Friends of Burton Manor – Chairman’s Report
It seems hardly credible that it’s twelve months since my report to the last Annual General Meeting. Once again it’s my pleasant duty to extend a warm thanks to all the volunteers who continue to turn up week after week to maintain and support this important community asset. Significantly only one of whom actually lives in the village ! To try and address this we are reaching out to the village organisations and to local residents to come and join us, and we hope to organise a joint event later in the year.
Special thanks must also go to the trustees and officers of The Friends for their unstinting work in organising and managing its affairs: keeping the books, carrying out the admin, managing the workforce, organising the supplies, arranging the maintenance, and ensuring we stay safe. Each year, in accordance with our constitution, we must elect a chairman and treasurer and, in rotation, two trustees must stand for re-election. This year it’s the turn of Colin Spencer and Carole Hann, both of whom have indicated their willingness to continue in the role, together with myself as chairman and our treasurer Tony Statham.
Sadly we have lost two of our stalwart volunteers in the last few months: Terry Murthwaite who seemed to spend half his life at the gardens, always building or maintaining some part of the estate, and Dave Crelley our ace disposer of garden waste and wood. They are both remembered with affection, and trees are being planted in their memory, in addition to the tree planted to mark the King’s coronation.
Building work on the new properties has continued apace all around us but, with the co-operation of the development building team and the site owner, we’ve usually found a way through with the minimum of inconvenience and disturbance. We now look forward to working alongside our new neighbours, developing and improving the gardens. Unfortunately we have experienced increasing problems with dog fouling and are making a special appeal to our visitors to keep dogs on a lead and pick up after them. Otherwise we may have to restrict access to the walled garden where crops are being grown for sale and consumption.
As well as all the work involved in planting, pruning, harvesting, and weeding, the building maintenance work on our own property is never ending; replacing, repairing, and refurbishing. Despite only being some twenty years since the glasshouse was rebuilt we are having to undertake more major repair work on the roof and interior. We will also be taking the opportunity to renew the kitchen area which enables us to hire out the building,. Visitor numbers have remained high, and book and plant sales continue to thrive, all adding to our income and helping towards funding our many overheads. Thanks too to all the Friends of the Gardens who support us financially through their annual subscriptions, and a gentle reminder to those who haven’t paid their 2024 subscriptions yet, or haven’t remembered to increase their standing orders.
Finally a thank you to some unsung heroes – Connie who opens the gardens virtually every day, Linda who helps collect the money and takes it to the bank, and the cleaner, Janine, who keeps the visitor centre clean, in spite of the gardeners’ muddy feet ! ....... Thank you all.
Gavin Hunter. Chairman March 2024
Frlends of 8urton Manor Ganlens Accounts for the Year Ended 30th 14(y4ember 2023 Aetelpts and Payments Account yle 30.11.22 Ro¢alpts Subscrlptions CWAC Grant Donations Rent HMRC GiftAld Bank Interest 452 00 157 382 810 E 11 22 1157 2556 879 Teas and Books Plants arKI Gardenln8 Room Hlre Courses and Events Dlrect debit Refund 878 2355 1165 Tolal Income 11998 Payments Insurance Glasshouse Repalrs Repairs and Renewals aeani ststionery and Computer Cortsumables Accountancy Fees Caterlng and General Course and E4ents Gardenlng Supplles Fire Extlngulsher Malntenance Bullding Materials Equipment Sundry Item5lOfflcelPhone 549 515 14166 200 491 60 Iso 226 210 8S5 iii 226 720 1532 50 218 898 3252 Total Expendltfft Surplu5 In? forth• year 7092 -6873
Frfends of Burton Manor Gardens Balance Sheet for the Year Ended 30 November 2023 Funds a5 •t * November 2022 B3rcl4ys Premium Ac£ount 8ardays Current Account Petty Cash Float 55997 2745 65 58807 Surplus forthe year 2022123 7093 Total Funds as at 30 knember 2023 Funds reprgsenied bv: Barclays Premium Account Bardays Current Accouirt Petty Cash Float 60378 5362 160 Totsl as at 30 Novern 2023