2020-10-31-accounts

THE MOAT GARDEN PROJECT (“the Charity”)

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 1 NOVEMBER 2019 TO 31 OCTOBER 2020 (“the Period”)

1. Administrative details

2. 1.1. The name of the Charity throughout the Period has been “The Moat Garden Project.” The Charity has also used the informal name of “The Moat Garden” particularly for fund raising and publicity purposes.

3. 1.2.The Charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation with voting members other than the charity trustees. It is registered with the Charity Commission under no 1169894.

4. 1.3.The address of the Charity is ℅ Knowle House, South Street, Castle Cary, Somerset, BA7 7ES.

5. 1.4.The names of the trustees of the Charity during the period were: Anne Elizabeth Jelliffe, Roger Leonard Weldhen, Ida Rosina West and Graham Philip House.

6. 1.5.The officers of the Charity are Roger Leonard Weldhen (Secretary) and Graham Philip House (Treasurer). The duties of Chair of trustees are shared amongst the trustees.

7. Governance

8. 2.1.The basis of the Charity’s governance is its constitution dated 25 October 2016.

9. 2.2.The appointment of charity trustees is regulated by clause 13 of the constitution subject to there being no fewer than three or more than 10 ten elected trustees.

10. 2.3.Any vacancies in trustees are filled by the decision of members at a AGM. The charity trustees though may appoint a new trustee in place of one who has retired or been removed.

11. Finance

12. 3.1.The financial position of the Charity is set out in the accounts annexed for the Period.

13. 3.2.During the Period the charity received a total of £586.90 from all of its income sources and made total payments of £204.23 which resulted in £382.67 of income in excess of expenditure. The total cash funds of the charity at year end was £1748.46

14. 3.3.There is currently no financial reserves policy.

15. 3.4.The charity trustees believe they have complied with their duty to have regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission when exercising their powers and duties.

16. Objectives

17. 4.1.The principle objectives of the Charity are to improve the conditions of life of those residing in Castle Cary and surrounding areas by providing a community garden.

18. Covid 19

19. 5.1. The Charity’s 2020 AGM was held remotely using Zoom only on 17 September 2020 due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

20. 5.2. The trustees’ decision to hold a remote AGM using Zoom only was reached having regard to guidance issued by HM Government and the Charity Commission.

21. Activities

22. 6.1.Throughout the Period the Moat Garden has been open to the public for recreation, gardening and growing.

23. 6.2.Details of the Charity’s gardening and community involvement are contained in the Garden Report below.

Prepared and approved by the trustees on 16 May 2021

Anne Elizabeth Jelliffe Roger Leonard Weldhen Ida Rosina West Graham Philip House

Moat Garden Project - Garden Report Nov 2019/20

As with all charitable projects, Covid restrictions in 2020 severely curtailed some of the usual activities in the Moat Garden, but with a little creative thinking funds were still raised and the garden was cared for and well used.

Castle Cary Big Christmas in early December saw trustees selling mulled wine kindly donated by Henry Hobhouse and the cold evening meant that we ran out of cider and a good sum was raised. However, Covid restrictions were in place by May and we were unable to hold our usual Saturday morning plant sale at the Market House. Undeterred we held a very successful 3 day plant sale at our garden gates, raising more money than previous years. This format will be repeated in 2021.

Intermittent school closures meant that Castle Cary Primary School was unable to use any of the raised beds as planned. The empty beds were offered to the community and 6 were used for vegetable growing with great success. The small children loved sowing seeds and finally picking and eating produce whilst the oldest gardener enjoyed working in the quiet covid free space during early mornings.This fenced area continues to improve with regular use. The beds remain tidy, paths are clear of pernicious weeds and the fruit area has been brought back to good order.

An entry about the Moat Garden plus recipes and comments submitted by all these gardeners were included in the Castle Cary Community Cook Book which was published during lockdown. We have also been pleased to support a student working towards her Duke of Edinburgh award by completing tasks to benefit the community.

Maintenance of fences and raised beds was kept up to date and the area around the yew tree was cleared of scrub as advised, but although tree work was assessed and quoted for by specialists it has yet to be carried out.

We welcomed a new regular helper for grass cutting but we are still too small a team of workers to realise the full potential of the garden. Despite this the garden bloomed throughout the year, previously rampant weeds were kept down and cultivated areas were increased. Two “meadow” areas continued to establish which not only benefited wildlife but also reduced the need for regular maintenance.

Throughout this difficult year the Moat Garden has provided space for the community to use when so many other places were restricted. Many new people discovered it as a place for photo shoots, outdoor meetings, picnics or as a place to play. Whilst others enjoyed quiet reflection in fresh early morning or evening stillness.

THE MOAT GARDEN PROJECT Charity no 1169894 Accounts for the period 1 November 2019 to 31 October 2020

		£
Income received	Cider stall sales	278.50
	Plant sales	308.40
	Total Income	586.90
Expenditure	Insurance	114.00
	Garden supplies	55.43
	Fence repair	34.80
	Total Expenditure	204.23
Balance at 1 November 2019		1,365.79
Excess of income over expenditure		382.67
Balance at 31 October 2020		1,748.46

Balance Sheet for the year ended 31 October 2020

Fixed assets
Freehold property	valued at cost		12,000.00
Current assets
balance at bank		1,744.44
cash in hand		4.02
			1,748.46
Total assets			13,748.46

Graham P House Treasurer and Trustee 14-Mar-21