Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 6[th] April 2024 Period start date To 5[th] April 2025 Period end date
Charity name: Clipsham Yew Tree Avenue Trust
Charity registration number: 1178614
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | In summary, the objects of the charity are: For the public benefit 1) To promote the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of the Clipsham Yew Tree Avenue amenity and related areas 2) To advance the education of the public in the natural history of the flora and fauna of the Clipsham Yew Tree Avenue amenity 3) To assist with the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and leisure time occupation in order to improve conditions of life for those living, visiting or working in the area of benefit. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
During the year the main activities carried out, having regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission, on public benefit, are as follows: 1. Professional trimming of 81 mature yew trees during September and October 2024 to restore the shape and texture of the trees 2. Early season grass cutting of the rides and end of season (August) cutting, baling and removal from site of hay to encourage wild flower meadow creation of the main ride. 3. Cutting of hedges and removal of arisings 4. Strimming and clearing of ditches and water courses and removal of **arisings. ** |
Statement confirming Para 1.18 whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | Our team of volunteers has carried out a range of duties including periodic visitor surveys and litter picking. Arrangements have continued with Rutland County Council to provide a litter bin and a regular collection. |
| Other |
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | When we completed our negotiations with Forestry England in June 2018 and our agreement to care for the site was first established, the yew trees had not been cut for 4 years. The professional clipping in September 2019 achieved a remarkable degree of restoration. This work has continued with an annual professional clip of all trees each year (September 2020, October 2021, October 2022, October 2023 and October 2024), further improving their health and appearance every year. Similarly, annual maintenance of the grassland in accordance with professional ecology and biodiversity advice, has improved the nature of the site as a visitor attraction. |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | Each year we agree with Forestry England a Management Plan for the Yew Tree Avenue for the year ahead, and at the end of the year, we report on the achievement of that Plan. |
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | Since 2019 our fund-raising efforts can be considered entirely successful, based upon our success in gaining specific grant funding for defined projects and supported by very generous donations from a few local individuals. In December 2024 the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) awarded CYTAT a grant of one hundred and fifteen thousand pounds to be applied over a 5 year period for the maintenance and conservation of the Avenue. The first half of this grant was paid in January 2025. The NLHF have appointed a mentor to advise and assist us to achieve further long term funding, to follow on from our 5 year term. Our grant has also provided funds for the appointment of an experienced “External Evaluator”. Following our recruitment process this appointment was successfully confirmed inJune 2025. |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | Not applicable |
| Other | Not applicable |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | Our Charitiy’s cash reserves at the 5th April 2025 were £63,402 This should allow us to continue with our full maintenance and conservation programme for the next **two and a halfyears. ** |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Our financial policy is to ring-fence sufficient funds as soon as they are available for the main clipping project which is estimated to cost £13k to £15k each September. Maintaining the grassland, ditches and hedges is also an essential requirement and is estimated to cost a further £2,000 per annum at present day prices. Any other desired improvements for the public experience need to be successfully funded by new grant applications before any commitments are made. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | Not applicable |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | Not applicable |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | Not applicable |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: The charity’s principal sources of funds (including Para 1.47 any fundraising) Investment policy and objectives including any Para 1.46 social investment policy adopted See paragraph 1.41 above. A description of the principal Para 1.46 risks facing the charity Not applicable Other
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | CYTAT is established as a Foundation CIO |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Foundation CIO |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | The three founding trustees remain in post. We are now entering discussions to admit one additional Trustee – a volunteer who we have worked with for several years – who will add additional resources and social media communication skills to our Trustee Board. This appointment has been confirmed at our AGM on 24th July 2025 and we extend a warm welcome to Mrs **Helen Sismore, our new Trustee. ** |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Clipsham Yew Tree Avenue Trust |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | Not applicable |
| Registered charity number | 1178614 |
| Charity’s principal address For Contact |
Mr Clifford Bacon The Old Schoolhouse, CLIPSHAM Oakham Rutland LE15 7SE |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee(if any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr Patrick Candler | Chairman | |||
| Mrs Sue Thomas | Publicity and Website |
|||
| Mr Cliff Bacon | Secretary and Treasurer |
|||
| Mrs Helen Sismore | Trustee | From 24thJuly2025 | ||
Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved Director name Not Applicable
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
| Trustee name | **Dates acted if not for whole year ** | |
|---|---|---|
| Not applicable | ||
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets Not applicable held in this capacity
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects
Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of Name Address adviser
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Not applicable
Other optional information
Not applicable.
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
| Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date |
C J Bacon | Sue Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Clifford James Bacon | Susan Mary Thomas | |
Secretary and Treasurer |
Trustee | |
| 31stJuly 2025 | ||
| 31stJuly 2025 |
Clipsham Yew Tree Avenue Trust 1178614 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period 6th April 2024 5th April 2025 To from
Section A Receipts and payments
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 969 904 - - - - 1,873 - - - 1,873 - 603 58 647 67 - - 1,375 - - - 1,375 498 - 9,683 11,949 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ 2,715 3,600 57,325 2,201 - - - - 65,841 - - - 65,841 7,626 1,730 - - - - - 9,356 - - - 9,356 56,485 - 2,348 51,454 |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ |
Total funds to the nearest £ 3,684 3,600 57,325 3,105 - - - - 67,714 - - - 67,714 7,626 - 1,730 603 58 647 67 - - 10,731 - - - 10,731 56,983 |
Total funds to the nearest £ 3,684 3,600 57,325 3,105 - - - - 67,714 - - - 67,714 7,626 - 1,730 603 58 647 67 - - 10,731 - - - 10,731 56,983 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donations | 969 | - - - - - - - - - |
3,684 | 5,991 | ||
| Charitable Donations | 3,600 | 3,400 | ||||
| Grant from NLHF | 57,325 | 514 | ||||
| Other Income | 904 | 3,105 | - | |||
| - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
1,873 | 67,714 | 9,905 | |||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
||||||
| - | - - - |
- | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| Sub total | - | - | - | |||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
||||||
| - | 67,714 | 9,905 | ||||
| Yew Tree Clipping | - - - - - - - - - - |
7,626 | 12,708 | |||
| Site works | - | - | ||||
| Grass & hedge maintenance | - | 1,730 | 1,661 | |||
| Insurance | 603 | 603 | 561 | |||
| Website maintemance | 58 | 58 | 119 | |||
| Printingand stationery | 647 | 647 | 398 | |||
| Sundry | 67 | 67 | 69 | |||
| - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| **Sub total ** | 1,375 | 10,731 | 15,516 | |||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
||||||
| - | - - - |
- | ||||
| - | - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | - | |||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
||||||
| - | 10,731 | 15,516 | ||||
| 498 | 56,485 | - | 56,983 |
- 5,611 | ||
| - | - | - - |
- | - | ||
| 9,683 | 2,348 | 12,031 | 12,031 | |||
| 11,949 | 51,454 | - | 63,402 | 6,419 |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
16/08/2025
1
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B1 Cash funds |
Details Not applicable Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Not applicable BANK ACCOUNT Details Details Not applicable Details Not applicable Sue Thomas Signature C J Bacon |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 11,949 51,454 - - - - 11,949 51,454 OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name Clifford James Bacon Susan Mary Thomas |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| zero | |||
| #VALUE! | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
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| Date of approval |
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| C J Bacon | Clifford James Bacon | 30/06/2025 | |
| Sue Thomas | Susan Mary Thomas | 30/06/2025 |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
16/08/2025
2
Clipsham Yew Tree Avenue Trust (CYTAT)
Audit Report for the Year Ended 5[th] April 2025
I have reviewed the Receipts and Payments Account for Clipsham Yew tree Avenue Trust for the year ended 5[th] April 2025. The accounts agree with the underlying records and explanations provided to me and therefore in my opinion provided an accurate summary of CYTAT’s financial position for the year ended 5[th] April 2025.
R J Goss BA ACA Chartered Accountant