## North Tyne and Redesdale Red Squirrels
## **Trustees’ Annual Report 2019-20**
North Tyne and Redesdale Red Squirrels (NT&RRS) Charity Reg. 1186568 Address: 4 Low Park, West Woodburn, Hexham, Northumberland, NE48 2SQ
## **Trustees:**
Adrian Rawlins, 4 Low Park, West Woodburn, Hexham, Northumberland, NE48 2SQ Susan Underwood, 1 Hazel Cottages, Otterburn, Northumberland NE19 1LL Philip Chard, Snuggygate, Noble St., Bellingham, Northumberland, NE48 2EE
## **Structure and Management:**
The Group is administered by a Management Committee meeting regularly (nominally monthly, excepting limitations due to Covid). The committee includes the Trustees and any group member who may wish to attend. Decisions are by taken by vote, as laid down in the Constitution. Trustee selection to fill a vacancy is by majority vote at an AGM. Group members may also be coopted on to the Committee for a short period.
## **Activities and Objectives:**
The danger from Covid became increasingly evident in the early months of 2020. Although our field work is mainly in rural areas with little or no direct public contact, safe working practice requires that we usually work with a colleague. With this proviso, outdoor work has continued, albeit at a slowed pace.
All Group activities adhere to method statements covering safety, the well-being of vulnerable persons and care for wildlife. Work practices with wildlife are strictly in accordance with the law and the recommendations of relevant organisations, such as the Forestry Commission. Squirrel Pox Virus is a disease carried by grey squirrels, who suffer no ill effects, but it is fatal to reds. However, it can readily be spread through human contact and may be carried by feeders and other equipment. This requires that we regularly disinfect all equipment, monitor the health of red populations and keep alert to disease outbreaks that may require additional action. We have not detected any disease during this year.
Much of Northumberland has both red and grey populations, although greys tend to much higher population densities. Management contracts normally require that we monitor the general health of a woodland, checking tree health and animal sightings, using squirrel feeders, trail cameras and live mammal traps. Control of grey squirrels is often required for red survival but also for woodland health. Greys are prolific bark strippers, most particularly targetting broad leaf trees at the most vulnerable stage of around 20 years. This may either provide a site for disease entry or kill the tree outright. This damage is currently estimated by the Royal Forestry Society at £37m/year for England and Wales. Global warming is now also a matter of urgent and extreme concern, for which broad leaf tree coverage is a proven and effective mitigation. Unfortunately, the current population density of grey squirrels will inevitably largely negate the massive investment in tree planting. Pine martins are beginning to make a come-back, having been decimated through the prejudice of an earlier generation. We now find that the presence of pine martins tends to provide a significant boost to reds, whilst often leading to the rapid disappearance of greys. This is not yet fully understood. But the outcome is welcome and sightings of this elusive creature are of more than passing interest.
## **Achievements and Service to the Public:**
We maintain open access to the public through published email and ‘phone links. This provides assistance with squirrel related concerns, such as disease, tree damage or recording sightings. This is an important function, since an alert and interested public can greatly increase the effectiveness and coverage of observation and also provide a reservoir of potential active group members. Squirrel management contracts for Northumberland Wildlife Trust (NWT) and MOD at Otterburn Ranges were completed as planned and thus our expenses for this year are covered.
**Financial Review:** The Group’s essential expenses cover insurance, feed, disinfectant, transport and equipment. Group activity is limited both by cash-flow and personnel numbers. Although there is a great appreciation of the importance of red squirrel survival in this area, the population is sparse and of modest income. We therefore tend to rely more on contracts to cover costs rather than individual contributions. The NWT and MOD contracts largely covered our outgoings for the year.
## **North Tyne and Redesdale Red Squirrels**
## **Year End**
|**Income**
R1 Membership
R2 Donations
R3 Sale of plants
R4 Grants
R5 Sale of feed
**Total**
**Expenditure**
P1 Stationery
P2 Website hosting
P3 Purchase of feed
P4 Equipment
P5 Purchase of sundries
P6 Room hire
P7 Publicity
P8 Travelling expenses
P9 Insurance
**Total**|**31-Dec-20**
0.00
10.00
0.00
2200.00
32.17
**2242.17**
0.00
-182.27
-266.67
-1092.81
-463.44
-5.00
0.00
0.00
-302.84
**-2313.03**|
|---|---|
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Receipts & Payments Account for the Financial Year Ended 31-Dec-20
Year End
31-Dec-20 Last Year
Total Total
RECEIPTS £ £
Membership 0 0
Donations 10 0
Sale of plants 0 30
Sale of feeder / trap food 32 0
Grants 2,200 2,200
TOTAL RECEIPTS 2,242 2,230
PAYMENTS £ £
Stationery 0 -25
Website hosting -182 -64
Purchase of feeder / trap food -267 -211
Purchase of sundries -463 -249
Purchase of Equipment -1,093 -252
Room hire -5 -46
Publicity 0 0
Travelling expenses 0 0
Insurance -303 -303
TOTAL PAYMENTS -2,313 -1,149
NET RECEIPTS-PAYMENTS -71 1,081
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Movements in Funds for the Financial Year Ended 31-Dec-20
Bt'Fwd at Receipts Payments Transfers Cd'Fwd at
Cash Assets
31-Dec-2019 in Period in Period in Period 31-Dec-20
Cash at Bank & in Hand
Petty Cash 0 0 0 0 0
Bank, Current Account 2,040 2,242 -2,313 0 1,969
2,040 2,242 -2,313 0 1,969
Investment/Deposit Accounts Bt'Fwd Deposits Withdrawals Net Transfers Cd'Fwd
Bank, Deposit Account 0 0 0 0 0
Total Cash Assets 2,040 1,969
Total Funds 2,040 1,969
Statement of Assets & Liabilities as at 31-Dec-20 Assets as at 31-Dec-20
Unrestricted Designated Restricted Total at
Funds Funds Funds 31-Dec-20 Description Value
Cash Assets 1,969 1,969 Thermal Imager 917
Other Monetary Assets 0 Microscope 130
Investments Assets None
Assets Retained for Own Use 1,047 1,047
Liabilities None Total 1047
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**Note: Assets retained for own use are shown at purchase price. Current (residual) value is unknown.**