## **North Yorkshire Moors Association Trustees' Report 2024-2025** ## **1 October 2024 – 31 August 2025** Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) Registered Charity Number 1169240 Address: c/o Blamire House, Everingham, York YO42 4LQ President: Ian Carstairs OBE ## **Trustees as at 31 August 2025** - Tom Chadwick - Ray Clarke (Vice-Chair) - Albert Elliot - Tom Gillum - Helen Gundry - Roma Haigh - Brian Pearce (Hon. Treasurer) - Tom Ratcliffe - John Ritchie - Jamie Savile - Andy Wilson - George Winn-Darley (Chair) - Elaine Wisdom ## **Executive Secretary:** - **J** anet Cochrane ## **Council of Trustees** The ‘Council’ is the body which manages NYMA. In addition to the Trustees, the Executive Secretary (who is not a Trustee) helps to manage the charity. Council members are elected at the AGM for a three-year term of office, along with the Chair and Vice-Chair who are elected annually. During 2024-25 two additional Council members were recruited, Jamie Savile and Roma Haigh, while Adrian Leaman and Colin Speakman resigned, bringing the total number as of August 31 to 13. The Chair is George Winn-Darley, while Ray Clarke is Vice-Chair. Brian Pearce is Hon. Treasurer and has been working with Bridget Holmstrom to hand over some of his responsibilities. Janet Cochrane is Editor of Voice of the Moors and Membership Secretary. Another important (non-Council) role is filled by Wendy Smith, who coordinates NYMA’s monthly walks throughout the year. All the roles are voluntary except for the Executive Secretary, who receives a small honorarium. ## **WHAT WE DO** - As 'Friends of the North York Moors', NYMA works to safeguard the landscapes, biodiversity and culture of the North York Moors National Park and surrounding areas. - We carry out projects which foster understanding of the history, culture and environment of the Moors, including publication of the quarterly magazine ‘Voice of the Moors’. - We encourage land-use policies that favour biodiversity and natural beauty and support campaigns for the protection and enhancement of landscapes in National Parks and beyond. 1 of 4 - We scrutinise and influence planning applications for developments in the National Park and campaign against inappropriate ones. - We support sustainable means of transport. ## **PLANNING AND POLICY** NYMA continues to contribute to national debate on the countryside and rural affairs, and in particular on the management of the North York Moors and other National Parks. For example: - We have highlighted the need to optimise solar PVs on modern shed roofs as well as houses and gardens. Whilst we do not want to see industrial-scale wind farms or solar farms, individual householders inside the National Park can still do their bit to meet the national challenge of energy security and climate change. - We are starting to examine housing issues, and to identify how the national challenge to house a growing UK population can be responded to within the North York Moors in a way which is appropriate to the values of the National Park, while also highlighting the fact that many homes within the Park are second homes or holiday lets. - We objected to the proposal for Burniston gas exploration on the grounds of landscape, traffic, climate change and a waste of resources. - We continue to liaise with CNP (the Campaign for National Parks) but consider that their views and policies are not always grounded in the practicalities of management of extended areas of land. We are trying to put forward a NYMA view based on knowledge and pragmatism. In January we attended a liaison meeting with the National Park Authority to discuss matters of common concern such as NPA’s strategy, government policy and implications for national parks, the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme, and activities of the North York Moors Trust. The NP’s CEO, Tom Hind, was invited to NYMA’s 40[th] Anniversary celebration and paid tribute to the Association during his speech. ## **FINANCE AND MEMBERSHIP** Brian Pearce has continued ably managing and reporting on NYMA’s finances over the year, supported in the last few months by Bridget Holmstrom. **Treasurer’s Report (for the year ended 31 March 2024):** The year ended with a surplus of £6,790, largely thanks to a grant of £10,000 for the Soft Retrofit Project (restricted funds) and a donation of £2,500 from the Tinsley Charitable Trust (unrestricted). Expenditure meeting our charitable objectives amounted to £5,500, consisting of £2,352 to the Soft Retrofit Project, £2,000 to Moorbus, £1,682 to the printing of ‘Voice of the Moors’, and £1,000 to the Friends of Helmsley Railbed. Reserves carried forward amount to £50,491, including restricted funds as previously mentioned. We are grateful that many members generously add donations when they renew their memberships, and for the support of local legal firm Crombie Wilkinson Solicitors, who made a quarterly financial contribution to ‘Voice of the Moors’ over two years (ending in Spring 2025). We also thank the North York Moors National Park Authority for their support, including allowing use of the lecture theatre at Danby Lodge free of charge for our AGM. 2 of 4 **Membership** : Member numbers are currently 339 in total, a slight increase on the previous year (331), due to recruitment of new members. Membership falls into the following categories (the last 2 years’ totals in brackets – 23-24, 22-23): - Life: 79 (78, 98) - Annual: 156 (148, 169) - Annual Digital: 39 (44, 26) - 10-Year: 59 (55, 57) - Organisations and Businesses: 3 (4, 5) - Honorary: 3 (2, 4) ## **ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS** **Voice of the Moors:** Janet Cochrane has continued to edit 'Voice of the Moors', distributed to NYMA members and to Members and staff of the National Park Authority, which purchases 50 copies from us each quarter. Copies are on sale to members of the public through the National Park shops at Sutton Bank and Danby Lodge, with back copies available online. ‘Voice’ only exists because of the many people who kindly contribute articles and photographs on a voluntary basis: in 2024-25 contributors included Ian Andrews, Bill Bordass, Andrea Brew, Phil Brown, Ian Carstairs, Ray Clarke, Janet Cochrane, Tim & Jane Dunn, Albert Elliot, Jane Ellis, Mike Gray, Andrew Grayson, Jonathan Green, Ione Harrison, Adrian Leaman, David Lewis, Edward MarchShawcross, Pip Mead, Pete Nelson, Martin Partridge, Anne Press, Robyn Pender, Jean Richards, John Roberts, David Smallwood, Colin Speakman, Alan Staniforth, Mel Ullswater, George Winn-Darley. We continue to be extremely grateful to Pascal Thivillon, of Basement Press, for his pro bono work on the graphic design of ‘Voice’. **Walks & Events:** Wendy Smith took over from Dave Moore as Walks Coordinator in December 2024, and the monthly programme of guided walks continued throughout the year. Walks take place on the first Saturday of each month, supplemented by occasional ‘non-walk’ visits to places of interest, coordinated by Janet Cochrane. The walks and events included a Christmas tea-party at the Sun Inn / Spout House in Bilsdale, with an opportunity to visit the historic Sun Inn next door to the modern one; a birding walk along from the Sutton Bank Visitor Centre led by Andy Wilson; a foraging walk led by Anne Press; a visit to parts of the Hawnby Estate not normally accessible to visitors, led by Jamie Savile; a guided visit to the Georgian home of George and Sara Winn-Darley, near Stamford Bridge; and a party to celebrate NYMA’s 40[th] Anniversary at the Millennium Stone attended by around 40 members of NYMA as well as the National Park CEO Tom Hind, and the owner of the Dawnay Estate Lord Downe. We thank all the leaders for their time in leading walks and in checking the routes in advance to ensure interesting and varied walks: Jane Dunn, Albert Elliot, Kath Mair, Anne Press, John Roberts, Jamie Savile, Kate Senior, Wendy Smith. We are particularly pleased that several new leaders have proposed and led walks over the past year. Roma Haigh and Sara Winn-Darley deserve a special mention for providing refreshments at events. **Nan Sykes Memorial:** In February, several members of NYMA attended the installation of a memorial stone to botanist Nan Sykes, set up on the edge of a flower meadow at Silpho. The stone was funded by the Carstairs Countryside Trust and created by local sculptor Pete Coates. 3 of 4 ## **PROJECTS** We have initiated the **Botton Orchard Project** as a 40th anniversary project this year. It has been expertly pulled together and guided by Tom Gillum, who is taking an overall coordinating role. The project will introduce and engage young people in the beauty, biodiversity and conservation needs of the National Park. The focus is the orchard (with the walled garden) at Botton Village, home to people assisted because of their particular needs. Other partners are the National Park, whose Youth Engagement Officer, Mary-Jane Alexander, is identifying and liaising with the school (or schools) concerned, and the Yorkshire branch of Butterfly Conservation, which is providing advice on breeding and encouraging butterflies. Wildflowers to attract pollinators will be planted in the apple orchard to attract butterflies and insects for the fruit trees and more generally. Over at least three visits a year to Botton, young people will be involved in activities including collecting wildflower seeds in the autumn, propagating and then planting out the wildflowers, raising butterflies at school and introducing them to the site, looking for invertebrates. The activities are designed to support the National Curriculum in upper years of Key Stage 2 (Years 5/6) and is being funded by NYMA, although we are also seeking additional funding to ensure that our resources can be stretched as far as possible. For several decades, Tom Chadwick, Albert Elliot, Alan Ayres and others have helped to manage **Corbett’s Copse,** a three-quarters of an acre plot above Danby Park Wood, on behalf of the owner Charles Kidd, who plans to bequeath it to NYMA. There are 78 trees already well established, including 10 Juniper propagated from locally sourced seed. There is now significant work needed to exclude sheep from the plot and reduce unwanted vegetation, including bracken spraying, fence repairs and drystone wall restoration on the two sides adjoining Danby Low Moor Common. We are delighted that long-standing NYMA members Tim and Gill Redman have stepped forward to sponsor the costs of repairs and maintenance in memory of their son, Jonathan Redman, who died in 2009. The **Soft Retrofit Project** continues in Castleton, managed by Dave Moore and Bill Bordass. This is looking at ways of managing traditional houses in a more energy efficient way without altering their character. Sophisticated monitoring equipment installed in a number of homes has been gathering data and during the next year results should be available. **Talks, Presentations and Shows:** Ray Clarke has continued to deliver a successful programme of talks and presentation to groups across Northeast Yorkshire and beyond, with occasional talks by Janet Cochrane to groups closer to York. In May we set up stands at the Kirkbymoorside EcoFair and the Malton Rotary Club’s ‘Involve’ event, and later in the summer went to the Ryedale Show at Duncombe Park and Rosedale Show. We generated a lot of interest and recruited members at several of these events, while the speaker’s fees and sale of books and magazines on these occasions provide funds for NYMA. **NYMA Awards** : During the year the Trustees agreed to make Awards to the Community Earth Project towards the purchase of a 7-acre plot near Castleton to create a community orchard and for biodiversity expansion; to the Friends of Helmsley Railbed for installing a multi-user bridge over Spittle Beck; and to Moorsbus for their 2025 programme. **Hands-on conservation:** Trustees (especially Ray Clarke) have continued their practical conservation work, especially in clearing and maintaining public rights-of-way for access. JEC/GWD September 2025 4 of 4 The North Yorkshire Moors Association CIO No: 1169240 Financial Accounts for the year ended 31st March 2025 Paul Tranter & Company Chartered Accountants Stokesley North Yorkshire TS9 SAD I (HARITY-' COMMISSION Independent Examiner's Report on the Accounts Section A Independent Examinei's Repoit Report lo (he Irusleesltnembers ol thailty Natslt On accounts lof the year ended (harily no (il any) Sel out on pages I IOHK Pa￿ nwn i¢t5 0 Respedlve iesponslblllties of trvstees and The charity'5 IIu51ees are responsible for the prepaialion of the aicounls. Ihe (harily's examlner trustees consider Ihal an audit 15 not required lor Il)is year under section 43(2} ol the Chorities Act 1993 (the 1993 Act) and Ihal an independent examination is needed. It Is my re5p0115ibilily lo.. examine Ihe accounts under section 43 01 Ilie 1993 Acl, lo follow the procedures laid down in the general Diieclions given by the Charity Commission {LJnder section 43{71(b) of the 1993 Act, and to stale wheiher parllcular rrsallers have come lo my allenllon. Basls ol Independent examlnerf5 Statement My examinatlon was carried OL¢t In accordance with general Directions glven by the Charity Cominission. An examination includes a review ol the accounling iecords kept by Ihe charity and a (ompari50n ol the ac(ounls presented with those records.11 olso Includes con5id¢ralion ol any unusual item5 or di5c105uie5 In the ac(ounls, and seeking explanations from the IfU5tees concernino any Such mallers. The pfocedure5 undeilaken do not piovide all the evidence Ihal would be iequired an audit, afté consequently no opinion 15 given as lo whelhef the accounts present a 'lrue and lair, view and Ihe repofl is limited lo Ih05e matters sel out In the slalemenl below. Independenl examlnerfs 5talemenl In connection with my examinallon, no maller has come lo my allenlion {oihcr than that dlsclosed below.).. {1) which give5 me ieasonable cause lo believe Ihal in, ony material iespecl. the (equiremenls.. lo keep accounllng records in accofdance wilh secllon 4101 Ihe 1993 Act,. and lo piepare accounls which accord with the aciounling record5 and comply wilh the accounting requiiemenls ol the 1993 Act l)ave not been mel , or 12) lo which, in my opinion, allenlion should be d(awn in oidei lo eRable a pioper understanding ol the accounts lo be reached. please delele ihe wold5 111 the br3ckels if they do nor apply. Signe Dale Relevant piolessional qualilicalion{s) 01 body (il any) Addre55 eii4RTERED ACCOUNr￿rn STO YORKSHIFET31EPS IER Apiil 2009 Section 8 Disclosure Only complete11 ihe examinef needs lo highlight maleiial problems Give here brief details ol any items Ihal the examiner wishes to disclose IER April 2009 The North Yorkshire Moors Association CIO No: 1169240 Receipts & Payments Account for the Financial year ended 31 st March 2025 yle 31.03.25 yle 31.03.24 Recoipts Subscriptions Members Book sales History Tree Wild Flowers Voice of the Moors Main Fund 3,925.00 487.55 134.95 357.50 14,295.50 1,206.68 20,407.18 4,739.00 365.90 465.70 375.50 7,692.70 895.86 14 534.66 Donation8 Interest Total Recelpts note 1 Payment8 Insurance AGM Auditor CNP Annual Subscription Retro Soft Fit Project Photocopying & Stationery Postage Sundry Secretary Fees & Expenses Voice, Production Bank ChargeslPaypal fees Website Leaflets NYMA Conservation Award Council Meeting Costs Moors Bus Membermojo Annual Sub Total Payments Surplus for the year transferred to General Funds (pty deficit) 317.60 103.96 180.00 277.00 2,352.02 58.76 422.35 110.00 4,078.90 1,682.00 128.97 705.60 307.45 621.00 180.00 527.00 78.94 1,106.92 140.74 3,705.10 1,804.00 135.62 676.80 42.00 3,500.00 60.00 2,000.00 note 2 1,000.00 104.94 2,000.00 95.00 13,617.10 14,885.57 6,790.08 350.91 The North Yorkshire Moors Association CIO No: 1169240 Balance Sheet as at 31st March 2025 31st March 2025 31st Mar¢h 2024 Current Assets CAF Cash accounl100007628) CAF Savings account Main Fund (000084225} 460.88 49,936.80 543.45 41982.92 50,397.68 93.52 42,526.37 1 174.75 43701.12 PayPal Represented By: General Fund Balance blf Surplus for the Year Ipty deficill Balance cjf Note 3 43,701.12 6 790.08 44.052.03 350.91 43701.12 Nots8: 1 Donatlons Donations received included £10,000 grant for the Soft Relrofit Project. and £2.500 from Tinsley Charitable trust (unrestrictedl. 2 Con8errfatlon awards1£1,000) Awards £1,000 to Fiiends of Helmsley Rail Bed 3 Donatlons and Restricted Funds The Soft Retrofit Pfoject Grant (notè 11 18 a restricted fund leaving £7,648 cjf. Approved bythe Committèe on................................