2022-12-31-accounts

KING HENRY S WALK garden Annual Report 2023 Jt

SECTION A: REFEENCE AND ADMINISTRATION DETAILS

Friends of King Henry’s Walk Garden

Registered charity number 1173019

Trustees

Philomine Wales (Chair) Annabel Goulding (Treasurer) Fiona Kirk (Secretary) Kirsty Slarke David Harrison Jenny Morgan Nicola Freshwater

Management committee

Philomine Wales (Chair) Annabel Goulding (Treasurer) Fiona Kirk (Secretary) Kirsty Slarke (Vice Chair) Andy Parkinson (Site Manager) David Harrison (Sustainability) Jenny Morgan (Greenhouse) Peter Clarke (Deputy Site Manager) Laurie Evans Aliyah Naroth

Address

11C King Henry’s Walk London N1 4NX

Website: www.khwgarden.org.uk Email: [e-mail] Facebook: King Henry’s Walk Garden

Twitter: @khwgarden

Instagram : @khwgarden

Cover images by Judith Palmer

SECTION B: STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Friends of King Henry’s Walk Garden is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Association) governed under its Constitution.

Trustees up to a maximum of seven are elected by members at Annual General Meeting. The Board of Trustees may co-opt others as needed to fill vacancies or skills gaps until the next Meeting.

New trustees undergo an induction on their legal obligations under charity law, the content of the Constitution, the committee and decision-making processes, the budget and financial performance of the charity

The Board of Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to such risks

SECTION C: OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

The charity’s objectives are set out in its Constitution

• to improve the conditions of life for local people in the interests of social welfare by providing facilities for recreation and leisure activities, and by advancing education

• to manage community gardens for recreation and education of local people

• to act as a resource for young people up to the age of 25 by providing assistance and organising activities to develop their skills and capabilities

To these ends King Henry’s Walk Garden organises an annual programme of workshops and events as well as ongoing maintenance of the site.

The Board of Trustees have had due regard to the public benefit and taken the Charities Commission guidance into account when making decisions for which it is relevant.

SECTION D: ACHEIVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Chair’s Report

Welcome and Overview

It has been good to finally be getting back to some sort of pre-pandemic normality this year, holding our first AGM for two years last March, and for almost all of our regular events and activities to take place over the year.

People

All of the 2021 Trustees and Management Committee members were re-elected at last year’s AGM and are happy to continue to serve in the coming year. We are however always looking for new members to join both committees and also for help in non-committee roles. Please do consider getting in touch if you have a bit of time to offer help, however little.

The members of our Trustees and Management Committee are listed at the beginning of this report. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them personally for all of the great work they do, and also to the many other volunteers, who help make the garden what it is. As in previous years, special thanks are due:

• To Annabel Goulding for her meticulous attention to our finances, ensuring the ongoing security of the garden.

• To Fiona Kirk, both as committee and membership secretary, organising renewals and duty rota, as well as, with Hannah McDowall, looking after the apiary

• To Kirsty Slarke, whose ‘can do’ approach taking on organising workshops, events, and much else when something needs doing

• To our site manager Andy Parkinson, and deputy site manager Peter Clarke, who continue to ensure both annual maintenance and infrastructure repair and upgrades happen.

• to Jenny Morgan who has edited (and almost entirely written) our much enjoyed quarterly newsletter for many years, as well as masterminding what happens in the greenhouse. Jenny is stepping down from doing the Newsletter, so we are looking at how to fill this gap, to keep everyone up to speed as to what’s happening in the garden.

• To Nicola Freshwater, who together with Andy, run our monthly volunteer work sessions. Those who attend will also vouch for the delicious homemade cakes they provide.

• To David Harrison, for organising our annual Bio Blitz, lead by Will Atkins and team, which has become an annual event, monitoring the range and diversity of the wildlife in the garden. The results are published on the website

• And to many other garden members. Special mention to Becky Tabram and Peter who look after the fruit trees, to Judith Palmer, who manages KHWG’s social media presence (do look out for and follow her daily Instagram posts @khwgarden), and to Clare Jeapes who ensures all the garden’s bird feeders are kept filled.

We should also like to thank our ward councillors for their continuing support, and Fiona Mackenzie-Cardy from Islington Parks Department, who ran our annual garden bird watch for us one again.

And to the Shed Quintet whose loyal performances at our events are always much appreciated

Please forgive any omissions, it is the contributions by all members and supporters that make the garden such a special place and a real community - thank you!

Infrastructure and Maintenance

A year ago, the garden received an unexpected donation from Waitrose, via their green token scheme. The money has been used to fund a new bench, located by the clay oven; a ‘Magpost’ positioned between the pond and the lawn, for detailed wildlife observation; and some replacement fruit trees.

Nicola, Andy and Peter have created an annual maintenance plan, as well as continuing with the larger scale projects. The major projects both carried out during 2022, and in the pipeline are noted in the financial statement under designated funds.

As well as considering accessibility when renewing or repairing garden infrastructure, the Trustees have set the objective of looking at sustainability solutions at the heart of all we do in maintaining the garden, with the aim to match Islington’s target to achieve net zero carbon by 2030.

Education

The Garden Classroom (TGC) ran the following activities at King Henry’s Walk Garden (KHWG):

• 61 half-day educational sessions for schools including 17 Samuel Rhodes plant care courses.

• 1 day sustainability champions for schools

• 9 days workplace wellbeing sessions for Islington Parks Department

• 5 days Secret Garden Theatre Project (KHWG sponsoring two places)

• 8 mornings Little Explorers Out and About (with external funding secured by the Garden)

• 6 days first aid training

• 9 half-days team training

• 17 half-days team meetings and activities

Weekly visits by The Children’s House School took place whenever possible during term time.

The preschool group connected with St Paul’s Steiner School held an early evening lantern walk through the woodland for St Martin in November.

Workshops

We were delighted to run our garden Bird Watch in January with Islington Parks Ranger, Fiona CardyMacKenzie. Other workshops included drawing in the garden, poetry in the garden and our ever popular ice cream workshop with La Grotta Ices

Annual Events

As noted previously, we were able to run most of our regular annual events;

• Our AGM and Members’ Day event on March

• Opening for the National Garden Scheme at the beginning of May

• Our Summer Fete, in June, held in conjunction with Open Garden Square Weekend

• Our Winter Fair in December

Unfortunately, we decided with regret that it would be inappropriate to hold the Autumn Show as the date fell within the Official Mourning Period following the death of HM Queen Elizabeth

Membership

Membership has remained stable. As of the end of December 2022, there were 70 plots taken, with one plot retained for the bees as before. We had 102 keyholders, and there were 39 names on the waiting list for plots.

Our plot holders include a school and 2 churches, with 6 containers tended by TGC as part of their education programme with older children from Samuel Rhodes School.

Internal Objectives

In January the Trustees reviewed the objectives set at the beginning of 2022

• DDA must be considered in all projects

• Membership – aim to encourage more active participation and involvement in the care and maintenance of the garden

• Sustainability

• Link to Islington target to be carbon neutral by 2030

• set interim goals to monitor progress

• consideration of all 17 Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs), with an initial focus on Climate Action (goal 13) where it is felt most impact can be achieved.

• Local community

• focus on garden members and the local community

• Build on collaboration with Chorley Mission and the Playground

At the beginning of this year (2023) the Trustees reviewed these objectives and felt that DDA and Sustainability should now be embedded into all of the garden’s activities. It was therefore agreed that the focus of the 2023 objectives should continue to be:

• Membership – aim to encourage more active participation and involvement in the running of, and maintenance of the garden

• Local community – focus on garden members and the local community. Continue to build on collaboration with Chorley Mission and the Playground

Philomine Wales

Chair February 2023

SECTION E: FINANCIAL REVIEW

The charity’s policy is to maintain reserves at a level sufficient to enable normal activities to continue for a period of up to 12 months should a shortfall in income occur and also to take account of contingencies that may arise.

Its policy is to hold surplus funds in an interest bearing account with a UK bank or building society. Key criteria in selection are ethical investment, low risk with fair rate of return and ease of access.

The annual receipts and payments account, statement of assets and liabilities plus reserves are given on the following pages.

King Henry's Walk Garden Registered Charity 1173019

Receipts and Payments Account

for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2022

£ £ Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds RECEIPTS Building Hire 2,304 Education 835 Events 4,471 Donations 56 Grants 1,520 Interest 67 Membership 3,527 Workshops 432 Sales 1,948 Other 138 TOTAL RECEIPTS PAYMENTS Running costs: Accessibility Administration 1,247 Building Hire Education Events 1,712 Grants 1,760 Workshops 350 Bees 1,060 Manure/compost 515 Bird Food 225 Community Projects 300 Maintenance General 714 Sales 9 Oven Costs / Supplies 4 Plants 312 Security Tools 287 Training 177 Website Hosting & Development Total running costs 8,673 Total capital items 5,075 TOTAL PAYMENTS NET INCOME	£ Total Funds		£ Totals 2020 750 703 2,245 1,205 3,899 38 3,740 - 930 -
	15,229		13,510
			- 1,315 40 830 1,213 3,279 - 279 715 283 - 291 13 328 314 119 681 - 8
			9,706 4,272
	13,747		13,978
	1,551		(468)

Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 31 December 2022

CASH FUNDS

Bank balance brought forward 3,649 Bank balance as at 31 December Deposit balances brought forward 30,171 Deposit balances as at 31 December TOTAL FUNDS	5,133 30,238 35,371

ASSETS RETAINED FOR OWN USE

Land and Building Garden structures Fixtures and fittings Equipment Tools Stocks

LIABILITIES

Works

Signed on behalf of the Trustees

Name: Annabel Goulding, Treasurer Date

Reserves

	Current 2022/23	Previous 2021/22	Increase / (decrease)	Increase / (decrease)
Unrestricted Funds Reserves	15,870	15,499	371	2.4%
Restricted Funds		320	(320)
Designated Funds - building/site fund - conservation/development fund	12,000 7-500	12,500 5-500	(500) 2,000	(0.4%) 36.4%
Total Funds	35,370	33,819	1,551	4.6

The Garden should hold in reserve up to 10 months’ general operating costs which equates to £10,000 for the year. This would allow the opportunity to continue activities while identifying ways in which further funds might be raised. Additional reserves at the level of general maintenance costs for 2 years (£5,000) should be retained to cover unforeseen needs over that period. Current reserves equal £15,870 which represents a surplus of £870.

Designated funds will be used as follows

• I. Upgrading of electrical installations £1,500 Winter 2022/23

• II. Renovation of water infrastructure £1,500 Spring 2023

• III. Renovations in woodland £1,500 Spring/Summer 2023

• IV. Replacement of benches around circular planter £3,000 Summer 2023

• V. Resurfacing of paths and replacement of plot edgings £9,000 Summer/Autumn 2023

• VI. Renovation of greenhouse £3,000 Autumn 2023

Additional funds will be needed to meet costs which are not part of planned maintenance work

The reserves will be monitored during the year at the monthly management committee and biannual trustee board meetings. In addition, the policy will be reviewed annually as part of the financial accounting and budgeting processes.

SECTION F: FURTHER INFORMATION

2022 in summary

Membership

Number of plots allocated at 31 December 2022: 70 (one plot retained for the bees) Number of key holders at 31 December 2022: 102 Number on waiting list at 31 December 2022: 39

Seasonal events

AGM, Members’ Day held 26[th] March Summer Fete held 11[th] June Bio Blitz held 19[th] June

Autumn Produce Show cancelled due to coinciding with the official period of mourning following the death of HM Queen Elizabeth

Winter Fair held 11[th] December

Affiliated events

National Garden Scheme opened 3[rd] May

Open Gardens Square Weekend opened 11[th] and 12[th] June

Awards

Islington in Bloom: Gold Award and 3[rd] Place Green Flag: Community Award

RHS Its your Neighbourhood: Outstanding

Workshops

6 (bird watch, 2 x art, Bio Blitz, poetry, ice cream) Total attending approx. 56

Volunteer hours worked (estimated)

Volunteer hours worked (estimated)
Committee: admin and meetings:	1500
Weekend openings and duty rota:	580
Events:	576
Organising and running workshops:	18
Volunteers working in the garden	1726
(includes workdays, maintenance and	infrastructure, bees, greenhouse, birds, media, and newsletter etc)

TOTAL (approximately) 4400

Grant funding

£1,520 from Islington Local Initiatives Fund to run Little Explorers Out and About in association with The Garden Classroom

SECTION G: DECLARATION

The Board of Trustees declare that they have approved the annual report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signatures(s) Full name(s) Position(s)

Date