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:** info@khwgarden.org.uk **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