Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1.01.2021 (Period start date) To 31.12.2021 (Period end date)
Charity name: Headley Down Nature Reserve Trust
Charity registration number: 1169644
Objectives and Activities
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SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of Para 1.17 A) To preserve, enhance, conserve,
the charity as set out in its restore and promote the natural and
governing document man-made features of the Headley Down
Nature Reserve and
neighbourhood areas relevant to their
ecology, geology, archaeology
and history.
B) To promote and develop interest,
research, appreciation and
knowledge relating to the Headley Down
Nature Reserve and
neighbourhood areas for the education
and benefit of the public.
Summary of the main Para 1.17 and The general maintenance of the nature reserve
1.19
activities in relation to those and pathways has once again been fully carried
purposes for the public out, mainly by the Trustees but also with
benefit, in particular, the volunteer help when possible. Maintenance work
activities, projects or services has included the installation of new metal
identified in the accounts. engraved QR codes on the nature trail rubbing
posts with links to our website about the species
shown. The original wooden ones had become
unreadable due to weathering. We were
successful in our application to the EHDC
Supporting Communities Fund for three years
payments of our maintenance costs for insurance,
internet management, mower servicing and
pathways.
New projects on site have gone ahead, though
our usual community activities such as the Easter
Egg Hunt and our Autumn Fundraising Fair have
not taken place because of difficulties in
organising events with Covid -19 restrictions.
The final stage of our Heritage Project has been
completed with the ‘adoption’ of 66 trees by
former residents of the Erie Estate and other local
families, mostly from the Heatherlands Estate.
People of all ages came over to the nature reserve
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to choose their tree and plant spring bulbs. At the heart of Erie Wood we built a base for the installation of a destination feature, a bronze bear, named Montgomery in a public vote organised through our Facebook page, distribution of flyers, and with suggestions from the local pre-school group. In addition to the two benches, an illustrated information panel has also been installed to explain why we chose a bear and why he is called Monty. He is already a great favourite with everyone who visits the nature reserve. The Lottery Community Fund covered the cost of the bear, benches and installation, along with improvements to informal paths and further planting. Guelder Rose hedging was planted along the edge of the new woodland by volunteers. Our project, ‘Heathland Heritage: Putting the Heather back in Heatherlands’ has been completed. Another inaccessible area of the nature reserve was cleared of bracken and old landfill and fly-tipped rubbish by contractors. Final preparation of the land and planting of 375 Heathers was carried out by volunteers. Funding for this project was obtained through the S106 Developers Fund and from District Councillors Richard Millard and Anthony Williams. Thanks to funding from B&Q, an area near the Alder Road entrance has been cleared of bracken and rubbish and a dozen assorted Maple trees planted. The area was seeded with grass and wildflowers and spring bulbs were planted by volunteers. A group of twelve volunteers from Coca Cola came for a day and helped to prune the hedge along Wildflower Way. In addition to clearing and planting work, help from volunteers this year has included setting up and running of Instagram and Twitter accounts, and a GoFundMe page to raise money to pay for a new bench. Sadly this was necessary due to an incident of vandalism. A local teenager was seen jumping on the semi-circular tree bench and smashing it to bits. The incident was reported to the police and insurance claimed. Together with the funding from the campaign we will be able to buy a stronger bench as a replacement. Unfortunately, we have been unable to use the grant we had been awarded from the Lottery for extending the nature reserve as the owner would not sell us the land for the price as per the independent valuation. Despite efforts to ‘repurpose’ the grant, we have had to inform the lottery that the project has had to be abandoned. All our projects were discussed and prepared at the two minuted Trustees’ meetings held during the course of the year. As decided last year, ‘Bulletins’ have been used for keeping trustees updated and to use for their comments and suggestions about any forthcoming projects.
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Projects for the coming year include ‘Beech
Bank’, ie the clearing of a further area of bracken
to plant more trees; the installation of a new
bench near the heather area; making and erecting
very strong bird tables and planting more bird-
friendly shrubs. In addition, a further information
panel will be designed and installed in the Heart
of Erie Wood with the family names of all those
who have adopted a tree.
Statement confirming Para 1.18 The trustees have had regard to the guidance on
whether the trustees have public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
had regard to the guidance This has involved the purchase of insurance, the
issued by the Charity employment of contractors with appropriate
Commission on public qualifications and insurance, having a designated
benefit Safeguarding Officer and a Trustees’ review of
all Safeguarding Policies and risk assessments.
The chair of our charity has now been DBS
checked and has a certificate.
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Achievements and Performance
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SORP reference
Our projects and goals set out in our report last
year have been achieved, apart from the
cancellation of our community events.
Summary of the main During the last year, we have applied for and
Para 1.20
achievements of the charity, received funding from a variety of sources,
identifying the difference the including District and County Councillors, the
charity’s work has made to Parish Council, Hampshire Rural Communities
the circumstances of its Fund, Abri, the Lottery Community Fund, B&Q
beneficiaries and any wider Neighbourly, and the Charities Trust, The amount
benefits to society as a we have received from individual donors has
whole. increased considerably. Support from local
residents has been demonstrated through the
GoFundMe campaign and donations of small
change in our collection boxes at the local One
Stop store. Volunteers have helped with clearing
and planting work etc and the notable reduction
in the amount of littering, fly-tipping and anti-
social behaviour on the nature reserve has
continued. This has improved the visual impact
of the area. Local bio-diversity has been
improved through planting more trees, and by
clearing certain areas to appeal to sun-loving
species.
Our Facebook page continues to have a good
following with frequent engagements. Articles
have been added to our website and care has been
taken to comply with data protection regulations
for the website and our volunteer/supporters
group.
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Financial Review
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Review of the charity’s Para 1.21 Accounts for the period 1 January 2021 to 31
financial position at the end December 2021
of the period
Income
Donations £ 1958.84
Fundraising £ 22250.00
TOTAL £ 24208.84
Carried over from 2019 £ 10234.04
Insurance Claim £800
Expenditure
Running Cost £ 712.61
Activities £ 21657.65
TOTAL £ 22370.26
Restricted Funds
Carried over £ 12872.62
Statement explaining the Para 1.22 Reserves not held. Funding is held for only
policy for holding reserves for designated projects and to achieve the
stating why they are held aims of our charity, eg maintenance of the
nature reserve.
Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 None
Reasons for holding zero Para 1.22 Our overheads are minimal and we carry out
reserves our capital projects only when funding has
been raised. Our major annual outlay is for
insurance and funding has been raised for
the coming 3 years for the premium.
Details of fund materially in Para 1.24 None
deficit
Explanation of any Para 1.23 None
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern
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Structure, Governance and Management
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Description of charity’s
trusts:
Type of governing document Para 1.25 Constitution
(trust deed, royal charter)
How is the charity Para 1.25 Foundation CIO
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)
Trustee selection methods Para 1.25 Elected by Trustees
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including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees
Reference and Administrative details
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Charity name Headley Down Nature Reserve Trust
Other name the charity uses
Registered charity number 1169644
Charity’s principal address 25 Hillside Close
Headley Down
Bordon GU35 8BL
Hampshire
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Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
Dates acted if not for whole Name of person (or body) entitled
Trustee name Office (if any)
year to appoint trustee (if any)
1 Angela Jackson Chair HDNRT
2 Roger Jackson Treasurer HDNRT
3 Siobhan McLeod Secretary Until 5 October 2021 HDNRT
4 Roger Gault Safeguarding Officer HDNRT
Freda McBain From 5 October 2021 HDNRT
5
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Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees Signature(s) Jackson Full name(s) Angela Position (eg Secretary, Chair Chair, etc) Date 31.12.2021