THE MOAT GARDEN PROJECT (“the Charity”)
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 1 NOVEMBER 2022 TO 31 OCTOBER 2023 (“the Period”)
1. Administrative details
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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.
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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.
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1.3.The address of the Charity is ℅ Knowle House, South Street, Castle Cary, Somerset, BA7 7ES.
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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.
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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.
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Governance
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2.1.The basis of the Charity’s governance is its constitution dated 25 October 2016.
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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.
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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.
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Finance
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3.1.The financial position of the Charity is set out in the accounts annexed for the Period.
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3.2.During the Period the charity received a total of £968.29 from all of its income sources and made total payments of £622.89 which resulted in £345.40 of income in excess of expenditure. The total cash funds of the charity at year end was £3221.42.
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3.3.There is currently no financial reserves policy. A draft policy is in the course of formulation and the trustees anticipate its adoption during 2024/2025.
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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.
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Objectives
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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.
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Activities
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5.1.Throughout the Period the Moat Garden has been open to the public for recreation, gardening and growing.
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5.2.Details of the Charity’s gardening and community involvement are contained in the Garden Report below.
Prepared and approved by the trustees on 26 February 2023
Anne Elizabeth Jelliffe Roger Leonard Weldhen Ida Rosina West Graham Philip House
Moat Garden Project - Garden Report 2022/2023
The Moat Garden continues to provide a quiet peaceful place for residents of Castle Cary and for walkers coming down from Lodge Hill, also a slightly more noisy place for local teenagers to get together. Whilst the small meadow area continues to fill with increasing numbers of wildflowers; other smaller areas are being plug planted to increase the diversity. Evidence of badger visits, small mammals, sights and sounds of insect and bird life are always present.
Castle Cary primary school was still unable to find the time and resources in their busy curriculum to make use of the raised beds so these were offered to the wider community. Uptake was poor this year despite contact with the preschool group and the scouts, with only 2 beds being used by new members. The remaining beds were filled with cuttings for sale in May and with spare vegetable seedlings which were grown on and given to anyone who had a use for them including the local food hub.
The majority of the gardening continued to be carried out by 2 trustees with the assistance of the users of the raised beds whilst able assistance with some of the heavier coppicing and mending was again given by Rotary. The overall structure and layout of the garden continues to improve and make maintenance slightly easier.
This year’s successful Xmas mulled cider sales and May plant sales enabled the trustees to abandon the heavy and polluting strimmer which was beyond repair and purchase a battery operated brush cutter and mower.
Overall, despite the wet weather last year the garden was appreciated and enjoyed by all who visited whether they wanted to sit and watch the wildlife or have their coffee or lunch.
The trustees continue to advertise the amenity in the local newsletter and town website in the hopes that other gardeners will be forthcoming.
THE MOAT GARDEN PROJECT Charity no 1169894 Accounts for the period 1 November 2022 to 31 October 2023
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|2021/2022|
|£|
|Income received|Cider stall sales|452.50|436.80|
|Plant sales|484.22|357.01|
|Bank interest|31.57|
|Total Income|968.29|793.81|
|Expenditure|Insurance|114.00|114.00|
|Machinery|443.78|
|Repairs & maintenance|65.11|
|Total Expenditure|622.89|114.00|
|Balance at 1 November 2022|2,876.02|
|Excess of income over expenditure|345.40|
|Balance at 31 October 2023|3,221.42|
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Balance Sheet for the year ended 31 October 2023
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|Fixed assets|
|Freehold property|valued at cost|12,000.00|
|Current assets|
|Bank deposit account|3,031.57|
|Bank current account|189.85|
|3,221.42|
|Total assets|15,221.42|
|Graham P House|
|Treasurer and Trustee|
|14-Nov-23|
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