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 2024
1
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. As at 31/12/2024 there were eight trustees and a list of trustees is 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 re-imbursement for any expenses, incurred on trust business. Currently no trustee receives any car or motoring expenses.
In addition to the Management Board, there are three 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.
2
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) Robert D. Cowcill Andrew Curwen (Honorary Treasurer) Peter J Hiller Brian Lawrence Claire J Noble Lauren N Saunby Justin S Tilley.
3. Bankers
Metro Bank plc. 29 Long Causeway, Peterborough. PE1 1YJ
4. Independent Examiner of Accounts
Ian Mace, ACA, 2 Garden Close, Grantham, NG31 9EF.
5. Solicitors for the Trust
Roythornes Solicitors, Enterprise Way, Spalding, Lincolnshire PE11 3YR
6. Insurance Brokers
PIB Insurance Brokers, 1 Penman Way, Grove Park, Leicester. LE19 1SY
3
7. Annual Report of the Chair of the Trust.
2024 was a significant year for the Trust as we celebrated our 25[th] anniversary with record membership numbers and a 10% increase in our landholdings through the purchase of a new reserve at Christ’s College Pits. We were also able to move the John Clare Countryside project significantly forward.
Over the course of the year, we continued to engage our members ( strategic objectives 1 and 5 ) and other visitors through a programme of monthly events, ranging from walks around our reserves, visits to other local sites, training and identification courses and illustrated talks. We also introduced a new Langdyke Book Club which proved immediately popular. Our members continued to enjoy opportunities to volunteer on the reserves and to use our Facebook Private Group – which has now over 1000 members - to post their photos and seek guidance on identification. In the previous year membership declined slightly. In 2024 it has leapt back as a result of the structured membership recruitment and retention strategy put in place by our People and Communities Team. Our Artists in Residence delivered a full programme during the year, including workshops for members and a wonderfully curated exhibition of their work.
Our reserves ( strategic objectives 2 and 3 ) are managed under the supervision of the Trust’s Reserves Committee. In 2024 we completed the purchase of 22 acres of wetland, meadow and woodland at Christ’s College Pits and were able to start initial work on site, designed to encourage greater access and improved nature rich habitats. Initial surveys of the site have demonstrated its importance for nature, particularly invertebrates and wild-flowers. We are now working with the Environment Agency to improve access to the general public off the Maxey Cut and are in negotiations with neighbouring landowners to increase the size of the reserve. We were also able to install new viewing facilities for the general public at our Vergette Wood Meadow reserve and to create three new ponds at our Etton High Meadow reserve, both thanks to a significant donation from a Langdyke member, benefiting both people and nature.
We continued our work to help nature recover across the wider countryside (strategic objective 4) and held two conferences during the year to promote the John Clare Countryside, the first attended by the Leader of Peterborough City Council and the Elected Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Both offered ringing endorsements of the project as follows: Leader of Peterborough City Council, Councillor Dennis Jones said: “It was fantastic to see the passion and ambition in the room at the conference and hear more about this exciting project. This is a vitally important project for the people of Peterborough – one that can help us deliver our ambitious growth agenda to improve social, economic and health outcomes across the city. The project has the potential to be an internationally significant example of how we can combine nature, arts and heritage under the banner of Britain’s greatest nature poet, to deliver
4
better health, community cohesion and overall quality of life. It truly is a project for Peterborough and our residents and one that I am very happy to get behind and help make happen!”
Mayor Dr Nik Johnson said, “This was an excellent event about an inspirational project. The John Clare Countryside has the unique potential to address so many key themes: enhancing health and well-being, restoring nature and mitigating climate change, creating sustainable models of farming and a vibrant and internationally renowned landscape that puts our region firmly on the map as a centre for nature-based solutions. The unifying figure of John Clare, the country’s foremost poet of nature, and someone who struggled through poverty and ill health, gives it real resonance as an exemplar of how we can mobilise arts and heritage to help enhance outcomes for all.”
As part of the John Clare Countryside Project, 2024 saw the planting of new hedgerows in Helpston and Maxey and the restoration of a significant pond in Ailsworth parish.
8. Achievements against objectives set
The Trust’s strategy sets out five key objectives, as set out below, a review of progress against objectives is contained in the Chair’s annual report above.
-
To increase membership year on year.
-
To enhance its existing reserves for nature
-
To expand its reserves
-
To promote the John Clare Countryside
-
To engage and inspire its members.
2024 saw significant progress against each of these objectives. Membership has continued to increase and is now at record levels. Our nature reserves are increasing their biodiversity value year on year, as shown by our regular surveys of each site, particularly in terms of invertebrate species, and we have most significantly been able to increase our landholdings by over 10% through the acquisition of Christ’s College Reserve. Progress with the John Clare Countryside is recorded in section seven of this report.
The Trust’s Trustees also took time to review the mid-long-term future of the charity, particularly focusing on whether the growth opportunities that are coming forward to take on more reserves, are achievable within the context of the Trust’s purely volunteer
5
approach to resourcing. A strategic workshop agreed to continue with the current approach for the foreseeable future but to start conversations with key local charitable partners about potential partnerships or even mergers that could address this emerging issue. These initial conversations took place in the last months of 2024 and are ongoing at the time of writing this report.
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.
During 2024 we were also able to engage a number of local companies in our work, organising and delivering corporate work parties on a number of occasions for companies such as Caterpillar, Compare the Market and Wave.
10. Financial Review
2024 was a busy financial year for the Trust with continued fund raising and significant spend - principally on the Purchase of Christ’s College Pit. As a result, there was as planned, an overall deficit in the year of £41,616. However, after significant fund raising in 2023 and 2024 our financial position remains good with an increase in unrestricted funds of 8.7% to just over £50,000. Pleasingly, subscription income has held up helped by £1,200 of income from a small number of new lifetime members. Excluding the income from the lifetime members, subscriptions rose around 12% in 2024.
Total income for the year amounted to £86,972 – a small decrease from 2023 (£89,584). Income for unrestricted purposes amounted to £34,203 – a 16% increase on 2023 (£29,467) mainly due to higher membership subscriptions and interest income as a result of rate improvements. Restricted income however dropped from £60,116 in 2023 to £52,770 in 2024 mainly as a result of the differing fundraising activities in the 2 years.
6
The major elements of our restricted income arose from:
-
Further fundraising for the opportunity to purchase a strategic reserve from Christ’s College Cambridge - £28,250 . of which £26,520 was received from Augean through the Grantscape fund
-
grants received from the Environment Agency relating to work at Maxey Cut (£7,500), Compare the Market (£6,000) and ongoing funding from National Grid plc in connection with Bainton Heath (£10,750).
Government Agricultural Subsidies, such as Basic Farm Payments, Entry and Higher-level stewardship totalled £19,256 versus £17,761 in 2023. The regime around such payments from Government is changing and we can expect reductions relating to each parcel of land in the future. These payments are very important to the trust and represent a significant portion of the trust’s unrestricted revenue. The changing regime continues to be monitored carefully by the trust.
Apart from immaterial amounts received via the Charities Aid Foundation of America, the trust received income only from sources within the United Kingdom during the year.
Expenditure amounted to £128,588 (versus £28,633 in 2023). This major change was principally driven by a significant increase in reserves spend, which rose from £10,176 in 2023 to £118,536 in 2024 and included:
-
the purchase of Christ’s College Pit for £52,701 (including professional fees) and subsequent reserve spend of around £6,500
-
£29,500 of expenditure from the Capital Projects restricted funds including: a pond at Etton High Meadow, a viewing platform and other work at Vergette’s Meadow and improvements to the car park at Swaddywell Pit
-
emergency work to remove Crassula at Etton Maxey of £7,500
-
an increase in spend at Bainton Heath of over £5,000 despite access difficulties
-
essential equipment purchased using the PECT restricted fund of around £2,600.
After all the above items, regular expenditure on reserves was around £14,700 versus of £10,176 in 2023 and £16,834 in 2022. Excluding the reserves expenditure, the main changes in expenditure from the prior year were:
-
a reduction in specific Health and Safety spend as the £4,656 in 2023 included the purchase of 2 defibrillators and first aid courses for volunteers which are on a 3-year rolling programme
-
a relative absence of professional fees not charged to a related restricted fund
7
- £1,296 of spend on community projects in 2024 versus £4,358 in 2023.
In 2024 nearly 95% of our total expenditure of £128,588 related to: work on, or health and safety at, the reserves, equipment purchase and maintenance, and community projects. Of the remaining 5%, 2.2% was on insurance, 2.0% for publicity and members’ events, and around 1% on administration.
Unrestricted cash reserves rose 8.7% from £46,188 at 31 December 2023 to £50,219 at 31 December 2024. Restricted cash reserves decreased from £127,463 in 2023 to £81,817 at the 2024 year end. After a relatively low level of spend in unrestricted funds versus income in 2023 and 2024 we expect an increase in 2025 as various essential works at the reserves are planned in the budget.
The trust has a policy that recommends that cash reserves should not fall below an average of 4 months expenditure. The current unrestricted cash reserves indicate that the trust continues to operate within this threshold.
As reported last year, in 2022 the trust used, for the first time, the services of a Professional fund raiser to assist in the successful fundraising for the purchase of Christ’s College Pit. A further payment of £500 was made to the same fund raiser in 2023. No payments were made for fund raising assistance in 2024.
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 2024 the Trust received income from Government Subsidy for Higher Level Stewardship and Basic Farm Payments of £19,256 (£17,761 in 2023). It also received restricted income of £7,500 from the Environment Agency for the Trust’s assistance with work to be undertaken at Maxey Cut.
Richard Astle Chair of Trustees 18 July 2024
Andrew Curwen Honorary Treasurer 18 July 2024
8
LANGDYKE COUNTRYSIDE TRUST CIO
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR
TO 31 DECEMBER 2024
| RECEIPTS Subscriptions Donations - restricted Donations unrestricted Grants Government Rural Subsidies Income from Events Other income Interest Total Receipts PAYMENTS Governance Costs Administrative and IT Costs Training Costs and Health and Safety Publicity and Communications Professional Advice Management of Animal Flock Purchase of Equipment Maintenance of Assets Insurances Property Expenses Cost of Events for Members Community Projects incl JCC Expenditure on Reserves Total Payments Surplus /(Deficit)on Year |
Unrestricted Funds | Unrestricted Funds | Restricted Funds | Restricted Funds | Total funds | Total funds | Previous Year | Previous Year | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ 9,093.85 0.00 320.69 0.00 19,256.04 807.44 0.00 4,724.35 |
£ 34,202.37 30,171.73 4,030.64 |
£ 0.00 28,520.00 0.00 24,250.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 |
£ 52,770.00 98,416.44 (45,646.44) |
£ 9,093.85 28,520.00 320.69 24,250.00 19,256.04 807.44 0.00 4,724.35 |
£ 86,972.37 128,588.17 (41,615.80) |
£ 6,997.84 41,366.22 708.59 18,750.00 17,761.36 698.64 1,750.00 1,551.47 |
£ 89,584.12 28,633.42 60,950.70 |
2 3 4 5 6 6 6 7 8 9 |
|
| 186.00 701.85 11.00 1,600.28 52.00 826.41 699.68 445.50 2,848.02 358.53 1,026.40 1,295.83 20,120.23 |
0.00 0.00 98,416.44 |
186.00 701.85 11.00 1,600.28 52.00 826.41 699.68 445.50 2,848.02 358.53 1,026.40 1,295.83 118,536.67 |
144.00 424.73 4,656.79 722.14 1,248.00 705.56 1,425.23 1,208.11 2,114.77 278.48 1,172.06 4,357.58 10,175.97 |
||||||
| 30,171.73 | 98,416.44 | 28,633.42 57,266.84 |
1
LANGDYKE COUNTRYSIDE TRUST CIO
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR TO 31 DECEMBER 2024
| Unrestricted Funds | Unrestricted Funds | Restricted Funds | Restricted Funds | Total funds | Total funds | Previous Year | Previous Year | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CASH ACCOUNT Cash funds brought /fwd. at 1 January Adj for £50 float paid into bank 16/3/23 Adj for de minimis old funds written off Surplus/(Deficit)for year Cash funds carried /fwd. at 31 December |
£ 46,188.41 0.00 0.00 4,030.64 |
£ 127,463.49 0.00 0.00 (45,646.44) |
£ 173,651.90 0.00 0.00 (41,615.80) |
£ 112,751.20 (50.00) 0.00 60,950.70 |
10 & 11 | ||||
| 50,219.05 | 81,817.05 | 132,036.10 | 173,651.90 |
2
LANGDYKE COUNTRYSIDE TRUST CIO
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR
TO 31 DECEMBER 2024
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/other assets are shown as part of the revenue account and charged in total in the year of purchase.
| 2 - Subscriptions Subscriptions Lifetime Subscriptions Gift aid Tax Refunds 3 - Donations - restricted Christ College Pits appeal Capital projects Capital projects - Gift aid Tax Refund Other donations 4 - Grants Received National Grid plc - Bainton Heath Compare the Market Environment Agency - Maxey Cut Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT) 5 - Government Rural Subsidies Basic Farm Payment for year Higher Level Stewardship Payment - Torpel Higher Level Stewardship Payment - Etton/Maxey Higher Level Stewardship Payment - Swaddywell Total Revenue for year |
31st Dec. 2024 £6,554.00 £1,200.00 £1,339.85 £9,093.85 2024 £28,520.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £28,520.00 2024 £10,750.00 £6,000.00 £7,500.00 £0.00 £24,250.00 2024 £8,902.54 £938.00 £7,701.00 £1,714.50 £19,256.04 |
31st Dec. 2023 £5,580.00 £0.00 £1,417.84 |
|---|---|---|
| £6,997.84 | ||
| 2023 £32,866.22 £0.00 £7,500.00 £1,000.00 |
||
| £41,366.22 | ||
| 2023 £10,750.00 £0.00 £0.00 £8,000.00 |
||
| £18,750.00 | ||
| 2023 £7,407.86 £938.00 £7,701.00 £1,714.50 |
||
| £17,761.36 |
3
LANGDYKE COUNTRYSIDE TRUST CIO RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR TO 31 DECEMBER 2024
6 - Training and Health and Safety, Governance Costs and Publicity and Communications
Training and Health and Safety decreased significantly in 2024 due to the absense of First Aid training (on a 3 year cycle) and the purchase of 2 defribilators both of which occurred in 2023. Governance Costs include costs associated with the AGM. Costs of producing the Annual Report are included in Publicity and Communications.
7 - Professional Fees.
| Fund Raising Advice on Subsidies Other 8. - Community Projects JCC (John Clare Countryside) - Bainton Heath - Etton/Maxey Pit - Etton High Meadow - Vergette's Meadow - Swaddywell - Torpel Field - Christ's College Pit - Capital Projects Appeal - Compare the Market - PECT - General - incl M'ladys/Viewing platform 9 - Expenditure on Reserves (inc. restricted Funds) |
2024 £0.00 £0.00 £52.00 £52.00 Unrestricted Restricted Total 2024 £1,295.83 £1,295.83 £1,295.83 £0.00 £1,295.83 Unrestricted Restricted 2024 £0.00 £5,621.19 £5,621.19 £12,043.61 £12,043.61 £1,710.33 £1,710.33 £2,332.66 £2,332.66 £1,615.13 £1,615.13 £705.85 £705.85 £59,200.26 £59,200.26 £29,508.00 £29,508.00 £1,443.99 £1,443.99 £2,643.00 £2,643.00 £1,712.65 £1,712.65 £20,120.23 £98,416.44 £118,536.67 |
2023 £500.00 £360.00 £388.00 £1,248.00 2023 £4,357.58 £4,357.58 2023 2022 £678.97 £4,553.00 £4,312.14 £6,985.84 £1,225.92 £1,633.33 £1,396.00 £1,150.15 £2,166.94 £1,973.56 £0.00 £538.60 £300.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £96.00 £0.00 |
|---|---|---|
| £10,175.97 £16,834.48 |
4
LANGDYKE COUNTRYSIDE TRUST CIO
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR
TO 31 DECEMBER 2024
| 10 - Restricted Fund Balances Capital Projects Appeal Christ College Pits Appeal National Grid - Bainton Heath Other restricted donations Viewing Platform at Etton Peterborough Environment City Trust Compare the Market.com Environment Agency - Maxey Cut Total Restricted Funds |
Balance at 1 January 2024 Income Expenditure Other Adj Balance at 31 December 2024 £37,500.00 (£29,508.00) £7,992.00 £47,208.81 £28,520.00 (£59,200.26) £16,528.55 £35,244.68 £10,750.00 (£5,621.19) £40,373.49 £0.00 £0.00 (£490.00) (£490.00) £8,000.00 (£2,643.00) £5,357.00 £0.00 £6,000.00 (£1,443.99) £4,556.01 £0.00 £7,500.00 £7,500.00 |
|---|---|
| £127,463.49 £52,770.00 (£98,416.44) £0.00 £81,817.05 |
Expenditure on Capital Projects included a Pond at Etton High Meadow and other works at both Swaddywell Pit and Vergette's Meadow. Expenditure on Christ's College included the initial purchase of £52,701 and subsequent work including a biodiversity survey, clearing work and signage.
Other adjustments totalling £344.71 were made in 2023 to write up/down to zero those funds (both positive and negative) which were effectively defunct with no further activity. As no specific fundraising was launched for the viewing platform at Etton, the intention in 2025 is to write off the remaining negative balance against unrestricted reserves.
| 11 - Cash Balances at period end Ordinary Account - Metro Bank Deposit Account 1 - Metro Bank Deposit Account 2 - Metro Bank Virgin Money 35 day Deposit Account Less Unpresented cheques |
£13,057.12 £0.00 £117,968.77 £1,010.21 £132,036.10 £0.00 £132,036.10 As at 31 December 2024 |
£4,006.27 £20,883.21 £148,762.42 £0.00 £173,651.90 £0.00 £173,651.90 As at 31 December 2023 |
£4,006.27 £20,883.21 £148,762.42 £0.00 £173,651.90 £0.00 £173,651.90 As at 31 December 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| £173,651.90 |
5
LANGDYKE COUNTRYSIDE TRUST CIO
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR
TO 31 DECEMBER 2024
12 - 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 Christ's College Pit Reserve enhancements Mobile equipment Container |
Assets as at 1/1/2024 Purchases Disposals Assets as at 31/12/2024 £85,000 £0 £0 £85,000 £35,214 £0 £0 £35,214 £35,000 £0 £0 £35,000 £11,300 £0 £0 £11,300 £0 £52,701 £0 £52,701 £29,058 £32,440 £0 £61,498 £3,203 £2,643 £0 £5,846 £1,500 £0 £0 £1,500 |
|---|---|
| £200,275 £87,784 £0 £288,059 |
The current values of the land purchased may be different to the historical numbers shown above but it is the view of the Trustees that reflecting updated valuations would provide no meaningful additional information to an understanding of the financial position of the Trust.
The additions in Reserve enhancements comprise: a new workshop (£3,130) and car park (£6,715) at Swaddywell, a pond at Etton High Meadow (£13,140) and a viewing platform at Vergette Meadow (£9,455). All of these items were paid for out of appropriate restricted funds.
13 - Liabilities
The Trustees of Langdyke Countryside Trust CIO are not aware of any significant or contingent liabilities as at the date of approving these accounts.
Signed as approved by the Trustees on 20 March 2025.
R. Astle
A. Curwen
Richard H. Astle
Chair and Trustee Date 20/03/2025
Andrew Curwen Trustee and Honorary Treasurer Date 20/03/2025
6
LANGDYKE COUNTRYSIDE TRUST CIO
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR
TO 31 DECEMBER 2024
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 2024, which are set out on pages 1 to 6.
Respective responsibilities of the trustees and examiner
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 respects the requirements to keep proper accounting records or to prepare accounts which accord with these 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.
I. Mace
Ian Mace ACA
Independent Examiner: Dated 17 April 2025
7
LANGDYKE COUNTRYSIDE TRUST CIO
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR
TO 31 DECEMBER 2024
| RECEIPTS Subscriptions Donations - restricted Donations unrestricted Grants Government Rural Subsidies Income from Events Other income Interest Total Receipts PAYMENTS Governance Costs Administrative and IT Costs Training Costs and Health and Safety Publicity and Communications Professional Advice Management of Animal Flock Purchase of Equipment Maintenance of Assets Insurances Property Expenses Cost of Events for Members Community Projects incl JCC Expenditure on Reserves Total Payments Surplus /(Deficit)on Year |
Unrestricted Funds | Unrestricted Funds | Restricted Funds | Restricted Funds | Total funds | Total funds | Previous Year | Previous Year | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ 9,093.85 0.00 320.69 0.00 19,256.04 807.44 0.00 4,724.35 |
£ 34,202.37 30,171.73 4,030.64 |
£ 0.00 28,520.00 0.00 24,250.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 |
£ 52,770.00 98,416.44 (45,646.44) |
£ 9,093.85 28,520.00 320.69 24,250.00 19,256.04 807.44 0.00 4,724.35 |
£ 86,972.37 128,588.17 (41,615.80) |
£ 6,997.84 41,366.22 708.59 18,750.00 17,761.36 698.64 1,750.00 1,551.47 |
£ 89,584.12 28,633.42 60,950.70 |
2 3 4 5 6 6 6 7 8 9 |
|
| 186.00 701.85 11.00 1,600.28 52.00 826.41 699.68 445.50 2,848.02 358.53 1,026.40 1,295.83 20,120.23 |
0.00 0.00 98,416.44 |
186.00 701.85 11.00 1,600.28 52.00 826.41 699.68 445.50 2,848.02 358.53 1,026.40 1,295.83 118,536.67 |
144.00 424.73 4,656.79 722.14 1,248.00 705.56 1,425.23 1,208.11 2,114.77 278.48 1,172.06 4,357.58 10,175.97 |
||||||
| 30,171.73 | 98,416.44 | 28,633.42 57,266.84 |
1
LANGDYKE COUNTRYSIDE TRUST CIO
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR TO 31 DECEMBER 2024
| Unrestricted Funds | Unrestricted Funds | Restricted Funds | Restricted Funds | Total funds | Total funds | Previous Year | Previous Year | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CASH ACCOUNT Cash funds brought /fwd. at 1 January Adj for £50 float paid into bank 16/3/23 Adj for de minimis old funds written off Surplus/(Deficit)for year Cash funds carried /fwd. at 31 December |
£ 46,188.41 0.00 0.00 4,030.64 |
£ 127,463.49 0.00 0.00 (45,646.44) |
£ 173,651.90 0.00 0.00 (41,615.80) |
£ 112,751.20 (50.00) 0.00 60,950.70 |
10 & 11 | ||||
| 50,219.05 | 81,817.05 | 132,036.10 | 173,651.90 |
2
LANGDYKE COUNTRYSIDE TRUST CIO
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR
TO 31 DECEMBER 2024
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/other assets are shown as part of the revenue account and charged in total in the year of purchase.
| 2 - Subscriptions Subscriptions Lifetime Subscriptions Gift aid Tax Refunds 3 - Donations - restricted Christ College Pits appeal Capital projects Capital projects - Gift aid Tax Refund Other donations 4 - Grants Received National Grid plc - Bainton Heath Compare the Market Environment Agency - Maxey Cut Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT) 5 - Government Rural Subsidies Basic Farm Payment for year Higher Level Stewardship Payment - Torpel Higher Level Stewardship Payment - Etton/Maxey Higher Level Stewardship Payment - Swaddywell Total Revenue for year |
31st Dec. 2024 £6,554.00 £1,200.00 £1,339.85 £9,093.85 2024 £28,520.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £28,520.00 2024 £10,750.00 £6,000.00 £7,500.00 £0.00 £24,250.00 2024 £8,902.54 £938.00 £7,701.00 £1,714.50 £19,256.04 |
31st Dec. 2023 £5,580.00 £0.00 £1,417.84 |
|---|---|---|
| £6,997.84 | ||
| 2023 £32,866.22 £0.00 £7,500.00 £1,000.00 |
||
| £41,366.22 | ||
| 2023 £10,750.00 £0.00 £0.00 £8,000.00 |
||
| £18,750.00 | ||
| 2023 £7,407.86 £938.00 £7,701.00 £1,714.50 |
||
| £17,761.36 |
3
LANGDYKE COUNTRYSIDE TRUST CIO RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR TO 31 DECEMBER 2024
6 - Training and Health and Safety, Governance Costs and Publicity and Communications
Training and Health and Safety decreased significantly in 2024 due to the absense of First Aid training (on a 3 year cycle) and the purchase of 2 defribilators both of which occurred in 2023. Governance Costs include costs associated with the AGM. Costs of producing the Annual Report are included in Publicity and Communications.
7 - Professional Fees.
| Fund Raising Advice on Subsidies Other 8. - Community Projects JCC (John Clare Countryside) - Bainton Heath - Etton/Maxey Pit - Etton High Meadow - Vergette's Meadow - Swaddywell - Torpel Field - Christ's College Pit - Capital Projects Appeal - Compare the Market - PECT - General - incl M'ladys/Viewing platform 9 - Expenditure on Reserves (inc. restricted Funds) |
2024 £0.00 £0.00 £52.00 £52.00 Unrestricted Restricted Total 2024 £1,295.83 £1,295.83 £1,295.83 £0.00 £1,295.83 Unrestricted Restricted 2024 £0.00 £5,621.19 £5,621.19 £12,043.61 £12,043.61 £1,710.33 £1,710.33 £2,332.66 £2,332.66 £1,615.13 £1,615.13 £705.85 £705.85 £59,200.26 £59,200.26 £29,508.00 £29,508.00 £1,443.99 £1,443.99 £2,643.00 £2,643.00 £1,712.65 £1,712.65 £20,120.23 £98,416.44 £118,536.67 |
2023 £500.00 £360.00 £388.00 £1,248.00 2023 £4,357.58 £4,357.58 2023 2022 £678.97 £4,553.00 £4,312.14 £6,985.84 £1,225.92 £1,633.33 £1,396.00 £1,150.15 £2,166.94 £1,973.56 £0.00 £538.60 £300.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £96.00 £0.00 |
|---|---|---|
| £10,175.97 £16,834.48 |
4
LANGDYKE COUNTRYSIDE TRUST CIO
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR
TO 31 DECEMBER 2024
| 10 - Restricted Fund Balances Capital Projects Appeal Christ College Pits Appeal National Grid - Bainton Heath Other restricted donations Viewing Platform at Etton Peterborough Environment City Trust Compare the Market.com Environment Agency - Maxey Cut Total Restricted Funds |
Balance at 1 January 2024 Income Expenditure Other Adj Balance at 31 December 2024 £37,500.00 (£29,508.00) £7,992.00 £47,208.81 £28,520.00 (£59,200.26) £16,528.55 £35,244.68 £10,750.00 (£5,621.19) £40,373.49 £0.00 £0.00 (£490.00) (£490.00) £8,000.00 (£2,643.00) £5,357.00 £0.00 £6,000.00 (£1,443.99) £4,556.01 £0.00 £7,500.00 £7,500.00 |
|---|---|
| £127,463.49 £52,770.00 (£98,416.44) £0.00 £81,817.05 |
Expenditure on Capital Projects included a Pond at Etton High Meadow and other works at both Swaddywell Pit and Vergette's Meadow. Expenditure on Christ's College included the initial purchase of £52,701 and subsequent work including a biodiversity survey, clearing work and signage.
Other adjustments totalling £344.71 were made in 2023 to write up/down to zero those funds (both positive and negative) which were effectively defunct with no further activity. As no specific fundraising was launched for the viewing platform at Etton, the intention in 2025 is to write off the remaining negative balance against unrestricted reserves.
| 11 - Cash Balances at period end Ordinary Account - Metro Bank Deposit Account 1 - Metro Bank Deposit Account 2 - Metro Bank Virgin Money 35 day Deposit Account Less Unpresented cheques |
£13,057.12 £0.00 £117,968.77 £1,010.21 £132,036.10 £0.00 £132,036.10 As at 31 December 2024 |
£4,006.27 £20,883.21 £148,762.42 £0.00 £173,651.90 £0.00 £173,651.90 As at 31 December 2023 |
£4,006.27 £20,883.21 £148,762.42 £0.00 £173,651.90 £0.00 £173,651.90 As at 31 December 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| £173,651.90 |
5
LANGDYKE COUNTRYSIDE TRUST CIO
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR
TO 31 DECEMBER 2024
12 - 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 Christ's College Pit Reserve enhancements Mobile equipment Container |
Assets as at 1/1/2024 Purchases Disposals Assets as at 31/12/2024 £85,000 £0 £0 £85,000 £35,214 £0 £0 £35,214 £35,000 £0 £0 £35,000 £11,300 £0 £0 £11,300 £0 £52,701 £0 £52,701 £29,058 £32,440 £0 £61,498 £3,203 £2,643 £0 £5,846 £1,500 £0 £0 £1,500 |
|---|---|
| £200,275 £87,784 £0 £288,059 |
The current values of the land purchased may be different to the historical numbers shown above but it is the view of the Trustees that reflecting updated valuations would provide no meaningful additional information to an understanding of the financial position of the Trust.
The additions in Reserve enhancements comprise: a new workshop (£3,130) and car park (£6,715) at Swaddywell, a pond at Etton High Meadow (£13,140) and a viewing platform at Vergette Meadow (£9,455). All of these items were paid for out of appropriate restricted funds.
13 - Liabilities
The Trustees of Langdyke Countryside Trust CIO are not aware of any significant or contingent liabilities as at the date of approving these accounts.
Signed as approved by the Trustees on 20 March 2025.
R. Astle
A. Curwen
Richard H. Astle
Chair and Trustee Date 20/03/2025
Andrew Curwen Trustee and Honorary Treasurer Date 20/03/2025
6
LANGDYKE COUNTRYSIDE TRUST CIO
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR
TO 31 DECEMBER 2024
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 2024, which are set out on pages 1 to 6.
Respective responsibilities of the trustees and examiner
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 respects the requirements to keep proper accounting records or to prepare accounts which accord with these 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.
I. Mace
Ian Mace ACA
Independent Examiner: Dated 17 April 2025
7