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2024-12-31-accounts

Oxfordshire Badger Group Registered Charity (England and Wales) 1186850

Annual Report 01[st] January 2024 to 31[st] July 2025

Financial Statement for the year ended 31st Dec 2024

Approved by the Members and Trustees on 25[th] October 2025 and signed on their behalf by : Linda Ward

Oxfordshire Badger Group - Trustee￿ Annual Report 2024 to 2025 Page left blank Registered charity 1186850 Page 2 of 28 25th October 2025

Oxfordshire Badger Group – Trustees’ Annual Report 2024 to 2025

Contents

Reference and administrative details ......................................................................................... 4 Structure, governance, and management .................................................................................. 4 Type of governing document .................................................................................................. 4 Charitable objects ................................................................................................................... 4 Trustees, committee, and organisational approach ............................................................... 5 Statutory declaration of charitable activities ......................................................................... 5 Trustees Report ........................................................................................................................... 5 Activities and achievements – our officers reports .................................................................... 6 Secretary and membership ..................................................................................................... 6 Badger records ........................................................................................................................ 7 Badger vaccination project 2019-2025 ................................................................................. 11 Badger rescue and welfare ................................................................................................... 12 Social media report ............................................................................................................... 13 Badger and other wildlife crime ........................................................................................... 15 Education and Outreach Report ........................................................................................... 15 Development and badgers .................................................................................................... 17 The badger cull .......................................................................................................................... 18 Hutchcomb’s Copse – three years on ....................................................................................... 20 Collaboration with other organisations .................................................................................... 20 Treasurer Report 2024 .............................................................................................................. 22 Basis of accounting ............................................................................................................... 22 Income................................................................................................................................... 22 Expenditure ........................................................................................................................... 22 Notes on receipts .................................................................................................................. 23 Notes on expenditure ........................................................................................................... 23 Financial reserves policy ....................................................................................................... 24 Details of any funds materially in deficit .............................................................................. 25 Statutory statements on liabilities ........................................................................................ 25 Statement of accounts 01/01/24 to 31/12/24 ..................................................................... 26 Statement of assets and liabilities as at 31st December 2024 ............................................. 28

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Registered charity 1186850

25th October 2025

Oxfordshire Badger Group – Trustees’ Annual Report 2024 to 2025

Reference and administrative details

Charity name: Oxfordshire Badger Group
Type of charity: Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) with voting members
Registration details Registered with the Charity Commission on 9thDecember 2019
The charity is registered with HM Revenue and Customs
Registration Number Registered Charity in England and Wales number: 1186850
Charity address: 29 Webbs Way, Kidlington, OX5 2EW
Trustees who manage the charity Julia Hammett (Chair)
Richard Tilley (Treasurer)
Linda Ward (Secretary)
Eileen Anderson (Education and Outreach)
Banks The Co-operative Bank, P O Box 250, Skelmersdale, WN8 6WT
(primary)
PayPal (Europe) S.à r.l. et Cie, S.C.A.
22-24 Boulevard Royal
L-2449 Luxembourg
Public Liability Zurich insurance, The Zurich Centre, 3000 Parkway, Whiteley,
Fareham, Hampshire PO15 7JZ

Structure, governance, and management

Type of governing document

Constitution: Based on the Charity Commission model governing document for a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) with voting members. Nothing in this constitution shall authorise an application of the property of the CIO for the purposes which are not charitable in accordance with section 7 of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and section 2 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008.

Charitable objects

As defined in our Constitution (Governing Document) the charity’s objects are:

  1. To promote, for the public benefit, the conservation and protection of badgers, their setts and habitats in Oxfordshire and elsewhere; and

  2. To advance the education of the public on the ecology, behaviour and protected status of badgers, their setts and habitats.

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Registered charity 1186850

25th October 2025

Oxfordshire Badger Group – Trustees’ Annual Report 2024 to 2025

Trustees, committee, and organisational approach

Our Constitution specifies that there must be at least 3 charity trustees to a maximum of 12. The Chair, Treasurer and Secretary are ex officio charity trustees.

The trustees during the period of this report were: Julia Hammett (Chair), Richard Tilley (Treasurer), Linda Ward (Secretary) and Eileen Anderson (Education and Outreach). Members confirmed these appointments at our third Annual General Meeting (AGM) held 12[th] October 2024.

The trustee’s have formally delegated responsibility for day-to-day operational decision making to a committee of volunteers. Late breaking news: Members resolved to accept the committee terms of reference at the AGM held 25[th] October 2025 and these will supplement the constitution.

The Charity is seeking to recruit additional trustees and committee members. In appointing an additional or replacement trustee, due consideration will be given to ensuring that the trustees have, between them, the skills and experience necessary to manage the charity effectively and in accordance with charity law. Similar considerations apply to committee membership.

Oxfordshire Badger Group has no paid staff and is run entirely on a volunteer basis. Members have the option to volunteer to take part in various organised activities or may simply support our work via their membership fees[1] .

Statutory declaration of charitable activities

The trustees of Oxfordshire Badger Group confirm that they have paid due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit in deciding which activities the charity should undertake.

Trustees Report

Oxfordshire Badger Group (OBG) is a small wildlife welfare charity which promotes the conservation and protection of badgers, their setts and habitats in Oxfordshire and beyond. We are funded entirely by public donations and grants. The charity has no paid staff.

This is our fifth annual trustees report since becoming a registered charity in December 2019. It covers the period 1[st] January 2024 to 31[th] July 2025. It describes how our group has continued to meet the charities objectives during this time. OBG is engaged in a wide range of activities including badger rescue and welfare; the study of badgers and record keeping; public education and awareness raising. We also take part in planning consultations, provide an advisory service to people with badger problems and encourage the reporting of wildlife crime.

Our badger vaccination programme has now ended after seven years. This work was successful in protecting badgers from bovine TB, offered landowners a humane alternative to culling and raised public awareness of the extent of culling in the county. It also built a strong team of committed volunteers. We hope to redirect their energy and organisation to grow our other charity activities.

During 2024 and carrying on into 2025, our Group has made a major contribution to national efforts to end the badger cull. Looking back at our 52,000 signature petition and our persistent ‘badgering’ of Oxford University scientists shows how much a small group like ours can achieve with determination and commitment.

1 Membership of the charity costs £12 per year per household (or £6 concessionary rate)

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Registered charity 1186850

25th October 2025

Oxfordshire Badger Group – Trustees’ Annual Report 2024 to 2025

Hutchcomb’s Copse continues to be an absolute jewel. We held a very successful open day for both neighbours and members in June 2024. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the tour of the wood and many commented how secluded and unspoiled it is. We’re committed to opening the wood in a controlled way and have successfully hosted a very enthusiastic Scout work party and a gathering of would be poets along with other events ! We now have an agreed management plan and are putting together a substantial work list. Raising the funds to completely secure the land is a top priority for the next 12 months.

Our education and outreach programme is another joy for all concerned especially when we get to meet young school children who hopefully will become wildlife protectors of the future.

Financially the Group remains relatively healthy despite a significant reduction in donations compared with 2023. In part, this reflects the closure of our vaccination crowdfunder as this project began to draw to a close.

Our work for badgers is for the public good, but we also want to 'give back' to our volunteers. We encourage people to play an active role and to give as much or as little time to volunteering as they feel able.

We thank all our wonderful volunteers who give their time and experience freely to help badgers. A special shout out for our tireless committee members who drive our activities along and do so much to mentor and train others. We thank everyone who has donated to allow our work to continue.

Thank you for your interest and support.

Eileen Anderson, Julia Hammett, Richard Tilley and Linda Ward (Trustees)

Activities and achievements – our officers reports

Secretary and membership

At the time of reporting, we have 407 subscribers to our mailing list, just 7 more the last report. Of these, 89 are paid up members and 6 are honorary members. Membership numbers remain stable.

  1. The membership fee is fixed at £12 per household per year on a monthly basis.

  2. A concessionary membership fee of £6 per household is available to students and people on low income.

  3. OBG pays £2 of the membership fee to the Badger Trust. This entitles members to attend Badger Trust training events and Annual General Meetings.

  4. Members may join in a variety of volunteer roles.

  5. We provide mentoring / training and have produced protocols and guidelines for people taking part in our core ‘field based’ volunteer activities.

  6. Our ‘social’ activities are open to all and usually advertised via our free mailing list.

Volunteers needed !

Oxfordshire Badger Group (OBG) is run entirely by volunteers. As you will see from this report, we work to protect badgers and their habitats in many ways, with opportunities to take part in both field and office based work. Both are equally vital to the continued success of the Group. If you have any time or expertise to offer, we’d love to hear from you.

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Registered charity 1186850

25th October 2025

Oxfordshire Badger Group – Trustees’ Annual Report 2024 to 2025

Badger records

Oxfordshire Badger Group (OBG) holds secure records of reported deaths, live sightings and setts dating back over five decades. This highly sensitive, confidential information is key to delivering our crucial rescue work and underpins all our activities.

Professional requests for data and fees received:

We maintain protected records and offer a professional, chargeable data search service to vetted agencies that can prove that they have a legitimate reason to require information about the presence of badgers in a specific area.

Oxfordshire Badger Group welcomes the opportunity to liaise with developers and Local Authorities to share expertise in order to inform and improve development plans that embrace rather than exclude badgers from the environment. We continue to have a mutual data sharing agreement with the Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre (TVERC) to facilitate connection between agencies and ensure that badgers and their habitats are considered and protected.

Details of data searches requested and provided in 2024 and 2025:

OBG will provide sett and RTC records on request to bona fide ecologists. We request a donation to cover our costs based on the size of the area of search, which determines workload.

January – December 2024 :

Feb 2024: Data request received, correspondence entered into but the ecological consultant did not respond to take the data search further.

Feb 2024: Data request received and correspondence entered into. A data search and report was provided by OBG in April 2024. Invoice sent for £60.00 donation.

May 2024: Data request received and correspondence entered into. A data search and report was provided by OBG in June 2024. Invoice sent for £294.00 donation.

Dec 2024: Data request received and correspondence entered into. A data search and report was provided by OBG on 16 Dec 2024. Information provided for a £60.00 donation, which was chased up and settled in May 2025.

January – end July 2025:

May 2025: Data request received and correspondence entered into. A data search and report was provided by OBG on 26/05/25. Invoice sent for £60.00 donation, which was received on 27/05/25.

Aug 2025: Data request received and correspondence entered into. A data search and report was provided by OBG on 04/08/25. Invoice sent for £60.00 donation, which was received on 05/08/25.

Dead badger reports received:

It is a sad fact that the only badgers that most people see are dead at the side of the road. Their deaths, conversely, are positive evidence that there are populations of badgers close by. An increasing number of volunteers and members of the public report those sightings to us and we greatly appreciate their time and effort. They all contribute to our record of badgers’ lives and deaths across our county.

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Registered charity 1186850

25th October 2025

Oxfordshire Badger Group – Trustees’ Annual Report 2024 to 2025

A reminder about Road Traffic Collision checks:

A core group of OBG members from across the county volunteer to check dead badgers if safe to do so. They report back on the animal’s health and arrange rescue if viable. Dead badgers are checked for gender and lactation status in case there may be vulnerable cubs nearby that require our assistance. The months marked with * on the table below indicate when this activity takes place.

The results of the 2021- 2022 Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) project to ascertain the incidence of Bovine Tb in the wild badger population, which OBG participated in, are still yet to be published to our knowledge.

Table 1: Total number of badgers reported dead 2017 to 2025

Year 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 so
far
Deaths 95 161 165 150 287 271 210 245 203

January – December 2024

245 dead badgers were reported between 1[st] January 2024 and the end of December 2024. This is an increase to the 210 recorded in 2024 (see Table 1).

Table 2: Deaths recorded per month in 2024

Season/
Year
Autumn
2023
Winter
2023/24
Spring
2024
Summer
2024
Autumn
2024
Winter
2024/25
Sept - 17 Dec - 5 Mar* - 59 Jun - 16 Sept - 15 Dec - 1
Oct - 9 Jan* - 11 Apr* - 30 Jul - 14 Oct - 20 Jan - 11
Nov – 6 Feb* - 35 May* - 24 Aug - 16 Nov - 4 Feb - 32
Total 32 51 113 46 39 34

Almost all of the dead badgers reported in 2024 were seen on or at the side of roads. One body raised concerns and was reported to Thames Valley Police by the finder. No further action was reported. Four badgers were found dead close to their setts with no indication of anything other than natural causes. Footage from a trail camera happened to catch the tragic but natural death of a badger on emergence from their sett.

Hotspots for deaths on the county’s roads in 2024:

A34: 21 deaths reported along the route through Oxfordshire with many deaths on the stretch between Wytham and South Hinksey. 12 more deaths than in 2023.

A40: 21 deaths reported along the road’s length with the usual hotspots around Wheatley and the Northern Bypass. Two more deaths than in 2023.

A420: 19 deaths reported along its length in Oxfordshire with a cluster of deaths around Cumnor and Dean Court. An increase of 5 deaths on 2023.

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Registered charity 1186850

25th October 2025

Oxfordshire Badger Group – Trustees’ Annual Report 2024 to 2025

A4074: 15 deaths again along the road to the Berkshire border, with clusters of deaths recorded around Clifton Hampden. Same total as in 2023.

A4260: 9 deaths recorded, several around Deddington, and notably more than in previous years.

A361: 8 deaths recorded spread along the route.

A44: 6 deaths reported this year, fewer than in 2023.

Other hotspots continued to claim lives: the A415, A417 and A4130 around Didcot.

January to September 2025

203 dead badgers have been reported between 1[st] January and the end of August 2025. During the same period last year, 205 dead badgers were recorded.

Table 3: Deaths recorded per month in 2025

Month Jan* Feb* March* April* May* June* July Aug
No. of
deaths
11 32 39 38 23 10 28 22

Hotspots for deaths on the county’s roads in first seven months of 2025:

A420 - 29 deaths reported

A40 – 18 deaths reported

A34 – 11 deaths reported

A316 and A4130 - both saw 10 deaths reported on each

A4260 - 9 deaths reported

A4074 and A44 – both saw 5 deaths reported on each

Reflection:

The fluctuation in the number of reported dead badgers over the past eight years reflects a variety of factors. Some negative: the ongoing badger cull bites into most of our county and all open land is vulnerable to being built on as fields disappear into new housing, solar farms, warehousing and speculative laboratory facilities. But there are some positives: there is increased awareness amongst the public to report a dead badger, and as our membership grows our new members are encouraged to play an active part by reporting any badgers that they see to our dedicated What’sApp group. Proof of death is proof of life - there are still populations of badgers existing across the whole county.

Sett records:

Oxfordshire Badger Group holds details of setts that began to be recorded over fifty years ago. Our confidential archive reveals stories of the movements of badgers across the county: setts

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Registered charity 1186850

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Oxfordshire Badger Group – Trustees’ Annual Report 2024 to 2025

abandoned, destroyed or otherwise lost; new setts excavated, unknown setts discovered and ancient setts still in active, healthy use.

Reports of new setts come in from a variety of sources: members of the public, OBG members who survey areas of interest to them or join up on the sett surveying days organized throughout the winter. Also from rescue call-outs to injured or ill badgers and from visits by OBG to concerned members of the public who seek advice about living with badgers. The work of our expert volunteers will often uncover badger setts in new areas. Methodical surveying of private land signed up to our vaccination program provided highly confidential records that are held separately and excluded from data sharing agreements or professional data searches.

Updates on previously recorded setts are very welcome as they provide a history of the sett and its health over a period of years, and sometimes several decades.

My sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed their time, effort and reports to our records. Emails can be sent to the dedicated address: settrecords.oxonbadgergroup@gmail.com

January – December 2024

A total of 58 new sett reports were added to the OBG records in 2024, along with several updates to older records.

January – end July 2025

A further 40+ new and updated sett reports have so far been recorded during the first half of 2025 bringing the total number of record entries to over 1930.

Sightings of live badgers

We are genuinely delighted to receive reports from people who have been lucky to catch sight of badgers living alongside them. During 2024 and 2025 we’ve heard from several people whose doorbell or trail camera has revealed that unfamiliar noises and moved objects have been caused by black and white-faced visitors. The residents of one road have given their local boar badger a name and often share footage of his foraging with us.

A few people out walking or cycling have encountered badgers face-to-foot. It’s especially likely in late spring when young cubs emerge from the sett to explore their surroundings. They may be out in daylight and on footpaths or – as in the case of a family local to me – curled up fast asleep in the compost heap of a quiet garden!

January – December 2024

17 separate live sightings of one or more badgers together.

January – end August 2025

11 separate live sightings of one or more badgers together.

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Registered charity 1186850

25th October 2025

Oxfordshire Badger Group – Trustees’ Annual Report 2024 to 2025

Badger vaccination project 2019-2025

Oxfordshire Badger Group has been working with farmers, landowners, volunteers, and the public to prevent the spread of bovine tuberculosis by providing treatment, under licence, in the form of vaccination to badgers in Oxfordshire. Bovine tuberculosis is a disease in cattle that has spread into the wildlife population, including badgers.

Through badger vaccination, we aimed to reduce the transmission and spread of the disease in the badger population and raise awareness that so much of Oxfordshire and England is within a cull zone. Our programme offered a humane and equally effective alternative to culling badgers. It has been hugely popular and very successful.

The 2024 season was the sixth year of our project. Along with our dedicated, experienced volunteers who have been with us in previous years, we recruited a

small number of new volunteers at the beginning of the season, who proved invaluable. After finishing the four-year project on 11 sites last year, we were able to take on a large new farm. This 7.5 square km farm proved to have several setts on and around the outskirts of the land, and over the vaccination weekend, we vaccinated 30 badgers.

Defra reduced the price of the vaccine from £36 to £8 per vial for the 2024 season. This left an excess in our planned budget, and after careful discussion with the committee, we decided to use the excess to pay towards travel costs for the vaccination volunteers.

We had two visits from Natural England during the season. Four trappers and one vaccinator were successfully compliance audited. By the end of the 2024 season we had completed the scheduled four-year projects on another nine sites.

The 2025 season was the seventh and final year of our badger vaccination project. The group completed our commitments with the final 3 farms. It was a hard decision to wrap up the project, but there were many reasons to do so. These included:

Closure : The vaccination equipment purchased for the project, using money from grants and donations, has been distributed to another volunteer-led vaccination project.

Each outside organisation, such as our prescribing veterinary team and on-call support vet, as well as our landowners, has been thanked.

Defra and Natural England have been notified that the project has ceased.

We thank each and every volunteer, past and present for all the hard work and commitment that you have all put in. Thanks also to all our kind donors who made the project possible.

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Registered charity 1186850

25th October 2025

Oxfordshire Badger Group – Trustees’ Annual Report 2024 to 2025

Badger rescue and welfare

2025 was a quiet year for rescues.

We are not sure whether to attribute it to a smaller number of badgers needing rescue, or members of the public contacting other rescue organisations rather than Oxfordshire Badger Group, or a reduction in badger populations.

In February, we attended a rescue of a badger in a compost bin. A subsequent X-ray found a tumour on his leg, and so he was euthanised.

At the beginning of March, we picked up a badly injured badger that had been hit by a car. He died shortly after arriving at Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue.

In April, a joint rescue with Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue of a badger cub separated from her family. The cub made a full recovery and is due to be released this autumn together with five other badger cubs from various other rescues.

In May, a badger cub was found with a jam jar on its head. This time, rescued by Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue and with a nearby sett located. After a couple of weeks of treatment, she was ready to go back home. The first night we tried, we had no contact from any adults, but the cub was very excited. After seeking further advice, we released her at the sett hole the cub seemed most excited about. She disappeared down the sett very quickly.

In July, we rescued a large badger after it had been hit by a car. Unfortunately, he died at Tiggywinkles a few days later of pneumonia.

The most recent rescue was a badger making a huge amount of noise in a garage. After a difficult rescue, the badger was taken to Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue, but he died under general anaesthetic..

Lastly, we received a report of an injured badger crawling around about on the side of a road. After several hours of searching, the badger was never found.

Donations have been sent to relevant wildlife hospitals towards the care of the badgers.

A huge thank you to all those on the rescue teams.

We have a few new members to the rescue team, so we plan to run a rescue training refresher course over the winter.

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Registered charity 1186850

25th October 2025

Oxfordshire Badger Group – Trustees’ Annual Report 2024 to 2025

Social media report

The Facebook page has 1875 followers and continues to do well. Posts often have engagement with followers. The highest reaching posts are usually around rescue. Our one off unique posts do quite well whereas sharing other people’s posts are not so popular. The same posts are not doing so well on X, probably since many groups like the Badger Trust leaving and other animal advocates are leaving the platform.

This recent rescue post on Facebook received a huge reach at 1.2k views, 47 comments and 25 shares. On the picture below you can see it was viewed 23,000 times. This post only had 6 retweets and 26 likes on X.

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Registered charity 1186850

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Oxfordshire Badger Group – Trustees’ Annual Report 2024 to 2025

This post of the erythristic badger caught peoples imagination and was even bigger with 54,603 views. The conversations people had on it helped it reach a wider audience, this also had a good reach on X with 61 retweets and 282 likes.

[both posts shared with permission]

We were also able to share lots of videos of many animals having a drink in the very hot weather and encouraged people to leave bowls of water out for wildlife. We also shared some vaccination videos both subjects did well being viewed over 200 times.

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Registered charity 1186850

25th October 2025

Oxfordshire Badger Group – Trustees’ Annual Report 2024 to 2025

Badger and other wildlife crime

Our Group liaises with the police, Badger Trust, RSPCA and members of the public to help identify and report wildlife crime. We aim to ensure that all volunteers and members are suitably trained and attend sessions led by Craig Fellowes, the Badger Trust Crime officer. During 2025, two members were able to attend the Trust’s excellent advanced crime training course which leads toward Expert witness training.

To reiterate, all crimes to badgers should be reported to the police online or via 101. Please make sure you get a crime number and then send all these details to the Badger Trust (BT). Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to report crime to us or to BT. It is sad for the badgers but by recording all the statistics it really paints a picture of what badgers in Oxfordshire are facing.

Education and Outreach Report

We visited two different schools in the early winter of 2024. In the first, where a repeat visit was required due to the number of children in Reception year, we spent time talking about how badgers live, introduced our taxidermy badger and badger skull, and read a story about Tidy Pete the Badger. We took time to talk about some of the features of how we live and how these differ from badgers. The lack of a front door in badger homes caught the attention of the children! In this school we were able to see artwork the children created after our visit the previous year with a row of paintings of Tidy Pete displayed in the classroom.

The second school was able to give us a whole afternoon to work with the children and we were able to expand our slide presentation to include photos and sounds of other animals that badgers might meet as they go out and about in the night, exploring the term ‘nocturnal.’ We read a story, sang a song, and then played a ‘let’s go foraging like badgers’ game in small groups. We provided the children with items in paper bags, such that badgers might come across during their nightly foraging, shaking the bags, feeling them, listening to the noises, opening, and sniffing the contents and guessing their identity. We included items such as leaves, pinecones, moss, a horseshoe, and sheep’s wool. All children receive an OBG badger sticker, and we leave the storybook with them for their library.

As we approached Christmas, we were delighted to expand our adult outreach activities by inviting members, friends, and the local community to ‘Mince Pies in the Copes.’ We own a small private woodland and manage it as a wild place and nature reserve. Access is by invitation only and this occasion was one such and it was well attended and appreciated.

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Registered charity 1186850

25th October 2025

Oxfordshire Badger Group – Trustees’ Annual Report 2024 to 2025

Early in 2024 we spent an evening with local Sea Scout Cubs, and this led to them fund raising for us and then joining us in the Copse during March 2025. They were able to develop and learn new skills that helped them to achieve their badges, making bird boxes, planting 250 Bluebells ‘in the green’, creating two bug hotels, digging out two sets of earth steps, clearing fallen wood to make log piles , and generally clearing pathways.

Also, in March we trialled a new event, creative writing in the Copse. A small group joined us to enjoy the opportunity to create their own ‘Words from the Wild Wood,’ seated in a gazebo in the centre of the wood and exploring it for inspiration.

We hold a twice-yearly scything party, in this case in November and June, and the challenging work of reducing the growth in our glade is rewarded with chocolate cake and hot drinks!

So – if you have children attending an Oxfordshire Primary School, do let the school know that we offer an education and outreach programme, and give them our contact details – we would love to meet them. Our email address is: OBG@Oxonbadgergroup.org.uk

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Registered charity 1186850

25th October 2025

Oxfordshire Badger Group – Trustees’ Annual Report 2024 to 2025

Development and badgers

We have been kept busy with planning application enquiries, Local Plan consultations, as well as numerous site visits . We shared information on the draft Oxford Local Plan encouraging members to respond to ensure that some ecologically sensitive sites including Horse Field, Iffley are protected and not earmarked for development.

Development remains a huge threat to Oxfordshire’s badgers and it seems things will get even worse. The Government’s new planning Bill, Part 6 , would strip away ‘The Protection of Badger’s Act 1992’, and allow developers to kill badgers legally if their setts are in the way of a planned development. A consultation took place over the summer about options for local council reorganisation. OBG encouraged supporters to raise concerns that the Greater Oxford Council option could result in development extending the City into much of the surrounding Green Belt.

These are some of the developments/ planning issues OBG have been involved with:

Landmead Solar Farm- damage under panels thought to be caused by badgers.

Botley Solar Farm- This could be the largest solar farm in Europe and cover 3,450 acres of land near Botley, Woodstock and Kidlington with devastating impact on ecology and biodiversity.

Aston Upthorpe- Plan to build on an undeveloped paddock, home to badger sett. OBG wrote to Planning Officer with our findings.

Radley Large Wood- OBG called in by local residents as risk to badger sett from tree clearing.

Spindleberry Nature Reserve , Blackbird Leys. 84 dwellings on playing fields adjacent to Nature Reserve had huge impact on the local wildlife and ecosystem. OBG worked with local residents and shared our concerns with Natural England to try to get the best mitigation for badgers

Grandpoint Nature Reserve – We carried out a site visit to see environmental impact of the City Council’s plan to build new bridge.

Bicester- called out to check on plans for building work which would impact on badger paths.

Yarnells Hill- an ecologically rich site with established sett. Application rejected by the Vale planners but Inspector overrode this on appeal. New developers have now cleared much of land and closed the sett under license. OBG monitoring the situation.

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Registered charity 1186850

25th October 2025

Oxfordshire Badger Group – Trustees’ Annual Report 2024 to 2025

The badger cull

Oxfordshire Badger Group has always strongly opposed the policy of culling badgers as part of the government’s strategy for eradicating bovine TB. In 2020, the government issued licences to cull badgers in Oxfordshire for the first time. Since then, the cull zones have progressively expanded and now cover an estimated 60% of the county. In 2023 the first Oxfordshire cull zone completed a fourth year. The total killed in the 2023 cull was less than expected, however this was due to falling numbers of badgers resulting in much lower targets. Culling is able to reduce the badger population by 70% or more. Yet after ten years of culling there is no clear effect on the spread of bovine TB in cattle. Since August 2023 we have been campaigning to locally to considerable effect:

As part of this campaign we have held silent ‘SAD Badger’ street events; taken to the streets of Oxford in badger costume and demonstrated outside key university buildings. Our petition “Oxford Scientists must Speak Out Against Badger Extermination” has approaching 52,000 signatures and is pivotal to our efforts. We have enjoyed excellent local media coverage.

We expected the new Labour government to end the badger cull which its general election manifesto for July 2024 called ‘ineffective’. However, they have renewed cull licences for 2024 and 2025 and so our campaign continues.

Focus on the lack of scientific evidence for culling and the pivotal role played by Oxford University Scientists

We are uniquely placed to lobby and engage with the key scientists responsible for conducting the original Randomised Badger Culling Trial and subsequent research. Many are now influential in advising DEFRA and Ministers on policy for controlling bTB. During 2024 we kept a high profile. Highlights are on our website Cull pages at https://www.oxonbadgergroup.org.uk/the-cull-1/

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Registered charity 1186850

25th October 2025

Oxfordshire Badger Group – Trustees’ Annual Report 2024 to 2025

2024: A year of protest

The year started promisingly, with the publication of the Badger Trusts Report on Tackling bovine TB. However, our hopes were dashed in March when Defra launched a consultation on the introduction of “epidemiological culling” which would see the cull continue indefinitely.

In April we launched a petition on Change.org “Oxford Scientists Must Speak out against Badger Extermination” . This had excellent take up and in June we took part in ‘Badger Cull Action Week” which helped drive our petition along.

We were able to enter into conversations with several of the key scientists but they were adamant that their research was unassailable and that it proved badgers play a measurable role in new herd breakdowns. Plus, they do not set government policy. Our view is that they have significant authority and as originators of the evidence for culling have a moral obligation to use it. Even if that means accepting new evidence that challenges their decades old work.

June saw a General Election called, with the Labour Party manifesto stating that the badger cull was ineffective. However, once in power they failed to take the obvious step of ending it, allowing culling to continue. Thankfully, the threat of epi-culling was dropped.

Meanwhile, the scientific evidence for culling was coming under intense scrutiny. In July, a new paper “ Absence of effects of widespread badger culling on tuberculosis in cattle " was published which reported that the original RBCT results were not reproducible. When correctly analysed the data show that Badgers DO NOT play a significant role in spreading the disease to cattle and that he RBCT DOES NOT support the badger perturbation effect hypothesis.

Perhaps predictably, the lead RBCT author Professor Donnelly (now head of Oxford University Dept of Statistics attempted to defend her original research by publishing two new papers. We organised a demonstration outside her Department in August where we presented our petition and an open letter in which we said “ Defend your science if you must; but understand that NOT to call for an end to the cull makes you directly responsible for this ongoing tragedy – one that YOU could easily help stop. Please join us in calling for an immediate end to the badger cull”.

Our year of protest ended on a high note. On 18[th] November we hosted a scientific seminar in Oxford to discuss the scientific controversy. In the evening, Professor Paul Torgerson of the University of Zurich presented his work re-evaluating the RBCT. Our meeting report can be found via the link below.

We’d like to thank our scientific advisors, everyone who attended demonstrations, signed the petition and donated to keep this campaign “on the road”. So long as good people speak up and take action there is hope.

https://www.oxonbadgergroup.org.uk/oxfordrbctmeetings18nov24/ (via the Cull menu).

Page 19 of 28

Registered charity 1186850

25th October 2025

Oxfordshire Badger Group – Trustees’ Annual Report 2024 to 2025

Hutchcomb’s Copse – three years on

Hutchcomb’s Copse remains an unspoiled haven for wildlife but we have begun a ‘light touch’ management work. We maintain a natural (in places steep and difficult) narrow circular route around the Copse. We have held regular scything work parties (2-3 per year) to keep the ‘glade’ open by controlling the growth of bracken, nettles, thistles etc that are trying to take over the meadow.

We have agreed a management plan that includes succession planting and other works. Want to visit with us? Want to get involved in any work we do undertake (creating more log piles? Checking the reptile mats we have laid out? Maintaining the basic trail route?) – then do get in touch. Visit our dedicated website at https://www.hutchcombs-copse.org.uk and sign up for Copse news or email OBG@oxonbadgergroup.org.uk

Collaboration with other organisations

Oxfordshire Badger Group believes that collaboration is essential to deliver our charitable aims. We have established operating relationships with the following organisations.

The Badger Trust : OBG is a full member of the Badger Trust (registered charity 1111440). The Trust is the national umbrella organisation which represents and support around 60 local voluntary badger groups across England and Wales). OBG functions independently but in partnership with the Trust. This relationship provides access to expert advice, peer group support and mentoring; training; authoritative information (such as leaflets) and the opportunity to apply for Badger Trust grants. OBG supports relevant Badger Trust campaigns and helps disseminate information and calls for action to our members and followers.

Page 20 of 28

Registered charity 1186850

25th October 2025

Oxfordshire Badger Group – Trustees’ Annual Report 2024 to 2025

Other Badger Groups : We liaise with the Groups covering our neighbouring counties (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and Wiltshire) on a regular operational basis. During the reporting period this has involved sharing resources - to cover badger call outs on the ‘overlapping’ county borders along with joint training and social events. We are part of the wider badger vaccination network and have benefited from training and mentoring along with regular news and best practice updates. We offer special thanks to the highly experienced Somerset, Derbyshire and Cornwall vaccination teams for their support.

The Conservation Volunteers local South Eastern group (TCV) registered charity in England (261009). OBG is a paid member of TCV. This gives us access to advice, support and funding opportunities. We are listed on their website and contribute to their regular newsletters. We also benefit from access to discounted insurance prices.

Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT): Our local wildlife Trust shares a keen interest in badger welfare.

Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre (TVERC): We believe it is vital to maintain accurate environmental records capturing the diversity and threats to wild life in this area. We share information with Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre (TVERC) via a mutual data sharing agreement that respects the sensitivity of our data.

Wytham Woods Field Station, Oxford University Wildlife Conservation Research Unit: OBG is fortunate to have excellent working relationships with the ecologists running Badger Project at WildCRU: The “laboratory with leaves” at Wytham Woods. WildCRU’s Badger Project has collected a wealth of fundamental ecological data for over 30 years.

Wildlife rescue and Hospitals : Our rescue service captures badgers in need of care and take them to a suitable wildlife hospital. We work primarily with ‘local’ centres within striking distance of Oxfordshire – including The Nutkin Ward, Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue, Tiggywinkles and the Vale Wildlife Hospital.

RSPCA: The RSPCA is often contacted by members of the public and others concerned about badger issues, especially possible crime or badgers in need of rescue. Our charity liaises with the local officers.

Page 21 of 28

Registered charity 1186850

25th October 2025

Oxfordshire Badger Group – Trustees’ Annual Report 2024 to 2025

Treasurer Report 2024

Basis of accounting

OBG’s Financial and Reporting Year runs from 1st January to 31st December.

This Report covers our fifth year as a CIO charity, to 31st December 2024.

As in previous years, the accounts have been prepared on the receipts and payments basis.

Gross income includes gross receipts via PayPal and SumUp.

Gross expenditure includes fees deducted by PayPal, SumUp, Amazon and eBay.

All receipts, including donations and grants, are accounted for when received.

Any income tax recoverable on donations under Gift Aid is included when the money is received from HMRC or is paid to OBG via PayPalGiving on qualifying transactions.

Taxation

The charity is exempt from Corporation Tax as all its income is applied for charitable purposes.

Restricted Funds

All income, expenditure and balances in 2024 are Unrestricted.

Independent Examination of Accounts

As OBG's total gross income in 2024 of £8,511.13 is substantially less than the Charity Commission's threshold of £25,000 an independent examination is not required, unless requested by members at the AGM.

Income

All receipts, including donations and grants, are accounted for when received. Any income tax recoverable on donations under Gift Aid is included when the money is received from HMRC or is paid to OBG by PayPal on qualifying transactions.

Total gross income in 2024 was £8,511.13, down £8,370.03 (50%) on the previous year (£16,881.76 in 2023). This reflects:

  1. The absence of grants in 2024.

  2. Reduced donations in 2024.

  3. No 2024 Gift Aid received from HMRC until early 2025.

Expenditure

Total gross expenditure in 2024 was £15,719.30, up just £388.75 (2.5%) on the previous year (£15,330.55 in 2023)..

Net Expenditure

Net expenditure in 2024 was £7,208.17 compared to a net income of £1,551.21 in 2023.

Bank balance

At the end of 2024, total bank balance was £8,148.61, down £7,208.17 (47%) on the previous year (£15,356.78 in 2023). The small cash float of £35.42 is similar to last year.

Page 22 of 28

Registered charity 1186850

25th October 2025

Oxfordshire Badger Group – Trustees’ Annual Report 2024 to 2025

Notes on receipts

All sales, subscription and donation figures are gross, before the deduction of any fees by PayPal or SumUp.

Principal funding sources

The main funding sources for the 2024 financial year were:

Trading activities

Sale of goods for fundraising was stepped up in 2024 to £1,835.96, up £1,023.75 (126%) on the previous year (£812.21 in 2023).

Bank Interest

No interest accrued to OBG’s Co-Op Community Directplus bank account.

A savings account was opened on 3/10/24 to earn interest on reserve funds. A very small amount of interest was accrued on 4/10/24.

Next interest will be due early April 2025

Gift Aid

No Gift Aid was received directly from HMRC in 2024, as the annual claim was not processed until early 2025.

Gift Aid collected via PayPal was £520.56 in 2024, down £554.23 (52%) on the previous year (£1,074.79 in 2023), reflecting the similar reduction in donations.

Grants

No grants were requested from the Badger Trust in 2024.

Subscriptions

Members' subscriptions totaled £834.11 in 2024, up £102.11 (14%) on the previous year (£732.00 in 2023).

Donations

Total donations in 2024 were £5,260.24, down £4,460.97 (46%) on the previous year (£9,721.21 in 2023).

Notes on expenditure

Trading costs

Total trading costs in 2024 were £1,236.84, up £992.41 (406%) compared to just £244.43 in 2023, reflecting a major re-stocking of items to sell and increased participation at fund-raising events.

UK Land – Hutchcomb’s Copse

There was no major expenditure on management of Hutchcomb's Copse woodland in 2024. Just £343.90 was spent this year, down £1,000.10 (74%) on 2023 when £1,344.00 was spent on a Baseline Ecological Survey.

Page 23 of 28

Registered charity 1186850

25th October 2025

Oxfordshire Badger Group – Trustees’ Annual Report 2024 to 2025

Loan repayments for the Hutchcomb's Copse woodland purchase were exactly the same as the previous year at £6,500.

As of 31st December 2024, exactly half of the £30,000 loan had been repaid leaving £15,000 outstanding.

The three year loan was to be repaid by 15th July 2025.

Interest on the loan was paid monthly to the lenders at the agreed rate of 2.5%.

Total interest payments were £482.94, down £334.67 (41%) on the previous year (£817.61 in 2023) due to a steady reduction in the outstanding loan principal to be repaid.

General Administration

Total general administration, including insurance and website fee, in 2024 cost £2,154.84, up £145.95 (7%) on the previous year (£2,008.89 in 2023). However, this includes the cost of hosting a scientific meeting in Oxford in November (room hire, catering and honoraria) which was funded entirely from the SAD badger campaign donations.

Donations

Donations are made to local wildlife hospitals to partly cover the costs of treating or humanely euthanising badgers recovered by our rescue team. These totalled £525 in 2024, up £210 (67%) on the previous year (£315 in 2023).

Unspent grants

A major outward payment was the return of an unused Badger Trust grant of £1,500. This had been received in 2023 to help pay for a public debate with Oxford University academics regarding their claimed efficacy of badger culling in reducing Bovine TB in cattle herds. Despite a vigorous OBG campaign (SAD), the academics declined to engage so the grant was returned.

Other expenditure

No further equipment was required for badger rescues.

Total vaccination expenditure in 2024 was £2,750.78, down £1,099.84 (29%) on the previous year (£3,850.62 in 2023) reflecting a carry over of some equipment from the previous year, and allowing team members to be partially recompensed for their travel expenses.

Financial reserves policy

The trustees refer to applicable Charity Commission requirements and Guidance in setting the charities financial reserves policy. The trustees aim to hold adequate reserve funding to meet unforeseen or new contingencies; to maintain a good cash flow; known operating commitments; and be able to close down in good order should the charity become financially unsustainable.

The charity reserves are in cash and cash deposits. They arise from the accumulated surpluses of members’ subscriptions, donations and grants over expenditure. They also include surpluses accumulated by the previous voluntary group which were transferred to the charity on 09 December 2019. They are unrestricted and freely available to support any of the charities activities and expenses.

Our policy is to try and maintain reserves sufficient to cover one year’s typical expenditure. Anything over and above this will be kept as a general contingency. This policy, and the level of reserves held by the charity is reviewed annually.

Page 24 of 28

Registered charity 1186850

25th October 2025

Oxfordshire Badger Group – Trustees’ Annual Report 2024 to 2025

Expenditure in 2024 was £15,719.30, comparable with £15,330.55 in 2023.(Up 2.5%) Expenditure in 2025 is expected to be less as the Vaccination Programme comes to an end.

As of 31st December 2024, total reserves carried forward were £8,184.03.

General running costs in 2025 are expected to be between £2K and £3K, with an additional £2K spent on badger rescue and rehabilitation.

The Trustees regard reserves as sufficient, however significantly increased donations and fundraising will be necessary to clear the unsecured loan for Hutchcomb's Copse.

Details of any funds materially in deficit

The charity has no funds which are materially in deficit.

Statutory statements on liabilities

The trustees declare that:

Page 25 of 28

Registered charity 1186850

25th October 2025

Oxfordshire Badger Group – Trustees’ Annual Report 2024 to 2025

Statement of accounts 01/01/24 to 31/12/24

Page 26 of 28

Registered charity 1186850

25th October 2025

Oxfordshire Badger Group - Trustee￿ Annual Report 2024 to 2025 OXFORDSHIRE BADGER GROUP IOBGI Receipts & P•mientsAccounts Èar ended 3 2024 INCOME 0110112023 0110112024 31 12 2023 31 2024 Tradin rtivities Sale of oods Sale of redundant radios 812.21 1%.96 Bank interest 0.26 Gift Aid Gtft Aid claimed from HMRC Grft Aid collerted b P Pal 882.59 1074.79 520.56 From other ¢harities Bad er Trust rants 3.462.CM) Other 50urce5 Members, subscri tions Donations lun5pecifiedl Oonations for waccination & rescue Donations for Education & Outreath Donations for SAD bad 8ad er sett surv Donations for Hutchcomb's Copse 732. 834.11 1.728.66 3.986.(K) 1.511.88 1.649.31 rs cam io.(x) 60.(K) 2,089.05 2.866.55 TOTAL GROSS INCOME 16.881.76 4511.13 EXPENDITURE Tradin Costs Purchases of stock for sale Stall fees Posta 107.15 130.IJ) 7.28 1,137.94 18. UK Land Woodland mana Loan interest Loan re ement ments 1,344.(X> 817.61 343.9) 482.94 6.5O).CJ ments General administrion Insurance Website fee Land Re Ama20n Prime fees Eba fees Pal lees Surnup fees Offite suppliés Venue hirelcaterin Books Bad er suit cleanin Honorarium for s 1,565.29 787.94 244.C¢J 23.94 9.98 15.38 41.08 13.18 84.62 542.32 102.39 63.95 250.LKI 110.46 141.74 I60.￿) for events aker Registered charity 1186850 Page 27 of 28 25th October 2025

Oxfordshire Badger Group – Trustees’ Annual Report 2024 to 2025

Statement of assets and liabilities as at 31st December 202 4

Fixed assets

Hutchcomb’s Copse woodland £25,000.00

Current assets

Co-Op Bank account £8,148.61 Cash float £35.42 Net assets £33,184.03 The funds of the charity: Fixed assets fund £25,000.00 Income funds £8,184.03 Total funds £33,184.03

Richard Tilley, Treasurer and Trustee, 19 Oct 2025

Page 28 of 28

Registered charity 1186850

25th October 2025

Charity Name No (if any) OXFORDSHIRE BADGER GROUP 1186850 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period Period start date Period end date To from 01/01/2024 31/12/2024

Section A Receipts and payments Section A Receipts and payments
A1 Receipts Unrestricted
funds
to the nearest
£
834
5,260
-
1,836
521
60
-
-
8,511
-
-
-
8,511
1,032
225
1,500
525
726
103
64
80
1,290
96
1,615
1,138
-
344
483
9,221
-
6,500
6,500
15,721
- 7,210
-
-
8,184
Restricted
funds
to the nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Endowment
funds
to the nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Total funds
to the nearest £
834
5,260
-
1,836
521
60
-
-
8,511
-
-
-
8,511
1,032
225
1,500
525
726
103
64
80
1,290
96
1,615
1,138
-
344
483
9,221
-
6,500
6,500
15,721
- 7,210
Last year
to the nearest £
Members' Subscriptions 834 732
Donations 5,260 9,721
Grants - 3,462
Sales 1,836 1,009
Gift Aid 521 1,957
Professional Services 60 -
Interest - -
- -
Sub total(Gross income for
AR)
8,511 16,881
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
-
- -
Sub total - -
Total receipts
A3 Payments
16,881
Insurance and Website 1,032 1,565
Badger Trust levyand donation 225 250
Repayment of unusedgrant 1,500 -
Donations to wildlife hospitals 525 315
Hall & stall hire & office supplies 726 439
Books 103
Cleaning 64
PayPal,SumUp& other online fees 80 118
Equipment for badger vaccination 1,290 3,646
Trainingfor vaccination/mask fitting 96 205
Travel expenses and speaker costs 1,615 -
Purchase of stock for sale 1,138 107
Land registryfees - 24
Woodland Management 344 1,344
Loan interest 483 818
**Sub total ** 9,221 8,831
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
-
Loan repayments 6,500 6,500
**Sub total ** 6,500 6,500
Total payments
Net of receipts/(payments)
A5 Transfers between funds
A6 Cash funds last year end
Cash funds this year end
15,331
- 7,210 - - 7,210 1,550
- - - -
- - - -
8,184 - 8,184 15,387

CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

1

Section B Statement of
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Categories
to nearest £
to nearest £
B1 Cash funds
8,149
-
35
-
-
-
8,184
-
OK
OK
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
to nearest £
to nearest £
B2 Other monetary assets
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fund to which
asset belongs
Cost (optional)
B3 Investment assets
-
-
-
-
-
Fund to which
asset belongs
Cost (optional)
OBG
25,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fund to which
liability relates
Amount due
(optional)
B5 Liabilities
OBG
15,000
-
-
-
-
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees
Details
Details
Hutchcomb's Copse woodland
Bank accounts
Cash
Details
Total cash funds
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
B4 Assets retained for the
charity’s own use
Details
Details
Print Name
RICHARD TILLEY
Signature
Outstanding loan for purchase of
~~Hutchcomb~~'~~s Copse woodland~~
Endowment
funds
to nearest £
Categories
B1 Cash funds
B2 Other monetary assets
B3 Investment assets
B5 Liabilities
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees
B4 Assets retained for the
charity’s own use
-
-
-
-
OK
Endowment
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
Current value
(optional)
-
-
-
-
-
Current value
(optional)
25,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
When due
(optional)
15 July 2025
Date of
approval
19/10/2025

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

2