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REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1179312
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Friends’ Spring 2025 pots – lemon-cream coloured hyacinths, an old variety, called ‘City of Haarlem’ (1893) – with tulips and Ornithogalum growing below them, to follow on.
[Front cover image: The Friends using the compost supplied by Tate & Lyle, filled the first section of the gutter on the Inner Bailey events lawn in the spring of 2025.]
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The Board of Trustees 4 The Charity 5 Chair’s Introduction 6 Overall Progress 8 Good Governance, Organisation & Delivery 10 Sustainable Funding & Finance 13 Volunteering 14 Practical Action in the Park 16 Structured Education / Training 23 Engagement & Influencing 25 Grant-Aiders to be Thanked 26 Summary of Accounts FY 2024-2025 28
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Our Current Board of Trustees
Twelve (maximum) Trustees are allowed under our current Constitution. There were 9 Trustees throughout the 2024-25 Financial Year (FY):
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Eira Hughes: Trustee (from 6 February 2018) – Chair
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Richard Trefor Jones: Trustee (from 6 February 2018) – Communities Secretary, and Quartermaster
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Mike Antony Bunting: Trustee (from 6 February 2018) – General Secretary
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Hilary Preece: Trustee (from 22 March 2019), Vice-Chair, and Director of Finance
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Helen Hayes: Trustee (from 20 September 2020) – Data Lead
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John Atkinson: Trustee (from 23 September 2021) – Events Manager, and Wildlife Recorder
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Mary Considine: Trustee (from 23 September 2021), and Education Lead
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John Chadwick: Trustee (from 16 September 2023). and Operations Manager
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Prudence Jane Delaney: Trustee (from 16 September 2023), and Biodiversity Lead.
The current 9 Trustees in post produced this Report. Their short biographies appear at the end of this Report. Formal Trustees Meetings (TM): Trustees met during FY 202425 on - 24 April, 26 June, 24 July, 9 October, 27 November, in 2024; and then in 2025, on 15 January and 5 March. We meet at Bethesda Chapel, New Street, Mold. (Note: We also met, on 10 December for a ‘trustees and spouses’ Christmas Dinner at Peny-Bont Farm, Mold.)
Changes in the Board of Trustees during FY 2024-2025
No changes to report: other than John Atkinson agreeing to become our Events Manager, going forward.
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 must have between 3 and 12 Trustees. Roles for our 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/coopt extra new Trustees between AGMs.
Independent Auditor
Our auditor for FY 2024-25 was Phillip Hughes ACA, again. We thank him once again for his 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 (Reg. 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
o “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.
o 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).
o 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: 07702 09 40 40
Our Financial Year: begins on April 6th – and continues until April 5th.
Relevant Roles
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Bank: Lloyds Bank
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Solicitors: Llewellyn-Jones, Mold.
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Independent Examiner of Accounts: Phillip Hughes ACA (February 2021 onwards).
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THE FINANCIAL YEAR (FY) 2024-25 REPORT
It is an honour to present the 7th Annual Report of the charity - for FY 2024-25.
It was agreed a couple of years ago at a tripartite seminar that further progress at Bailey Hill needed to focus on (i) heritage interest, and (ii) horticulture. The charity continues to do so, and FY 2024-25 showed ample evidence of our commitment - most especially through the 57 practical volunteering 'gardening and wildlife' sessions which Friends delivered, in the Park.
This last year has been an exceptionally busy one for the Friends. Critically, we managed to attract sufficient monies to advance several long-cherished small projects to improve the Park. They included: organising the restoration of the old Bowling Green Man Gate on the Inner Bailey; plus, the restoration and bilingualisation of the Memorial Stone (near the War Memorial). Then, towards the end of the FY 2024-25, we were able to start the project to fill the ‘gutters’ on the western and northern edges of the Inner Bailey 'events' lawn, which will make it safer, and better for wildlife (as we have added clover and bird's foot trefoil seed to the reseeded areas).
Our charity's field study visit to the Wirral, to meet Port Sunlight Village Trust's officials was very informative and inspiring – as the Trust’s staff explained their approach to seeking heritage grants, site management practice, and, preparing the horticultural displays.
Looking forward
We have a clear idea of what the charity needs to do next. Strategically, we need to:
(a) ensure we continue to add quality to the Park (while the basics - the boundary walls, paths, woodland, lawns and buildings - are for FCC and the lessee of ‘the Centre' to manage),
(b) support Flintshire County Council (FCC) efforts to retain Green Flag status for the Park for the 7 year minimum demanded by the NHLF (2021>2028),
(c) do our bit to help ensure that key promises made to funders and the public are honoured, and to ensure that the Bailey Hill Visitor Centre is a well-used and vibrant centre in the Park; and,
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(d) encourage FCC/Gwella's further progress on the full and proper interpretation of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.*
[* Note: the information boards have yet to be completed and erected, having been much delayed awaiting detailed 'final' archaeological reports on the 2020 and subsequent digs and related researches.]
The Friends' key contributions will be to make further progress on improving the Beds (26 in all now) adding bulbs and corms; plus the display of large pots on the decking and near the War Memorial - to bring extra colour in the spring, summer and autumn.
By the end of 2025, the really hard graft to bring the physical condition of the park up to a 'good conservation standard' throughout - through collective tripartite effort - should be done.
So, our charity’s new Business Plan for the next three years anticipates more emphasis on maintaining a steady-state, with Friends ensuring a good standard of ‘extra’ gardening. That may allow us scope to focus more on nature study and further exploration of the Hill's history and heritage. There should also be scope for Friends to do a few small events in the Park annually - which fit well with our charitable objects. The latter of course would be subject to having sufficient active volunteers available.
Currently, we rely greatly on a dozen very committed regular volunteers, and a few others who help from time to time. We could do with a few more of you to help us in the Park, to conserve it and present it, and to make it more beautiful and enjoyable 'small heritage park' to visit; and, to help us to run small events.
We are still aiming for a membership of c. 200 - and to ensure that 25% of those are active volunteers. We have ‘light tasks’ to offer at every session. If you are able and willing to spare a few Saturday mornings a year to help us on site, or with other tasks, that would be great.
Thank you all for your continued support and interest.
Eira Hughes DipLA, MCD, MRTPI (ret’d), CMLI (ret’d)
July 2025
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Creating a High-Quality Park at Bailey Hill
Creating a fine, high-quality public park remains ‘what it is all about’ for the Friends of Bailey Hill. In 2024-25 we made significant progress on sorting a few on long-planned further small improvements to the Park.
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 2024-25 (our seventh financial year).
We continued to work tripartitely - with FCC and Mold Town Council (MTC) - to forge an understanding on how the Bailey Hill work should roll forwards strategically.
Tripartite Partnership work
(following on after the concluded HLF Plus Project, ‘Revealing Bailey Hill / Mold Castle’)
During FY 2024-25, the ‘Tripartite Partnership’ continued to meet regularly to ensure - proper follow up of the HLF Plus Project.
Issues which needed discussion included:
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the lead role for FCC being transferred to FCC’s Countryside Unit (under Tom Woodall), and, Aura/Gwella winding-down its active supporting role,
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scope for MTC - and others - to use the Centre for appropriate activities related to the park over the longer term,
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discussing the best way forward for improving the ‘Old Wooden Steps’ in the north-east corner of the Park.
What did we achieve during FY 2024-2025?
In FY 2024-25, our Trustees contributed to tripartite partnership work (with FCC and MTC) as follows -
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❖ we attended 6 meetings with FCC and MTC – on Bailey Hill business (Site Visits and formal meetings)
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❖ we commented, from the Friends’ perspective, on relevant issues to progress matters tripartitely
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❖ we continued to use our licence for working in the park granted by FCC (which will run through to mid-August 2026)
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❖ we secured a verbal permission to continue using the new Centre (leased to MTC) – as agreed on 5 September 2023 - on Saturdays, plus Thursdays (usually afternoons); and Wednesday during its ‘open’ hours (with FCC covering the cost of our water and electricity use).
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❖ we continued to observe the tripartite Bailey Hill Management and Maintenance Plan - which still includes the agreed recipes for improving each of the Park’s ‘Landscape Character Areas’ (LCA 1-7).
NEXT: during 2025-26, we will:
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seek to formalise a new User Agreement with MTC - to access the new Centre to ensure an acceptable level of access and ‘quality of experience’ for all the voluntary gardening and wildlife work done regularly in the Park by the Friends
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help ensure continued Green Flag status for the whole Park annually, up to 2029-30, as promised
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do what we reasonably can to help secure the future of the new Centre as a vital and well-used facility in the Park.
GREEN FLAG STATUS:
Green Flag status is applied for annually 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 2021. Green Flag status was secured again in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
The inspection for the 2025 process took place on 24 April 2025.
This spring, we replaced the Green Flag which is usually displayed on the new flagpole, for a few days, with the Welsh national flag – to mark St.Davids’ Day (March 1[st] 2025).
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The Importance of Good Governance
We had a very busy year again, and focussed on making progress on all fronts steadily, well and safely.
Our Independence as a Charity
We continued to cherish and maintain our independence of thought and action as a charity, and a strong focus on our three formal ‘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 2024-25?
In FY 2024-2025, we had another very busy year, as we -
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arranged and held our 6th Annual General Meeting, at St David’s Church Hall, Mold
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made our 6th Annual Return to the Charity Commission
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held 7 formal meetings of the full Board of Trustees (39th > 45th TM)
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organised and ran 11 Small Team Sessions (STS) on Saturday mornings in the Park
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organised and ran a further 46 Mini-Team Visits (in the intervening weekends) in order to tend our Outdoor Pots Display and to do additional planting and tidying jobs in the Park; and, many of those evolved into more substantial ‘Extra Work’ sessions over and above the normal routine weekend visits (to handle special projects and make up for cancellations due to spells of cold and icy weather).
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also organised weekly visits to the new Bailey Hill Centre – to tend the Friends’ Indoor Plants Display at the Centre at times of the week convenient for Friends and MTC’s lead officer for the Bailey Hill Visitor Centre.
And, we -
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updated our Communications Policy
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monitored safety standards – we worked in the Park without sustaining any significant accidents (and noted any near misses and/or ‘lessons to be learned’ as we went)
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maintained our 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
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kept Friends informed on our progress – via Facebook / emails / information offered to the local press – especially the local Welsh-language paper ‘Papur Fama’
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researched information sources to identify opportunities to apply for small grants for specific purposes,
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made progress on updating the ‘draft website’ text and related materials.
NEXT, during 2025-26:
DELIVERY: We will continue to deliver a programme of weekly visits to check our Pots and the Park, with one session a month to tackle a wider range of tasks.
COMMUNICATIONS: Our website development is moving forward, and we are hoping it will be ready to go live in the autumn of 2025.
| FY 2024-2025 |
FRIENDS’ MAIN EVENTS - ORGANISED & DELIVERED -in all57 practical sessions |
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| Start of FY > 6th April 2024 |
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| 6 April | √ | Small Team Session (STS 43)in the Park |
| 13 April | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 122)in the Park |
| 20 April | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 123)in the Park |
| 27 April | √ | Small Team Session (STS 44)in the Park |
| 4 May | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 124)in the Park |
| 11 May | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 125)in the Park |
| 18 May | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 126)in the Park |
| 25 May | √ | Small Team Session (STS 45)in the Park |
| 1 June | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 127)in the Park |
| 8 June | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 128)in the Park |
| 15 June | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 129)in the Park |
| 22 June | √ | Small Team Session (STS 46)in the Park |
| 29 June | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 130)in the Park |
| 6 July | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 131)in the Park |
| 13 July | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 132)in the Park |
| 20 July | √ | Small Team Session (STS 47)in the Park |
| 27 July | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 133)in the Park |
| 3 August | √ | Mini-Team Visit (MTV 134) in the Park |
| 10 August | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 135)in the Park |
| 17 August | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 136)in the Park |
| 24 August | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 137)in the Park |
| 31 August | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 138)in the Park |
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| 7 September | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 139)in the Park |
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| 14 September | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 140)in the Park |
| 14 September | √ | 6th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING- Held at St. David’s Church Hall, Mold |
| 21 September | √ | Small Team Session (STS 48)in the Park |
| 28 September | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 141)in the Park |
| 5 October | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 142)in the Park |
| 12 October | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 143)in the Park |
| 19 October | √ | Small Team Session (STS 49)in the Park |
| 26 October | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 144)in the Park |
| 2 November | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 145)in the Park |
| 9 November | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 146)in the Park |
| 16 November | √ | Small Team Session (STS 50)in the Park |
| 23 November | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 147)in the Park |
| 28 November | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 148)in the Park |
| 30 November | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 149)in the Park |
| 7 December | - | Cancelled due to very high winds and heavy rain |
| 14 December | √ | Small Team Session (STS 51)in the Park |
| 21 December | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 150)in the Park |
| 28 December | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 151)in the Park |
| 2025 | ||
| 2 January | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 152)in the Park(BG Man Gate removed) |
| 4 January | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 153)in the Park |
| 11 January | - | Cancelled due to snow and ice. |
| 13 January | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 154)in the Park(Memorial Stone removed) |
| 18 January | - | Cancelled due to Children’s Party booked for BHVC by MTC. |
| 20 January | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 155)in the Park |
| 25 January | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 156)in the Park |
| 1 February | √ | Small Team Session (STS 52)in the Park |
| 5 February | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 157)in the Park(Memorial Stone returned) |
| 8 February | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 158)in the Park |
| 10 February | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 159)in the Park(BG Man Gate returned) |
| 15 February | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 160)in the Park |
| 22 February | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 161)in the Park |
| 27 February | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 162)in the Park(snowdrop planting) |
| 1 March | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 163)in the Park |
| 2 March | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 164)in the Park |
| 15 March | √ | Small Team Session (STS 53)in the Park |
| 22 March | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 165)in the Park |
| 29 March | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 166)in the Park |
| 5 April | √ | Mini-Team Visit(MTV 167)in the Park(topsoil to IB - phase 1) |
| End of FY – 5th April 2025 |
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Each practical session is a 'small event' to be scheduled, rostered, work-planned, risk-assessed and logged. That is a considerable task administratively, in addition to the physical effort required for off-site purchasing, and preparation.
Raising Funds for the Future
The Charity has no regular income stream. It relies solely on seeking donations, fundraising locally and securing small grants, plus gift-aid. During the financial year we maintained a steady position, financially.
What did we achieve during FY 2024-2025? During FY 2024-25: ❖ We concentrated on making the most of the monies gathered in over the previous years. ❖ We were successful in attracting a UK Government ‘Levelling Up’ grant for Flintshire, and a generous contribution from Hartsheath Charitable Trust; and, a small grant from Mold Town Council. ❖ We were awarded funds from contingency savings on the HLF Project Plus to support (i) update and conserve the Memorial Stone, and (ii) buy plants to fill any gaps in the Beds in the years ahead. ❖ 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. ❖ Trustees and our keen volunteers continued to donate plants, materials, as well as meeting various minor office supplies, home-office running costs, and transport costs (for plant sourcing) – which cumulatively must be worth several hundred pounds over the course of the financial year. ❖ We approached various larger local businesses, seeking general donations, and received one positive response from Tate & Lyle, who supplied compost for us to do the first stage in the ‘gutter-filling’ work on the Inner Bailey. 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): and, the plants it acquires or grows from seed or cuttings. STATUS: The powers of the charity as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation may be used, perhaps, in the future.
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NEXT: during 2025-26:
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We will seek a few new grants for specific projects, as/when/if needed, and to support our annual running costs.
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Use our Red Charity Pots [Note: we currently have 5 pots in situ. Local businesses report a bit more use of cash again, post-Covid.]
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We will consider other fundraising events which are compatible with the continued health and wellbeing of our Trustees and volunteers.
Gifting Time
The charity has no employees. Our Trustees give very generously indeed of their time for running the charity, and engaging with other bodies. No Trustees’ expenses were claimed or paid during FY 2024-25.
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 in FY 2024-2025?
During FY 2024-25, interest in our charitable work increased, and we -
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❖ were pleased to retain a membership level of 127 Members
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❖ had several highly active regular volunteers - currently c.12.
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❖ connected with all the Members, via email, the Chair’s Updates, and maintained a Quarterly Log – an illustrated record on all the work done in the Park by Friends
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❖ managed to plan and deliver significant progress in improving the Park further, with our strong team of keen and committed volunteers organising our volunteering events
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❖ visited the Bailey Hill Visitor Centre twice a week to pursue weekend and weekday activities in the Park and to keep an eye of the indoor plants midweek.
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❖ continued our ROSTER system to ensure there would always be a minimum of two volunteers working on any tasks set.
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NEXT: during 2025-26, we will: ▪ endeavour to ensure continuation of our formal User Agreement with MTC to allow us to use the loo, the toolstore, water and electricity supply, information board and other facilities at the new Centre
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continue with a busy programme of practical sessions in the Park and other events
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ensure more of our most regular volunteers are offered training in relevant subjects
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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) as required
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maintain 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, plus general care (fertilising/weeding/clipping/bulbplanting) in the other Beds, if and as resources allow
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plan, prepare and manage seasonal flowerpots (to be placed on the decking and flanking the Cenotaph as agreed with HDD), generally 4 pots (and sometimes 6 or 8 for greater seasonal effect)
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support FCC, Gwella and MTC’s Bailey Hill Officer’s efforts to interpret the ancient monument, and to make good use of the revamped Park and the new Centre
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do minor improvements for example, to the Perimeter Path for the benefit of the less able - to the extent our licence, risk assessment and insurance will allow
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invite and encourage more of the Members to become active volunteers.
New Volunteer Dave (far right) - provided some extra muscle to help us with a big task in the Spring of 2025.
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Getting things done - to enhance the Park
The Charity has no regular income stream. It relies solely on seeking donations, fundraising locally and securing small grants, plus gift-aid.
During the financial year we secured a good sufficiency of funds for all we needed to do and plan, financially; and, continued to work hard throughout the year on enhancing the Park – through a number of new initiatives and direct actions (large and small).
A lighter task: just adding a few bulbs (big snowdrops) to Bed 11 by the Toolstore (MTV 162 / Feb 2025)
A. HABITATS WORK IN THE PARK
This year was a year in which we continued to take stock, given that many trees across the park had been felled.
We kept an eye on the c.25 bird-boxes, removing any which were damaged and seeking new positions for replacements next winter (in FY 2025-26).
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Taking a rest after a vigorous session - thinning self-sown seedling trees in the ecologically-sensitive north-west corner of the Park - at MTV 166 (in February 2025).
B. PARK & GARDENS WORK IN THE PARK
It was another very busy year for us in the Park.
Examples:
Friends completed work on building the Composting Station in May 2024.
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Friends engaged in replacing failed artemisia plants with tougher, blue-grey (grass) plants – to maintain the grey-leaved appearance as designed - in Bed 8, behind the Memorial Stone (in September 2024).
On a damp day (in November 2024) ‘the land girls’ team cleared leaves out of the main beds on the Inner Bailey
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Pot-rejuvenation: adding new ivies and mulch to the established holly-pots on a sunnier November day (in 2024).
One last bag – the Friends completing the ‘big compost-shift’ to the Inner Bailey to fill the gutter on the lawn edge (in the Spring of 2025).
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Plants acquired and ready to go to the Park in early Spring 2025.
C. OTHER TASKS DONE BY FRIENDS IN THE PARK
Friends also do small tasks to keep the paths passable, removing small hazards.
Friends removing waste metal found within the Perimeter Path, which was becoming hazardous (in November 2024).
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An exposed root on the Perimeter Path was packed around by Friends with material to make it less of a trip hazard: in November 2024). [JA’s photo].
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What did we achieve in FY 2024-2025?
During FY 2024-25, we:
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❖ did very extensive and quite physical work within the Park (over 57 practical sessions)
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❖ got the new Composting Station into action, to make compost (slowly)
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❖ continued to develop the skills of all our regular volunteers
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❖ helped to retain Green Flag status for the Park
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❖ added more new plants as per the M&MPlan and LCA 1-7 ‘planting recipes’
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❖ planted various wildflowers and nurtured more off-site for the Park
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❖ attended and managed all our Indoor Pots in the Centre weekly
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❖ added a few more types of heritage daffodil to the Beds
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❖ added herbaceous plants to provide a bit more autumn colour in the Beds
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❖ managed all the Outdoor Pots, at the Entrance, weekly – changing them seasonally
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❖ ensured all the practical work done was in accordance with our FCC licence (and any subsequent small permissions given by FCC staff)
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❖ respected the now significantly increased archaeological significance of the ‘Mold Castle’ site.
NEXT: during 2025-2026, we will be:
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completing our planting programme across the Park
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- adding seedling rowans to the Outer Slopes as planned
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continuing to make small improvements to help sustain Green Flag
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standards of tidiness and beauty
- improving the state of the Perimeter Path and the woodlands as natural / wildlife habitat (through small selective interventions).
We will support FCC’s efforts to improve the Wooden Steps area; and, to consider further options for dealing with the scarring on the Motte.
We will continue to take into account the plants favoured by Edward Kemp (18171891) - 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 1870/71. 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 will continue to help maintain the new planting areas in the new Numbered Beds (now 1-26, including those added in the new Children’s Play Area on the Outer Bailey) to augment FCC’s usual, regular, basic maintenance work in the Park.
We remain committed to doing our part - as promised - to deliver the Park's longerterm tripartite M&M Plan, together with FCC and MTC.
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Education – is part of our remit as an independent charity.
2024-25 was a year when we continued to pass on skills to recent recruits but we did not roll out any formal training.
What did we achieve in FY 2024-2025?
During FY 2024-25, we:
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❖ undertook a Friends’ Study Visit to meet staff of the Port Sunlight Village Trust and to look at their work in the village – in October 2024.
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❖ continued to teach recent new volunteers the relevant skills - to help care for the Beds, Pots, Indoor plants, etc. in a public park, to a good ‘parks’ standard
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❖ ensured that any new volunteers were integrated into the Friends’ regular volunteers team and had a chance to contribute to all aspects of the Friends’ practical ‘parks and gardens’ work in the Park and to help with the charity’s wider set of tasks, if interested.
NEXT: during 2025-26 –
We will consider updating our training lecture modules to suit a further batch of new volunteers.
Trustees taking a good look at Port Sunlight Village Trust’s horticultural work (in October 2024).
[Photo: by David Brightmore]
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HISTORY researches
Many of ‘the Friends’ were involved in the ‘Bailey Hill Project’ (2019-2023) in another capacity, as History Research Volunteers, Poetry Volunteers, Guided Tours Volunteers, and Visitor Volunteers (all under a Bailey Hill Project Officer’s direction, with MTC insurance-cover and risk assessment, and within the terms of its own arrangements with FCC Estates). Others helped with the archaeological digs in the past few years. So, people who are Members of FoBH-FfByB are already heavily invested in understanding and improving the Park and presenting it to the public.
In March 2025, we found a second clump of heritage daffodil (‘Van Sion’) growing in the Park.
ARCHAEOLOGY update
Sophie Fish (Museums, Culture and Heritage Manager for Flintshire, now embedded within Gwella), gave a lecture at Ebenezer Chapel on 25[th] January 2025 on ‘The Bailey Hill Skeletons’.
She revealed that skeletons found in the Bailey Hill were laid out east-west (suggesting they were Christian) under the Inner Bailey lawned area. Durham University had identified the bones of ten separate individuals, from different periods in the C12th. Analysis suggested most were women, and that most were ‘ ’ local to the Mold area .
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Networking with and persuading others
The Trustees continued to devote much time to creating positive relationships with other agencies, as well as doing our utmost to be effective and reliable partners within the tripartite partnership.
What did we achieve in FY 2024-2025?
During FY 2024-25, we continued to engage effectively with, and respect the advice of:
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❖ FCC and MTC, and Aura (now Gwella) which looks after leisure services, libraries and heritage for FCC: and, we attended 6 meetings with FCC/MTC as the ‘Bailey Hill Partnership Board’ and associated ‘Site Meetings’.
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❖ the local historians: we continued to maintain close contact with local historians and researchers.
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❖ archaeologists - Chris Matthews of Heneb (the new name for CPAT) kindly gave an illustrated talk about recent archaeological digs in Flintshire at our 6th AGM on 14 September 2024. Many thanks go to him for an inspiring and very informative lecture.
We made much use of:
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❖ Facebook – using our FoBH Facebook Page, we continued to draw 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).
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❖ We currently have c. 796 followers on our bilingual FoBH Facebook Page > see > https://www.facebook.com/Friends-of-Bailey-Hill-1442020782754561/
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❖ Papur Fama – we provided several short articles to the Welsh-language local community paper to inform and interest the local community of Welsh speakers and learners about our work on Bailey Hill.
NEXT: during 2025-2026, we will sustain and develop the key relationships, and we hope to complete our website.
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We thank, in respect of FY 2024-2025:
- ❖ UK Government’s ‘Levelling Up’ / Flintshire Community Fund - for funds to cover the cost of restoring the Bowling Green Man Gate, on the Inner Bailey.
The restored gate, with a new decorative panel, in plain metal. Flintshire Fabrications was engaged, by the Friends, to do the work.
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❖ Hartsheath Charitable Trust, Mold Town Council, Vron Landscaping and EE Civils Ltd – for their generosity
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❖ Tate & Lyle, for the compost supplied to enable stage one of the work to fill the gutter on the Inner Bailey.
John seeding the first stage of the gutter-filling work done by Friends on the Inner Bailey.
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- ❖ 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 a significant special package of project monies from the Heritage Lottery Fund, plus Welsh Government (‘TAIS grant’), Cadwyn Clwyd, Landfill Funds, etc. to upgrade the Bailey Hill Park (from 2019 through to March 2023).
Contingency fund savings on the HLF Project Plus Fund helped to meet the cost of a project organised by the Friends to conserve and bilingualise the Memorial Stone. Blackwell Stonecraft was engaged by Friends to do the work.
See above – a photo showing the Memorial Stone being removed for off-site work in January 2025..
See below - the reinscribed Memorial Stone returning to the Park, in February 2025.
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SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTS 06/04/2024 TO 05/04/2025
£ INCOME £ EXPENDITURE
INCOME :
| DONATIONS : Red Pots (1) £ 215.69 Cash Donatons £ 110.00 GRANTS : EE Civils Ltd £ 200.00 Mold Town Council £ 250.00 Hartsheath Charitable Trust £1,000.00 Flintshire Community Key Fund £1,932.00 Vron Landscaping £ 50.00 Heritage Lotery Funding £5,500.00 GIFT-AID – GASD (2) £ 91.00 TOTAL £9,348.69 EXPENDITURE : Insurance Donaton (Speaker at AGM) Project – Bowling Man Gate Project – Memorial Stone Compostng Bins Equipment/tools/bird & bat boxes/bird feed Plants & compost TOTAL Surplus for the year |
£ 312.20 £ 40.00 £1,932.00 £1,680.00 £ 107.09 £ 61.36 £ 590.17 £4,722.82 £4,625.87 |
|---|---|
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BALANCE SHEET 5 April 2025 5 April 2024
| Bank/cash balance Net Assets Restricted Funds Unrestricted Funds Total Funds |
£9,517.64 £9,517.64 £5,391.36 £4,126.28 £9,517.64 |
£4,891.77 £4,891.77 £1,712.09 £3,179.68 £4,891.77 |
|---|---|---|
Status – FoBH/FfByB is a Registered Charity since 24 July 2018 – Registered Charity No 1179312
Notes:
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(1) Red Pots – these are collection pots placed in local businesses around Mold. They are emptied and monies banked on a regular basis through the financial year.
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(2) Gift-Aid – Applications are made to HMRC for Gift-Aid on donations within the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme.
This STATEMENT is based on the accounts up to 5 April 2025, which were checked at the Charity’s Financial Sub-Committee on 30 April 2025.
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Independent examinerfs report to the tNstees of Frfends of Balley Hlll I report to the trustee5 on my examination of the accounts ol the Friends of Ba51ey Hill trust (the Trust) for the year ended 5 April 2025. ResponsibllltlÈs and basls of report A5 the charity trustees of the Trust you are Tesponsible for the pparation of the 3¢counts in accordance with the requirements ol the Charities Act 2Qll I'ihe ACYI. I repon in respect of rny examination of the Trusys accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicab'le Directions given bv the Charity Cornmission under sectSon 1451Sllbl of the Act. Independent examine$ ststement I have completed my examinaiion. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention In connection with the examination giving me cause lo believe that in any material respe(t'. accountirtg records were not kept in respect of the Trust as requiied by section 130 of the Act- or 2. the accounts do not accord with Ih05e record5,' or 3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and COntet of accounts set out in the Charitie5 (Accounts and Reports) Regulation5 211)8 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an indepèndent examination. I have no concerns and have corne across no othei tnatteT5 in connection with the examinalK)n to which attention should be drawn in ihis report in orderto enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed.. Name.. Philip Hughes Relevant prOfesSnal qualificatlon or membefshlp ol professional bodres lrfanyl= ACA Imember of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Eng13nd and Walesl Addre55: Uangoed. Ruthin Road, Mold, CH7 IQQ Date.. 13" May 2025 30
In alphabetical order >
ATKINSON, John (Trustee, Wildlife Recorder and Events Manager): 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 prehistory and archaeology (including working as a volunteer for Heneb (previously 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. Well-versed in the use of computer spreadsheets and project planning. Experience of working for a local church and other local bodies.
CHADWICK, John (Trustee, and Operations Manager) : is an environmental scientist by background: he specialised in animal parasitology and livestock husbandry in the UK. He was Principal Scientist and then Head of Environmental Science (with responsibility for 30 scientific experts) at the Health and Safety Executive’s headquarters in Bootle and York, focussing on environmental toxicology issues. He has a PGCE in biology and was associate course leader in environmental toxicology at the University of Central Lancashire. Also a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s toxicology group and was involved in teaching PhD students' environmental toxicology. Since retiring, he has become a very active volunteer in North Wales. He is skilled in coppicing, hedge-laying, habitat conservation, dry stone walling, and lime-mortaring. He has extensive experience of small-scale wildlife conservation work. Recently, he monitored several sites for otter activity to inform Cardiff University’s periodic otter survey. He is a regular volunteer on gardening and wildlife tasks for FoBH-FfByB in Mold. He is also a keen gardener, and explorer of North Wales.
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CONSIDINE, Mary (Trustee, and Lead on Education): Mary was a college lecturer at Deeside College for many years, teaching essential literacy and numeracy to adults and older teenagers. She worked for Coleg Cambria, supporting groups of students with learning disabilities. She has a BA in Business Studies and a postgraduate 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.
DELANEY, Prudence Jane (Trustee, and Wildlife/Biodiversity Lead): Pru worked for the National Health Service for 30 years. Her career started locally with nursery nursing, then dealing with patients with learning difficulties, before focussing on a wide range of physiotherapy, occupational therapy and rehabilitation services, notably for ten years at the Charing Cross Hospital in London. Since retiring, she has been a very active volunteer in many local conservation and restoration projects with the North Wales Wildlife Trust on NWWT reserves. She had completed many courses for volunteers, and is very knowledgeable on insects and birds. She collects data for the UK BMS Butterfly Monitoring scheme at Aberduna Maeshafn, Flintshire. She is also a regular volunteer for FoBH-FfByB on gardening and wildlife at Bailey Hill park in Mold. She is also able to speak Welsh.
HUGHES, Eira (Trustee, and Chair): retired former regeneration specialist, town planner, and landscape architect. Ran her own consultancy firm for 10 years, and was a CABE/Design Council (England) Enabler on planning/design/ landscape issues. That followed 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. Has prepared and delivered £MM projects and programmes. Much experience of policy development on sustainability, environmental issues, and conservation; also, of managing ‘streetscene’ services, a sports/leisure stadium, and many parks, including several Green Flag parks. Amenity gardening skills. Fluent in Welsh.
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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 FoBHFfByB’s bilingual notices, official correspondence, and newsletters. Fluent in Welsh.
PREECE, Hilary (Trustee, and Vice-Chair, and Director of Finance): retired after a long and varied career in a major UK clearing bank working mostly in North Wales and the north of England. Shortly after retirement Hilary moved back to North Wales. Now living in Mold, she is a passionate dog lover and enjoys dog training, gardening, baking, protecting local wildlife and local history.
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This Report is signed and dated by the Chair on behalf of the current Board of Trustees by:
Eira Hughes (Chair/Cadeirydd)
28 JULY 2025
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