LANGDYKE COUNTRYSIDE TRUST Registered as a Charity and Charitable Incorporated Organisation in England & Wales No 1180626
ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR 1 JANUARY to 31 DECEMBER 2021
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1. Governance
Langdyke Countryside Trust CIO was registered as a Charitable Incorporate Organisation (CIO) (no 1180626) by the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 9th November 2018. The objectives of the CIO are to promote the conservation, protection and enhancement of the biodiversity, landscape, natural and cultural heritage of the rural areas of Peterborough, for the benefit of local people, visitors and the general public; and to advance the education of the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of the rural areas of Peterborough, and its historic and cultural aspects.
These objectives are achieved by the conservation, protection and improvement of the natural environment and heritage in Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and South Lincolnshire through restoring and managing the habitat and promoting biological diversity to enhance people's enjoyment and understanding of wildlife and their heritage.
Langdyke Countryside Trust CIO is governed by its Constitution approved and registered by the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 9 November 2018. The Trust holds an Annual General Meeting, at which, all full paid-up members and honorary members, are entitled to attend and vote. This meeting elects the Trustees of the Trust.
The CIO is managed by its trustees supported by a Management Board. The number of trustees is set by the constitution and may be between four and twelve. Currently there are nine trustees and a list of trustees are given below. Trustees are appointed by the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Other members of the Management Board are appointed by the Board of Trustees. There is no set time period for service on the Management Board. The Management Board is responsible for the day-to-day management of the trust, such as setting budgets, approving all trust management policies and procedures, approving the trust accounts, etc. All Trustees are full members of the Management Board. The Management Board is chaired by the Chair of Trustees. Trustees receive no remuneration, but are entitled to reimbursement for any expenses, incurred on trust business. Currently no trustee receives any car or motoring expenses.
In addition to the Management Board, there are five strategy groups which are responsible for helping to achieve the Trust's five strategic objectives. these groups report to the Management Board and have executive functions delegated to them under the trust’s Scheme of Delegation.
Currently the Trust does not employ any paid staff, although it does use consultancy and professional services on a fee basis.
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There were no serious incidents in the trust for the period of this return.
2. Board of Trustees. (all trustees served throughout the year unless stated otherwise)
Richard H Astle (Chair of Trustees) David J. Alvey Michael J. Clatworthy (Retired 15/10/21) Robert D. Cowcill Christopher J. Gardiner Michael P. Horne (Retired 15/10/21) Brian Lawrence (Honorary Treasurer) Antony Mould Adam E Saunby Justin S Tilley Christopher. D. Topper.
3. Bankers
Metro Bank plc. 29 Long Causeway, Peterborough. PE1 1YJ
4. Independent Examiner of Accounts
Desmond Quinn BA ACMA., 30 Cherryfields, Ham Lane, Orton Waterville, Peterborough. PE2 5XD
5. Solicitors for the Trust
Roythornes Solicitors, Enterprise Way, Spalding, Lincolnshire PE11 3YR
6. Insurance Brokers
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PIB Insurance Brokers, 1 Penman Way, Grove Park, Leicester. LE19 1SY
7. Annual Report of the Chair of the Trust.
During 2021 the Trust continued to take forward its strategic objectives committing to significantly increasing its own land-holdings, doubling its membership and working with its partners to take forward the vision for nature recovery across John Clare Countryside.
The Trust is actively looking at ways in which it can increase its land-holdings and during the year commenced discussion with a number of local landowners about opportunities to purchase or lease more land contiguous with our existing reserves. In addition, we worked to secure extensions on the land we currently lease or manage under licence at Bainton Heath, Etton High Meadow and Vergette Wood Meadow. All of these opportunities should come to fruition in 2022.
We continued our careful management of our existing reserves. This included the installation of a new sand martin box at Vergette Wood Meadow and further work to reduce crassula and encourage nesting birds on the Etton Maxey Pits reserve. The small car park at Swaddywell was extended to help cater for visitors and areas of bramble were cleared from the roadway area. The orchard at Etton High Meadow continued to grow and the wildflower meadow there is developing, helped by some more seeding in the winter period. Key species such as turtle dove, grizzled skipper and man orchid continue to flourish on the reserves. Our flock of sheep continued to thrive and to fulfil their work, grazing the grasslands to help support the creation of wild-flower meadows.
Our offer to members continued to evolve too. In the year we greeted 10 external speakers, hosted 18 events and brought more than 250 people together. We launched a wildlife friendly gardening campaign, organised a glow worm survey by volunteer members, delivered three family fun days and two online quizzes. 82 people made pledges through the gardening campaign. Overall membership increased from 191 to 216 paid up members.
Langdyke Countryside Trust works in partnership with the John Clare Countryside partnership to achieve its objectives in the area. The John Clare partnership, conceived by Langdyke in 2019 - has gone from strength to strength, aided by a major grant from Government which allowed us, working through the Peterborough Environment City Trust, to establish a full-time project team in September 2021. This team has organised work parties and events, planting hundreds of metres of new hedgerow and thousands of bulbs. Just one example of its work is the new hedgerow along the road between Glinton and Helpston – something that will grow into a real feature of our landscape in the years to come. The team is also taking forward plans for new heritage trails across the countryside as well as working
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closely with local landowners to develop plans for nature recovery across the wider countryside. the project has its own website – www.johnclarecountryside.co.uk
8. Achievements against objectives set.
As set out above, the Trust continued to work towards the achievement of its objectives. Membership continues to increase and our offer to members is more diverse than ever before. We have opportunities to increase our land-holdings, while 2021 was a year of significant progress for the John Clare Countryside Project. An additional objective is to inspire our members through the creative arts, often with a link to the poet, John Clare. During the year we appointed a second artist in residence who took forward several important projects designed to engage and involve our members, including an art trail for the Trust’s open day in July 2021 and the collation of a collection of Langdyke inspired art at a local exhibition. There was also a creative workshop to celebrate the starling murmuration on the Etton Maxey Pits reserve.
9. Contributions made by volunteers.
Langdyke has no paid members of staff. All our activities are devised, organised and delivered by volunteers.
Each week there are at least two work parties on our reserves, with additional work parties organised from September onwards at other locations through the John Clare Countryside project. Behind the scenes we also have volunteer-led committees that plan our conservation work (The Reserves Committee), our membership recruitment and engagement (People and Communities Committee) and manage our operations (Finance and Governance Committee). In total we have well over 70 active volunteers, playing a key role in the delivery of our objectives. We hosted a small event for our volunteers late in 2021 to say thank you for their efforts, with hospitality donated by a corporate sponsor. The trust received only received income from sources within the United Kingdom during the year.
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10. Financial Review
As stated, above 2021 was greatly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic which delayed or deferred much of the work planned for the year. In spite of the Covid-19 pandemic work continued to increase the number of members which resulted in a 40% increase in membership subscriptions inc.
Total income for the year amounted to £35,773. The trust received only received income from sources within the United Kingdom during the year.
Government Agricultural Subsidies, such as Basic Farm Payments, Entry- and Higher-level stewardship (£20,582) are very important to the trust and represented over 50% of the trust’s revenue, in 2021. The figure was significantly larger than the 2020 figure because three of the receipts usual paid in December 2020 were not received until the first three months of 2021.
Expenditure which amounted to £27313, during the year was higher than 2020 because the Trust made a grant of £10,000 to assist local Parish Councils in preparing their Nature Recovery Plans. Much work planned on our reserves was delayed or deferred for a second year owing to Covid-19 restrictions. Hopefully, we will be able to undertake this work during 2022 as the work is vital to ensure that our nature reserves are kept in good condition. At least £3,000 of the cash reserves carried forward as being held to pay legal fees for work done in respect of three pieces of land being leased to the Trust.
Because of the delay in undertaking work during 2021 the Trust's unrestricted cash reserves increased by £ 2,966 to £47,875. The Management Board consider this level of reserves to be excessive. Plans had been made to undertake significant works on the nature reserves to improve habitat and these works delayed, will hopefully go ahead in 2022 which will reduce the cash balances of the Trust. The trust has adopted a policy of carrying forward each year, an amount equal to at least 30% of unrestricted income for the year.
The trust has a policy that recommends that cash reserves should not fall below an average of 4 months expenditure However, as explained about this level is currently being exceeded owing to delays with work caused by Covid-19 restrictions.
Because a significant proportion of the income of the Trust arises through Government Rural Subsidies, the Management Board has developed a Medium-Term Strategy for the Trust which includes a Financial Plan. This plan will examine the effect of the Government's new Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS) on the Trust's income streams.
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The trust does not use the services of Professional fund raisers.
The trust does not work neither did it have expenses outside England and Wales.
The trust receives no income from Central or Local Government Contracts during the year, neither has the Trust entered into any such contracts. During 2021 the Trust received income from Government Subsidy for Higher Level Stewardship and Basic Farm Payment of £20,582.
Richard Astle Chair of Trustees 16 July 2022
Brian Lawrence Honorary Treasurer 16 July 2022.
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LANGDYKE COUNTRYSIDE TRUST CIO
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR
TO 31 DECEMBER 2021
| RECEIPTS Subscriptions Donations Grants Government Rural Subsidies Income from Events Torpel Cabin Income Interest Total Receipts PAYMENTS Governance Costs Administrative and IT Costs Training Costs Publicity and Communications Professional Advice Archaeological Research Management of Animal Flock Purchase of Capital Assets Purchase of Equipment Maintenance of Assets Insurances Property Expenses Cost of Events for Members Community Projects Expenditure on Reserves Total Payments Surplus /(Deficit)on Year |
Unrestricted Funds | Unrestricted Funds | Restricted Funds | Restricted Funds | Total | funds | Previous Year | Previous Year | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ 7,055.49 575.06 0.00 20,581.99 138.72 120.00 35.11 |
£ 28,506.37 25,539.96 2,966.41 |
£ 0.00 0.00 7,266.18 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 |
£ 7,266.18 1,773.08 5,493.10 |
£ 7,055.49 575.06 7,266.18 20,581.99 138.72 120.00 35.11 |
£ 35,772.55 27,313.04 8,459.51 |
£ 5,014.71 145.00 10,000.00 11,160.90 0.00 0.00 81.52 |
£ 26,402.13 20,479.60 5,922.53 |
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 |
|
| 69.98 735.38 10.20 751.38 0.00 0.00 1,138.76 0.00 819.03 470.92 1,784.14 319.96 560.99 10,069.75 8,809.47 |
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,676.62 96.46 |
69.98 735.38 10.20 751.38 0.00 0.00 1,138.76 0.00 819.03 470.92 1,784.14 319.96 560.99 11,746.37 8,905.93 |
155.00 313.42 1,426.68 1,022.16 2,090.00 218.34 1,560.47 1,500.00 2,641.68 418.00 1,720.69 375.69 0.00 646.40 6,391.07 |
||||||
| 25,539.96 | 1,773.08 | 20,479.60 40,959.20 40,959.20 |
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LANGDYKE COUNTRYSIDE TRUST CIO
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR
TO 31 DECEMBER 2021
| Unrestricted Funds | Unrestricted Funds | Restricted Funds | Restricted Funds | Total | funds | Previous Year | Previous Year | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CASH ACCOUNT Cash funds brought /fwd. at 1 January Surplus/(Deficit)for year Cash funds carried /fwd. at 31 December |
44,908.65 2,966.41 |
465.58 5,493.10 |
45,374.23 8,459.51 |
39,451.70 5,922.53 |
9 & 10 | ||||
| 47,875.06 | 5,958.68 | 53,833.74 | 45,374.23 |
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LANGDYKE COUNTRYSIDE TRUST CIO
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR TO 31 DECEMBER 2021
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
1 - Accounting Policies
The Accounts of the Langdyke Countryside Trust Charitable Incorporated Organisation meet the requirements of the Charity Commission. Under section 133 of the Charities Act 2011 charities, that are not companies, are allowed to prepare receipts and payments accounts provided that the charity's gross income does not exceed £250,000. The trustees have therefore opted to take advantage of this provision and to prepare receipts and payments accounts.
As the accounts are prepared on a receipts and payments basis, all purchases of land and other assets are shown as part of the revenue account and charged in total in the year of purchase.
| 2 - Subscriptions 3 - Donations Donation from the previous unincorporated Langdyke Countryside Trust General Donations 4 - Grants Received Peterborough City Council Earl Fitzwilliam's Charity Welland River Trust Subscriptions Gift Aid Tax Refund |
31st Dec. 2021 £5,920.00 £1,135.49 £7,055.49 2021 £0.00 £575.06 £575.06 2021 £0.00 £2,500.00 £4,766.18 £7,266.18 |
31st Dec. 2020 £4,586.00 £428.71 |
|---|---|---|
| £5,014.71 | ||
| 2020 £0.00 £145.00 |
||
| £145.00 | ||
| 2020 £10,000.00 £0.00 £0.00 |
||
| £10,000.00 |
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LANGDYKE COUNTRYSIDE TRUST CIO
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR
TO 31 DECEMBER 2021
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LANGDYKE COUNTRYSIDE TRUST CIO
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR TO 31 DECEMBER 2021
| 5 - Government Rural Subsidies 2021 Basic Farm Payment for year £9,725.89 Higher Level Stewardship Payment - Torpel £938.00 Higher Level Stewardship Payment - Etton/Maxey £8,203.60 Higher Level Stewardship Payment - Swaddywell £1,714.50 Total Revenue for year £20,581.99 6 - Governance Costs 7. - Community Projects 2021 Barnack Area £166.37 Castor/Ailsworth Area £1,580.00 Parish Nature Recovery Projects £10,000.00 Barnack School Pond £0.00 Stamford Garden £0.00 £11,746.37 2021 - Bainton Heath £45.01 - Etton/Maxey Pit £4,587.84 - Etton High Meadow £243.70 - Vergettes Meadow £246.31 - Swaddywell £1,650.41 - Torpel Field £2,005.80 - General Expenses £126.86 Governance Costs include costs such as the Annual Report, AGM and Management Committee Meetings. 8 - Expenditure on Reserves (inc. restricted Funds) |
2020 £10,223.90 £937.00 £0.00 £0.00 |
|---|---|
| £11,160.90 | |
| 2020 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £500.00 £146.40 |
|
| £646.40 | |
| 2020 £137.00 £2,280.14 £1,355.59 £498.00 £1,357.09 £162.40 £600.85 |
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LANGDYKE COUNTRYSIDE TRUST CIO
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR
TO 31 DECEMBER 2021
Total £8,905.93 £6,391.07
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LANGDYKE COUNTRYSIDE TRUST CIO
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR
TO 31 DECEMBER 2021
| ~~Transfer in~~ | ~~Transfer in~~ | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 - Restricted Fund Balances GPOG donation for Swaddywell Welland River Trust Transfer from Friends of Barnack Earl Fitzwilliam Charity NeneScape Footpath Leaflet Book Reprint Fund Total Restricted Funds 10 - Cash Balances at period end Ordinary Account - Metro Bank Ordinary Account - Barclays Bank Deposit Account - Metro Bank Deposit Account - Barclays Bank Less Unpresented cheques Cash in Hand (Petty Cash Imprest) |
as at 1 January 2021 Income Expenditure Balance as at 31 December 2021 £96.46 £0.00 £96.46 £0.00 £0.00 £4,766.18 £0.00 £4,766.18 £156.62 £0.00 £156.62 £0.00 £0.00 £2,500.00 £1,520.00 £980.00 £241.00 £0.00 £0.00 £241.00 -£28.50 £0.00 £0.00 (£28.50) £465.58 £7,266.18 £1,773.08 £5,958.68 December 2021 December 2020 £6,328.89 £3,460.95 £0.00 £1,818.94 £48,268.85 £40,183.74 £0.00 £54,597.74 43.22 £45,506.85 £814.00 £182.62 £53,783.74 £45,324.23 £50.00 £50.00 £53,833.74 £45,374.23 |
|
| December 2021 £6,328.89 £0.00 £48,268.85 £0.00 £54,597.74 £814.00 £53,783.74 £50.00 £53,833.74 |
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| The two Barclays Bank Accounts were the Bank Accounts for the previous non-incorporated Langdyke Trust and they were closed during 2021. |
The two Barclays Bank Accounts were the Bank Accounts for the previous non-incorporated Langdyke Trust and they were closed during 2021.
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LANGDYKE COUNTRYSIDE TRUST CIO
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR
TO 31 DECEMBER 2021
10 - Tangible Assets retained for the Trust's own use (at cost)
As all asset purchases are charged to the revenue account at the time of purchase no depreciation is shown in this table
| Torpel Field Torpel Cabin Swaddywell Pit Swaddywell Cabin Reserve infrastructure Mobile equipment Container |
Asset transfer as at 1/1/2021 Purchases Disposals As at 31/12/2021 £85,000 £0 £0 £85,000 £35,214 £0 £0 £35,214 £35,000 £0 £0 £35,000 £11,300 £0 £0 £11,300 £29,058 £0 £0 £29,058 £3,203 £0 £0 £3,203 £1,500 £0 £0 £1,500 |
|---|---|
| £200,275 £0 £0 £200,275 |
11 - Liabilities
The Trustees of Langdyke Countryside Trust CIO are not aware of any significant or contingent liabilities as at the date of the approving these accounts.
Signed as approved by the trustees on 23 January 2022.
R. Astle
Richard H. Astle
Chair and Trustee 23 January 2022
B Lawrence Brian Lawrence Trustee and Honorary Treasurer 23 January 2022
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LANGDYKE COUNTRYSIDE TRUST CIO
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR
TO 31 DECEMBER 2021
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S STATEMENT
Independent examiner's report to the Trustees of Langdyke Countryside Trust
I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 December 2021, which are set out on pages 1 to 6.
Respective responsibilities of the trustees and examiners
The trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required but that an independent examination is required.
It is my responsibility to:
examine the accounts, and
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiners report
An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the trust and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements to keep proper accounting records have not been met or to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
D.Quinnn
Independent Examiner: Desmond Quinn BA ACMA Dated 15 February 2022