LIONS HOUSE ALLOTMENTS ASSOCIATION CIO
TRUSTEE REPORT 1/11/2020 to 31/10/2021
Another successful year with a plentiful supply of fruit and vegetables and the long dry spells have enabled everyone to enjoy their plots.
The new committee have been very busy tackling their new roles with enthusiasm and their efforts and support have ensured that we continue to succeed as an organisation and continue to maintain the site and its uniqueness into the future.
We retained our gold award in the Northumbrian in Bloom competition. The award is recognition of the efforts that we all make to keep our site diverse and productive as well as being encouraging various eco systems to thrive.
As part of our drive to live our Charitable Objective we have asked for volunteers to help new plot holders, to clean up plots so that anyone can start afresh regardless of ability. We have also started to offer mentoring for newbies.
Another highlight in the year has been the allotment vegetable and flower competitions. An initiative to provide a sharing point for tenants to recycle surplus seeds, seedlings and excess produce has proved successful and popular and allowed participation in the Berwick Slow Food Festival in September and charity fundraising event coinciding with Harvest Festival for the charity, Water Aid, at a bring and buy sale at the Parish Church in October.
Angela Elliott our secretary has had to step down this year and she has been replaced by Lesley Angell and we took ownership of our waiting list and use our website to manage the list.
The Lions House site has seen a high level of activity from early spring onwards. Repairs have been made to the cement rendering at the steps to the Ravensdowne gate to repair frost damage. At the Walls gate a new timber frame has been installed and the reveals repointed. Both the frame and the gate were repainted with wood stain preservative and a new spring closure installed to ensure the gate is self-closing.
A survey has recently been undertaken of the perimeter stone walls leading to the identification of several areas that require repointing. Quotations for this work are in hand with a view to a first phase being tackled next Spring within the limitations of the maintenance budget.
With a very few exceptions, plot holders have actively maintained the common areas keeping paths and overhanging vegetation cut back. This has continued to allow the site to present well and to provide a focal point of interest for townsfolk and visitors to Berwick whilst walking on the adjacent historic Elizabethan walls.
The website has received over 500 visits in the past year and continues to be the primary source of new applicants to our waiting list.
The back-office functionalities of the website facilitate the sending of regular emails to members with 14 updates sent out in the past year.
Financial Statement
Accounts up to 31 Oct 2021
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Income
Allotment Rents 1275.00
Maintenance Contingency Fund 1040.00
Slow Food Stall 280.10
Total Income 2595.10
Expenditure
Site Maintenance & Repairs 1111.28
Loan Repayment 400.00
Insurance 251.97
Water Costs 199.29
NAS Subscription 66.00
Slow Food Stall Expenses 56.21
Website Costs 43.20
Total Expenditure (2127.95)
Net Income Over Expenditure 467.15
Opening Bank Balance on 01 3265.91
November 2020
Add: Net Income
467.15
Bank Balance on 31 October 2021 3733.06
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