The Devenish Bradshaw Charitable Trust
Laverstock Meadows, Cow Lane, Laverstock, Salisbury
## **– FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PERIOD ENDING 31 MARCH 2023**
## **Trustees Annual Report**
The Trustees present their report of The Devenish Bradshaw Charitable Trust, a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), for the year ended 31 March 2023.
**Charity Name:** The Devenish Bradshaw Charitable Trust
**Contact Address:** 24 Highbury Avenue, Salisbury, SP2 7EX
## **Registration Number:** 1177823
## **How it is managed:**
The charity is managed by the Board of Trustees and is responsible for all strategic decisions. Trustees are made aware that any conflicts of interest must be declared and minuted.
## **Names of Trustees:**
David Burton/Sue Gallagher/Samantha Gill/Duncan Scott/Amy Whetstone/Jane Wilkinson
## **Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees:**
The Constitution outlines the procedure for the appointment of Trustees. Prospective Trustees are recruited based on relevant skills and experience. There must be a minimum of 3 Trustees and a maximum of 8.
Trustees are elected for a minimum term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the Charity Trustees. Any person retiring as a Charity Trustee is eligible for reappointment.
## **Induction and Training** :
All Trustees are provided with a copy of the Constitution and a copy of the CIO's latest Trustees Annual Report and financial statements.
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## **Achievements and Performance including reporting on public benefit:**
The following notable achievements and evidence of performance were made in this reporting year in pursuit of our Charitable Objectives and corresponding Management Plan Aims and Actions.
## **Charitable Objective 1:**
To preserve, conserve and protect the land known as the Water Meadows, in Laverstock, and its chalk valley riverine habitats.
## **Management Plan Aim:**
To manage each of the habitats present on the meadows to promote their biodiversity. Restoration of wildflower rich floodplain grasslands.
_**Action - Implement the actions in our Higher Tier Agreement working closely with our cattle and sheep, sheep graziers, our volunteer teams, and community organisations, carrying out practical conservation work to help achieve the aims of the Higher Tier Agreement - on going.**_
## **Woodland**
## _**Action - Encourage the retention of dead standing trees and fallen timber as per the Royal Forestry Society guidance.**_
We have ensured the majority of our woodland habitat has dead standing trees and fallen timber present, particularly in our riparian woodland by the river. Where trees have fallen onto fence lines or access infrastructure, we have cleared a minimum amount of the fallen timber.
## _**Action - Carry out an annual visual health and safety check on all trees near paths following the National Tree Safety Group/Forestry Commission Research Guide - 'Common sense risk management of trees' to ensure tree safety, and to manage trees to a proportionate level to the low risk presented by wind-blown trees and branches to visitors to the site.**_
We carried out annual visual health and safety checks.
## _**Action - Check paths after storm conditions and temporarily close paths where windblown trees present a medium to high risk to visitors.**_
We proactively checked trees in areas next to public and permissive paths following periods of extreme weather.
_**Action - Extend scattered trees and shrubs in water meadows fringing the river. This "mantle and saum" type habitat is especially rich for wildlife and will also enhance the landscape value of the site by partially screening the houses in Laverstock and fringe the river to the East.**_
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We have lightly grazed this habitat to encourage a scrub grassland mosaic to develop. Under the terms of our Countryside Stewardship agreement prescription for these areas we are committed to ensuring that the bulk of the area is flower rich grassland with the following structure: "Manage the area of grassland to the eastern end of the fields adjacent to the river (15% of field area) by late summer grazing (after the 30 June only, to achieve a mosaic of toiler grazed grassland with areas of shorter grass mostly between 5-15cm and taller tussocks which may be over 60 cm" in this context the scattered shrubs that colonise are seen as positive features providing they are maintained at a low level (less than c 5 N of total area).
## _**Action - Manage large willows in ditches and riverside through pollarding (as per Higher Tier Agreement to increase light to ditches. Increased light to the temporary pools formed in the ditches will correspond with increased freshwater life. Pollarded trees have high cultural value and will enhance the landscape value of the site.**_
We have pollarded a number of willows on ditch lines and by the river.
## **River**
_**Action - Create buffer strips between grazing meadows and river to reduce disturbance from dogs.**_
The buffer areas we have established are supporting increasing numbers of bird and insect life. Numbers of breeding warblers have risen from one to four pairs, increased numbers and diversity of butterflies and other insect species recorded in the course of newly established butterfly transects through these habitats. Grass snakes and otters recorded on a number of occasions.
## _**Action – Liaise with other local river owners and environmental organisations to promote positive care for the river and reduce negative impacts e.g. dumping of grass clippings in the river.**_
We completed our "Chalk Stream Challenge" project with the Wessex Rivers Trust, which involves establishing a trail for use by community youth groups and school groups to learn about the Chalkstream river and the water meadows. This is proving popular with organised community groups and families exploring the water-meadows.
_**Action - Leave fallen trees in the river - It is a statutory offence and a potentially damaging operation to remove trees from the river. The Environment Agency will assess fallen trees for potential flood risk and remove them sensitively if required. However, in the majority of cases on our stretch of the river fallen trees will help slow the river flow and reduce the risk of flooding as well as providing essential habitat for fish, water birds and other river life.**_
We have managed the section of river by our newly restored river dipping platform to ensure that the platform is not undermined by backed up water from fallen trees while still retaining the important river habitat provided fallen trees in the river.
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## **Meadows**
## _**Action - Restore wildflower rich meadows and/or wildflower rich grazed wet grassland.**_
We have carried out further Countryside Stewardship Capital Works to restore our meadow and pasture grasslands to a wildflower rich condition. The positive indicator wildflower species as set out in the Countryside Stewardship Grant prescriptions for this action continue to increase in abundance and diversity in all fields. We have focussed additional management on Bridge Field the least wildflower rich meadow and have seen increased positive indicator species across this field as a result.
## **Hedgerows**
## _**Action - Maintain existing hedges and scrub.**_
We have carried out scrub and hedge maintenance by coppicing and trimming over a greater extent of these habitats than previous years. This work will improve the aesthetic value of our land for visitors and provide a boost for wildlife.
## _**Action - Lay short stretches of hedgerow along permissive paths.**_
We commenced laying of short stretches of hedgerow along Cow Lane helped by skilled local hedge layers. We have received numerous positive feedback from visitors to the water meadows for this work.
## _**Action - Plant up hedgerows and shelterbelts with native shrubs and trees where**_
## _**necessary.**_
We were successful in an application to Woodland Trust and also received a Charitable donation from CPRE South Wiltshire branch for hedgerow trees. We purchased native trees including a large consignment of Alder, which is currently poorly represented on the water meadows. We completed planting a hedge with this planting material (1300 hedgerow trees planted in total) adjacent to the northern boundary of the Water meadows next to a heavily used public path between Laverstock and Bishopdown.
## _**Action - Leave at least a 2m uncut margin alongside hedgerows when haymaking. Either cut hedge margin in August or bi-annually on rotation.**_
Hay making was limited to Top Field this year due the very wet ground conditions in late summer. We ensured uncut areas were left in Top Field.
## _**Action - Manage areas of blackthorn on rotation for brown hairstreak. Trim hedges only once every 3 to 5 years and do not cut all the hedges in any one area in the same year - on going.**_
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We continued this rotational management of blackthorn in Top Field utilising the power tools and hand tools purchased from Countryside Stewardship Area Payment funds as previously reported in "Hedgerows" section.
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## **Charitable Objective 2:**
To advance the education of the community in Laverstock and the surrounding areas, in agriculture, horticulture and environmentally based education projects concerning the preservation, conservation and management of the Water Meadows. **Management Plan Aim:**
To improve the knowledge of the importance and biodiversity value of downland water meadows to the local community through interpretation and public engagement.
## _**Action - Install welcome/information signs at major entry points to the site.**_
We maintained welcome/information signs installed in previous planning years.
## _**Action - Seek funding for sensitive low key on-site interpretation highlighting habitats and wildlife supported by the meadows.**_
We utilised a grant from Wessex Water Community Fund to install the interpretation panel previously reported in the "River Section" of this report.
## _**Action - Put on a programme of events with other local environmental organisations to engage and inform the local community.**_
We hosted educational access visits for school groups and community groups run by River Bourne Community Farm. We also hosted local WATCH activities. Our weekly Saturday morning volunteer work parties included educational activities for our volunteers, particularly volunteers completing their Duke of Edinburgh Award volunteering with us.
## _**Action - Produce educational packs designed for different age groups for use by schools and youth groups.**_
The Chalkstream Challenge project reported under "Rivers" section of this report is an important contributor to this aim once completed.
## _**Action - Liaise with neighbouring properties over our management of meadows and the river and encourage adoption of positive management practices that enhance the river.**_
We liaised with Laverstock and Ford Parish Council over the potential for a partnership project to increase the biodiversity value of the river and reduce the impact from dogs exercising in and around the river by installing “dog beaches” at selected locations. Planned for 2024-2025. We carried out partnership activities with the following organisations in
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pursuit of this objective: Salisbury District Natural History Society, Alderbury Scout Group, Laverstock Scout Group, Salisbury Wildlife WATCH group, St Joseph’s School.
## **Charitable Objective 3:**
To provide or assist in the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation for the benefit of the public in the interest of their social welfare. **Management Plan Aim:**
To promote and sensitively manage public usage of the site.
## _**Action – Put in grant applications to fund improved access and interpretation infrastructure, potential including a cycle path constructed from board walk and unbound aggregate surfaces.**_
No further progress with this action for this reporting year.
## _**Action - Enhance infrastructure and management procedures for educational activities delivered by others including River Bourne Community Farm, Woodstock Therapeutic Centre, UBA Nature at the Farm and Two Bird Experiences**_
We completed our restoration of dipping platform/viewing area and have installed improved access to Willow Copse for these and other groups to utilise.
## **Charitable Objective 4:**
To advance, promote or carry out such other Charitable Purposes as the charity trustees in their absolute discretion from time to time think fit.
## **Management Plan Aims:**
To ensure the local water meadows or associated land is managed as according to the area's status of SAC, SSSI and/or Protected Habitat.
## _**Action - Seek to acquire or manage additional water meadows and other high environmental value land within the local area.**_
We successfully purchased an additional parcel of land downstream from our existing holding. This includes a substantial single bank section of the River Bourne chalk stream. The other bank of the river is owned and managed by Laverstock and Ford Parish Council therefore affording excellent partnership opportunities in the coming years.
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## **Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities:**
Charity Law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial period which gives a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of the excess of income over expenditure for that period.
The Trustees confirm that the accounts comply with the above requirements. 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 the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
During the period the income of the Charity was below £250,000, therefore in line with the Charity Legislation the Trustees have elected to prepare their accounts on the Receipts and Payments basis.
|**2022-2023 Account for Devenish Bradshaw Charitable Trust**|**2022-2023 Account for Devenish Bradshaw Charitable Trust**|**2022-2023 Account for Devenish Bradshaw Charitable Trust**|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Registered Charity England and Wales No. 1177823**|||||||
||||||||
|**From 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2023**|||||||
||||||||
|**Income**||**Unrestriced**|**Restricted**||**2021-2022**
31,939.74
£
-
£
-
£
1.44
£|**2020-2021**
10,500.00
£
4,500.00
£
-
£
0.20
£|
|Grants|-
£|-
£|14,468.75
£||||
|Rental Income on land|-
£|-
£|-
£||||
|Refund income|-
£|1,612.63
£|-
£||||
|Bank Interest|-
£|2.92
£|-
£||||
|**Total**|**16,084.30**
**£**|**1,615.55**
**£**|**14,468.75**
**£**||31,941.18
£|15,000.20
£|
||||||2,025.00
£
254.44
£
112.00
£
47.29
£
34,325.68
£|4,050.00
£
274.40
£
57.70
£
1,000.00
£
-
£|
||||||||
|**Expenditure**|||||||
|Donation to River Bourne Farm|-
£|-
£|-
£||||
|Insurance|-
£|497.60
£|-
£||||
|Bank Charges + loyaltyrefund|-
£|153.67
£|-
£||||
|SundryExpenses|-
£|15.50
£|-
£||||
|Project/Grant Expenses|-
£|17,744.53
£|-
£||||
|**Total**|**18,411.30**
**£**|**18,411.30**
**£**|**-**
**£**||36,764.52
£|5,382.10
£|
||||||||
||||||||
|**Brought forward balance**|**6,393.66**
**£**|Bank balance on 1st April 2022|||11,217.00
£|1,598.90
£|
|Receipts|16,084.30
£||||31,941.18
£
36,764.52
£|15,000.20
£
5,382.10
£|
|Expenses|18,411.30
£||||||
|**Funds at end ofyear**|**4,066.66**
**£**|Bank balance on 31st March 2023|||6,393.66
£|11,217.00
£|
||||||||
||||||||
|Completed bySamantha Gill,Trustee and Treasurer Jan 2024|||||||
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These financial #atements were approved by the committee on:..
and signed on tts behalf by-.
Davld Burton, Acting Chair
Samantha Gill, Treasurer
Notes to the Flnanclal Statements for the perlod ended 31 March 2023:
Payments to Trustees:
No renumeration directly or indirectty out of the funds of the Charlty was paid OT payable for
the finoncial period to any Trustee. There was no reimbursement of travel expenses in
respect of the financial period.
Taxation:
The Devenish Bradshaw Charitable Trust 15 a registered charity. All the Charities, income is
applied to its charitable objectives and the association is therefore exempt under turrent
legislation from most fomis of tsxation. The charity is not VAT registered and all expenditure
includes irrecoverable VAT.