Charity Number: 1183986
FRIENDS OF ThE LOWER DERwE￿ VALLEY CONSERVATION GROUP
(Charitable Incorporated (￿ganisat￿)n)
FINANCIAL sTATEmE￿rs
Perlod ended
31 Decemw 2024
Phcenlx AccountsrKy and Business COn￿ltanCY Limited

FRIENDS OF THE LOWER DERWE
VALLEY CONSERVATION GROUP
"Charty Number: 1183986
Contents to the Financial Ststements
For the period ended 31 December 2024
Page
Trustees Annual Repx)rt
Independent Examiners, Report
11
Receipts.and Payments Account
12
ststement of Assets and Liabilities
13
Notes to the Financial Statements

FRIENDS OF THE LOWER DERWENT
VALLEY CONSERVATION GROUP
Charity Number: 1183986
Trustees Annual Report
For the period ending 31 December 2024
The Trustees present their report with the independently examined financial statements
of Friends of the Lower Derwent Valley ConseNation Group, a Charitable InCo￿orated
Organisation (CIO), for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Reference and Administrative Details of the Charity, its Trustees and
Advisers.
me
Friends of the Lower Derwent Valley Con*rvation
Group
Chari
Re
istration Number:
1183986
Contsct A
ress:
Friends of the Lower Derwent Valley Con*rvation
Group
Natural England
Church Lar
Wheldrake
York
Y019 6FE
Trustees
Names of trustees who served during the period were as follows:
Michael Frederick jaCk￿)n
Jo2phlne Jean Thorpe MBE
Nicholas Carter
John Matthew Stone
Inde
endent Examiner
Rebecca Triffitt MAAT
ph￿niX Aco)untsncy and Busine￿ Consultan0/
Limited
Morfevs Cottage
Modevs Yard
Walkergate
verley
East Yorkshire
HU17 9BY

FRIENDS OF THE LOWER DERWE
VALLEY CONSERVATION GROUP
Charty Number: 1183986
Trustees Annual Report
For the period ending 31 December 2024
Bankers
Hse£
Market Pla
Selby
North Yorkshire
Goole
Y08 4PA
Structure, Governance and Management
Governing Document
Friends of the Lower Derwent Valley Conservation Group is a Charitsble Incorporated
Organisation (CIO) governed by its constitution (FourKJatK)n model), registered with the
Charity Comrnission on 20 June 2019.
Recruitment and Appoinln*nt of Trustees
The Constitution outlines the prc￿u￿ ft)r the appointment of Trustees. There must
a minMum of 3 truSt￿S and thére Is no maximum number of Trustees.
Trustees a￿ eletted for a.term of two years by a reg)lution passed at a prO￿rIY
COnver￿d meeting of the Charity Trustees. Any person retiring as a Charity Trustee Is
eligible for reappointment.
Trustee Induction and Training
All Trustees are provided with a copy of the Constitution, Charity ComMiss￿n guidan
'Tre Essential Trustee" and a copy of the CIO'S latest Trustees Annual Rep)rt and
financial statements.
Organisational Structure
The charity is managed by the PA)ard of Trustees and is responsible for all strategic
decisDns. Trustees are made aware that any conflicts of interest must be declared and
mlnuted.

FRIENDS OF TrIE LOWER DERWE
VALLEY CONSERVATION GROUP
Charlty Numter: 1183986
Trustees Annual Report
For the period ending 31 December 2024
Risk Management
The major risks to which the charty Is expos&J, as identffied by the Trustees, are
regularly reviewed and systems have been established to mttigate those risks.
Objectiv&s and Activities
The objects of the charity as set out in the constitutKJn are:
"To promote for the public benefft the conservation, protection and
improvement of the physiol and natural environment of the Lower Derwent
Valley, in particular but not exclugvely by condutting environmental
improvement works and provEding or assisting in the provision of re*arch
activrties relevant to the species and the habitat of the Lower Derwent Valley
and to publish the u*ful results thereof.
To advance the education of the publK in the consewdtion,.protection and
improvement of the physical and naturnl environment of the Lower Derwent
Valley."
The Trustees have given regard to the Tharity Commission guidan￿ on public benefit."
Achievement and Performance
Review of Activities 2024
2024 was another successful year wth many positrve developments Includlng more
strategic land purchases and continuing conservation management of our existing land
holdings in the Valley. Further ongoing Su￿eY aThJ research was undertaken to help
underpin the charivs aims. It is pleasing to note that we remain in a strong fi'nancial
posilion wtth additional income streams. and a continued recovery in ac￿SSing grants
again to support our ambitions.
Land
urchase
We continue to look for opportuntties, acting erther on our own behalf or working in
partnership with other conservation organisalions, to a(4uire land of conservation value
within the Valley.

FRIENDS OF THE LOWER DERWE
VALLEY CONSERVATION GROUP
Chaiity Number: 1183986
Trustees Annual Report
For the period ending 31 December 2024
Athievement and Performance '
Review of Activities 2024 (contlnued)
As planned. the land al Acaster Malbis on whith we completed the purthase in 2023
continued to be held and managed as a traditional hay rneadow during 2024. The
ownership of this land will be transferred to the Yotkshire Wildlife Trust in exchange for
land which they own wthin the Lower DeNEnt Valley plus the differen￿ in agreed
value being paid to us in cash.
Working in partnership wth Carstairs Countyside Trust we were able to complete on
the purchase of 15 acres at Melbourne and Thomton Ings, induding SSSI and non
SSSI meadows. We a￿0 worked with Carstairs Countryside Trusl to purchase most of
land at North Duffield Ings which remained outside of the ownership of conservalion
bodies. This was in addition to a 9-acre parcel of traditional meadow at North Duffield
Ings which we were able to purchase acting on our own behalf and which completed
just before the end of 2024
Once these transactions are ￿1Mpleted, we will have a total of 8 landholdings in the
Valley covering 60 acres (24 hectares). Of these 18 acres fall outSFde the existing
formal conservation designated network but which enable the existing conservation
areas lo be buffered from deyelopment pressures. Our landholding is in five differerTrt
sites across the Valley giving us a Vol￿ in wider conservation management policy.
All land holdings are in or planned to be in the pipeline for Countryside Stewardship and
as such provide a valuable Sour￿ of income for land management and our further
ongoing activities.
Land Mana
ement
New Meadow- North Duffield Carrs
Having completed the land purchase and earfy hedge planting at 'New Meadow, _ the
11-acre arable reversion site adja￿nt to North DuFFtekl Carrs, habitat management work
continued durFng the first half of 2024. Over 1500 hedging plants were planted to
complete a new dividing hedge, the field was fenced with a￿sS gates and the two halves
were sown as a wild ftower meadow and wild bird mix. Both crops grew well and the
new wli d flower meadow. was topped in mid-september to thicken the sward and then
was grazed off by a local fartner in late November. This area proved attractive for
butterflies and damseMEs during the year and up to 40 Brown Hares were using the site
in autumn, whilst the wild bird mix attracted fiocks of feeding linnet (up to 150) and
Goldfinth. Signage and a new viewing SCr￿n ¥*Ere provided to further public enjoymenl
of the North Duffield Carrfs visrtor facilities and Ihese were used.

FRIENDS OF THE LOWER DERWETrrr
VALLEY CONSERVATION GROUP
Charty Number: 1183986
Trustees Annual Report
For the period ending 31 December 2024
Achievement and Performance
Review of Athities 2024 (continued)
Fleeman's Sni
ets
North Duffield ca￿'S
and Carters Comer
Ellerton In
Both sites V￿re well managed during the year wtth Ragwort pulling and Dock control.
Both were ujt and graze(i under li￿n￿ to aid their recovery from the long-protracted
flooding in the 2023124 ￿￿nter. Both sites recovered well, supporting good numbers of
wintering and breeding birds as ￿￿11 as good qualty MG4 grassland at Carterfs Corner."
Whilst the sale was yet to comp.kte on a parcel of land at North Duffield Ings, we took
over land management control in June and that par￿1 was cut and grazed and was in
good condition by late autumn.
Thomton In
Having completed the purchase by late November, work started on these parcels during
De￿Mber, including provision of access gates and adIa￿nt fencing. Tree works
were undertaken as part of a wider project to reinfor￿ and improve some of the
remaining scattered hedgerows. planting these up with a mix of native species and
addilional Crab apple whips supplied by a grant frcffl the Tree Council (see Grants).
Works will continue (ground condilions permrtting) into early 2025
Research an
nitorin
Both I￿1mbrel (3) arKI Black-tailed Godwits (2) were fitted with Global Positioning
System (GPS) tags in April and May as part of wider research into these species and
their wider use of funclionally linked land surrounding the Valley. Afi five birds prcKluced
good quality iobust data, providing valuable infomiation of land. use outside of the
protected site by ￿1Mbrel.
During the autumn, in September and October, 3 Golden Plover were also fitted with
similar GPS tags and again pr￿jUCed previousty unknown feeding srte usage around
the reseNe. A single Spotted Crake was caught and radio-tagged in June and tracked
for several weeks.
All of the work above gave opportunities for the ongoing training of ringers in capture
methods and also in fitting lags Yrfth this work being supported by a generous grant
from the Drax foundation
The Friends also collaborated together in developing a joint project with Spum Bird
Observatory to track the movements of Jack Snipe using the Motus tracking system
tags. following a grant from Brrtish Birds for this project.

FRIENDS OF THE LOWER DERWE
VALLEY CONSERVATION GROUP
Charity NumtEr: 1183986
Trustees Annual Report
For the period ending 31 December 2024
Achlevement and Perforniance
Revlew of Actfvities 2024 (continued)
Cannon netting and the ringing of wildf0￿￿ continued and again proved suc￿sSful
during the year with over 700 ducks caught and ringed. Many were colour-ringed or
sampled as part of other research projects nationaSly including the taking of feather
samples from Shelduck for isotope anawis to establish the moulting grounds of the
various British populations
The outcomes from such research were shared ￿￿th partners and also, where
appropriate, made public via social media. These results also wÈll be included in a new
publication of 'The Birds of the Lower Derwent- Conservation and Migration, ￿lch was
progressed during the year thanks to a grant from the Drax foundation and which
should be ready for publication in early 2025.
nts
The Friends continued to be SU￿ssful in drawng in additional grants throughout the
year in addition to the Countryside Stewardship payments and related flwd recovery
payments. Another Tree Council grant lor hedging plants and crab apple whips and
trees for ThoiDton Ings was approved during the year and in addition a Worxlland Trust
wildlife tree pack was secured and supplied for New Meadow at North Duffield Carrs.
We were also suc￿Ssful in applying to the Drax Foundation wth a grant application to
help support Corncrake reintr(NJuction into the Valley. Other supporters making
donations during the year include Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, York Omithological Club.
Yorkshire Coast Nature and Tom Broxup
The Friends of the Lo%ver Detwent Valley continued to meet our conseniation objedives
with further Strategic land acquisition and conservation-based management of our
existing land holdings. We have enjoyed success in being awarded Countryside
Stewardship schemes and have completed valuable ￿searCh work and
conservation projects. WtrhavtrmadtrSucc£ssfutrapplication¥fornewurantranctra￿-.
a strong financial position.
None of this would have been possible without our magnifi￿nt volunteers whose
contribLrtions.underpin everything we do. We are extrernely grateful to all the volunteers
for their hard work in terms of (£rrying out land management wo￿. both on our sites,
but also in supporting Natural England and other partners in the valley and which
unlock other streams of income and support. The trustees gtve their heartfelt thanks to
them all for their hard work and continuing support. We are also extremely grateful for
the continuing support of Natural England and offer particular thanks to Mr Craig
Ralston, Senior Reserve Manager for his invaluable help, expertise and advice.

FRtENDS OF THE LOWER DERWEfvtr
VALLEY CONSERVATION GROUP
arity Number: 1183986
Trustees Annual Report
For the period ending 31 December 2024
Future Plans
The charity greatty values its dose working relationship wtth key partrers whom
continue to support the reserve, dwrity and ivs aims, whether through donations,
purchase of *tvices or supporting each other in grant bids and is grateful for all the on
going ￿p[￿rt it receives. In 2024 the charty has ￿c￿SsfUllY grown its financial
reseNes and aims to use the funds raised to compet￿1VelY bld and purchase further
land in and around the Lower Dernent Valley National Nature Reserve that is of high
con*Nation value, as and whén such land becomes available for purchase. Targeted
on golng land purchase will be the main use of the charities accumulated funds.
Further the charity has continued to undertske on-going scientific monitr)ring, including
the ringing of wildfowl and other bird specEs on the re*rve. In 2025 the charity and
it's volunteers hope to be involved in tagging and tracking projects of wildfowl and
wader species, from which knowledge will te gained of individual species movements
and their use of areas of habltaL This knowledge may further inform the charity to
target land for purchase by providing eviden￿ of itrs ￿l(l31cal importance and
functional linkage.
Financial Review
Reserves policy
The Trust￿ regulady review the R￿erVeS poticy of the charity to ensure it meets the needs of
the Charity. Whllst the tharity has On￿ nominal 0￿rdting costs, e.g￿1 the payment of annual
drainage rates for land owned, the charity seeks to hold an at601ute minimum of £5,000 in
reseNe. This level of fund5 would allow the charity to meet all High-Level Stewardship (HLS)
obligations for land owned for a three-year pericml, given currènt land ownings. Beyond this
level of minimum reseNe, the chaiity aims to er6ure that funds in the wion of a tntal of
£20,000 are available to caiitalise on any OPkXJrtunities, such as match funding with key
partnets, such as the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. All other income and cash hokjings, i.e., above
£20,000 are held principally to surwrt the purchase of new land, the development of new
activities or where the Twstees decide it to be financialW prudent.

FRIENDS OF THE LOWER DERWE
VALLEY CONSERVATION GROUP
Charlty Number: 1183986
Trustees Annual Report
For the period ending 31 December 2024
Statement of Disdosure of Information to the Independent Examiner
We, the trust*s of the Charty who held Offi￿ at the date of approval of the
financial ststements, each confirm that ￿ frdr as we are aware:
> There is no relevant information of which the Charivs Independent Examiner is.
unaware.
> All steps have b￿n tsken to make Ou￿1Ve$ aware of any relevant information
and to establish that the Charitys Independent Examiner is aware of that
Information.
Statement of Trustees. Responsibilities
Charity Law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial
period which gives a true and fair view of the state of affrairs of the ￿arity and of the
excess of income over expenditure for that period.
The Trustees confirm that Ihe accounts comply with the alx)ve ￿qu1￿ment The
Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which di￿lOse with
reasonable accuracy at any time the financial Frf)&tion of the tharlty and which enable
them to ensure that the financial statements compty with the Charit'ies Att 2011. They
are al￿ responsible for safeguarding the a￿ts of the Charity and h_ence_for taking
reasonable steps for the prevention and detettion of frdud and other irregularities.
Durfng the pericxl the income of the Charfty was below £250,000, therefore in line with
Charity Legislation the trUSt￿S have el￿ to prepare their accounts on the Receipts
and Pa￿]ents basis.
Independent Examiner
The Independent Examination was undertaken by Rebecca Triffitt, MAAT, Chartered
Management Accountant, Director of Phoenix Accountsncy and Business Consultsncy
Limited.
By order of the Board,
Mlchael Frederlck Jackson
Chairperson
Date:
io

FRIENDS OF THE LOWER DERWE￿r
VALLEY CONSERVATION GROUP
Charity Number: 1183986
Independent Examinerfs Re￿)rt to the Friends of the Lower De￿ent Valley
Conservatlon Group
I report on the accounts of The Friends of the Lower DeMent Valley Con*rvatK)n Group for
the year ended 31 December 2024, which a￿ set out on page5 12 to 15.
Respective responsibilities of Trustees and examiner
chariivs Trustees are reswnsible for the preparztion of the accounts. The charitys
Trustees consider that an aLKlit Is not required for this finar￿jaI ￿rIOd under section 144 of the
Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an Independent examination Is needed.
It Is my respon￿bIlIty to:
examine the accounts under section 145 of the tharities Art;
to ft)Ilow the procedures laid down in the Generdl Direcknons given by Charity
Commissioner5 under section 145 (5)(b) of the Charities Act; and
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examinerfs report
My examinauon was carried out in accordan￿ with the C*neral DIr￿tionS given by the Charlty
Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity
••
and a comparison of the accounts presented with th)se records. It also includes considerdtion
of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, a￿1 seeknr¥J explanations from you as
' Trustees concernirKJ any such matters. Tr pr(Kedures undertaken do not provide all the
emdence that would be required in an audtL arKI consequenty I do not express an audit
opinion on the view gTven by the accounts.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection wlth my examination, Tr) matter has come to my attention .
l} which gives rne reasonable cause to tr￿lieVe that in any material res￿ the
requirements
a. to keep accounting ￿rdS in accordan￿ wtth section 130 and 131 of the
Charities Act; aTh
b. . to prepare accounts whith accord with the accounting records and comply with
the accounting requirements of the Charities Act
have rK)t been met. or
2) to which, in my opinion, attention sh)uld ￿ drawn in order to enatle a prO￿r
understanding of the accounts to reached.
Rebecca Triffitt, MAAT
Phoenix Accountancy and BLLgness Consultarry Limthl
Morley's Cottage, Morleys Yard, Walkergate
Beverley, East Yorkshire HU17 9BY
Date:
&)sr
li

FRIENDS OF ThE LOWER DERWE
VALLEY CONSERVATION GROUP
Charity NumtEr: 1183986
Receipts and Payments Account
For the year ending 31 December 2024
2024
ZOZ4
2024 '
2023
2023
2023
Notss Vnreslricted Restrf￿ T(tsl Unyestilcted Restrfcted Trtal
RECEEFrs
GrarTrts
tknnations
C(￿serVation se￿
C￿Ntys1de Stewardship
Sale of logs and wldfiower se
Intwt
21.991
21,991
1,193
37,645
6,876
26,200
26,200
17,622
29,920
1,685
25,362
1.193
37,645
6,876
24,D(
3,221
T2,943
17,622
29,920
1,685
25,362
786
3,221
91,934
21,991
75,375
26,2(
101,575
PAYMENTS
Land Purchases
ConservatM)n Work
Insuran
I29￿
2,3n
129,(A)O
4,363
264
162,(J)O
162,000
1,200
277
1,991
1,200
277
54
Ratss
93
11.503
93
Legal and Pr(*eSsI￿?l Fe
P￿blIsher
Bank Tharges
Accounts Fee
11,9)3
8,971
ioi
4,683
8,971
IDI
loo
loo
143,813
10.962
154,775
167,594
1,200
168,794
Net Surnlusl(Defi¢lt) for the
period
(70,870)
LL029 (59WI)
(92,219)
25W (67,219)
balan￿ brought fo¥wa
107.755
132,755
199,974
199.974
balancts carried fDrward
36,029
72,914
107,755
25.OLVJ
132,755
The notes on pages 14 to 15 form part of these financial statements.
12

FRIENDS OF THE LOWER DERWE
VALLEY CONSERVATION GROUP
Charity Number: 1183986
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
As at 31 December 2024
Notes
2024
2023
Monetsry Assets
Current Account
. Savings Account
Total Monetary Assets
Comprislng:
Unrestritted Funds
Restricted Furtds
22,773
50,141
81,967
132 755
36,885
107,755
132 755
Non-monetary Assets
Fixed Assets for the Charivs Use (at cost)
Land - North Duffield
Land - Ellerton Ing s
Land - Naburn, Yor1(
Land - between Bubwith & North Duffield
Land - Stubbins Land, Thomton
Land - Bubwith Ings, North Dufffield
Motus Tracking Electronics
25,000
18,OOD
51,000
111,000
80,000
49,000
614
334 614
25,000
18,000
51,000
111,000
614
205 614
Debtors
Creditors
Accounts Fees
480
480
480
The￿ financial ststements were approved by the o)mmittee on
signed on its behalf by:
(dats) and
Michael Frederick Jackson, Chairperson
Matthew Stone, Treasurer
on pages 14 to 15 fomi part of these financial statements.
13

FRIENDS OF THE LOWER DERWENT
VALLEY CONSERVATION GROUP
a￿rity NumLEr: 1183986
Notes to the Yinancial Statements
For the period ended 31 December 2024
Notes
Basis of Preparation
These accounts have b￿n prepared on a receipts and pa￿ents (R&P) basis in line
with Charity Commission guidan￿ for a charity of thls size.
Grants
2024
2024
Unrestrtcted Restrlcted
2024
Trtal
2023
Unresbicted
2023
Restrfcted
2023 .
Total
Drax Foundation
The Tree C￿nCil
Cty of Y(Yk Coundl
20,(h)O
1,991
20,OfXI
1,991
25,000
25,LXiO
1,200
26,200
1,200
26,200
21,991
21,991
Restricted Funds
Balan
Balan
At
At
01112R024 Incomiro OutgoiThJ Trnnsfers 3111212024
25,1￿0
{8,971)
16,029
20,000
Movement in Resour
Drax Foundation
Drax Foundation
The Tree Council
20,(X)O
1,991 (1,991)
21,991 (10,962)
25,0(K)
36,029
A brief description of the restritted fvnds are given below:
Drax Foundation
Restritted funding was received from Drax FourKlation for the funding which comprises
£15,000 towards a scientific monitoring and GPS tagging of birds and also £10,000
towards the publication of Tre birds of the Lower Derwent Valley. book. During 2024
another £20,000 was received from Drdx FoundatK>n to support Comcrake
reintroduttion.
The Tree Council
Restricted funding was received from The Tree Q)uncil for the funding of plantlng new
hedging plants, crab apple whips and for Thomton Ings.
14

FIUENDS OF ThE LOWER DERWEDtr
VALLEY CONSERVATION GROUP
Charity Number: 1183986
Notes to thé Financial Statements
For the period ended 31 December 2024
Payments to Trustees
No remuneration directly or indiredjy.out of the funds of the Charity was paid or
payable for the financial period to any Trustee,
There was no ￿lMbu￿ment of travel experw In resFEtt of the financial perlod.
Taxation
Friends of the Lower Dernent Valley Consewdtion Group is a registered charty. All
the Charities, income is appli&d to its charitable objectives and the association is
therefore exempt under current legislation from most forms of taxation.
The charity is not VAT reglstered and all expend￿Ure i￿ludeS irrecoverable VAT.
15