Friends of Warnham Local Nature Reserve (FoWLNR)
Annual Report
Background
The Friends of Warnham Local Nature Reserve (FoWLNR) is a registered charity (No. 1171924).
The Charity’s objects are to promote for the benefit of the public the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of Warnham Local Nature Reserve, in particular but not exclusively by:
(a) advancing the education of the public about all aspects of the natural history of the reserve, and
(b) promoting biological diversity.
for the benefit of both the public and the wildlife.
We are governed by a formal Constitution and we make annual reports to The Charities Commission.
The day-to-day management of the Friends is the responsibility of a Trustee Board supported by a number of member volunteers.
Annual Report for the year 2021-2022.
I am pleased to report, to this my first AGM as your new Chairman.
Having not taken on my role until just into the 2022-2023 year much of my report has relied on input from my colleague Trustees and supporting members for which I am grateful.
The year under review can best be described as one of transition.
The year began in April 2021 with the Country and thus the Reserve still experiencing lock down conditions. These conditions eased over the summer months but our visitor numbers were in the first six months only a third of pre-pandemic levels. Our income of course suffered.
We also experienced transition amongst our Officers as our Secretary, Andy Roberts and our Treasurer, John Alsop having resigned at the previous AGM left their posts at the end of December 2021. We remain grateful for all their work on behalf of the Friends.
The Friends of Warnham Local Nature Reserve (FoWLNR) however remains in a position of good financial health as funds allocated previously and during the pandemic had not been utilised. At the end of the period under review the Friends can look forward to 2022-23 and beyond to a period of development and refurbishment at the Reserve.
The work of the FoWLNR is wide and varied in support of the Charity’s objects, dominant above all is the tireless work of the volunteers, in whatever role they fulfil, they are the charity and as the Chairman, and I am sure I speak for the members to, I am indebted to their willingness and selfless service to all we are trying to achieve, thank you.
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Governance
FoWLNR continued to fulfil its commitments as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered with The Charity Commission. Governance by the Trustees has been in accordance with the FoWLNR Constitution, and all aspects of the day-to-day operation continued to be managed by Trustees and members with specific responsibilities on behalf of the Trustee Board.
The combining of the Trustees and Management Committee members adopted at the last AGM was established in practice and all began to meet together on a regular basis during the latter part of the year and thereafter.
In accordance with the Constitution, at every AGM one-third of the elected charity Trustees must retire from office.
In order of appointment:
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Richard Dodd is due to stand down and is not seeking re-election. I would like to thank Richard for his work on behalf of the Friends and wish him every future success.
-
Stuart Card and Denise Knight have volunteered to stand down in line with our constitutional rotation requirements and both have agreed to stand for re-election which I as Chairman wholeheartedly endorse and recommend to the membership.
Subsequent to the 2012-2022 year ending Claire Millar also resigned as a Trustee given increased work commitments.
Thus the Friends currently require further trustees.
The Trustees for various periods during the year under review were:
| Andrew Roberts | (res 8.11.21) | Denise Knight |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte Wooldridge | Stuart Card | |
| Jake Everitt (Ex Officio) | Linda Slattery | |
| Neil Henry | Paul Shergold | |
| John Alsop | (res 8.11.21) | Richard Dodd |
| Claire Millar |
The post of Chair remained vacant to the end of the period under review. Subsequently Steve Kenward was appointed as Chairman and a Trustee with effect from July 2022.
Promoting Education guided walks. Talks and workshops
Restrictions as a result of the pandemic were gradually lifted during the year and an events programme slowly resumed and by the last quarter, early 2022, included once more a range of guided walks, talks and workshops.
The Friends are delighted to be able to stage events again, that in line with our objects enable us to advance the education of the public so if members have ideas about the content and type of event that would appeal, please let us know.
The Reedbed, our Newsletter continues to be issued on a quarterly basis to Members, the website
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and our social media presence were all well appreciated and engaged during the period.
Visitor Experience
The first half of the year under review continued to be uncertain for the public. Whilst Covid restrictions were progressively lifted a caution remained.
Visitor numbers in the first half of 2021-2022 continued to be affected with less than 5000 visitors in the 6-month period, but traffic levels steadily improved in the second half of the year with nearly 14000 visitors being recorded.
Discovery Hub, Shelley Memorial Gardens and the Attree Hide
The Discovery Hub & Gardens were after much disruption formally opened in October 2021 and were much acclaimed and enjoyed thereafter.
We were pleased to assist and host Horsham District Council with a poetry reading event at the Reserve to commemorate 200 years of Shelley’s death.
We hope that the future will see more such events as each serves to spread the message of the Reserve to a new and ever widening audience.
Funding
In addition to those funds generated by membership fees, donations and sales in the Herons Rest, as part of our partnership agreement with Horsham District Council we collect the daily and annual permit fees for admission to the Reserve on their behalf. In return we receive a donation. The prices of these permits increased at the beginning of the period.
Generally, our income suffered as visitor numbers remained depressed in the first half of the period, but began to recover strongly in the second half.
FoWLNR received the most generous of donations during the year in the memory of Terry Slattery
Volunteers
FoWLNR’s loyal volunteers continued to give the Reserve the most precious of commodities, their time and as a result the Friends continued to be able to manage the Reserve’s Visitor Centre and The Herons Rest Café.
Volunteers also manned various events as the programmes restarted and were on hand to offer guidance and information to visitors on the Reserve.
Voluntary contributions also enable the Friends to have a web presence, an accounting system, newsletters and a number of events.
As we emerged form Covid, The Herons Rest remained closed for the first two months of the period and we had no events for the first four months, but despite this our volunteer hours totalled over 6644. This is the charitable work of the Friends and is much appreciated by our visitors and Horsham District Council as we continue to provide the welcoming and friendly face of the Reserve to all comers.
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Horsham District Council
FoWLNR again take this annual opportunity to formally express our thanks to Horsham District Council, and in particular their Parks & Countryside Team, who are always very supportive of FoWLNR and with whom we have an excellent relationship.
Looking Forwards
The Reserve, Discovery Hub & Shelley Wildlife Garden returned to being fully open towards the end of the period and we can now look forward to a full programme of events.
It is also anticipated that as life returns to normal the Friends will again be able to fully pursue the objects of the Charity donating funds to the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment, advance education of all aspects of the natural history of the Reserve and promote its bio-diversity.
The Friends came out of the pandemic with a menu of projects related to its objects, not least of which anticipates the refurbishment of the welcome area of the Reserve at the Herons Rest, in line with the recently opened Discovery Hub. All of the FoWLNR projects will be incorporated into the HDC Management Plan for the Reserve which we anticipate being launched during the next financial period 2022-2023.
Treasury Report & Accounts year to 31st March 2022
The easing and eventual lifting of the Covid restrictions enabled the Herons Rest (our principal income stream) to function again fully in the second half of the year.
Entry permit fees were reintroduced, increased, and charged as restrictions were lifted.
These two factors enabled our income streams to be restored and our financial position began to be restored.
By the end of the period, our charitable donation reserve was beginning to be restored and a surplus was recorded.
This Report should be read in conjunction with the Summary Income & Expenditure Report for the Financial Year 2021-2022 which is tabled below.
Summary
Income for the year amounted to £62,989 (last year £14940) of which £12851 (£6455) was spent on café stock for resale and administrative costs, leaving a gross surplus of £43695 (£8485). After Charitable Expenditure of £28584 (£18,051) the surplus carried forward to the next financial year amounted to £15110 (-£9,566 deficit). N.B. Rounding error differences are noted between the Income and Expenditure Report and CC16a.
Income
Herons Rest traded at an improving level throughout the year having been closed for two months at the start of the period, but strengthened to achieve £34819 in the whole year.
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Similarly permit sales were affected by policies to counter the pandemic and the publics reluctance to initially re-engage once restrictions were lifted.
Total income of £62989, reflected permit sales in the second half of the year, some new members joining the Friends, a small event income and generous donations and bequests for which the Friends are extremely grateful.
Administrative Expenses
Our administration costs, always modest returned to normal levels at £6444 (previously £2,397) but included costs for card machine rentals and fees, and the lease for the coffee machine which together accounted for half of the administrative costs and will be lower in subsequent years.
Nearly 80% of our volunteer hours are donated to the Herons Rest, our continuing prudent cost management of the facility could not be achieved without the volunteer’s diligence for which the Trustees and Friends are truly grateful.
Charitable Expenditure
£28584 was reinvested back into the Reserve during the financial year, the most in a single year since the charity was incorporated.
Funds and Reserves
Total funds on 31st March 2022 amounted to £69405.
The Trustees, and Officers are only too aware of this outstanding effort and would like to record their thanks to all members and volunteers amongst the Friends.
Compliance
Data Protection
The Friends of Warnham Local Nature Reserve (FoWLNR) collects, stores and processes your personal information (name, address, telephone number and email address) for membership of the charity and will only use it for that purpose, including the communication of Events, Newsletters and Statutory Notices. If you wish to opt-out of those communications, please notify The Membership Secretary, Warnham Local Nature Reserve, Warnham Road, Horsham RH12 2RA or email fowlnr@gmail.com and title your email ‘Opt-Out Comms.’
Access to your personal information is restricted on a need-to-know basis, to the Officers of The Friends of Warnham Local Nature Reserve. Your personal information will not be shared with any third parties.
Gift Aid
Gift Aid is a form of tax relief. FoWLNR can claim an additional 25p in every £1 donated to us from
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HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), for eligible UK taxpayers. For your £10 membership fee, this means that each year we can claim an additional 25p x £10 = £2.50 from HMRC.
When you became a member of FoWLNR, you were asked to consent to our claiming Gift Aid for your donation. If you have agreed to this, you must notify us of any changes to your taxable status that would prevent us claiming Gift Aid for you i.e. if you have not paid Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax in the tax year that is equal to the amount we are claiming (i.e. £2.50 for membership fees). If you pay less Income Tax and / or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of your Gift Aid donations in any tax year, you will be responsible for paying any difference to HMRC.
The collection, storage and processing of your personal information is in accordance with UK data protection and Gift Aid tax legislation, and all such information will be kept in line with those requirements.
Summary
For a number of reasons not all of the approved, but delayed, charitable spend projects originally planned for 2020-2021, came to fruition.
Trustees changed, projects were reviewed and the development of the Management Plan for the Reserve, into which all of our projects are incorporated stalled in the wake of hesitance from central government over the means to replace what had become defunct EU legislation.
It is anticipated that the next year 2022-2023 will see a return to projects being achieved and that this will accelerate into 2023-2024 as more certainty is afforded to central government dictats and as a result the Reserve Management Plan can be finalised and fully adopted.
Whilst 2021-2022 has been a transitional year; for the country, for the Friends and their Trustees, and for Horsham District Council and their Management Plans the planned charitable activity continues. It is expected that by the end of the following financial period (2022-2023) a further £78,000 will have been spent which will bring our charitable expenditure since incorporation close to £200,000.
Add this to our voluntary hours in the same period and the charitable contribution of the members of the Friends of Warnham Local Nature Reserve and their volunteer army is outstanding.
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-] IHARITY COMMIS510N FOR ENGLAND AND WAtES FrfwKIg of Wamham Local Naiur• R0 1171924 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period Irom To 0110412021 3110m2 Section A Receipts and payments Unre$tri¢tgd fund8 Restricted lunds Endowment funds Total funds Last y8ar toth• nwrn•te tp nMr•btf A1 Rèe•l Sa$ Foou ar¥J tr Sa185 Other Membership F•08 E¥eni$ Inc¢ry Donations and b•qut8ts 31Blk 1.710 724 34.819 5A43 724 1,229 820 24,507 8.494 Sub total(Gross income for ARJ A2 As•et and In¥Mtrn•nt ••b••, Is tabl•l. 62.989 02,919 14,940 Sub total 62,989 62.• 14,940 A3Pa Purchases for re Admin Expen88$ C1 Exptnditurn 12,8S1 12,861 4,067 2,398 18,061 2(S84 Sub total 47.875 24,S06 A4 ABSgt and Inv••lrn•nt urchao•8, see table Sub total 47,875 47,8T5 24.506 Net of recelpts/(p8yments) A5 Transfer¥ between fund* A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds thls year end 15.114 15.114 9,686 $4,291 69.405 54.291 69,405 63,857 54,291 CCXX R1 accounts Issi 17110r2022
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted lundg Restricted fund8 to nearest£ Endowment funds to nwrest£ Categorfes Oetail$ bj Bl Cash funds Bank Tffj8JIw& C45h 42,95B 20.202 Total cash funds 69.405 Unr•8trlct•d funds Rgatrlet•d fund to ntrar•rt£ Endowm•nt fund• to n•zrttt £ Details to towhlch Current valu• loMI Det8118 B3 Inv••tm•nt 8••t• Fund towhlch ¢wrnt valu• Details Co•t loptknall B4 A••ot8 retalned for th• ¢h•rfty'• own u•• F¥nd to which I•10¥ Amountdu• Whon du• onal 85 Ll•bllltlo8 Signed by one or trust¢e8 Cll behaff of al the trusta•$ SfjnatLtTe Prinl Name Date tyf rov81 PAJL SrvAL7 cAei) 1gIC2 19 IC Z CCXX RZ atxounts ISSI 1711012022
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl m¢mb¢rs of The Friends of Wamhan L1 Nature Reserv8 On accounts for the year ended 31° March 2022 Charity no (if any) 1171924 Sot out on page8 1&2 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charityllhe Trusl") for the year ended Responsibilities and ba818 of report As the chaty's trustees, you are resFM)nsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the CharItS Act 2011 {Ihe Acll. I report in resFeCt of my examination of the Trust's accounts Carr oul under sectK*n 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination. I have folk)wed all the applicab Directions given by the Charty Commisslon under section 1495}Ib} of the Ad. Independent examlner's slatement I have completed my examination. I confim) that no material matters have come lo my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below ') which gives me cause to believe that in. any material respect.. the accounting records were not kepl in aordanCe with section 130 of the Charrties Act., or the accounts did not accord wth the accounting records; or the accounts did not compty with the applicable requirements conceming the fonn and content of accounts set out in the Charities {Ac¢ounls and RepK)rtsl Regulations 2008 other than any requirement Ihat the accounts give a 'true and fair, view which not a matter considefed as part of an independent examinatKsn. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection wrth the examination lo which attention should te drawn in this report in ordef to enable a woper understsnding of the accounts to be reached. Slgned: Date: 2710812022 Namo: Paul Andrew Gcthlman Relevant professional qualificationls) or body Ilf any): Address: 7 Rectory Garth IER 12018 Oct
Hemsworth Pontefvt WF9 4NB Section B Disclosure Onty ccmnpleie If the examiner needs to highlight materrdl matter5 of Gonrn {see CC32, Independent examinalKfyn of chartty UntS.. directnS and guhdance for examiners). Glve here brfef detslls of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER 22018