THE MOAT GARDEN PROJECT (“the Charity”)
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 1 NOVEMBER 2024 TO 31 MARCH 2026 (“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 entire Period were: Anne Elizabeth Jelliffe, Roger Leonard Weldhen, Ida Rosina West and Graham Philip House. On 17 May 2025 Rachel Gardner was appointed as an additional charity trustee pursuant to paragraph 13(5) of the Charity’s constitution. The reason for the decision was to promote trustee succession planning.
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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.
2. 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.
3. 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.On 17 May 2025 the trustees agreed to change the charity's accounting reference date from 31 October 2025 to 31 March 2026. The reason for the change was to align the charity’s traditional AGM date (May) more closely with its fiscal year end.
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3.3.During the Period the charity received a total of £1,647.05 from all of its income sources and made total payments of £1,241.67 which resulted in £405.38 of income in excess of expenditure. The total cash funds of the charity at year end was £4,334.94.
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3.4.The Charity has a financial reserves policy.
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3.5.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.
4. Objectives
- 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.
5. 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 2 May 2026.
Anne Elizabeth Jelliffe Roger Leonard Weldhen Ida Rosina West Graham Philip House Rachel Gardener
The Moat Garden Project - Garden Report for the period 1 November 2024 - 31 March 2026
Xmas ‘25 mulled cider sales were a great success …..a cold rather wet evening and the use of a card machine loaned by Brue Valley Rotary meant that people were keen to purchase hot drinks. December ‘26 Cary Xmas saw similar weather and, aided by one of the raised bed users, made a slightly bigger profit.
The Primary School now has raised beds in the school grounds so staff no longer wish to bring pupils to use the moat garden. New users for beds have been sought within the local community and 6 were in use this year, A Huggel bed was also started which used some unwanted brash and weeds to grow courgette and squash. Sadly the parent who ran the after school club last year has not repeated the club.
The Rotary Working Party in Feb 25 was a slightly smaller team than the previous year but they still tidied straggly hazel, pruned some shrubs and tamed rampant ivy. Assistance was also given with replacing rotten fence posts adjoining the public footpath and mending a boundary fence. 2026 saw a larger number of Rotary helpers again who trimmed trees and boundary hedges, mended many rotting raised beds and helped install a rain harvesting system. On both occasions all brash was collected and made into several dead hedges.
Trees have been assessed. Larger trees bordering footpath were deemed to be sound but a branch needs removing from a tree at the other end of the garden whilst two large hazels which have lots of dead wood require coppicing. This work was carried out in September allowing a lot more light into the far corner of the garden. We hope to use the larger oak branches for constructing some more seating, whilst other dead wood will be added to the dead hedges.
It seems that the plant sale has become a regular event for local gardeners and many enquiries were made long before the actual date. There was also support from local friends who donated plants to sell resulting in the highest amount ever raised…… an impressive £712.95
New wild flower areas continue to be developed and current ones enlarged.
In August the annual scything of the meadow area was transformed into a community event. It started with a bug hunt and nature art for children. Music was provided by people from Castle Cary and beyond which became a jam folk session with harp, fiddle, guitar, pipes and a violin.
A talk was given about the use of the scythe prior to a demonstration in which one meadow area was cut.
Food and drink was provided by several people and despite some spells of rain the event was deemed a great success.
2025 was a difficult year for growing. A very wet winter was followed by months of low rainfall and then drought in spring and summer. A proliferation of insects had an adverse effect on vegetable crops. Waterbutts were moved into the open and a slightly better rainfall collection system was started. These butts are now slowly filling. Plans were also formulated to erect some corrugated sheeting to collect further rainwater and this has now been installed.
In collaboration with Sustainable Cary who provided coffee and cakes, a January morning of bird box and pine cone fat ball making was a successful event with children taking home the items they had made.
Overall the Moat Garden continues to be used by local people for various activities and is explored by many from outside the area. One saw a local group carrying out a bat survey. Two different species were spotted in the Moat Garden but it was hard to tell if they were using our bat boxes. The gardening team remains small despite frequent advertising but digging is ably assisted by the local badgers.
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THE MOAT GARDEN PROJECT Charity no 1169894 Accounts for the period 1 November 2024 to 31 March 2026
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|£|2023/24|
|Income received|Cider stall sales 2024|339.20|283.00|
|Cider stall sales 2025|353.25|
|Plant sales|741.95|609.51|
|Coffee morning donation|157.53|
|Bank interest|55.12|52.62|
|Total Income|1,647.05|
|Expenditure|Insurance|140.80|140.80|
|Rain harvester|305.69|
|Repairs & maintenance|743.18|115.17|
|Printing|52.00|
|Total Expenditure|1,241.67|
|Balance at 1 November 2024|3,929.56|
|Excess of income over expenditure|405.38|
|Balance at 31 March 2026|4,334.94|
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Balance Sheet for the period ended 31March 2026
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|Fixed assets|
|Freehold property|valued at cost|12,000.00|
|Current assets|
|Bank deposit account|3,939.31|
|Bank current account|395.63|
|4,334.94|
|Total assets|16,334.94|
|Graham P House|
|Treasurer and Trustee|
|01-Apr-26|
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