## **Charity Number: 1176457** **Trustee’s Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2023** The Darlands Conservation Trust ## **Page** - **1 Contents 2 Reference and administrative details 3 Statement of trustee’s responsibilities 3-5 Report of the trustees 6 Income and Expenditure account 7 Balance sheet** - **8 Independent Examiners Report** 1 The Darlands Conservation Trust ## **Reference and administrative details** **Structure:** Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) **The name of the CIO:** The Darlands Conservation Trust **Charity number** : 1176457 ## **The first charity trustees: -** Terrence Bannister Kerin Conn (Resigned 7 August 2020) Eileen Eskenzi John Hart Deborah Hobson John Living (Resigned 31 May 2022) Dianne Murphy (Deputy Chairman) Caroline Stock (Chairman) Michael Worms ## **Trustees appointed since formation of the CIO: -** Paul Flashman (Appointed 4 April 2022) Valerie Duschinsky (Appointed 23 May 2022) Jeffrey Duckett (Appointed 4 September 2023) **Treasurer:** Mark Turner **Bankers:** Lloyds Bank Plc, Park Lane Branch, London **Solicitors:** Edwin Coe LLP, London WC2A 3TH **Correspondence address:** PO Box 57691, London, NW7 0GR **Website:** www.darlandsconservationtrust.org.uk 2 ## The Darlands Conservation Trust ## **Statement of trustee’s responsibilities** Law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare receipts and payments accounts and statement of assets and liabilities for each financial year, which properly present the charity's receipts and payments for the year together with its assets and liabilities at the end of the year. The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time, the financial position of the charity and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with applicable Accounting Standards and Statements of Recommended Practice and the regulations made under Section 154 of the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. ## **Report of the trustees** The trustees present their report and the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023. These financial statements are prepared in accordance with the charity's constitution dated 22 December 2017 (as amended on 7 Sep 2022) and the recommendations of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice and comply with applicable law. ## Structure governance and management The charity is under the governance of its Trustees, as set out on page 2 of the Financial Statements. The day-to-day management of the Charity is undertaken by the Trustees. ## The objects of the CIO The object of the CIO is to promote for the benefit of the public the conservation protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of Darlands Nature Reserve. When planning the activities for the year, the trustees have considered the Commission's guidance on public benefit. 3 ## The Darlands Conservation Trust ## Achievements and performance The volunteering restarted in June 2022, with regular opportunities for members of the local community of all abilities to reap the benefits of working as a team in nature. Last year we achieved 1,050 volunteer hours, the main achievements were: improving access to the nature reserve by widening paths; clearing the lake of logs and debris; fencing and post repairs; grass cutting / mowing; coppicing along the dam ; clearing and repairs to culverts and bramble clearance. The Trustees would like to express their gratitude and thanks to all our volunteers who generously gave their time during 2022/23. We continued the programme of spraying to control Giant Hogweed. This enormous flowering plant, which can cause serious burns if its sap contacts skin, has become established in some areas of the reserve and will require continued annual treatment by licensed contractors for up to 10 years to completely eradicate it. This work by specialist contractors, has only been possible because of generous and gratefully received donations from the local community, businesses and Trusts and Foundations. The CIO continued fundraising for our ‘Help Save Darlands’ appeal. We are appealing to everyone who loves Darlands to donate and help us regenerate the lake, restore and maintain the reserve for current and future generations. The current fundraising focus is to raise funds for the urgently needed de-silting of the lake. The Trustees organised two successful community events, these took place in May and June 2022. The Trustees would like to express their gratitude and thanks to those who attended and thanks to all our volunteers who generously gave their time. A local farmer helped to flail a large field giving access to the lagoon area, and edge of the pig field. The Charity achieved its objectives during the year as set out above. ## Financial review The charity’s activities resulted in net incoming resources on the Unrestricted Income Fund for the year of £153,720 (2021/22: £14,870). In the prior years, the trustees had designated the Millennium Fayre income, towards the cost of desilting the Darlands Lake and the wider Save Darlands appeal. These funds were originally raised by the local community in 2000. In the current year £153,014 (2021/22: £14,095) of the 2022/23 Unrestricted Income Fund has been allocated to the Designated ‘Help Save Darlands’ appeal funds. 4 The Darlands Conservation Trust The tDJStees are confident that through a conibination of different income streams. they will receive sufficient income to en2ble the ch2riry to meet its objectives. The trustees h2ve detern)ined that there is no rnateti21 uncertainty that Casts doubt on its ability io continue as a going concenL In the short ternL the trustees intend to continue conducting ecologlcal surveys, produce a 10-year management plan and to commence works to maintain 2nd enhance safe pubb'c access to the nature resen'e. Our ecological group are developing a ten-year management platL incorporating the resulrs and recommendation of these surveys. Strategies for sust2inable fundraisin& communications and the recruitment of voluntccts will bc developed to support the management plan. Communiry engagement T*ill be at the forefront of future 2Ctivities. This teport was approved and authorised for issue by the trustees on 25 January 2024, and signed on their behalf by: Chaimian The Darlands Conservation Trust Income and Expenditure Account For the year ended 31 March 2023 Prior YeAr Unre8tricled Re8triCted Tothl Income DonAtion8 And legacie8 IAKal bu8lneBs 3.122 64.465 4540 3.122 74.515 10,795 240 10.050 6255 8.804 666 Trn8ts & FoundAtIon8 TO1￿ DonAtion8 legacie Communiry even Other Income 72,127 16,305 88,432 9.710 62.532 19.061 62.532 19.061 5.160 Tot￿ Income 153,720 16,305 170,025 14,870 Expen8e8 Charitable Activiue8 16.066 200 6255 22321 200 Independeni examination fee Woodland management RepAir8 and maintenance Total Charitoble Activiue8 2.698 2.721 2,698 2.721 3.853 21,685 6,255 27,940 4,702 In8utAnce8 981 981 985 Sundry expen8e8 CA*t of rAlsing fwid8 Tot￿ Expen8e8 Net Operating Income 330 330 194 4.706 4,706 29 27,702 6,255 33,957 5,910 126,018 10,050 136,068 8,960 To￿1 fi￿a$ ReconciliatioD of fi￿d8. Unre8iricted De8ignaied Re8iricted TotAI fund8 broughi forwArd Income 26.035 706 76220 153.014 (20.772) 119 102J74 16305 170.025 (6255) (33.957) Expenditure TranBfetg between fimd8 (6.930) Tot￿ fund8 carried fonvard 19,811 208,462 10,169 238,442 The Darlands Conservation Trust Balance Sheei Ag at 31 Marcb 2023 A•at31 March A•ai31 March 3)Zl CDrreDI al￿¢• Ca8h 4¢ bank Gift Aid recoverabk Prep•id Expen•ei 222￿42 l i.81)0 102374 238.642 102J74 Cwrent IlablUdeB Accrnali Totsl nee u•ets 238.442 102J74 QASulty fund• Re¥¢rl¢tsd fiu•d DeBl%Da*d UDTr•ttk*d fiuMI• Unre•trJc*d income fiuMI 10.169 208.462 19.811 119 76220 26.035 Totsl fond• 238.442 102374 The financial statements on pages 6 and 7 were approved by the trustees and authorised for issue on 25 Januaty 2024, and signed on d]eir behalf by: Chainnan ## The Darlands Conservation Trust ## **Independent Examiners Report** I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Darlands Conservation Trust, registered charity number 1176457 (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31March 2023. As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: - accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or - the accounts do not accord with the accounting records I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Full name of Examiner: Mohib Abid ACCA Signature: ______________________________ Date: ________________ 25 January 2023 8