The Watercress Way Charity 1167675
Annual Report 2023-2024
AGM: 11 July 2024 at The Bush Inn, Ovington Chairman: Jackie Porter
The activities that are undertaken by the trustees on behalf of the Charity are varied, and I’d like to thank all trustees for their participation this year; and especially for using their own skills in the roles they have undertaken. The public appreciate your efforts!
in May 2023 we had a stand at the Watercress Festival. Thanks to Brigid and Stephen and other trustees who talked to over 300 of the public on the day.
We used our Rotary legacy grant funding to install the first four new seats and are currently finalising the practical aspects of the Birdsong Trail, using roundels and QR
codes at various venues around the route, including on the seats. To inform the public about the sounds they cin nme kc Be hear, these roundels will provide direct links to if) 1 ani the song of birds we have heard near those sites.
Thank you to Chris Brunskill, Clive Cook, and Mike Collis for their skills on this project.
gh We had a generous grant from Hellards to - Cd assist in publishing a book of Watercress Way Walks. This has been a longer project than expected, but we hope to launch it on the Hellards stand at the Alresford Show later this year. Clive Cook has led on this work, with help from other trustees.
The Watercress and Winterbourne project has been popular with many people signing up for walks and talks, covering Badgers, Birds, photography (mainly in the rain,) and a Heritage Walk . We are anticipating an Evening with Bats later this summer! Thank you to Emma
Banks and Stephen Jeffery for organising and hosting these walks, and Mike for helping with the bird identification walk at the last minute!
Our D2D day is in its 7[th] year, after 2 missed during Covid. Dawn to Dusk Day 2024 proved a challenge because of the weather. But the Chesil Tunnel tour was in the dry and very popular. We learned a lot from our visitors too: one had worked nearby, another had caught a train there. Thanks to our WCC guide for giving up his Saturday for us to see the southern part of the DSNR line.
For the first time ever, we postponed the Dawn Chorus Walk: it was raining so hard that we couldn’t hear any birds ! But the sun shined as we we celebrated one of the new seats installed, and enjoyed a visit to the Eel House nearby, hosted by The Alresford Town Trust. Thank you to trustees for taking their part in this Annual event.
Sees: Wale foe oes Be ie % We are currently working on a joint project with 6 a Ben. Se ae rene Itchen Valley Parish Council to complete an ‘Access for All’ shorter ramp from their Recreation Ground to the Watercress Way path. This new ramp will be beneficial to many but had been delayed because the IVPC project had stalled. We look forward to working with IVPC on the project. We hope this will be complete by next year.
As part of our Strategic Plan, Trustees examine every planning application that could affect the setting of The Watercress Way or even give better access to more of the disused railway line. Tony Langridge has been very helpful with this.
Mike, Stephen, other volunteers and ex Trustee Jim tackle the overgrown paths with brush cutters and rakes. The work to clear the paths was hampered by the very wet winter, spring and summer. To compensate, we will plan activity days ‘with renewed vigour’ for winter 2024/5.
Completing the Strategic Plan with likely costs attached, the rising cost of works and making enough time for volunteering has been a challenge for us all, but Julie Fullstone, our Treasurer has kept our finances in such good order. Julie is already committed to another charity and so will resign as soon as we can find a replacement. We thank her for her diligence and wish her well.
We have advertised for new Trustees with specific experience. I am pleased to say that volunteers are coming forward with the skills that we will need for the next five years.
The Watercress Way
Registered Charity Number 1167675 For the year ended 5th April 2024
| Notes Income and Expenditure account Income Donations - general Donations - restricted 1 Calendar sales Other income - Eventbrite bird watching Expenditure Restricted project expenditure (Note 3) Calendar costs IOW Expenditure Administrative costs Insurance Maintenance Training Tool stock write down Net expenditure/ income Balance Sheet at 5th April 2024 Assets Debtors Deposit for benches (restricted) Stock of Tools 2 Cash at bank General funds Restricted funds Liabilities Creditors Net Assets Accumulated Fund General fund brought forward Restricted fund brought forward 3 Movement in year - General fund Movement in year - Restricted fund 3 General fund carried forward Restricted fund carried forward 3 |
2024 £ 607.45 700.00 185.41 - 3909.50 153.00 - 383.30 376.57 409.50 175.00 493.28 1692.29 7027.78 - 2758.48 10368.88 -1066.19 -3341.10 1692.29 7027.78 |
£ 1492.86 5900.15 -4407.29 - - - 8720.07 - 8720.07 13127.36 -4407.29 8720.07 |
£ £ 465.25 2551.17 598.44 24.40 3639.26 1362.04 405.60 307.30 296.73 90.00 - 493.00 2954.67 684.59 120.80 500.00 493.28 3842.66 8170.62 12013.28 - - 13127.36 384.76 12058.01 12442.77 1873.72 -1189.13 684.59 2758.48 10368.88 13127.36 2023 |
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Approved by the trustees of The Watercress Way on the …..................................2024
Jackie Porter - Chair
Julie Fullstone - Treasurer
The Watercress Way Registered Charity Number 1167675 For the year ended 5th April 2024
Notes to the accounts
1. Restricted grants
These grants can only be used for the purpose specified on the grant application and for which the grant is made.
2. Equipment
The trust has a stock of maintenance equipment which is shown in the accounts at cost. The stock comprises the following individual items:
| Loppers High pruners Pruning saw Brush cutter and blades Brush cutters (2) Less: write down for wear and tear |
£ 47.94 25.98 32.90 658.46 1700.00 -2465.28 £0.00 |
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3. Restricted grants received and applied in the year
| Hampshire County Council Leaflets Boomtown Disabled access study/work Rotary Club of Winchester Disabled access study Rotary Club of Alresford Memorial benches Hellards Pocket Guide book Sutton Scotney Bridge Bridge Gates Winchester City Council Posts Isle of Wight |
Brought Transfer Received Applied Carried Forward Forward £ £ £ £ - 700.00 130.00 570.00 800.00 800.00 158.00 158.00 4,000.00 2,062.47 1,937.53 500.00 500.00 2,551.17 1,232.53 1,318.64 275.00 275.00 - 2,084.71 341.10 1,743.61 10368.88 700.00 4041.10 7027.78 |
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The Watercress Way Financial Statements For the year ended 5th April 2024