2022-04-05-accounts - Friends Of Bailey Hill / Ffrindiau Bryn Y Beili

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ANNUAL REPORT REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1179312 FY 2021-yJ22 ry B°A'I'LEY HILL I B'R'YN Y BEILI

The Board of Trustees 3 The Friends 4 Chair’s Introduction 5 Overall Progress 7 Good Governance, Organisation & Delivery 9 Sustainable Funding & Finance 12 Volunteering 13 Practical Action in the Park 14 Structured Education / Training 20 Engagement & Influencing 21 Grant-Aiders FY 2021-22 to be Thanked 22 Summary of Accounts FY 2021-22 23 Current Trustees – Biographic Notes 26

Rose ‘Lady Hillingdon’ – an old tea rose added to the Friends Bed (Bed18), facing the Inner Bailey.

[Front cover image: The Friends and other volunteers at the Park, celebrating the award of a Keep Wales Tidy ‘Green Flag’ to the Park, during October 2021.]

Our Current Board of Trustees

12 (maximum) Trustees are allowed under our current Constitution. There were 9 Trustees at the end of Financial Year (FY) 2021-22:

Eira Hughes – Trustee (from 6 February 2018) – Chair
Richard Trefor Jones – Trustee (from 6 February 2018) – Communities Secretary, and Quartermaster
Mike Antony Bunting – Trustee (from 6 February 2018) – General Secretary
Hilary Preece - Trustee (from 22 March 2019) – Vice-Chair, and Director of Finance
Nia Hughes - Trustee (ffrom 22 March 2019) – Minutes Secretary
Helen Hayes – Trustee (from 20 September 2020) – Data Lead
Paul James Tatterson – Trustee (from 20 September 2020) – Website Manager
John Atkinson – Trustee (from September 2021) – Wildlife Recorder
Mary Considine - Trustee (from September 2021).

The current Trustees produced this Report. Their short biographies appear at the end of this Report.

Meetings: we met regularly during the FY 2021-22, usually monthly on a weekday evening, formally or informally, as needed: by using the Zoom app, because of the pandemic.

Changes in the Board of Trustees during FY 2021-22

Two people joined the Board of Trustees, during the year – Mary and John. None resigned.

We thank, once again, all those Former Trustees who supported us in any way during the FY 2021-22.

Recruiting New Trustees

Under our Constitution: Trustees must be signed-up Friends/Members with voting rights. Before an AGM, we firstly ascertain which of the current Trustees wish to continue. Trustees are appointed or re-appointed, annually, at an Annual General Meeting (AGM), and the Board has to have between 3 and 12 Trustees. Roles for trustees are decided after discussion by the AGM-appointed Board of Trustees (soon after the AGM). We periodically invite Friends – via email – to self-nominate themselves as potential Trustees, during the year, for the AGM to consider. We can also recruit/co-opt a couple of extra new Trustees between AGMs.

Independent Auditor

Our auditor for FY 2021-22 was Phillip Hughes ACA. We thank him for his clear guidance.

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‘FRIENDS OF BAILEY HILL – FFRINDIAU BRYN Y BEILI’ (FoBH-FfByB)

The Charity

FoBH-FfByB is an independent body, formed on 6 February 2018. It became a registered charity (No. 1179312), on 24 July 2018. It is a charitable incorporated organisation (a ‘CIO’) set up as an ‘association’, whereby the wider membership, and not just the founding trustees, have voting rights.

Our CHARITABLE OBJECTS

“To promote for the inhabitants of Mold, Flintshire and the surrounding area the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation at Bailey Hill for the public at large - in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving the condition of life of residents and visitors.
To promote for the public benefit the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment at Bailey Hill - by promoting biological diversity and to respect the history of the site, its special landscape features and status as a Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM).
To advance the education of the public - by promoting opportunities within Bailey Hill for learning about the heritage of the public park and the natural environment through structured training and educational programmes.”

Official Addresses

Post: FoBH/FfByB (General Secretary), ‘Rivendell’, Denbigh Road, Mold, CH7 1BL

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Friends-of-Bailey-Hill-1442020782754561/

Email: fobhmold@btinternet.com

Tel:

Our Financial Year

Our FY currently runs from April 6th – to April 5th.

Relevant Roles

Bank: Barclays Bank, High Street, Mold.

Solicitors: Llewellyn-Jones, Mold.

Independent Examiner of Accounts: Phillip Hughes ACA (from February 2021).

Eira Hughes – Chair/Cadeirydd

THE FY 2021-22 REPORT

It is an honour to present our fourth Annual Report.

In Wales, the last Covid-19 pandemic restrictions were only fully lifted at the end of March 2022 (at the very end of FY 2021-22). Yet somehow, we had managed to pack in a great many outdoor sessions in the Park (with careful risk assessment). We focussed on getting on with doing all we could, as a small local charity, to ensure the Park retained its initial Green Flag status.

We also made a large step forward in our delivery of structured education. We prepared, and started to deliver, a Training Programme - commissioned last summer by the Bailey Hill Project, with the benefit of Cadwyn Clwyd grant-aid - to provide training for new 'Bailey Hill Project Gardening and Wildlife Volunteers'. It consisted of 5 lectures/workshops, and 4 practical training sessions in the Park. Those new volunteers also signed up as Friends, and now assist ‘the regulars’ volunteering in the Park.

During FY 2021-22, we continued to spend many hours just tidying the Park. We nurtured the Heritage Daffodils Display, which performed well during this Spring. We boosted our Bluebells Swathes. Another 1000 native snowdrops were added to our Snowdrop Patches in the Park. Our Outdoor Pot Display were well maintained, weekly. We doubled the display to included an extra Spring ‘set of 4’ containing layers of snowdrops, daffodils and tulips, to add extra colour on the Decking during the formal launch of the new Bailey Hill Visitor Centre. Within the latter, our Indoor Plant Display added warmth and interest.

As the formal landscape maintenance contract for the new Beds, constructed during the 2020 revamp of the Park, came to an end in mid-April 2022. Friends met with Flintshire County Council (FCC) Streetscene staff and Mold Town Council (MTC) to agree what needs doing next, and by whom, in the Beds. Friends will be keeping a close eye on the Friends' Bed, the Hydrangeas Bed, the Info Point Bed and other areas we ourselves planted or have enhanced over and above the landscape contractors’ work. Our licensed access to the Park is limited to certain days only, usually on Saturday mornings. We produce a Workplan for each substantial session (shared with FCC in advance). ‘On the day’ we do as much as the number of volunteers available and the weather will allow, and record it.

Parks evolve over time, and you may have noticed that FCC has recently had to remove or reduce several storm-damaged, dead or dying trees in the Park. That is set to continue as there are many diseased trees there now. It is sad to lose large mature ash and elm trees especially, but it will provide elbow-room for natural regeneration and for Friends to add a few new young trees of other species and types as agreed with FCC. We will be doing that from the early autumn onwards. That will vary the age-structure of the woodlands, adding more spring blossom and autumn colour in key spots, and more biodiversity overall.

The Friends attracted several small grants for plants / tools, etc. during FY 2021-22. The challenge now is to raise more funds to help cover the charity's general running costs. Older people especially are still wary of attending fundraising events indoors. If you can afford it, a small donation to FoBH-FfByB (by cheque, or cash, or coins in our red charity pots) would be a great help, and much appreciated.

We understand it will be a few months yet before FCC's planned new children's play is built and the finalised interpretative panels are delivered to the Park. Those additions will be a major boost to the attractiveness of the Park! They will also influence ongoing discussions on how best to use the new Bailey Hill Visitor Centre, always intended to be a vibrant hub for the Park's visitors. The generous Heritage Lottery Funding package to 'Reveal Mold Castle' ends at March 2023. So the Tripartite Partnership are now exploring potential next steps to sustain progress in the Park, and the Visitor Centre, thereafter.

There are now 115 members of the charity. Thank you all for your continuing support for and interest in the work of the Friends.

Eira Hughes DipLA, MCD, MRTPI (ret’d), CMLI (ret’d) July 2022

March 2022 – after our session in the Park – a Small Team Session (STS 20) - the Friends’ regular volunteers and the new Bailey Hill Project ‘Gardening and Wildlife Volunteers’ being trained up by FoBHFfByB, enjoyed a cup of tea and cake at the new Bailey Hill Visitor Centre. MTC currently leases the improved building from FCC, in order to front and support a range of activities in the Park aimed at creating a vibrant place for visitors to the Park - as promised to the main funder, the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Creating a High-Quality Park at Bailey Hill

Creating a high quality park is – always – what it is all about for the Friends of Bailey Hill.

The Significant Contribution of the Friends

Very significant hours of effort were invested again by Friends in the effort to improve the Park during FY 2021-2022 (our fourth financial year). Much progress was made by the charity on practical improvements and enhancements to the Park (over and above the usual care given to the Park). We continued to work strongly, tripartitely – with FCC and MTC – to deliver the Bailey Hill Project.

Contributing to the Tripartite Partnership’s Work – now a £1.5M

HLF Plus Project, called ‘Revealing Bailey Hill / Mold Castle’

During FY 2021-2022, the Partnership work was focussed on ensuring final touches to achieve practical completion of the Main Construction Contract for revamping the Park (including doing the planting work in Beds on the Inner Bailey) and helping to create a welcoming modern Bailey Hill Visitor Centre - intended to be a vibrant hub for visitors to the Park - within it, as planned.

Match-Funding Contributions

The many hours the Friends put into managing the Friends as a charity and planning, risk assessing and doing practical work at our various Odd-Job Days / STSs, etc. in the Park, plus any other administrative tripartite partnership work done, are recorded. Their notional monetary value then counts as part of the essential local match-funding element which is required for the Bailey Hill Project.

What did we achieve?

In FY 2021-2022, our Trustees contributed to tripartite partnership work (with FCC and MTC) as follows:

we attended 18 meetings (mostly on-line) with FCC and MTC - to manage, and promote the c.£1.5M project (in meetings of the Bailey Hill Steering Group mainly)
we commented, from the Friends’ perspective, on any technical and administrative documents needed to progress matters
after taking a lot of independent legal advice and expert guidance – Friends reached an understanding with FCC that we should opt for a ‘soft management agreement’ (consisting of a second, updated Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), plus an up-to-date ‘Management and Maintenance Plan’ (MMP) for 2021-2031; and, 12-month licences granted by FCC Estates – in preference to the formal Tripartite Management Agreement first mooted
during the year, we agreed the detail of the 2nd (updated) Tripartite MoU
Friends secured a further licence from FCC Estates, and the required permissions from FCC Streetscene, for various small interventions in the Park, consistent with the agreed MMP which

includes the agreed recipes for improving each of the Park’s ‘Landscape Character Areas’ (LCA 1-7). NEXT: during 2022-23, we will: - identify scope to do more practical work on the site to enhance the Park over the longer term - complete the training of a tranche of Bailey Hill Project Gardening and Wildlife Volunteers, and stand ready to train another tranche, if necessary. and continue to work with our partners FCC and MTC to: - sign off the second, updated, MoU - complete the physical upgrade envisaged via the HLF Plus Project (now ending March 2023) - consider the scope for several follow-on projects to make the most of the Park and its features - support the Covid-delayed roll-out of the Bailey Hill Project Officer’s planned Interpretation and Activities Programme - agree on any further minor works (by the Friends or others) in the Park which are consistent with the agreed vision for the Park, and ensure Green Flag status for the whole Park up to 2030. Note: Green Flag status is applied for by FCC. It is a requirement of the HLF grant process that it be retained for 7 years by FCC. A first Green Flag was awarded in the autumn of 2021. An FCC application for a 2nd Green Flag, in 2022 was successful. The ‘mystery shopper’ judges for the latter will prepare a report, which should arrive in the autumn of 2022.

The Friends’ first set of Outdoor Display Pots being barrowed on to the Decking of the new Bailey Hill Visitor Centre in the summer of 2021.

The Importance of Good Governance

Having set up a sound policy base and basic management systems in our first year as a charity, and in the second moved decisively to concentrate on ‘delivery’, the third and fourth years required us to find ways of sustaining strong performance in the teeth of a huge challenge, the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic. We had to work very hard – online, and in the open air - to maintain momentum and good progress, safely. During 2021 the situation gradually eased and we hit the accelerator pedal on our contribution (although Covidrestrictions were not completely lifted in Wales until the end of March 2022).

Our Independence

We continued to cherish and maintain our independence of thought and action as a charity, and a strong focus on our three CHARITABLE OBJECTS, in accordance with official guidance issued by the Charity Commission (CC), and as guided, from the start, by the Flintshire Local Voluntary Council (FLVC).

What did we achieve, during FY 2020-21?

In FY 2021-22, we:  arranged and held our 3rd Annual General Meeting, remotely again (using the Zoom app)  made our 3rd Annual Return to the Charity Commission  held 4 formal meetings of the full Board of Trustees (Nos. 23 > 27)  held sub-committee meetings (Financial Sub-Committee) and other formal and informal meetings to ensure progress, as needed  briefed and inducted two new Trustees (Mary and John)  further updated our Corporate Policies on Finance, and Data matters  updated our bilingual Membership Form, again  organised and ran 17 Small Team Sessions (STS) on Saturday mornings in the Park  organised and ran a further 30 Mini-Team Visits (in the intervening weekends) in order to tend our Outdoor Pots Display and to do minor tending and tidying jobs in the Park  organised weekly visits to the new Bailey Centre – to tend the Friends Indoor Plants Display at the Centre (from February 2022 onwards), at times of the week convenient for Friends and the Bailey Hill Project Officer (MTC’s lead officer at the new Bailey Hill Centre). And, we made good progress on these matters -  Legal Matters: finally agreeing a workable and fair approach with FCC and MTC to govern our tripartite partnership  Our Use of the New Bailey Hill Centre – we began discussions with MTC how the charity might use the new Visitor Centre, its Toolstore, etc - and on what terms - to support our practical sessions and training activities.

Training and Development of our Trustees: several Trustees undertook training on first-aid, safeguarding, bumblebees, butterflies/moths, ferns, gardening, wildlife – to inform our work.
Annual Log - a Record of Our Practical Work in the Park – to report our progress on practical work, consistently, and to inform partners, funders and key contacts.
Monitoring Safety Standards - working in the Park without sustaining any significant accidents (and noting any near misses and/or lessons to be learned as we went)
Booking more Outdoor First Aid training sessions - for Trustees
Booking more Wildlife training courses – for Trustees
Keeping Friends informed on our progress – via Facebook / emails / information offered to the local press – especially the local Welsh language paper, Papur Fama.

NEXT, during 2022-23:

Training on outdoor first-aid, and wildlife matters – for Trustees - is being prioritised. We now have 5 Trustees who have had recent Outdoor First-aid Training.

Once all the website material (currently 70% assembled) is fully assembled and online, we will need to review our Communications Policy.

FY 2021-22		FRIENDS’ MAIN EVENTS - ORGANISED & DELIVERED - 28 in all
Start of FY >
3May2021	√	Small TeamSession(STS4)inthePark –planting snowdrops
15 May	√	Small Team Session (STS 5)in the Park – attending to our Heritage Daffodils Display and generaltidyingwork
20 May	√	Small Team Session (STS 6) – PLANTING OUT DAY 2in the Park - helping to plant the new herbaceous plants in Numbered Beds (Beds 18/19 especially)–as organised,with HDDandWrightsLandscapingLtd.
22 May	√	Small Team Session (STS 7)in the Park – adding 1000 native bluebells to create aBluebellSwathe onthe Outer Bailey.
12 June	√	Small Team Session (STS 8)in the Park – adding 400 bluebells alongside the ConcreteRampway.
19 June	√	Small Team Session (STS 9)in the Park – under-planting the Gnarled Yews, and generaltidyingworkacross thePark.
3 July	√	Small Team Session (STS 10)in the Park – planting the additional small Bed at the Entrance Info Point and other planting work to augment Bed 6 (as agreedwith HDD).
7 July	√	Small Team Session (STS 11) – PLANTING OUT DAY 3in the Park - helping to plant the remaining herbaceous plants in Numbered Beds (Beds 18/19 especially) – as organised, with HDD and Wrights Landscaping Ltd.
10 July	√	Small Team Session (STS 12)in the Park – planting to augment Bed 6, covering the bare patched beyondit.
12July	√	FoBH-FfByB(1st)‘ANNUAL REVIEWofthe STATEofthePARK’–

		done, identifying points of concern to inform discussion on further work needed,with FCC andMTC.
24 July	√	Small Team Session (STS 13)in the Park – tidying works, pre the Green Flag Inspection Day.
4 August	√	Small Team Session (STS 14)in the Park – delivering our first set of Outdoor Pots to thePark.
11Sept.	√	3rdANNUALGENERAL MEETING -on Zoom
16 October	√	Small Team Session (STS 15)in the Park – adding roses, ferns, lesser periwinkle, and tulips to theBeds
22 October	√	LECTURE - for DANIEL OWEN FESTIVAL –topic > ‘Bailey Hill – past, present andfuture’ -on Zoom
6 Nov.	√	Small Team Session (STS 16)in the Park - modifications to the Memorial Garden, as requested by BHPO (to better enable small crosses to be added on RemembranceDay).
13 Nov.	√	Small Team Session (STS 17)in the Park – habitats enhancement and nest- box workacross thePark.
16 Nov.	√	G&W LECTURE 1 / WORKSHOP– BH Project Volunteers ‘Gardening &WildlifeTraining’. Topic: ‘History’
11 Dec.	√	Small Team Session (STS 18)– Nest box checks across the Park. Adding Christmas baubles to Outdoor Pots. Tidying thePark, pre-Christmas.
18 Dec.	√	LECTURE - for Merched y Wawr(Welsh language) / Topic: ‘Bailey Hill’ -atBethelChapel.
2022
20 January	√	G&W LECTURE 2 / WORKSHOP– BH Project Volunteers ‘Gardening & Wildlife Training’. Topic: ‘Strategy - and the Management andMaintenanceProgramme’
22January	√	Small TeamSession(STS19)– ‘BirdBox Day’
15 February	√	Installation Day– our Indoor Plants Display established at the new Bailey Hill Centre–plusToolstore preparation work.
17 February	√	G&W LECTURE 3 / WORKSHOP– BH Project Volunteers ‘Gardening & Wildlife Training’. Topic: ‘Ecology – and Scope for Boosting Biodiversity’
15 March	√	G&W LECTURE 4 / WORKSHOP– BH Project Volunteers ‘Gardening &WildlifeTraining’. Topic: ‘Horticulture andFine Gardening’
19 March	√	Small Team Session (STS 20) – and 1st PRACTICAL session for G&W Trainees
26 March	√	2nd PRACTICAL session for G&W Trainees/ MTV 29 (Expanded)following Outdoor Pots care > to include planting 1000 snowdropsnear Motte //
31 March	√	G&W LECTURE 5 / WORKSHOP– BH Project Volunteers ‘Gardening &WildlifeTraining’. Topic: ‘Review –andPracticalities’
End of FY

Raising Funds for the Future

The Charity has no income stream and therefore relies solely on seeking donations, fundraising locally and securing grants, and Amazon Smile, where cashback is received on nominated sales.

What did we achieve?

During FY 2021-22:

 We were successful in attracting £10,508 of grant funding (please see full details below, on Page 22 - for the Grant Funders FY 2021-2022 to be thanked). Most of the funding was for specific projects and training. We were also most fortunate to receive some monies from the Postcode Community Trust towards our annual running costs.  Grant funding has enabled us to purchase new and additional tools, add more bird boxes to the Park and place hedgehog boxes in secure locations.  FoBH-FfByB have also received grant funding to formally collate and deliver training for the new Gardening and Wildlife Volunteers as part of the Bailey Hill Project.  We continued to place our Red Charity Pots in various businesses around Mold. The Charity is registered with HMRC to receive Gift Aid under the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme and is able to claim this from donations made to us via the Red Charity Pots.  The Charity is registered with Amazon Smile to receive cashback on nominated sales.  We carefully considered other methods of fundraising (e.g. introduction of a subscription and setting up a 100 Club). Neither was thought appropriate for us at this moment in time.  We decided against organising coffee mornings or social events during FY 2021-2022 - due to actual restrictions and/or nervousness about the COVID-19 pandemic.  Trustees and our keen volunteers continued to donate plants, materials, as well as meeting various minor office supplies / home-office running costs / transport costs – which cumulatively must be worth several hundred pounds over the course of the financial year. ASSETS: The Charity does not hold property of its own. Its only assets include tools and equipment to undertake volunteer work in the Park plus bird, bat and hedgehog boxes placed in the Park with the kind permission of FCC. STATUS: the powers of the charity as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation may be used, perhaps, in the future. NEXT, during 2022-23:  Our RED CHARITY POTS: We currently have 5 pots in situ, numbers having reduced due to the fact that many businesses still operate ‘card only’ following the COVID-19 pandemic.  We will consider other means of fundraising by way of events as the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, and subject to the continued health and wellbeing of our Trustees and volunteers.  We will continue to seek grants for specific projects and to support our annual running costs.  We also intend to approach local businesses, seeking general donations.

Gifting Time

The charity has no employees. Our Trustees give generously of their time for running the charity, and engaging with other bodies. No Trustees’ expenses were claimed or paid during FY2021-22. The Trustees and other Friends are not employees, and did not accept any remuneration or other benefits. They act as unpaid practical volunteers, gifting time to the charity’s work.

What did we achieve?

During FY 2021-22, interest in our charitable work increased was sustained, and we -

were pleased to achieve a membership level of 109 Members during the FY (of whom c. 25% are active volunteers, regularly or occasionally)
connected with all the Members via email, and the Chair’s’ Updates.
managed to plan and deliver significant progress in improving the Park – with strong team of keen and committed volunteers
continued to attract a good number of volunteers to our monthly Small Team Sessions (and to any ‘expanded’ Mini-Team Visits, when needed) to tackle the physical tasks we take on
set up a rota system to ensure there would always be 2 volunteers working together on intervening Saturday morning Mini-Team Visits, tending our year-round Outdoor Pots Display.

NEXT: during 2022-23, we will:

continue with a busy programme of practical sessions in the Park and other events
ensure our most regular volunteers receive training in Outdoor First Aid
continue to do sensitive minor improvements in the wider Park - with input of advice from FCC Countryside Management and Biodiversity officers, and the North Wales Wildlife Trust (NWWT)
plan, prepare and manage seasonal flower pots (to be placed on the decking and flanking the Cenotaph as agreed with HDD) – generally 4 (and sometimes 6 or 8 for greater seasonal effect)
- maintain certain planted Beds in the Park as agreed with FCC - especially the Friends’ Bed (Bed 18), the Hydrangeas Bed (Bed 19) and other areas (of Bed 6 etc.) planted-up by the Friends
support FCC/Aura and the Bailey Hill Project Officer’s efforts to interpret the ancient monument, and to make good use of the revamped Park and its brand new Visitor Centre
do minor improvements (for the benefit of the less able), if possible, to the Perimeter Path
- encourage more of the Members to become active volunteers.

HISTORY: Many of the Friends have also been involved in the Bailey Hill Project as History Research Volunteers. Please note that FoBH-FfByB/FCC/MTC still await sight of a full/final reports upon the various studies commissioned by FCC/Aura from Durham University and other experts, on the various unexpected archaeological finds unearthed during the construction works and other contracts in the last few years: and, the further site exploration works done thereafter on the two baileys. We anticipate that some of the smaller finds will be displayed in the Visitor Centre in due course.

Getting things done - to enhance the Park

A. HABITATS WORK IN THE PARK

Examples:

On the left – unwanted tree seedlings and dandelions were removed from a sensitive grassland and wildflower area on the Outer Slopes. On the right - fallen branches and a fallen small tree were sawn-up and placed in a habitat pile in the Dell.

‘Bryn the hedgehog’ – found by Friends, cared for by ‘Hedgehog Help Prestatyn’, then later released back into the Park, by which time we had set up hedgehog feeding stations.

More native primroses were added to the south face of the Motte.

Sweet-chestnut spurs were used to pack a few of the many gaps in the Inner Bailey hedge.

B. PARK & GARDENS WORK IN THE PARK

Examples:

A Kemp-favourite, Hedgehog holly (variegated) – was added to a thin part of the Inner Bailey hedge.

Adding snowdrops to one of our establishing Snowdrop Patches: at the trainees’ first practical session.

STS 8 - Adding bluebells in a very narrow space alongside the Concrete Rampway: hard work!

A few of our Outdoor Pots in the Park – prepared off-site in the Winter to display in the Spring of 2022.

A gravel pile (loose gravel from the new paths) was shovelled into two donated rubble bags, for tidier storage behind the Information Point (until it can be reused somewhere in the Park in due course).

STS 13 - Clearing dead leaves off the sedum patch on the Inner Bailey.

MTV 24 / Installation Day - our first set for the Indoor Plants Display added to the new Bailey Hill Visitor Centre in mid-February 2022.

What did we achieve?

During FY 2021-22, we:

did extensive practical work within the Park throughout the year – as recorded in our Log
added more new plants (e.g. a few yellow azalea and other fragrant colourful shrubs, bulbs, wildflowers and ferns), as and where allowed in line with the MMP and LCA 1-7 ‘planting recipes’
added more bird boxes - and mapped them all to inform a new Inventory
propagated off-site, and planted various wildflowers for the Park – for now and the future
managed all our Indoor and Outdoor Pots, Heritage Daffodils and other planting in the Park
ensured all the practical work done was in accordance with our FCC licence (and any subsequent small permissions given by FCC staff)
worked hard with partners to secure and factor into our planning and proposals respect for the now significantly increased archaeological significance of the Mold Castle site.
developed our regular volunteers and welcomed new ones for training .

NEXT: during 2022-23, we will be:

continuing to make small improvments to help sustain Green Flag standards of tidiness and beauty
persuading FCC to tackle a few tricky small safety issues across the Park to the same end
adding insect boxes and completing the numbering of the nest boxes
improving the state of the woodlands as natural / wildlife habitat (through selective interventions)
agreeing on the very best site for developing a composting station.

We will continue to take into account the plants favoured by Edward Kemp (1817-1891) - the famous landscape gardener who advised the Mold Local Board in 1871, on what might best grace the Park, after it came into public hands in 1870. We will also respect the Welsh Historic Gardens Trust (WHGT)’s suggestions and its keen interest in this aspect of the Park’s history.

We also aim to be ready to help maintain the new planting areas in the new Numbered Beds (1-24) to augment FCC’s usual, regular, basic maintenance of the Park. We are committed to doing our part - as promised - to deliver the Park's longer-term tripartite MMP, through discussion and joint action with FCC and MTC.

Education - part of our remit as an independent charity

During FY 2021-22, we were invited by our partners (FCC and MTC) to produce and deliver training for a new strand of volunteers, as required to meet the conditions of the grants for the overall Bailey Hill Project. We devised a programme to train the ‘Bailey Hill Project Gardening & Wildlife Volunteers’ (BHG&W), consisting of an Introductory ’Walk and Talk Tour’ of the Park, followed by 5 Lecture / Workshops, and 4 Practical Sessions in the Park. The Programme commenced in the Winter of 2021-22, and extended into the summer of 2022. This was a serious undertaking, and a big time committment, which secured grantaid from Cadwyn Clwyd.

What did we achieve?

During FY 2021-22, we:

planned and commenced delivery of the training for extra new Gardening and Wildlife Volunteers needed for the HLF Plus funded Bailey Hill Project (Cadwyn Clwyd strand)
ensured that all such new Volunteers were signed up as Friends, for insurance purposes and practical site-manangement reasons.

NEXT: during 2022-23 – the new volunteers training will be completed, and then they will be integrated with our regular volunteers (who learned on-the-job) to become a strong team of volunteers in the Park.

The new BHG&W Volunteers met the Friends’ regular volunteers for a combined regular and training session, on 2 April 2022.

A Powerpoint slide from one of our Lecture / Workshops, delivered on Zoom, to new BHG&W Volunteers.

Trainees received 5 formal 2-hour lecture / workshops, remotely using the Zoom app.

Networking with and persuading others

The Trustees continued to devote much time to creating positive relationships with other agencies.

What did we achieve?

During FY 2021-22, we continued to engage effectively with, and respect the advice of:

Aura (who look after leisure/libraries/heritage for FCC), FCC and MTC – we attended 8 formal meetings of the Bailey Hill Partnership Board and sundry other special meetings to discuss the Park, and what woulld be done, by whom, where in fine detail – to secure a good understanding and best use of each others’ scope.
Welsh Historic Gardens Trust (WHGT), Clwyd Branch – we kept them up to date with our progress in the Park.
Local historians – we continued to maintain close contact with local historians and researchers informing the BH Project Officer’s ‘Interpretation and Activities Programme’ for the Park: and attended a meeting on the Bailey Hill Volunteer History Researchers findings.
North Wales Wildlife Trust (NWWT) - we drew upon the knowledge and advice offered generously by NWWT’s consultant botanist Lucia Ruffino – who was commissioned by Jon Hulson (of NWWT) to

explore the likely true age of the woodlands in the Park. Lucia Ruffino advised they were “not ancient”, but identified the more ecologically sensitive spots and the most interesting plants on the site.
We made much use of:
Facebook – using the FoBH Facebook Page, we drew attention to good-practice exemplar small parks and gardens with strong historic interest, as well as presenting aspects of our work and relevant information, bilingually (to engage effectively with the local population and Welsh learners).

Awards:

FoBH-FfByB was nominated for two ‘ Mold Town Council Community Awards 2022’ for (i) our Volunteering effort, and (ii) as a Community Project.
NEXT: during 2022-23, we will sustain and develop the key relationships.  We currently have c. 628 likes and many followers on our bilingual FoBH Facebook Page > see >  https://www.facebook.com/Friends-of-Bailey-Hill-1442020782754561/

We thank our main funders in FY 2021-2022:

Gr ŵ p Cynefin £ 438.00 – books and equipment re wildlife
Postcode Community Trust £ 2,588.00 - running costs, plants, tools
Oakdale Trust £ 750.00 - plants, tools, compost
Cadwyn Clwyd £ 4,832.00 - training and equipment
Welsh Historic Gardens Trust £ 500.00 - heritage hydrangeas / old shrub roses
The Ashley Family Foundation £ 1,000.00 - large plants and shrubs
Mold Town Council £ 400.00 - pots and plants, for Decking area

We also wish to thank, again:

Woodland Trust – whose dozen seedling native trees donated, were planted in the Park during 2022.

Cruach Trust – whose earlier £100 towards our native bluebell swathe on the Outer Bailey demonstrated a good first year return with a good show of native bluebells on the Outer Bailey in the Spring of 2022.

Heritage Lottery Fund, and its supporters – for supporting the tripartite partnership (‘Friends of Bailey Hill / Flintshire County Council / Mold Town Council’) work by enabling FCC to draw down significant special package of project monies from the Heritage Lottery Fund, plus Welsh Government (‘TAIS grant’), Cadwyn Clwyd, Landfill Funds, etc. – over several years - to upgrade the Bailey Hill Park.

SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTS 06/04/2021 to 05/04/2022

£ INCOME

£ EXPENDITURE

INCOME:

DONATIONS:

Red Pots (1) Cash Donations GRANTS: Mold Town Council Grŵp Cynefin Postcode Community Trust Oakdale Trust Cadwyn Clwyd Welsh Historic Gardens Trust The Ashley Family Foundation GIFT-AID – GASD (2) AMAZON SMILE (3) TOTAL	£ 367.89 £ 534.02 £ 400.00 £ 438.00 £2,588.00 £ 750.00 £4,832.00 £ 500.00 £1,000.00 £ 116.74 £ 46.27 £11,572.92

EXPENDITURE:

Insurance Zoom Website costs Equipment/tools/bird & bat boxes Plants

£ 239.95 £ 143.88 £ 73.66 £2,573.84 £1,895.09

TOTAL

£4,926.42

Surplus for the year £ 6,646.50

---------------------------------------------------------- BALANCE SHEET Bank/cash balance Net Assets Restricted Funds Unrestricted Funds Total Funds ----------------------------------------------------------	---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 April 2022 5 April 2021 £9,233.58 £2,587.08 £9,233.58 £2,587.08 £6,285.45 £2,948.13 £2,587.08 £9,233.58 £2,587.08 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Status – FoBH-FfByB is a Registered Charity since 24 July 2018 – Registered Charity No 1179312

Notes:

(1) Red Pots – these are collection pots placed in local business around Mold. They are emptied and monies banked on a regular basis through the financial year.
(2) Gift-Aid – Applications are made to HMRC for Gift-Aid on donations within the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme.
(3) Amazon Smile – the Charity is registered with Amazon Smile where the Charity is nominated to receive cashback on nominated sales.

This STATEMENT is based on the accounts up to 5 April 2022, which were checked at the Charity’s Financial SubCommittee on 26 April 2022.

Note: The Independent Examiner’s report of 23[rd] JUNE 2022, on these accounts, is appended below.

THE INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT – dated 23[rd] JUNE 2022:

In alphabetical order >

ATKINSON, John (Trustee): John’s career has focussed on purchasing and procurement functions within the nuclear energy generation industry, nationally and internationally. He was chartered in purchasing and supply. He has skills in planning and organising: and report-writing skills. He is also very interested in local history, especially pre-history and archaeology (including working as a volunteer for CPAT on their recent digs on Bailey Hill). He is also a keen amateur ornithologist. He was for many years a junior football team coach (and a committee member) for Mold Alex Juniors. He is currently learning Welsh.

BUNTING, Michael Antony (Trustee, and General Secretary): a retired Chartered Engineer and Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and for the last 10 years of his career, he was a Company Director and ran Rivendell Enterprises Ltd providing consultancy services to the electricity supply industry in the UK and also Europe. Much experience of project management, quality control systems, and health and safety matters. Wellversed in the use of computer spreadsheets and project planning. Experience of working for a local church and other local bodies.

CONSIDINE, Mary (Trustee): Mary was a college lecturer at Deeside College for many years, teaching essential literacy and numeracy to adults and older teenagers. She now works part-time for Coleg Cambria, supporting groups of students with learning disabilities. She has a BA in Business Studies and a post-graduate certificate in education. Her experience also includes working in administrative officer roles for civil service departments in London; and she was previously a nursery teacher and nanny. Originally from Limerick, she has a keen interest in history, playing the piano, having fun with the family, and travelling. She can speak Irish and French.

HUGHES, Eira (Trustee, and Chair): retired former regeneration specialist, town planner, and landscape architect. Ran her own consultancy firm for 10 years, after a series of Director-level, senior management posts (managing large teams, revenue and capital budgets) in local government, the civil service and nondepartmental bodies in England and Wales – across a wide range of services. Has prepared and delivered £MM projects and programmes. Much experience of policy development on sustainability, environmental issues, and conservation; also, of managing street-scene services, a sports/leisure stadium and many parks, including several Green Flag parks. Amenity gardening skills. Fluent in Welsh.

HUGHES, Nia (Trustee, and Minutes Secretary): retired university senior lecturer with subject specialism in marketing and consumer behaviour. Much experience of teaching and academic course planning/administration at all levels, in the UK and overseas. Also planned, conducted and disseminated original research findings. Organised many different types of public events for different audiences. After decades of living in Staffordshire, and now returned to live in Wales, brushing up on Welsh skills.

JONES, Richard Trefor (Trustee, Communities Secretary, and Quartermaster): retired former teacher of geography and biology; a trustee of several local charities and experience of being a Treasurer to several small charities. Assists the ‘Mold Spring Clean’ initiative, and the Daniel Owen Festival. Translator for FoBH’s bilingual notices, official correspondence, and newsletters. Fluent in Welsh.

PREECE, Hilary (Trustee, Vice-Chair, and Director of Finance): retired after a long and varied career in a major UK clearing bank, her final position was that of a Senior Corporate Director. She undertook a number of roles in North Wales including Branch Manager in a local Flintshire branch and various managerial roles in the commercial sector. During her career she developed a number of managerial skills including personnel management, time management, networking skills, the ability to deal with difficult and stressful situations, and,

report writing and analytical skills. Hilary recently moved to Mold after spending time in the north of England. Previously she had grown up and lived in Buckley and Hawarden. She is a passionate dog lover and likes gardening, baking, protecting local wildlife and local history.

TATTERSON, Paul James (Trustee, and Website Manager): is a life-long keen amateur historian and photographer who much enjoys photographing friends, family, scenery, and, wildlife. He has worked semiprofessionally as a photographer for a number of years, including running his own photography-editing business transforming photographs back to a state of originality or upgrade. He has been studying for an MA in History at Northumberland University, and has spent much time in many record offices. He is passionate about preserving and restoring history from the past, and getting people to enjoy what is at their disposal. He has had a keen interest in the Bailey Hill since childhood, and is delighted to see the site getting the upgrade it deserves. He actively supports that project and the planned transformation of the site.

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This Report is sugned and dated by the Chair on behalf of the Board of Trustees by: