Friends of the Harris Garden - Chairmans’s Report 2025
The Friends of the Harris Garden had an AGM on 29[th] January 2026. During the meeting the Chairman, Jordan Bilsborrow, highlighted the challenging circumstances that the Friends have found themselves in since the pandemic. Outlining the following key points:
-
members, such as the Grassroots newsleKer, garden open days and events (aside from BBC Gardener’s QuesOon Ome on 14 April 2024).
-
As such, subscripOons are now deemed to be voluntary donaOons. The website has undergone an update to reflect this. It is expected that our income will begin to decrease accordingly. More substanOve donaOons for the Harris Garden can be administered by the University of Reading.
-
The University of Reading Grounds department have now taken the leading role in organising and giving appropriate support to the volunteers who work in the garden.
-
that running the charity is no longer sustainable.
It was therefore agreed at the AGM that the Friends of the Harris Garden will be wound up during 2026. The following proposal was made to the 20 aKendees.
DissoluOon of the Charity
It is proposed that in accordance with clause 29 of the Friends of the Harris Garden consOtuOon that the Friends of the Harris Garden be dissolved in 2026. The trustees would hereby be authorised to take all necessary steps to wind up the charity’s affairs and distribute the remaining assets in accordance with the dissoluOon clause.
The resoluOon will be enacted following the meeOng either:
-
a) By a resoluOon passed by a 75% majority of those voOng, or
-
b) By a resoluOon passed by decision taken without a vote and without any expression of dissent in response to the quesOon put to the general meeOng.
There were no expressions of dissent. It was therefore accepted that the trustees are responsible for wind up the charity in 2026.
Following the discussion for the dissoluOon of the Friends of the Harris Garden, the charity funds were discussed. It was proposed that the remaining funds (approximates) are allocated as follows:
| Funding towards a permanent structure in the Outdoor Learning Garden(walledgarden redevelopment) |
£50,000 |
|---|---|
| Funding commiKed towards plant orders in 2025 (not yet invoiced) |
£1,947 |
| Funding placed in the University of Reading Harris Garden account, only to be used to support the Harris Garden and volunteers |
£9,719 |
Learning Garden need to be sought. Reduced funding for the Outdoor Learning Garden was also discussed and therefore new proposals will be made to the membership in the first quarter of the year for a vote.
Jordan Bilsborrow, Friends of the Harris Garden - 30[th] January 2026
)00 ts) O cTh o r ¢rJ O P4 f+ 00)ts Ino
0 ¢nmo ¢51 ry o 000 ¢t)