RWB Environment Trust Annual Report for period 1st April 2024 to 31 March 2025
RWB Environment Trust is well established in Royal Wootton Bassett as a recognised source of expertise and promoter of environmental initiatives. We have a loyal and expanding group of volunteers to support our projects. Our members frequently assist and advise Town Councillors and community leaders on a wide range of topics such as the development of community green spaces, ecological diversity, energy efficiency and sustainability. Over the 12 months, the Trust provided 1500 volunteer hours, which equates to around £35,000 in value of labour to our community and to projects that benefit our environment.
The charity’s Community Nature Reserve continues to thrive thanks to a dedicated group of regular volunteers and we successfully advised and contributed to the Vale View Gardens project that adopted a small piece of waste land and converted it into a “pocket park” for local residents. The Trust also supported a “Hedgefest” event on a local farm, that attracted expert speakers from across the country, highlighted the ecological benefits of healthy hedgerows and showcased best practice management techniques.
Our projects over the last two years to work with council grounds staff to introduce: more trees; longer grass areas for wildflowers and wildlife; and changes to grass mowing regimes, within the town’s parks are now accepted normal, good practice by the Town Council and have been consolidated into their “business as usual” planning and budgeting process. We continue to monitor the success of these initiatives and to provide volunteer support as and when requested.
During the course of this year the balance in our accounts has increased by over £11,000. This is as a result of successful fundraising in anticipation of significant expenditure on major projects in 2025/26:
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The Trust was one of the Royal Wootton Bassett Mayor’s “chosen charities” during her year in office and received a donation of £2,157 from her Mayor’s Charity Fund to support our projects; and
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We have continued to pursue the development of plans for routes for cycling and wheeling within Royal Wootton Bassett to encourage more active travel and help reduce carbon emissions. We successfully applied for grants amounting to £10,000 that will enable the Trust to undertake the necessary scoping and preparatory design studies for the first cycle route project, once we have Wiltshire Council approval to proceed.
D.Gardner Chair of Trustees
RWB Environment Trust Registered Charity No. 1186615 Address: 14 Saltspring Drive, Royal Wootton Bassett SN4 7SD
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RWB Environment Trust Income & Expenditure Report for Yoar Endgd 31 March 2025 Op•nlng Trust Funds 2,879.98 Income Personal donatK)ns Other donatDn8 Active Iiavel grant- Willshire CouncAI Wiltshire Wildllfe Trust grant Mayor's charitable trust 496.00 40.00 5.000.00 5.000.00 2,157.88 12,693.88 Expendlture Polo shirts & beanle hats with Tru81 logo8 Tes- Vale VW Comrnunily Natura R8seN6 Equiprnent & (Xher Costs S8eds- Carnival Bulbs- Nature Reserve Insurance Meeting costs Webslle Fe95 1874.801 1372.571 1368.131 197.431 125.501 1153,441 180.001 128.781 11,980 651 Hedgefest Grant & publl¢lty In Expen89$ 2,895.40 12,250.021 445.38 Closlng Trust Funds a¢ 31 Mar¢h 2023 13,838.59 2¢)