the charity. The trustees consider that they have complied with the Charity Commission’s guidance on managing risk. When appropriate, systems or procedures are established to mitigate risks faced by the charity. Where risk cannot be eliminated the charity purchases insurance cover.
Public benefit
The trustees confirm that they have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission.
Organisational structure
The trustees meet bi-monthly, with responsibility for day-to-day delivery of the charity’s activities delegated to a management team of volunteers, at least 3 of whom are trustees, who meet fortnightly.
Objectives and activities
The charity’s constitution sets out the objectives as:
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The conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment for the public benefit by the establishment and maintenance of woodland in Andover.
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The advancement of education of the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment in Andover and the Test Valley area including by promoting the woodland as a means for the community to learn about wider environmental issues such as: sustainability, climate change, ecology and the mitigating need for trees.
The main activities during the year were:
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The completion of the construction of the exterior of the woodland classroom and community space. (The interior of the building is due to be completed by mid-November 2023.)
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Planting of approximately 1500 tree whips by 1000+ children from 25 schools and several hundred adults at the Test Valley Borough Council Bury Hill nature reserve. Approximately 750 tree whips planted into new hedgerows at the Diamond Wood and a number of special commemorative trees. All tree plantings added to the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative and included:
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one of the ‘Tree of Trees’ that had stood outside Buckingham Palace as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations
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a magnificent Silver Birch from the 2022 Chelsea Flower Show, which we dedicated to former Trustee and Andover Mayor Barbara Long
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a tree that had belonged to the late Paul Sartin, planted in his memory by fellow musicians, family and friends.
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A new fence constructed from timber surplus to the Cabin build was installed to protect the 2012 Diamond Jubilee planting including the tree planted by Princess Anne. The fence also supports a new pictorial timeline of the creation of the community wood 2012-2022.
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Approximately 1000 wildflower plants, raised by ATU volunteers from seed, were planted in the community orchard on Hedge End Rd, as well as new areas of wildflower seeded in Harmony Woods.
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The continuation of the programme to broaden the availability of volunteering opportunities to work in the natural environment, by delivering weekly workdays at Harmony Woods and the allotment as well as monthly weekend workdays. Volunteer opportunities continue to include regular sessions for the extensive citizen science programme. Coppicing at nearby Trinley Estate resumed and several training days saw returning and new volunteers take part.
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The ‘6 Trees & 6 Flowers’ partnership with five local schools to develop an environmental education programme, was reduced to four post-pandemic. Supported by Dr Jane Goodall’s Roots and Shoots programme, the remaining 4 core schools received funding to undertake field study trips to investigate what lives in Harmony Woods.
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A new ‘Nature/ Nurture’ project, devised and led by the Nature & Community Officers, offered nature-based activities to children and young people in new collaborations with a number of local organisations; volunteer-led activities in the wood continued to support many local scouting and guiding groups.
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During the year, supported by a number of charitable foundations, we worked with professional musicians and artists to offer workshops and performance opportunities for children and young people via our partner schools as well as for the wider local community. Detailed reports of these projects can be found on our website.
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Using surplus timber felled locally for the cabin build, a series of woodworking craft workshops sponsored by National Lottery & Ikea provided an opportunity to learn skills and construct a variety of products including stools and birdboxes. A detailed report can be found on our website.
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The 3-year ‘One Ash’ project culminated in an exhibition, curated by CAS, of over 100 pieces crafted from the ‘One Ash’ by 30 professional and amateur workers-with-wood from across the UK. A detailed report can be found on our website.
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Former ecology intern, Alex, completed her ATU-collaborative internship to People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) which investigated the effects of climate change on the at-risk Small Heath butterfly. An intern position continued to be offered during 2022-23, which allowed us to continue to run the annual programme of citizen science ‘Nature in Harmony’ events.
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The Nature in Harmony Exchange programme for young people 14-17 years and the link with the Corcovado project in Costa Rica has been maintained with a number of the group travelling to Costa Rica to volunteer during the summer of 2022. Organised and accompanied by ATU volunteers, the trip was funded by the young people themselves, who had also undertaken to offset the flights’ carbon emissions by finding ways of reducing their own and their families’ carbon footprints.
Achievements and performance
- During 2022-23 the charity continued to pursue its objective of establishing a woodland in Andover with the planting of young trees, the construction of a second wildlife pond and new area for native chalk-loving wildflowers. These form part of a dedicated Habitats Trail. The school planting programme continued at a new site within the Test Valley Borough Council Bury Hill nature reserve. Wildflower planting also extended beyond the Diamond Wood to include the Hedge End Rd
community orchard. Further opportunities for education in the natural environment continued with the four core partnership schools as part of the 4-year 6 Trees and 6 Flowers development programme and as part of the new Nature/ Nurture project and, for adults, in the form of coppicing, wildflower propagation, tree planting, citizen science activities and species identification.
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Improved interpretation in the wood helps visitors to appreciate how the wood has developed.
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The town centre allotment lease continued where, on a regular basis, volunteers are able to propagate wildflowers and nurture saplings for later transfer to the woodland.
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A lease was signed with Hampshire County Council to transfer the management of the whole of the Diamond Wood to Andover Trees United.
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Work continued on the woodland classroom and community space with the external structure completed so that the building is now secured.
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Collaborations with national and international environment groups – the Woodland Trust, Dr Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, youth-led UNEP Plant-for-the-Planet – were resumed.
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The development of strong relationships with local businesses continued, in particular volunteering and funding from Abel & Cole, the Coop, SimplyHealth, Stannah, Wessex Woodland and BeWiser.
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The Ecology Intern Programme continued with the appointment of a 3[rd] successive intern.
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Two full time Nature and Community Officers and one part time Admin Officer were appointed during the year which has started to deliver the ‘Branching Out’ strategy and widen the scope of community activities which are available. This was made possible by a National Lottery ‘Reaching Communities’ Grant.
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A Landrover was purchased allowing the charity to transport trees, tools and equipment as part of its day-to-day work. This was made possible by a National Lottery ‘Reaching Communities’ Grant.
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The strong community-led management team continued to work well.
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The completion of 10 successful years was marked with a series of music and arts workshops, a celebration concert in Harmony Woods in July 2022 and an exhibition at Chapel Arts Centre of the arts and crafts pieces made from a single Ash tree.
Financial review
The incoming resources in 2022-23 amounted to £109702 (2021-22 £147625) and total resources expended amounted to £142351 (2021-22 £89906) leading to an excess of expenditure over income for the year of £32649 (2021-22 surplus £57719). The charity maintains one Unrestricted General Fund and six Unrestricted Designated Funds, and at 31 March 2022 thirteen Restricted Funds. The total funds balance was £81543 of which the balance of Restricted Funds at 31 March 2023 was £69944. No funds were in deficit at 31 March 2023 and sufficient funds are held to enable each fund to be applied in accordance with any restrictions.
Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
THANK YOU
The Trustees would also like to take this opportunity to formally thank all volunteers and supporters who have given generously of their time over the past 12 months and without whom few of the achievements described in this report would have been possible.
Signed on 30 August 2023 on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Wendy Davis Trustee
Andover Trees United
Charity No 1167574
Receipts and Payments Account For the year ended 31 March 2023
| 2023 Unrestricted Restricted Total £ £ £ Income Local Authority grants 3525 6000 9525 Grants and donations 5091 85336 90427 Fundraising 1805 7944 9749 Other income 0 0 Interest income 2 2 10421 99281 109702 Expenditure Trees planting and site maintenance 850 1156 2006 Transport 0 3504 3504 Equipment 0 16643 16643 Equipment hire 0 635 635 Events 394 14399 14793 Staff and Intern 0 44187 44187 Volunteer costs 1417 0 1417 Insurance 3043 0 3043 Administration & publicity 1150 0 1150 Study Centre 0 52179 52179 Vehicle running costs 1588 0 1588 Environmental Studies 0 0 0 Youth Work 0 65 65 Fundraising costs 0 1142 1142 8442 133909 142351 Excess of expenditure over income 1979 -34628 -32649 Transfer between funds 0 0 Balance at 1 April 2022 9620 104572 114192 Balance at 31 March 2023 11599 69944 81543 Cash at bank 11534 69944 81478 Cash in hand 65 0 65 11599 69944 81543 |
2022 Total £ 44000 50600 30275 22750 0 147625 3415 2721 2838 1042 3300 7199 2261 1387 1034 56657 0 7008 611 433 89906 57719 0.00 56473 114192 114137 55 114192 |
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The receipts and payments account was approved by the Board of Trustees on 30 August 2023 and was signed on its behalf by:
Elizabeth Scrace Treasurer
Wendy Davis Trustee
Independent Examiner’s Report
I report to the trustees of Andover Trees United (charity No 1167574) on my examination of the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 set out on page 1.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.
I report in respect of my examination of the Charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which give me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in the report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Mrs E Giles
Signed Mrs Emma Giles 8 Aster Court Floral Way Andover Hampshire SP10 3QD
Date 6[th] August 2023