PEACE OAK ASSOCIATION
(Charity No 1172221) Annual Report 2020
Contents
Report from the Chair of the Board of Trustees
Accounts
2 4
1
Report from the Chair of the Board of Trustees
This has, of course, been a very strange year for the Peace Oak Association and for our members. This time last year we had plans for four major events for members and others during the year and for a series of projects to enhance the field.
We were able to hold the Wassailing in January 2020, followed by the very successful Hedgehog Talk and Bird Box making before lockdown in March. With much regret we gradually cancelled events planned for Easter, midsummer and the October apple harvest. We continued to encourage you to visit and enjoy the field on your own or with your family. Some of us have clearly enjoyed the quiet space and occasionally met, as allowed, with one other person.
But all this gives a far from accurate impression of what has actually been going on as anyone visiting can see!
We suspended all working parties, although there have been periods of time in the year when up to six people have been able to work together to complete particular tasks. At times we have been able to work in pairs to make sure that essential maintenance and developments have gone ahead as planned. We were delighted to join the Nature Recovery Network in a reptile survey... and even more excited to find that slow worms are well established in the field.
The weather also proved challenging during the last year. In May the late frost caught just over a third of our new vines and it is now clear that they will not recover so we are planning to replace them this spring. The long hot summer made watering difficult for both the young trees, grafts and for the individual plots. Thanks to the hard work of a small group of people the damage to trees was minimal.
The drought did however demonstrate our vulnerability to climate change and as a result we explored the possibility of a well. When it was clear that there was some potential we approached you for funds. Huge thanks to all of you who responded so generously to our request for money and we were delighted to secure funds through TOE (Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment) towards the final stage of installing the solar panels, pump and storage within the next couple of months. (The grant is supported by TOE with funding from Grundon Waste Management Ltd from their own funds and through the Landfill Communities Fund.)
2
We have introduced a new mowing regime to encourage biodiversity and protect the wildflower areas. We prepared and extended the wildflower area on the north side of the field, replaced some of the beech, and have created a sitting area for groups in the spinney.
A major and exciting development has been the pond, excavated and created in the early part of the year… but then suffering from a lack of rain to fill it naturally. The area around the pond has been cleared and in January 2021 volunteers in pairs created the stunning willow woven fence which is both stylish and extremely practical.
The Guides, Brownies and Scouts managed a couple of meetings when limited numbers were allowed. Sadly, we have not been able to have any Farmability groups during the year but we are hoping that these will restart when Covid restrictions allow.
We held two very successful green woodworking events (in line with the rule of six) now leading to plans to create space and shelter for green woodworking and willow weaving groups.
The shared plots are all looking fantastic and the energy and commitment of the thirteen plot holders has been crucial for all the achievements this year. We are looking forward to restarting monthly working parties in April with the rule of six.
It will be wonderful to see our members returning and enjoying the field over the coming months.
Thank you and well done!
Sue Raikes, March 2021
3
Accounts for the period 1/1120 to 31112120 From To 0110112020 3111212020 0110112019 3111212019 Income Donations Well fund Events Subscriptions lending 20191 Subscriptions lending 20201 Subscriptions lending 20211 Allotments CAG Grant Gift Aid Totsl 311 685 380 608 548 iio 634 40 187 loo 456 24 265 2,793 1,556 Expenditure Construction Plant5 Material Fuel 555 326 96 125 417 382 139 50 Room hire Events Miscellanous Well 100 150 301 loo 419 Insurance Total 208 2.130 1.239 Surplus 663 317 Surplus brought forward Surplus carrled foNiard 876 1,539 559 876 Balance sheet Cash Bank Total reserves 135 loo 776 876 1.539 General reserves Well lin¢luding gift aid) Contingency reserves 352 437 750 376 500 Chair Secretary Treasurer