2025-06-14-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 15th June 2024 To 14th June 2025

Charity name: Scole Nature Trails Trust

Charity registration number: 1178798

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	The maintenance and improvement of a public park, nature walks, permissive paths and associated support infrastructure for the benefit of the inhabitants of South Norfolk and North Suffolk and of visitors thereto, with the objects of improving the conditions of life for such persons and: To advance the education of the public in the appreciation and care of the environment.
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	Continued maintenance and enhancement of four areas owned by the Parish Council known as Lot 1 (Pocket Park), Lot 2 (Outdoor Classroom), Lot 3 and Lot 4 (permissive paths). Achieved by grass cutting, tree felling and pruning, and further planting of wild flower meadow land. Coordinated volunteers to continue maintenance of St Andrews Church cemetery by means of grass cutting and brush clearance to provide better access to graves, improvement of access paths to the church and improved biodiversity to support restoration of wild flowers. Continued improvement of tourism in and around Scole by promotion of the open spaces and improved pathways, weekly litterpicking as well as making use of

		technology by using mobile phone Apps such as Facebook, etc. Liaising with other groups; District and County Councils, Scole W.I., Woodland Trust, River Waveney Trust, Waveney Heritage Centre, and the Environment Agency to maintain and enhance the ecology of the Waveney river and valley. Continued river fly surveying to help maintain and monitor the biodiversity of the river and surrounding countryside through this countrywide initiative. Continuation of Oxygen Level Surveying of the stretch of the River Waveney within the area of the Pocket Park, recordings being submitted to the EA to help monitor oxygen levels and possible pollution incidents. Presentations to local groups in the area around Scole highlighting the activities of the SNTT, the facilities available to enjoy in and around Scole, and its pocket park.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	The trustees have followed the guidance issued by the Charity Commission relating to public benefit by building their objectives to achieve this.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

	SORP reference
Policy on grant making	Para 1.38	N/A
Policy on social investment including program related investment	Para 1.38	N/A
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	As always we would like to say a big thank you to the volunteers for their time and help to maintain and improve the facilities in and around the village. Infection prevention guidelines are

monitored and follow the current government recommendations to minimise any risk of infection. The work of the volunteers has achieved a great deal, and has gone a long way towards supporting the health and mental well-being of the villagers and visitors alike. 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	1. Outdoor Classroom (Lot 2) The area continues to be used by the school children, with improvements to safety around the site being applied where necessary. We feel that maintaining and providing this facility will continue to help the children to appreciate the spaces around them and therefore be less prone to vandalism of such areas in future life. Improvements have been made in the area to a drainage channel to alleviate flooding and improve flow. This also benefits others areas of the village by allowing water to drain away more freely resulting in a reduced flood risk. Volunteers have continued to keep the area maintained to ensure availability when needed. 2. River Fly Surveys and Oxygen Level Surveys We continue to undertake surveys on a monthly basis, where conditions permit, of river fly populations in our stretch of the River Waveney. The results are submitted to a countrywide database and used to monitor river health throughout the country in conjunction with the Environment Agency. In addition to the River Fly Surveys our continued Oxygen Level Surveys are

ongoing in collaboration with the EA. We carry out a reading once a week at three points along our stretch of the River Waveney. This has been invaluable in helping to identify pollution incidents on the river since the monitoring has been in place. Both surveys continue to make sure that any river pollution is caught at an early stage and dealt with immediately in order to maintain a healthy biodiversity within the river and surrounding areas. Indirectly the health of the river and its countryside provides a wonderful place for people to walk and view the flora and fauna that surrounds them. 3. Public Areas and Nature Pathways Another continuous task of coordination of volunteers for clearing and maintaining the public areas and pathways around and through the village, providing circular and cross routes throughout the area. This is achieved by means of; weekly litter picking, grass cutting, hedge management, pathways maintenance, etc. Again a fair amount of tree clearance was carried out throughout the year due to storm damage, tree ages and ongoing safety maintenance. The result of this is promoting a healthy lifestyle by means of unhindered walking, and providing a clean and safe place to come and relax and enjoy the countryside. 4. Car Park Monitoring (Pocket Park CCTV, Norfolk Car Park) Security in this area has been improved by installation of a CCTV camera by the SNTT and funded by the Parish Council. This is to provide monitoring of the site and make users of the park feel safer during their visits. Monitoring of this is carried out by specific Trustees of the SNTT on behalf of the Parish Council.

5. Conservation Areas, Trees and Wildflower Management. The SNTT help manage volunteers to look after a number of conservation areas around the village and in the Pocket Park. This has involved cutting the conservation areas followed by reseeding with wild flowers and, where appropriate, planting new trees to replace older trees that had reached end of life, or as a result of flood damage. This will provide future growth of new flora and fauna for visitors to see over the coming years as the areas grow and flourish. This continues our ethos of providing an area for visitors to view, walk through, and enjoy, improving overall health and mental well-being.

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Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41	N/A
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41	Main Fundraising The trustees apply for funds via grants from a number of external companies that support ecology and local community improvement projects. This year we secured funding from; Scole Parish Council.
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41	N/A
Other

Financial Review

Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	The charity, at the time of this return, is in a healthy financial position with adequate funds in place to continue the work of the SNTT for the next year.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	The reserve amount is held in a separate bank account for the purpose of emergency funding that may be required from time to time. Should a project arise that is deemed of an urgent nature, then a meeting of the trustees will be convened to agree the project and authorise the use of the reserve funds. The reserve funds account will be refreshed to the normal holding amount as soon as time and funding permits. At this time the reserves held are at the agreed limit (£1,500).
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£1,500.00
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	N/A
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	N/A
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	N/A

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47	Scole Parish Council.
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46	N/A
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46	N/A

Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:		The maintenance and improvement of a public park, nature walks, permissive paths and associated support infrastructure for the benefit of the inhabitants of South Norfolk and North Suffolk and of visitors thereto, with the objects of improving the conditions of life for such persons and: To advance the education of the public in the appreciation and care of the environment.
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Constitution
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	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	Trustees can only be elected by the existing active trustees. The number of trustees are limited to 9 with a minimum of 5. Current trustee count is 6.

Additional information (optional)

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Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees	Para 1.51	Trustees will be provided with a link to online resources relating to Charity governance and also to the SNTT set of documents, both historical and current.
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51	The charity consists of - Chair Treasurer Elected Trustees
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51	None

Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Scole Nature Trails Trust
Other name the charity uses	SNTT
Registered charity number	1178798
Charity’s principal address	30 Clements Close Scole, Diss Norfolk. IP21 4EG

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name 1 Christopher Brooks 2 Graham Fisher 3 June Brooks 4 Audrey Fisher 5 Pete Charles 6 Peter Jones (resigned 31/03/2025) 7 Leigh Trevail 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name N/A

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name	Dates acted if not for whole year
N/A

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets held in this capacity N/A Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the N/A assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and N/A segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

nformation(optional)	nformation(optional)	nformation(optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
	Type of adviser	Name
	N/A
	Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

N/A

Other optional information

N/A

Declarations The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees. report above. Slgned on behaff of the charity's trustses Slgnature(s) Full name(s) SHRI rtyKc4 , 0. 7£80 Position (eg Secretary, Chalr, etc) Dat 12 2X

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