2025-06-30-accounts

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Our impact - 2025

Avon Needs Trees

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Contents
Title page		1
Contents page		2
Reference and administrative details		3
Welcome from Chair and CEO		4
Our objectives		5
How we’re different		6
Highlights	24/25	7
Woodland	Creation	8
Land		9
Trees Planted		10
Future plans: Lower Chew Forest		11-15
Impact for	People	16
Preparing for commercial trading		17
Landscape Recovery		18
Achievements & Performance: Our new 5-Year Strategy		19
Volunteering		20
Our volunteers		21
Number of	people living within 10 miles of our sites	22
People Impact: Case Studies		23-25
Our green skills programme		26
Graduates		27
Outreach		28
Structure, management and governance		29
Our staff demographics		30
Statement	of responsibilities of the trustees	31
Finance Review		32-33
Fundraising		34
Funding and Donations		35
Independent auditors' report to the members of Avon Needs Trees		36-47
Final Thanks		48
Our impact - 2025			Avon Needs Trees

Trustees annual report

The trustees present their report with the audited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30 June 2025.

Reference and administrative details

Principal Office

Office 115, 117, 119 Regus Castlemead Lower Castle Street Bristol BS1 3AG

Registered Office

Office 115, 117, 119 Regus Castlemead Lower Castle Street Bristol BS1 3AG

Key Management Personnel

Chair M. Funnell CEO D. Wood

Trustees

The trustees who served during the year and up to the date of this report were as follows:

C.L. Bedford T. Blanchard A. Chester J. Chew M. Funnell S. Hales N.J.A. Murry A.G. Spittlehouse

Auditors

Godfrey Wilson, Mariner House, 62 Prince Street, Bristol, BS1 4QD

Accountant

Third FD 31 Market Place Chippenham SN15 3HP

Solicitors

Thrings Solicitors 2 Queen Square Bath BA1 2HQ

Bankers

CAF Bank Limited 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ

The Co-operative Bank p.l.c. P.O. Box 101 1 Balloon Street Manchester M60 4EP

Triodos Bank Deanery Road Bristol BS1 5AS

Avon Needs Trees

Our impact - 2025

Welcome

Welcome from the Chair

Looking back on another landmark year for Avon Needs Trees, the statistics tell such an impressive story. But it’s the individual acts of commitment and kindness that really stick with you.

The volunteer who would cycle 25 miles, plant trees all day, then cycle home. The couple in their 70s who’d turn up in all weathers to help create woodlands they want to leave to future generations. The donors who’d write the most moving, beautiful messages in response to our fundraisers. The colleagues who have created the most selfless and supportive workplace culture I have known.

So when we read yet more headlines about ecological collapse and climate breakdown, about the declining resilience of woodlands in State of The UK’s Trees And Woods 2025, let’s also think of this collective response. Of the 1,600 ANT volunteers who planted over 18,000 trees and completed Great Avon Wood - the biggest new woodland the area has seen in a generation. The hundreds of thousands of pounds donated to buy the trees and the equipment we needed. And the myriad stories and motivations behind these acts of commitment and kindness.

It feels like a movement. And its momentum has attracted a level of support we could only have dreamed of several years ago. Thanks to funding from Defra, Triodos Bank and West of England Combined Authority, we completed the purchase of Wick Farm in May 2024 and set out our ambitious vision for the vast Lower Chew Forest. Next year’s report will see yet another step change in our collective impact.

Once again my heartfelt thanks go to the tireless team, to our funders and donors, and of course to our wonderful volunteers and volunteer leaders. We are profoundly grateful for all your support.

Mark Funnell, Chair

Introduction from the Chief Executive

For Avon Needs Trees, this has been a year defined by scale. From our planting on the ground and beyond, the ambitious scale of our undertaking has never been greater.

In May of 2024, we successfully purchased the 422-acre site for our latest woodland, Lower Chew Forest. This year, our work on that land could begin in earnest. Establishing a woodland of this size, with its protection in perpetuity always in mind, demands a breadth of skill and commitment. I take pride in how the team have delivered.

At the same time, our work for the development phase of Landscape Recovery in the Lower Chew has been intensive and wide-ranging. The possibilities for woodland creation, habitat connectivity across the valley, social impact, and the potential amplification of our sites’ own impact, have been rewarding to explore. As Avon Needs Trees moves forward, we are increasingly convinced it is this kind of targeted, landscape-scale thinking that is needed most.

This year has been successful only through the effort of many. Thank you to the staff team, who navigated the year with skill, patience, and good humour. Thank you to our many volunteers and to our volunteer leaders, who give their time so generously. Thank you to our donors, to our funders, and to those we collaborate with, who each play an indispensable role.

Dave Wood, CEO

Avon Needs Trees

Our impact - 2025

Our charitable objectives are:

i) The conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment for public benefit by the establishment and maintenance of trees, woodland and complementary habitats in such areas within the Bristol-Avon catchment area as the trustees shall determine.

ii) To advance the education of the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment including by promoting woodlands as a means for the public to learn about wider environmental issues such as: sustainability, climate change, ecology and the mitigating need for trees.

Our short- to medium-term strategic aim is to transform our ownership and funding model to build a resilient and sustainable ANT that delivers maximum possible outcomes for nature, climate and people. Our activities that deliver this aim includes:

1. Fundraising to buy land to create new woodlands and complementary habitats and to meet our charitable objectives through the long-term conservation, protection and improvement of those habitats. ANT is evolving its model to make a greater impact by also creating woodland on land it does not own where legal mechanisms for permanence can be achieved, working in partnership with others. Fundraising activities will contribute to our objectives by facilitating long-term delivery, maintenance and protection of woodlands and complementary habitats.

2. Meeting ANT’s education objective through public engagement in woodland creation, conservation activities, heritage, ecology and climate change through volunteering opportunities, free-to-access education events, outreach and green skills programmes, as well as participating in research activities.

Our long-term strategic aim is to create a financially selfsustaining ANT that works in partnership with communities to create woodlands and complementary habitats at an increasingly impactful, landscape scale across our catchment area. Fundraising for a growing and stronger ANT operating across a wider geography will maximise impact now and into the long term.

Our organisational values guide our work and inform our organisational behaviours. Our organisational values are:

Ambitious. Our people are nimble and take opportunities, take urgent action to tackle the climate and nature emergencies, are bold in our ambition and scale

Reasoned. We are thoughtful, ethical and reasoned in how we deliver our ambitions

Positive. We are optimistic about the future and our ability to shape it, meeting our mission and challenges with positivity

Avon Needs Trees

Our impact - 2025

How we’re different

We plant less productive land

Avon Needs Trees

Our impact - 2025

18k+

trees planted

Green Skills Launched the second year of the Green Skills course

Great Avon Wood

Completed planting at Great Avon Wood

£82,000

Raised from Crowdfunder for Lower Chew Forest planting

Avon Needs Trees

Woodland Creation

2024/25 has been a year of growing impact and preparing for more growth. We completed the purchase of the land to become Lower Chew Forest just before the reporting period, now managing for nature 591 acres across five sites. This year we planted the first 10,339 trees at Lower Chew Forest and are preparing to plant substantially more next year.

Our new woodlands this year

On 10th May 2024 we completed purchase of 422 acres at Hunstrete, just south of Bristol, of what will become Lower Chew Forest. The site will become the biggest woodland creation project in the South West in a generation. This purchase was funded by a combination of DEFRA grant, Triodos natural capital loan and community fundraising.

Our existing woodlands

On our existing sites volunteers planted the next phase of 7,835 trees at Great Avon Wood, bringing the total so far to 28,923. A further 400 trees were planted at Ed Woods, including 28 orchard trees. Post planting maintenance and conservation continued at Hazeland, Pudding Brook Wood and Ed Woods, as well as at Great Avon Wood.

Maximising ecological and climate impact

Delivering multi-layered benefits is central to maximising impact for climate and ecology. Woodland creation can deliver a range of benefits to biodiversity, wildlife and natural flood management and climate resilience. These factors were considered strongly during site selection and design this year when planting Lower Chew Forest. This was achieved through considering Nature Recovery Networks and emerging Local Nature Recovery Strategy when selecting sites, taking advice from the Environment Agency on the natural flood management potential of each site, commissioning independent ecologists to input into site design, as well as assessing site design against outcomes for climate resilience (especially soil improvement in open space land use) and food security.

Future Plans

In the next reporting period ANT’s main focus will be on completing the first phase of planting season at Lower Chew Forest, beat-up planting at Great Avon Wood and woodland creation and connectivity and complementary habitat opportunities as part of Landscape Recovery in the Lower Chew.

We also plan to purchase additional land adjacent to Great Avon Wood in the coming reporting period to build on the new woodlands connectivity.

Avon Needs Trees

Our impact - 2025

Avon Needs Trees Land

We completed the purchase of 422 acres at Wick Farm to create Lower Chew Forest a few weeks before the start of 2024/25. Our biggest tasks in 2024/25 were the first planting season at Lower Chew Forest, the South West's biggest reforestation program in a generation as well as planning planting for connectivity and complementary habitats through the development phase of our Landscape Recovery in the Lower Chew project.

We are excited about the purchase of new land adjacent to Great Avon Wood in the coming period in 2025/26.

2020/2021 2021/2022 2022/2023 Purchased Purchased Pudding Purchased Hazeland Brook Wood Great Avon Wood 34 acres 12 acres + Partnership at Ed Woods 123 acres

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2023/2024 2024/2025
Purchased Lower
Chew Forest
422 acres
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Avon Needs Trees
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Our impact - 2025

10

Trees planted in 2025

In the 2024/25 planting season, 10,339 trees were planted at Lower chew forest. 7,835 trees were planted at Great Avon Wood and any trees which were lost from previous years planting were replaced (beating up).

7,835 total number of trees planted at Great Avon Wood near Bristol

10,339 total number of trees planted at Lower Chew Forest between Bristol and Bath

Avon Needs Trees

Our impact - 2025

Future Plans: Lower Chew Forest

As part of the woodland creation planning process, further consultation and collaboration with the Forestry Commission led to the submission of the plans as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval process. The EIA was submitted in February 2025 and subsequently approved shortly after. This was the culmination of several years' work to get to this point, with final approval allowing the charity to plan and implement the coming planting season where the forest would be delivered as part of Trees for Climate contractual terms.

Local views of the future

Due to the size of the site, this required full landscape analysis and visualisation, which formed part of the submission as well as part of the local consultation process to help locals visualise how their landscape will be changing.

Climate concious planting

Specifics around species mixture were formalised and modelled against future climate scenarios using the Forest Research's ESC tool. The final plans included a variety of wooded habitat that made for a rich mosaic of tree cover, including closed canopy forest, productive coppice, scrub, traditional orchards, wood-pasture and agroforestry nut groves. Comments from the Forestry Commission summarised the approach:

Biodiversity Net Gain ready

This also formed an essential part of BNG plans which would be submitted shortly after in March 2025 in line with the proposed timeline for generation of BNG credits at Lower Chew Forest and included a range of habitats to provide the best chance of providing sales in the emerging BNG market.

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Our impact - 2025
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This will enhance its spirit of place and create landscape unity and the balance of scale. I am supportive of the design concept that is a good example of an enhanced wooded landscapes with a diverse treescape ranging from productive woodland, agroforest, orchards to natural colonisation. I think there is also good connectivity across the site and views and habitats have been well considered and incorporated.

Avon Needs Trees

Lower Chew Forest: View from 'The Tump'

This visual illustrates the proposed view from 'The Tump' earthwork, looking east.

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• 1 Filtered views created through use of low height scrub and scattered trees to retain spirit of place.

• 2 Scrub areas follow landform and retain undulating nature of field which is typical of LCT 2b

• 3 Heritage earthwork kept open with open views to the farmhouse and across to Hunstrete and new permissive access created to enhance spirit of place.

Current view:

Location:

Our impact - 2025

Lower Chew Forest: Viewpoint 2

This visual illustrates the landscape analysis of the landscape from local footpaths looking west.

Viewpoint from PROW in Tuckingmill looks into the north eastern corner of the site with the largest arable field clearly visible. Large arable field not typical of ancient pattern of enclosure. Rolling nature of the topography of the eastern section of the site clear from this viewpoint. Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland Atgrove wood visible to the south. In-field trees provide natural features and contribute to spirit of place.

Location:

Our impact - 2025

Lower Chew Forest Future Plans: Biodiversity Net Gain

Proposed Habitats in the central section of BNG Registration Area EM-F02.

Our impact - 2025

Lower Chew Forest Future Plans: Ecological Site Classification

Species mixture modelled against future climate scenarios using the Forest Research's ESC tool. ESC assesses the suitability of a range of tree species, the evaluation is based on the match between key site factors and the ecological requirements of different species, and incorporates future climate change projections.

Avon Needs Trees

Our impact - 2025

Impact for People

ANT’s objectives of woodland creation and conservation, and education about climate and nature, bring multi-layered benefits to individual people and the wider public. ANT has a particular focus on individuals and communities most likely to be impacted by climate change, for example young people, marginalised communities and the climate anxious.

Volunteering

Over 1,600 volunteers helped meet our charitable objectives, mostly through planting trees, conservation, and providing aftercare. Specialist volunteers and trustees are heavily involved in planning woodland creation, public engagement and outreach. We monitor skills, knowledge and wellbeing outcomes to maximise our impact.

Events: We ran dozens of free-to-access public events at our sites across the year to deliver, monitor and evaluate natural heritage and ecological education, knowledge and wellbeing outcomes. Events range from forest schools to family days to forest schools and story creation events.

Jobs and skills

This year we ran the second Green Skills course, a free training programme, designed to increase employment opportunities for adults who want to work in the green sector. The 6-month programme is a combination of practical on-site learning experiences and talks from industry professionals relating to woodland creation, tree care and land management.

ANT’s Second Woodland Skills training programme ran November 2024 - May 2025 with 15 participants and 10 pro-bono training partners. 14 of the 15 participants completed the course with good attendance.

Outreach

This year we ran an organised presence at a range of community events to ensure ANT’s opportunities are available to a wider audience. Many of these were stalls at very localised general community events or townwide climate-focused events.

Equity and inclusion

Inclusion is central to our cross-cutting theme of multilayered benefit delivery. National and local government statistics concur that marginalised communities are both less likely to access high quality green space or engage with opportunities, and more likely to benefit from taking these steps. We monitor internal equalities information to establish how representative our direct beneficiaries are of the general population and take action to redress lack of representation. The following communities are less likely to get involved in our activities without proactive steps: disabled people, children, older people and ethnic minorities. Our marketing, use of imagery and design of events has a focus on children and ethnic monitories, with most of our on-site events designed for one or both communities.

Co-design with communities

An extensive stakeholder mapping and engagement workstream was undertaken in this reporting period and beyond to support the development phase of our Landscape Recovery in the Lower Chew project. This involved land owners, local people and a range of wider stakeholders helping to design or shape our Landscape Recovery proposal.

Future plans

The development phase of Landscape Recovery in the Lower Chew is due to complete in 2025/26. In this time funders will also determine whether our Landscape Recovery project will proceed to an implementation phase that would last and deliver benefit for at least 20 years. In 2025/26 the Echo Wood project at Lower Chew Forest sees a high-profile and community-focused collaboration between Avon Needs Trees and internationally renowned installation artist, Bristol-based Luke Jerram.

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Our impact - 2025

Preparing for commercial trading

Having created our trading body, Avon Needs Trees Trading LTD, this year ANT focused on developing its commercial assets and expertise as a first step to unlocking income from commercial activities. ANT also secured a £2m repayable grant from the West of England Combined Authority's Infrastructure Fund, enabling our commercial team to take the first steps in developing income-generating assets at Lower Chew Forest.

In terms of expertise, ANT formed three new commercial staff positions. Our Head of Business Development post created a senior leadership position focused on growing ANT's commercial income streams and unlocking value from our woodland sites without compromising their positive environmental and social impact, and leading ANT's commercial team. Within this team lie two new roles: our Natural Capital and Nature Markets Lead, focused on unlocking the revenue potential of ecosystem services credits through frameworks like the Woodland Carbon Code and Biodiversity Net Gain; and our Business Development Officer, focused on supporting the operational development and launch of our ecotourism offering at Lower Chew Forest.

Our newly formed commercial team focused on the commercial potential of Lower Chew Forest, working with our Land team to develop and finalise our Biodiversity Net Gain proposal and 30 year Habitat Maintenance and Monitoring Plan for Lower Chew Forest, and submit this to the local authority for approval and registration - an essential step on the journey towards being able to sell Biodiversity Net Gain units from this site under the national statutory framework. According to our models, the BNG value of Lower Chew Forest could be worth as much as £50m - providing a critically important source of capital to both cover the purchase, afforestation and long-term maintenance of the site and potentially also funds to plough back into ANT's next land purchase.

Plans were developed to renovate and bring back into use both the grade-II listed Wick Farmhouse and Wick Cottage, and to install woodland cabins to provide nature-based stays in the understory of our existing woodlands on site.

Our impact - 2025

Landscape Recovery

Landscape Recovery is the flagship programme of Defra’s post-Brexit Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMs). Landscape Recovery is underpinned by its bold new vision for restoring nature. It’s an ambitious set of new large-scale, long term financial incentives led by Defra that encourage landowners to take coordinated, joined-up actions for nature and climate.

Landscape Recovery in the Lower Chew

In April 2024, ANT embarked on the Development Phase of our own Landscape Recovery Project, marking the transition of the kind of work we do from beyond single sites, to working across the Lower Chew Valley at a much larger scale.

We worked with several landowners across just over 500 Ha in the Lower Chew Valley to develop plans that will restore nature, contribute to net zero targets and support rural livelihoods. Great Avon Woods & Lower Chew Forest sit in the heart of our project area - making up 216 Ha. By enhancing woodlands, wetland and grasslands we will be building the natural resilience of the landscape to resist flooding, whilst providing more opportunities for people to enjoy and celebrate the unique heritage and culture of the place.

The Development Phase runs for just under 18 months and offers an opportunity for the project to create a vision for the Lower Chew, to be submitted to Defra in the hope of securing approval of our proposals and long-term funding - potentially 35 years - to make our vision a reality.

The reporting period covered within this Annual Report maps onto the most substantial chunk of our Development Phase. In this time, we undertook the follwing activities.

Looking ahead

From July 2025, ANT will be busily working on the final submission to Defra, due in September 2025. If the bid is successful, 35 years’ worth of funding for nature, sustainable food production and social impact projects could be released for the Lower Chew…funding of this magnitude could be a game-changer for climate and nature, with impact for generations to come.

Avon Needs Trees

Our impact - 2025

Achievements & Performance: Our new 5-Year Strategy

During the reporting period Avon Needs Trees finalised a new 5-Year Strategy, running 2024-29. The calls to action from our theory of change are expressed in 5 new goals:

3. Develop our people for today and tomorrow

The period saw a major enhancement of the training offer for our staff and volunteers focusing on increased foundational knowledge. ANT has sought to in-source skills where possible and invest in the knowledge and skills of the charity team.

1. Create new woodlands at a landscape scale to tackle the climate and nature emergencies

The development phase for Landscape Recovery in the Lower Chew has been a major part of charity work in the reporting period. Our Landscape Recovery project is an opportunity for woodland creation and connectivity at landscape scale. In the reporting period we completed the planting of Great Avon Wood and completed the first season of planting at Lower Chew Forest.

Future Plans:

In 2025/26 we will see the outcome of the development phase of Landscape Recovery in the Lower Chew with an implementation phase that could deliver benefit for at least 20 years In 2025/26 we will also complete planting at Lower Chew Forest and continue beat-up at Great Avon Wood. A pipeline for new land purchase will be a priority for 2025/26. We plan to purchase one area of land and refocus search for further suitable land for woodland creation.

2. Achieve financial sustainability, so we can deliver more

Fundraising goals were achieved in this reporting period with a fundraising team appointed. Much of the reporting period focussed on development our Landscape Recovery proposals including BNG sales and ecotourism.

Future plans:

In 2025/26 there has been the start of a major fundraising drive especially for the establishment of Lower Chew Forest including Echo Wood. We are grateful for the exceptionally generous donations by individuals, companies, trusts and foundations. Fundraising for the establishment of this major new forest continues. 2025/26 also sees the launch of ANT’s BNG sales and the final stages of development of ecotourism and other potential commercial opportunities.

Future plans:

In 2025/26 recruitment of trustees is a priority, alongside development of directors and staff in our commercial entity. A broader range of volunteer roles opportunities over a longer period of time continues to be developed as part of our Landscape Recovery development.

4. Help our communities adapt and mitigate climate change

Community co-design and consultation around our Landscape Recovery project was a major focus of stakeholder engagement this year. We ran scores of volunteering, outreach and education events throughout the year both general access alongside many specifically engaging our target demographic groups.

Future plans:

Preparing for future community adaptation and mitigation was a central strand of our development work for Landscape Recovery in the Lower Chew. Moving forward we hope to have the opportunity to put this planning into action. This includes a widening of our outreach, green skills, green social prescribing, specialised volunteering and opportunities to showcase our learning so far.

5. Extend our impact and embrace our leadership role

Working with landowners across the Lower Chew and wider stakeholders we have developed an ambitious Landscape Recovery plan that will widen that impact beyond the woodland sites we own.

Future plans:

ANT works in an unusual space: our core activity being buying land and creating new woodlands. Groups and organisations frequently contact us for help, being one of the few charities in this space. While our aims are supported and shared at all levels we find many obstacles, enough to put off other groups wanting to do what we do. We have started to work with national and local policy-makers, as well as the wider private and public sector, to advocate for removing these obstacles. We are continuing to develop this work with the aim of making nature’s recovery at scale more possible both regionally and nationally.

Avon Needs Trees

Our impact - 2025

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Our impact - 2025

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12% 65 plus years 8% aged 17-25
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Our volunteers

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2% mixed or 1% African,
Multiple ethnic Caribbean or
group black.
3% Asian or 1% any other
Asian British ethnic group 29% aged 45-64 ●51% aged 26-44
6% prefer not
to say
7% other white
82% white British
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Our impact - 2023

Ed Woods nr Shepton Mallet 149k people Hazeland nr Calne 175k people

Number of people living within 10 miles of our sites*:

Pudding Brook Wood nr Chippenham 186k people

Great Avon Wood nr Bristol 895k people

Lower Chew Forest nr Bristol and Bath 787k people

*according to Population around a point (tomforth.co.uk)

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Our impact - 2025

People Impact: Case Studies

Pensford Primary School

Pensford Primary is the school closest to ANT’s Great Avon Wood site and so the new woodland forms an important part of the young people’s landscape. We have formed a strong relationship with the school and pupils have attended tree planting, forest schools and seed collection, while we have presented assemblies at the school. Year 5&6 also took part in a two day story creation workshop to create a new story of the landscape entitled ‘The Riddle Tree’ based inspired by the 1,000 year oak at our site.

Young Muslim Women’s Group

Avon Needs Trees staff have developed informal links with a group of young Muslim women from Bristol. They come together to share their faith and support each other spiritually and socially. Many are studying at one of the city’s universities. They are enthusiastic about connecting with nature and planting a tree is an act of charity in Islam. But many lack the confidence about how to access the countryside: “I simply have no idea. Everytime I search I just get redirected to normal parks, plus I’m not sure how safe the place can be.” As well as transport and clothing, we also understand the need to provide events for specific groups, space for ablutions and for prayer. We have hosted three visits to Great Avon Wood, for wildlife walks, picnics and prayer in the summer and tree planting in the winter. In June we met the women at the bus station and all came together by bus to increase their confidence for visiting the site independently.

Participants said:

"I learned how to gently catch and handle butterflies and insects, which was completely new to me. I also got to practise being more observant in nature — spotting different species in the grassland and understanding how to use the containers and tools properly. It was a great hands-on learning experience!"

"I really enjoyed spending the day at Avon woods, the atmosphere was great. I felt moved and emotional being around a group of supportive women in nature."

The kids said:

"The butterflies were my favourite part—one wouldn’t leave my hand!"

Warrick Barton (Headteacher)

"Checking on our trees with friends—and cake—was the best bit."

"Our story had all of our ideas—it felt amazing to see it published."

"I loved digging the holes and planting trees—there were lots of worms!"

"I truly loved how guided it was, from the moment we got there we were informed really well, and we were well provided for - down to the clothing and food, it was such a comfortable and joyful experience. The demonstration was really clear and helpful, and we were aided throughout which helped eased us into it and granted us confidence."

Avon Needs Trees

Our impact - 2025

People Impact: Case Studies

Black2Nature

Into University

Black2Nature is dedicated to connecting Visibly Minority Ethnic (VME) kids with nature. ANT has continued to build the connection with Black2Nature to bring young people to our winter tree planting days and on summer visits for tree care and nature exploration at our Great Avon Wood site.

Into University works to break down barriers to social mobility, providing local learning centres where young people can broaden their horizons and are inspired to achieve. ANT has been working with their Bristol South centre in Withywood. Young people have attended tree planting days, tree care sessions and Forest School workshops.

Into University Programme Leader said:

B2N Programme Leader said:

"Our students love working with Avon Needs Trees! Giving these young people opportunities to experience the outdoors in a way they may not usually be able to is a fantastic experience. They still talk about the tree planting in particular, even despite all the mud. We saw sides to students we've known for years come out that we hadn't seen before. We're so excited to keep working with Avon Needs Trees and providing our young people with unique experiences they wouldn't usually get."

"Black2Nature are extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Avon Needs Trees at the Great Avon Wood over the last few years. Our young people have benefitted hugely with their mental and physical health, enjoying their time out in nature, planting and caring for trees.”

Youth Adventure Trust

The Youth Adventure Trust (YAT) use outdoor adventure and one-to-one support to empower young people to fulfil their potential and lead positive lives in the future. In April we hosted YAT for a day at our Hazeland forest school. Around 15 young people plus their facilitators joined us for some outdoor activities including shelter building, stick whittling and cooking and also games like hide and seek. YAT have booked to return to Hazeland this April. Feed back from the day included:

Young person from into university attending a tree planting

“Thank you so much for the day. It was a pleasure working with you both. I look forward to organising something similar in the future”.

Avon Needs Trees

Our impact - 2025

"Planting trees and remembering Mummy. "

"Everything and rolling down the hills."

"I enjoyed it when I lay down by the baby trees"

Claire Fender, GE staff

Avon Needs Trees

Our impact - 2025

Our green skills programme

ANT’s first ever Woodland Skills training programme ran January - June 2024 with 15 participants and 5 pro-bono training partners. The course consisted of 9 day-long workshops and site visits and 2 webinars. All course participants had the opportunity to shadow a member of ANT or FOAT staff for a day.

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63%
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55% 82% 73%
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have done volunteering as a result of the training course

have had job or apprenticeship interviews during the course

●have done or intend have been actively to do more training in applying for jobs / Green Skills apprenticeships during the programme

Of the people beginning new jobs:

Of the people undertaking further training:

• 3 people moving into full time work in the green sector

• 2 people have trained as an ANT Volunteer Leader

• 1 person has received subsidised training for chainsaw licence and brushcutter

• 3 people have taken jobs not in the green sector (a stepping stone towards a green job)

• 3 people taking on new self-employed work in the green sector

• 1 person has begun training in renewable energy consultation

• 2 people are starting short courses with the Field Studies Council

100% respondents agreed

100%

respondents agreed

90%

respondents agreed

100% respondents

agreed

90% respondents agreed

90%

respondents agreed

73%

respondents agreed

Avon Needs Trees

Our impact - 2025

Avon Needs Trees

Our impact - 2025

Outreach

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We ran
more than
34
events
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Events in 2024/25:

Spring Tree Id walk Dundry Earth Day Festival Corsham Eco Fair Early Morning Bird Walk Green Skills Heritage Trail tour Forest School with Into University Walking the new Great Avon Wood Marksbury Primary Foraging Day Summer Tree ID walk at Hermitage Heritage Trail tour at GAW for AWT Muslim Women’s group visit to GAW WENP board - tour of LCF Windmill Hill Cubs tour Oasis Academy visit to GAW Compton Dando Summer Fete Summer Tree Id walk Family Nature Activities Landscape Recovery Landowner Meeting UoB Biology Dept site visit to GAW and LCF Muslim Women's Group

Grief Encounter's visit Family Nature Activities Tree Nursery Launch Family Nature Activities Stories Under the Ancient Oak Bat walk

Stockwood Youth Group explore Chew Stoke Harvest Home East Harptree Flower Show Autumn Tree id walk Out in Nature' Autumn Wellbeing session at GAW Wells Food Festival

Introduction to NFM - online Forest School with Into University Story Creation Workshop at Pensford Primary Ancient and Veteran trees - online

Our impact - 2025

Structure, management and governance

Constitution

ANT is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), formed in April 2019 and registered as a charity in July 2019. The affairs of ANT are governed by its Constitution which established the objects and powers of ANT. In the event of the charity being wound up the trustees have no liability for its debts.

Risk Management policy

The Trustees have identified the potential risks to ANT and ranked them according to likelihood and severity. For each risk they have identified mitigation and a responsible person, and the risk register is reviewed at every regular meeting of the Trustees.

Appointment of Trustees

The governance of ANT is the responsibility of the Trustees who are appointed under the terms of the Constitution. Trustees remain in post until they retire or otherwise cease under the provisions of the Charity constitution. New Trustees are elected by the Trustees then in post after an observation period of at least three meetings, as detailed in the Trustee Policy, along with an induction learning journey and training.

Organisational structure and decision-making policies

Operational decisions are delegated by Trustees to the Chief Executive, in consultation with relevant lead Trustees for HR, safeguarding, health & safety, data protection, fundraising and public engagement and operational reports are reviewed a monthly meetings of Trustees. Policy decisions are made at Trustee monthly meetings with regular and ad hoc Trustee subgroups in operation to advise.

Public Benefit

the Trustees have reviewed the Charity Commission's guidance on the requirement to report on public benefit. They are satisfied that the work of ANT, as described above, accords with its stated objects and provides tangible public benefit to an appropriate section of those who reside within ANT's area of benefit.

The charity maintains service delivery contracts with individuals, funders and partner organisations. Other collaboration with partner organisations are informal, except for a formal collaboration agreement with Forest of Avon Trust governing the joint ownership of Great Avon Wood. On 16th May 2024 ANT registered a wholly owned trading subsidiary, Avon Needs Trees Trading Ltd. The founding directors were ANT trustees Mark Funnell and Theodore Blanchard, and ANT CEO Dave Wood. In this reporting period the following directors also joined the above three: ANT Head of Business Development Aran Shaunak and unconflicted persons Hilary Jeffkins and Carrie Spittlehouse. As at the end of the year 2024/25 the company had not yet traded or entered into any contracts. Avon Needs Trees and Avon Needs Trees Trading Limited are now VAT grouped..

The Chief Executive leads the staffing structure and delegates responsibilities to other members of staff as necessary, based on trustee board decisions and a schedule of authority. The Chief Executive manages the senior leadership team, who in turn manage their own teams. In the year 2024/25 these teams were a) people and operations, b) engagement, communications and fundraising, c) woodland and impact, and d) business development.

During the reporting year a new pay policy was instituted by trustees. Trustees set the salary and terms for the CEO and the CEO sets salaries and terms for other staff. Salary bands for job families are benchmarked to other landowning nature charities, within the same region where possible. These are reviewed annually. Pay progression within salary bands is based on performance against annual objectives and ANT’s behaviour framework.

Future plans

At the time of writing trustees are about to launch a recruitment campaign for new trustees.

As the scope and complexity of the organisation has grown trustees have further sharpened focus on strategic, financial and legal matters. Policies and strategies are trustee board owned but at the time of writing a number of supporting protocols and processes have been delegated to the Chief Executive and Senior Leadership. These are mainly employee related protocols.

Avon Needs Trees Trading Ltd is not trading as of March 2026, but is expected to commence trading in 2026.

Avon Needs Trees

Our impact - 2025

Our staff demographics

Avon Needs Trees is committed to the monitoring of the diversity and gender pay gaps of our workforce to understand its changing nature and progress toward greater diversity and equity. ANT is not obliged to publish this data but we are committed to understanding our diversity and paygaps and publishing reasonable amounts information.

Because only 25 staff were employed at this time ANT has decided not to publish the full results, except for age, to avoid individuals being identifiable.

All staff employed with ANT up to 30th June 2025 were invited to complete an anonymous survey monitoring diversity and gender pay.

Based on variation from average (mean) FTE salary is reported below. The highest paid demographic is reported in each case, again to reduce any likelihood of individuals being identifiable:

• Non-binary staff were paid above average

• Bisexual staff were paid above average

• Ethnicity: Not published to avoid releasing data about identifiable individuals

• Staff with disabilities were paid above average

• Lower socio-economic background staff were paid above average

• Staff who were not religious were paid above average

• Staff with caring responsibilities were paid above average

To prevent any risk of individuals being identifiable, the largest groups for demographic are reported below:

• Gender: female, 47.1%

• Sexual orientation: heterosexual, 52.9%

• Ethnicity: white British, 88.2%

• Disability: not disabled, 64.7%

• Socio-economic: not lower socio-economic background, 81.3%

• Religion: not religious, 76.4%

• Caring responsibilities: no caring responsibilities, 52.9%

Age of staff:

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61-65
5.9% 0% 18-25 years old
56-60
0% 46-50 years old
5.9%
51-55
5.9% 26-30
11.8%
31-35
23.5%
41-45
41.1%
36-40
5.9%
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Avon Needs Trees

Our impact - 2025

Statement of responsibilities of the trustees

The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102: The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The trustees are required to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and the group and the incoming resources and application of resources, including the net income or expenditure, of the charity and the group for the year. In preparing those financial statements the trustees are required to:

• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

• observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charity's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Members of the charity have no liability to contribute to the assets of the charity in the event of winding up. The trustees are members of the charity but this entitles them only to voting rights. The trustees have no beneficial interest in the charity.

• make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

• state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and

• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.

Auditors

Godfrey Wilson Limited were appointed as auditors to the charity during the year and have expressed their willingness to continue in that capacity.

Approved by the trustees on 27th April 2026 and signed on their behalf by

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and the group and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the constitution. The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and the group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

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Mark Funnell, Chair
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In so far as the trustees are aware:

• there is no relevant audit information of which the charity's auditors are unaware; and

• the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information.

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Our impact - 2025

Financial Review

Total funds (net assets) carried forward at the year end were £6,271,283 (2024: £5,514,522). This balance is primarily represented by land and property assets held by the charity, funded through a combination of restricted grants and longterm financing. During the year, the charity continued to invest in woodland establishment and the development of Wick Farm properties, alongside receiving funding in advance to support these activities.

While this has strengthened the charity’s overall balance sheet position, the year also included planned investment in woodland establishment and property development, resulting in a reduction in unrestricted reserves.

Total net income for the year was £756,761 (2024: £4,239,324). This surplus was driven by restricted funding for woodland establishment and complementary projects, offset by an unrestricted deficit of £(22,018) (2024: £(68,366)).

Staff costs increased significantly in the year, rising by 163% (2024: 82%), reflecting the continued growth of the organisation, with average headcount increasing from 12 to 23 employees. This increase was driven by the delivery of funded projects, with additional staff recruited to support woodland establishment and related activities. While this expansion has enabled the charity to deliver its strategic objectives, it has also increased the underlying cost base.

As a result of this investment phase, unrestricted reserves reduced to £490,231 at the year end (2024: £512,249). However, this includes the value of fixed assets (land and buildings) and long term finance. Unrestricted net current assets were £434,967 at the year end. The movement in reserves reflects the intentional use of unrestricted funds to enable woodland establishment and progress the development of income-generating assets. The Trustees recognise the importance of maintaining adequate levels of unrestricted reserves and will seek to rebuild these over the medium term through a combination of fundraising, development of commercial income streams and careful cost management.

At the year end, the charity held cash and short-term deposits totalling £1,092,824 (2024: £488,631), of which a significant proportion relates to restricted funding for specific projects. The Trustees have considered the availability of unrestricted cash within their forecasts to ensure sufficient liquidity to meet operational requirements.

The charity’s main source of unrestricted income continues to be donations and unrestricted grants, which decreased by 15% compared to the prior year. Unrestricted expenditure exceeded income in the year primarily due to planned investment in the establishment of new woodland at Lower Chew Forest, including costs incurred in advance of associated grant income. This reflects both the timing of project delivery and the strategic use of unrestricted reserves to support growth in the charity’s activities.

The charity also continues to manage its long-term loan facility in line with expectations, with interest payments beginning May 2026 and no capital repayments due until 2029.

The charity’s financial position reflects a period of significant growth and investment, with increased activity funded predominantly through restricted grants alongside the planned utilisation of unrestricted reserves.

Avon Needs Trees

Our impact - 2025

Finance Review

Reserves policy

The charity’s reserves policy takes account of the cashflow requirements arising from grant-funded activities, particularly where expenditure is incurred in advance of claims being submitted to funders. Major projects require upfront investment, with reimbursement often received on a quarterly or annual basis.

Based on these factors, the Trustees consider it appropriate to hold free reserves of approximately £218,000, consistent with the prior year policy. These reserves are intended to provide sufficient working capital to manage timing differences in grant receipts and to cover unforeseen expenditure.

At the year end, unrestricted free reserves were £490,231 (2024: £512,249), which is in line with the level set by the Trustees. The reduction in reserves during the year reflects the planned use of unrestricted funds to support woodland establishment and the development of income-generating assets.

The Trustees will seek to maintain reserves at an appropriate level going forward through a combination of fundraising, development of commercial income streams and careful cost management.

Going concern

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which the Trustees consider appropriate in accordance with FRS 102, after reviewing the charity’s forecasts and current financial position for a period of at least 12 months from the date of approval of these financial statements.

At the year end, the charity held cash and short-term deposits totalling £1,092,824 and maintained a positive net current asset position. The Trustees have prepared detailed cash flow forecasts covering the period to at least April 2027, reflecting the current cost base and planned activity levels.

These forecasts include assumptions regarding the timing and level of future income, including the development of commercial income streams. The Trustees recognise that there is inherent uncertainty in the timing and delivery of these income streams and have therefore considered scenarios where income is delayed or lower than expected.

In these scenarios, the charity is able to take mitigating actions, including the deferral of discretionary expenditure and adjustment of project phasing. This approach is consistent with the charity’s reserves policy and ensures that sufficient liquidity is maintained throughout the forecast period. Since the year end, financial performance has been in line with expectations and the charity continues to maintain adequate cash balances to meet its obligations as they fall due.

Based on this assessment, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and therefore continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. For the financial year ending 30th June 2025, Godfrey WIlson Limited were re-appointed as auditors.

Avon Needs Trees

Our impact - 2025

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Fundraising

At the start of the reporting period, ANT developed a new 3 year fundraising strategy. Four priority areas were identified; trusts & foundations, corporate relationships, one-off crowdfunder style campaigns and philanthropists

Much of our fundraising activity took place through formal application processes and relationship building through existing networks, using channels like email and social media, following GDPR rules and guidelines. Any reach to new audiences at scale was through press and PR activity.

Avon Needs Trees continues not to use fundraising practices at scale to cold audiences which have the potential to be an unreasonable intrusion on personal space, for example street fundraising. All activities are carried out by ANT personnel. We aim to use channels that minimise extensive use of materials in an unsustainable manner, for example letterbox door drops.

Due to this selective use of fundraising approaches, ANT has not been required to sign up to bodies that largely regulate cold fundraising at scale and seek to minimise any potential negative or intrusive impacts of these activities.

ANT has a donation policy which lays out a clear process for carrying out appropriate due diligence on supporters. In practice this means, for example, that we carry out checks on potential corporate partners to check they broadly align with our sustainable principles and don’t work in sectors that would be in direct contradiction to our work and charitable objectives. A similar process is in place for individual donors.

There were no complaints received by the charity about fundraising activity and any activities carried out were in line with fundraising regulations including the guidelines of the Charity Commission.

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Avon Needs Trees
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Our impact - 2025

Funding and Donations

ANT is very grateful to the grant-makers, members of the public and companies who helped make our work possible in the reporting year. Along with CrowdFunder, Bradenstoke Solar Park Community Benefit Fund and Alastair Sawday Publishing Grassroots Fund, this includes:

We are also grateful to the following for their donations: Nicholas Pearson Associates, Elemis, Ecosurety, Piper Maddox, GCP Architects, NHS Shared Business Services, Offspring Films, ZapMap, Burges Salmon, Bristol Uni CAPC, Equans, Loom Digital, Granger Reis, Burges Salmon, Inside Travel, BaseKit, EDP, AHMM, Goodrich Consulting LLP, Savills, Southby & Co Financial Planning, University of Bristol, School of Physics, Sunhouse Creative and EDF

Avon Needs Trees

Our impact - 2025

Independent auditors' report to the members of Avon Needs Trees

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Avon Needs Trees (the 'charity') for the year ended 30 June 2025 which comprise the statement of financial activities, balance sheet, statement of cash flows and the related notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102: The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion, the financial statements:

• give a true and fair view of the state of the charity's affairs as at 30 June 2025 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, for the year then ended;

• have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and

• have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.

Basis for opinion

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 require us to report to you if, in our opinion:

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and the provisions available for small entities, in the circumstances set out in note 7 to the financial statements, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

• the information given in the trustees’ report is inconsistent in any material respect with the financial statements; or

• sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or

• the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records; or

• we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Responsibilities of the trustees

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement set out in the trustees’ report, the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as they determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

3737

Independent auditors' report to the members of

(5) We reviewed the financial statement disclosures and assessed their compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

(6) We performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected transactions or balances that may indicate a risk of material fraud or error.

Our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The procedures we carried out and the extent to which they are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, are detailed below:

(1) We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework that the charity operates in, and assessed the risk of non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Throughout the audit, we remained alert to possible indications of non-compliance.

(2) We reviewed the charity’s policies and procedures in relation to:

• Identifying, evaluating and complying with laws and regulations, and whether they were aware of any instances of non-compliance;

• Detecting and responding to the risk of fraud, and whether they were aware of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud; and

• Designing and implementing internal controls to mitigate the risk of non-compliance with laws and regulations, including fraud.

(7) We assessed the risk of fraud through management override of controls and carried out procedures to address this risk. Our procedures included:

• Testing the appropriateness of journal entries;

• Assessing judgements and accounting estimates for potential bias;

• Reviewing related party transactions; and

• Testing transactions that are unusual or outside the normal course of business.

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. Irregularities that arise due to fraud can be even harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charityʼs trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charityʼs trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditorʼs report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charityʼs trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Date: 30th April 2026

Godfrey Wilson Limited

• (3) We inspected the minutes of trustee meetings.

(4) We enquired about any non-routine communication with regulators and reviewed any reports made to them.

Godfrey Wilson Limited Chartered accountants and statutory auditors 5th Floor Mariner House

62 Prince Street Bristol BS1 4QD

Audited Accounts

Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 30 June 2025

Balance Sheet at 30 June 2025

Avon Needs Trees

Our impact - 2025

Statement of Cash flows for the year ended 30 June 2025

Notes to the Accounts

Avon Needs Trees

Our impact - 2025

40 Accounting policies (continued) d) Donated servlces and facllStles Donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised as income when the charity ha5 Control over the itern. any cL)nditioiis associated the donated item have been rnet. the rec8ipt of 8conomic benèfit from th8 usè by thè charity of th8 itèm. is probable and th8 ￿nnoMIC benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102). general volunteer time is not re(x)gnised. Accounting policie5 (continued) l) Tanglble fixod assets Depreciation 15 pfovKled at rdt&s cakuLited to TAVite down thB C05t of each a55et to ts e5tim3ted residual value over lis expected useful Itfe. The depreciation rates in use are as follows: Freehold prorwty or2% land is held at rx)st and not depreciated, buildiThJs and a55rKiated irnprovernen15 are depreciated straight line over 50 years. 10% reducing balance 25% reducing balanc8 On re￿ipt, donated professional 5ervice5 and donated facilitie5 are recogni5ed on the basis of the value of the grfl to the charity which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefti on the open market.. a corrgsponding amount is then recognisgd in expenditure in the period of rec8ipt. Plant and machinery Fixiur8s. fftbngs and ￿ll1pM@nt No deprecialion 15 charged on assets urKler devdopment. e) Interest receivable Interest on funds held on dep051t 15 included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity. this is normally upon notifiralion of the interest paid or paydble by the bank. The charivs capitalisation threshdd 15 £2(Kl net of VAT for items conshdered to provide economic benefit over multiple years. i) Debtor5 Trade and other debtors are reco3nised at Ihe setuement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepa￿ents are valued at the amrMJnt prepaid net of any trdde di5count5 due. fj Funds accounting Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the harity. Designated fund5 are unrestricted fund5 of the charity which the trustee5 have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a spec￿lC purtx)se. Restricted fund5 are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the chartvs work or through terms of appeal are for specrfic projects being undertaken by the charity- k) Current asset Investments Cu￿ent asset investments consist of cash held on deposii in interest bearing accounts wth a temi not more than 1 yEar whith are intended to be held for S￿)rt term investrnent purposes rather Ihan to meet day to day Cash1￿ requirements. Such investments are held at fair value. g) Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a pa￿nent to a third paty, it is probable that Settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. l) Cash at bank and in hand Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and s￿rt te￿n highty IM]uid investments a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deFM)Sit or SIm￿ar accounL Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure byas incurred. m) Credito Creditor5 and provi5ion5 are rec03n￿ed where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that ￿1[ probabty resuR in the transfer of fijnds to a Ihird paty and the amount due to sewe the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Credtlors and provisions are rK)mially recognised at their setuement amount after allowing for any trdde discounts due. h) Allo¢atlon of support and governanca Costs Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the chartty but do not directty undertake charitable actNities. Governance costs are the costs associated Nmth the govemance arrangements of the chanty. including the costs of complying wth constitutional and statutory requirements and any costs associated wth the strategic management of the charitys activities. These costs have been allocated belween cost of raising funds and expendrture on chaTitable activities based on direct attribution where clear, and othemse according to the per￿ntage of directty attributed costs to each activity a5 follows.. Loa￿ and other financial liabilities are inilialty measur￿1 at trar￿actIOn price net of any trdnsaction costs and subsequenly measured at amortised c05t determined using the effective int8r8St mèthcmd. Whare thè Charity revises its estimates of fthurè paym8nts. for exampl8 du8 to changes in contractual interest rates. the caffying amount of loans recalculated by computing the present Wdlue of future cash flows at the original effective interest rate. An adjustment is recD3nised in the SOFA as income or eXper￿e at the date of revision. 2025 2024 Raising funds Charitable actiwties Maintain existing wo(xlland E8tabli5h new woodland Land acquisition Complamentary proj8¢ts 0.0% 0.0% n) Flnanclal Instruments The CIO onty ha5 financial assets and financ4al fiabililies of a kind that qualrfy as basic financial irGtruments. Basic financaal instrum8nts are inibalty recngnised at transaction valu8 and subsequenuy measured at ￿r setdement value with the exception of bank loans which are recD3nised as rM)ted above in rnte 1(m). 1.1% 74.7% 0.0% 24.2% 5.1% 45.6% 45.10 4.2% Our impact- 2025 Avon Needs Trees

41 Accountlng pollcles {contlnued) ol Pension costs The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for its employees. There are no further liabilities other than that already recognised in the SOFA. Income from donatlons and légacles 2025 Totsl Re5tricW Unrestricted p) Accountlng estlmates and key Judgements In the application of the charitys accounting policios. the trustees are required to make judgements. estsmatss and assumptions about the carrwng values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and underlwng assumptions ale based on historical experience and other factor5 Ihat are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these e5ts"fflates. lThlMdual donations Corporate donations Grdnts 111.094 24.821 27.532 135.915 33.532 Tolal Income from donatlons and legacles 127.094 99.810 226.904 The estimates and underlying assumptions ar8 reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting eslimales are reccvjnised in the period in which the estimate is revised rf the revision affect5 only that period, or in the period of the revision and future period5 rf the reViS￿n affects both current and future periods. Prlor perlod Comparn￿Ve. 2024 Total Restrth Unrestricted IrKJNidual donations Corporate donations Grants 160.829 59.529 15.404 30.500 220.358 15.404 30.500 The key source of estimation uncertainty that has a 819nificant effect on the amounts recognised In the financial slalements is depreciation as described al note 111) and the amortisalion of the bank loan as described al note 1{rn). Total income from donations and legacies 160.829 105,433 266,262 2. Prlor porlod comparatIv￿. 8tatomont of flnan¢lal a¢tlvttl•8 2024 Total Income from charltsble actlvltles Reslrlcted Unrestricted 2025 Total Restricted Unrestricted In¢omo from: Donations and18gacla8 Charitable acllvllies Investments 160,829 4,5S2.311 105,433 1.500 2.760 266,262 4.553.811 2.760 Maintain existing w(x)dland: The STrMre Charitable T￿￿t 20,000 20,000 Total Income 4.713,140 109,693 4,822,833 Establish new wcx)dland: W8St of England Comtmned Aulhorrty The National Lottery Heritage Fund Garfield Weston FIMJndation Eme5t Cook Trust Royal Society of Wibjlife T￿￿ts The HDH Wills Charilable T￿￿t 1.145.785 73.223 30.000 20.011 1.145.785 73.223 30.000 20,011 20.000 15.000 Expendlturè on: Raising funds Charitable aclivilies Maintain existing woodland Establish new woodland Land acquisition Complementary projects 3.￿9 3.909 30.125 289,057 47.990 38,278 8.805 76.155 80.798 8.392 38.930 365.212 128.788 46.670 15.(K(I Complementary projeds: DEFRA- Enwronment Agency The Frier￿S of Westonbirt kntum 421.103 576 421.103 576 Total •xp•nditur• 405.450 178.059 583.509 Nèt incomè l {èxpenditurn) 4,307,69J 168.3661 4,239.324 1.725.698 20.000 1.745,698 Tran5fer5 between funds 142,836 142.836 Net movement In funds 4,164.854 74.470 4,239.324 Our impact- 2025 Avon Needs Trees

42 Income from charitable activities (continued) Prsor period cornparative: 6. Total expenditure 2024 Total Support and govemance fxjsts Restricted Unrestricted 2025 Total Direct (xjsts Staff costs Maintain existing wo(Mlland= Forest of Avon Trust Great Western Cornrnunity Forest 25.392 2.737 25,392 2,737 Raising fijnds Maintain existing woodland Establish new woodland Complementsry projects 9,009 15,981 255,364 37,080 9.009 26.402 934.802 256,789 7.023 457.883 148,065 3.398 221,555 71.644 Es18blish new wood18nd- West of England Combined Authority The National Lottery Heritage Fund The Woodland Trust 303.961 115.500 23,653 303.￿1 115.500 23.653 Total eX￿ndIture 317.434 612,971 296.597 1,227,002 2025 Total Land acquisition= Cheshire and West Chestei Council Other funders 4.043.880 4.043,880 Support costs Publiuty and promotion Other interest payable Employee costs Motor and travel u>sts Premises costs Amortisation and depreciation General administrative costs Legal and professional costs Auditors. fees Complementary projects: DEFRA- Environment Agency Other funder5 5,224 (863) 160.915 108 37.008 10,022 29.154 41,419 13.610 28.267 8.921 28.267 8.921 Totsl Income from oharltable a¢tlvltles 4.552.311 1.500 4.553.811 5. Govemment grants The charity receives govemrnent grant5. defined 95 funding frorn the Environment Agency (DEFFiAI and The West of England Combined Authority (WEG4). to fund charitsble actiMbes (2024.. as C￿￿ent year, in addition to Cheshire and West Chester Counul. and Wiltshire County Council). Th8 total valu8 of such grants in tha period ending 30 June 2025 was £1.566.963 (2024.. £4,380.0291- There are no unfulfilled conditions or (x)ntingencies attaching to these grants in the current or prior year, except the WECA grant of £850,(M)012024: £nil), as described further in note 20. Total support costs 296,597 Total govemance costs were £13.610 (2024: £9.960). Our impact- 2025 Avon Needs Trees

43 6. Total expendlture (contlnued) Prior period comparative 7. Net movernent in funds Thi5 IS Stated after charying: Support and govemance costs 2024 Total 2025 2024 Direct costs Staff costs 10.022 8,601 16.250 2,100 354 Raising funds Maintain existing woodland Establish new woodland Land acquisition Complementary projecls 3.￿9 38,930 365.212 128,788 46,670 Operating lease payments Trustees. remuneration Trustees. reimbursed expenses Audilors. remuneration (exclLKliThJ VAT): ststutory audit Under accrual of prior year fees 19,859 124,726 1,376 11,697 11,267 100.616 99,434 9,348 229 139.870 27,978 25,625 10,850 2,280 8.300 Total expendlture 205.186 157,658 220.665 583.509 One trustee in the current and prior year vrds paid remuneration in respect of running forest school sessions at one of the sites owned by the tharity. Remuneration was paid in accordance with section 185 of the Charrtie5 Acl and a5 permrited by the thariV5 constitution. 2024 Total Support costs Publicity and promotion Event costs Employ8e costs Motor and travel costs Premises costs Amortisation and depreciation General administrative C•)sts Legal and professional costs Audrlors. fees trustee (2024: one trustee) was reimtMJrs&J eypenses in resm of travel12024: travell. 3,435 4.034 76,239 3,391 22.039 8,601 14.649 78,317 9.960 In Ix)mmon other charthe5 of wr Size and nature we use our auditor5 to a55i5t the preparation of the finanaal ststements. 8. Staff costs and numbers Stsff costs were as follows: 2025 2024 Total support costs 220.665 Salaries and bfdges Social security costs Pension costs 692.877 57.064 19.679 265,950 21,144 5.331 292.425 One empk)Fe eamed bet*Een £80.1￿ and £70.(MXI in the current yEar. No employee eamed more than £60.(K)O during the prK)r year. The key management of the charity comFxise the Tru5tee5. Chief Executive Officer. Head of PeO￿e and Operations. Head of Engagement. Communications and Fundraising. Head of Business Devek)prnenL and Head of Woodknds and Impact. The total employee benefft5 of the key management personnel were £250.749. (2024: T￿￿tees. Chief ExerJJtive Officer. Head of People and 0￿rations. £85,￿0). Our impact- 2025 Avon Needs Trees

1. Staff costs and numbers (contlnued)
2. Debtors 2025 No. 2024 No. 2025 2024 Average head count 23 12 Trdde debtor5 PrepayTnents Accrued incorne Other debtors 19.492 289.155 35.849 11.691 179.568 14.800
3. Taxatlon The tharity is exempt from corporation tax a5 all its income is charilable and 15 applied for charitsble purpose8. 206,059
4. Current avaet investments
5. Tanglble Ilxed assets 2025 2024 Fixtures, rrtlings and equipment Land and Asset under building5 conslTUCtion Plant and machinery Total Cash held in depostt aco)urrts 680.500 C08t At 1 July 2024 Addillons in year Current asset investrnents crxnprise cash hdd in rnt1￿ accounts. 8,045,340 74,986 15,942 4,407 4,533 .124.733 43.110 22,635 1& CrediloT5: arnounts falling due within 1 year At 30 Jung 2025 8 045 340 2025 2024 Depreclatlon At 1 July 2024 Ch8rye for the year 7,499 8.343 1,102 1,879 8,601 Trade credttors Accruals Deferred income Other taxation and social se￿rity Arnounts Ow￿1 to griyjp undertaking5 (rK)te 11) Other rxeditors 22.820 46.385 15,910 2.175 20.195 At 30 June 2025 15,842 2,781 8,083 Net book value At 30 June 2025 3,852 1,498 8 149 220 92.687 71.877 At 30 June 2024 67.487 3.305 8 116.132 Land and buildings includes £4,870,396 12024: £4.870,396) of land purchased with restricted funding and ov8r which r&slrictive grant lemis still apply.
6. Investmènts 2025 2024 Inveslmeni in subsidiary company Avon Need$ Trees own$ 100°h of the $hare eapital of Avon Needs Trees TradiThJ Ltd {company number 157710341. 11 was incorporated on 11 June 2024, and it has been excluded from 011501idatioll as the company was dormant in the current and prior year. Our impact- 2025 Avon Needs Trees

45 15. Credltors: amounts falllng due after more than one year 16. Anatysis of not a55ets between fund5 2025 2024 Restrthd DesvJnated funds Jnds General Jnds Total fvnd5 Bank loans and overdrafts 3.223.561 3.224.424 TarvJible fixed assets Investments Current assets Current liabiltbes Non currenl liabilitie5 4,870.396 3,278,824 8.149.220 Anolysls of dobt maturlty Debt due.. 910,656 527,654 192,6871 3,223,561 1,438,310 192.687) 3,223,561 bel￿een one and five years in five year5 or fflore 410.050 2,813,511 32,254 3.192,170 3.223.561 3,224,424 Not assets at 30 Jun8 2025 5.781.052 490.231 6.271,283 During the 2023124 year, the charity agreed 8 loan facilty wth Triodos bank of up to £3,850,000 for the purpose of the acquisition of Wick Farm (now knos¥n as Lower Chew Fore511. Triodos Bank holds a legal charge over the sile and a floating charge over all a55ets and undertakings of the charity in respect of the loan. The loan tsm 1$ 15 years with an interest rate of 2.75% above base rate. The charity look a drawdown on the facility of £3,300,000 during the 2023124 year, and £150,000 of the loan was asslgned lo a bank account in the charitys name lo be kept as a loan reserve fund. The remaSnder of the faci1Sty was reseryed lo cover initlal interest aCCn￿ against the loan for thg first hvo years. Capital repayments Gommgncg in June 2029. Restricted Deswjnated funts funds General funds Total funds Prlor year comparatlve Tangible fixed assets Investments Current assets Current liabiltti08 Non Gurrent liabilities 4,870,396 216,346 3,029,39) 8,116,132 131,877 562,813 171,8771 3,224,424 694,690 171,8771 3,224,424 Total capltal outslandlng at 30 June 2025 was £3,557,88012024'. £3,322,000). The loan balan¢& 18 shown lass r&lal8d fees with Interest accrued at an eff8cliv• annual rate of 8.213%, determlned al inllial recognillon. Nèt assets at 30 June 2024 S.002.273 216.346 295.903 5,514.522 The total Interest charged I credlled to the statement of flnanclal actlvltles In the current year was £863 credil12024'. £37,294 charge). This comprises effective interest of £255,080 charged less rèmeBsurgmenl adjuslm8nt of £255,943 to refflect changes to ostimal8d cashllows arising from movements in underlying base rates durir¢g the year. Our impact- 2025 Avon Needs Trees

46 17. Movements In fund$ 17. Movements In funds {contlnued Purposes of restricted funds Icontinued) Lower Chew Forest- To deveb)p and maintsin th8 wr￿land at Lov•W Chaw Forest. funded development by WEC Trdn5fe betr￿n Al 30 Jun• lunds 2025 At 1 July 2024 Income Expenditure Lower Chew Forest- operation and infrastrucbjre To establish aThJ mainlain the 7AfMxllarKI at Lower Chew F0re5t. Ro5trictod funds Land purchase Lower Chew Forest- development Lowef Chew Forest- operation and infrastructure Environment Agency- Land Recovery Project Great Avon Woods - Opgration and Infraslwclure Pudding 8rooks W¢)ods - operation and infraslruclure The Frfends of Weslonblrt Arboretum 4,870,396 4.870.396 850,000 {22,6351 827.365 Environment Agency- Land reLMJvery prDjec* Devebwng plans ￿ryth other laTKI owner5 to support SUStainabl8 landscape recovery. 43,385 212,105 {225,490) 30.000 Great Avon Woods- operdtion and infrdstructure To eSta￿lsh aThJ mainlain the 7AfMxllarKI at Great Avon Wo(Ml5. 421,103 {375.014) 46.089 Pudding Brcoks WcoJs- To estthish mainlain the ￿rn￿land at Pudding Br(x)k Wo(Kl$. operdtion and infrdstructure 81,091 369,008 {450,099) 7,401 1199) 7,202 The Friands of Westonbirt Arborelum To develop and maintain woodland. 576 576 Purposes of deslgnated funds Fixed asset fund To represent value of unrestricted fijnds used in fixed asset purchases. exduding any long temi liabilities secured against those fixed assets. The acquis￿0￿ of Wick farm for the sum of £7,073,270 is nol represented in thi5 fur￿ due to thi5 amount being mvered by restricted funds and long term 1kab￿l118S. Total rejlrlcted fvndg 5,002.273 1.852.792 1,051,378 22.635 S 781,OS2 Unrestrlcted funds Deslgn8led funds.. Fixed asset fund 216.346 216.346 Total designated funds 216,346 216,346 Transfers between funds Transfers between funds represent the purchase5 of fixed assets with restricted funding, upon which there are oTrgoing restrictions. and the release of designated funds to general funds. for which Ihe trM)ard has no orwmng purpose. General funds 295.903 130.971 175.624 238,981 490,231 Total unrestrlcted funds 512 249 175624 490 231 Total funds 5.514.522 1.983.763 1.227,002 6.271.283 Purposes of r•strictsd funds Land purchase Grant fttnding and donations to b8 direclly inv6sted in land. Funds invested in land for which the funder retains an ongoing right to clawback the funds should the chartty breach land use resttictions aw c8rri8d forward. this inciud8s amounts in the current year recewed from CWAC for the purchase of Wick Farm. Where the funder or doner does not retain such right related restrictions are considered discharqed on purchase. Our impact- 2025 Avon Needs Trees

47 17. Movements in funds (continued) Prior year cornparative 18. Analysls of changes In net debt Transf8rs between funds Other non- cash Cash fk)ws movements At 1 July 2023 At 30 June 2024 At1Juty 2024 At 30 June 2025 Income Expenditure Rastrlcted funds Land purchase Hazeland - operation and infrastructure Pudding Brooks Woods - op@ration and infrdstruclure Great Avon Wood5- operation and infrastructure Ed Woods - tree Lower Chew Forest- operation and infrdstructure Environment Agency- Land Recovery Project Wiltshire Council WBNP - Healthier Trmth Nature Development Grant Cash and rash equivalents 488.631 604.193 1.092.824 826,516 4,193,265 123,482) 1125,903) 4,870.396 Bank k)ans falling due after 1 Jear (￿te 15) 2.305 115.158) 12.853 3.224.424 3.223.561 Total net debt 2.735.793 604.193 2 130 737 7,967 2,737 {3,303) 7,401 19. Related party transactlons There were no related paty trdnsadions in the (￿rrent or prior peri(Ml. 631 454.558 25.392 (299.346) (74.752) 126.992) 1.600 81.091 20. Conllngenl Ilabllltles There a potential liabilty arising from addil)nal obligati'orts under the grant received from the Wesl of England Combined Authority IWECA). Shoukl any BNG units be sokl as a direct result of creation ath1t￿s funded by the grdnt. the chanty 15 required to repay that Sum to WECA up to the maximum value of the total grant daim1£850.000 a5 at 30 June 20251. Any repayment of the sale value. net of costs related to ongoing management of any habitat created. wll only mmence after repayThent of the TricJos loan secured against the same Lgnd holding (nole 151. At the year end date. any amounts paydble and the timing of the cash OLrtfiow ￿nn0t be ascertained and therefore no liability has been rec(*3nised. 43.385 43.385 28.267 3,921 128,267) (3,902) 119) 5.000 5.000 Totsl restricted funds 837.419 4,713,140 405,450 142.836 5,rM)2.273 Unrestricted fund5 Dewgnated funds.. Fixed asset fund 145.554 8.601 79.393 216.346 Total designated funds 145.554 8,601 79.393 216.346 General funds 292.225 109.693 169.458 63.443 295.903 Total unrestrfcted funds 437,779 109.693 178,059 142.836 512.249 Total funds 1.275.198 4.822.833 583.509 5.514.522 Our impact- 2025 Avon Needs Trees

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Avon Needs Trees is a registered charity in England and Wales. Registration number: 1184386 Castlemead Lower Castle Street Bristol BS1 3AG