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2022-04-05-accounts

The American Garden in Peckham Charity No 1186914

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 5 April 2022

Contents

Page 2 Reference and Administrative Details Page 3 Trustee Report Page 7 Financial Review Page 8 Independent Examiner’s Report Page 9 Statement of Financial Activities Page 10 Notes to the Financial Activities

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Reference and Administrative Details

Trustees:

Ms Nancy Coleman-Frank, Chair Ms Birgitta Pernille Ahlström, Secretary Mr Derek Charles Kinrade, Treasurer Mr David Yelding Dr Lloyd Anderson

Expert Advisory Panel:

Ms Elizabeth P McLean Mr Joel T Fry Ms Cherrill Sands Ms Liz Brough

Address:

33 Highshore Road London SE15 5AF

Charity Registration Number: 1186914

Bank:

Lloyds Bank 25 Gresham Street London EC2V 7HN

Independent Examiner:

Andrew Cooper Deputy Director, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and People Experience, People Group UK Health Security Agency

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Trustee Report

The Trustees of the Charity present their report with financial statements for the year ended 5 April 2022.

Structure, Governance and Management

The American Garden in Peckham is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered with the Charity Commission and governed by its constitution. The Charity was established on 19 December 2019. The affairs of the Charity are managed by the Trustees who exercise all the powers of the CIO.

The Charity works in partnership with Southwark Council, through a Memorandum of Understanding, to achieve its charitable objectives because Peckham Rye Park, in which the American Garden is located, is owned and managed by the Council.

Partnership

A Memorandum of Understanding anchors the relationship with Southwark Council, which began in 2017 when the group, not yet a charity, secured funding of £20,000 from the Council in the form of a Cleaner, Greener, Safer (CGS) grant. Following Southwark’s policies, these funds were kept in a separate account by the Council. When the CGS funds are exhausted, the Charity will transfer funds to the Southwark account for agreed expenses, consistent with the Charity’s objectives. The Charity is responsible for raising all funds for the Project. The Council carries out some work, such as mowing the lawn around the planting beds, on behalf of the Charity.

Appointment and Training of Trustees

In accordance with the terms of the constitution, there must be at least three Trustees. Apart from the founding Charity Trustees, every Trustee must be appointed for a term of three years. Trustees will consider suitable candidates from recommendations and personal knowledge based on the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO. Incoming Trustees are advised of the responsibilities and legal obligations of being a Trustee and are given a current copy of the constitution and a copy of the Charity’s Annual Report and Financial Statement.

The Trustees of the CIO have no personal responsibility for settling debts and liabilities in the event of winding up.

Meetings by Electronic Means

Response to the Covid-19 crisis has included rapid adoption of Information Technology (IT) capabilities. In accordance with its constitution (15.4. - Participation in meetings by electronic means), all Trustee meetings this year were held through Zoom, and complied with the rules for all meetings, including protocols for chairing and the taking of minutes.

Objectives

The Charity was established to create a new garden by re-designing, enhancing, protecting, promoting and maintaining for the public benefit the American Garden in Peckham Rye Park.

Its objectives are:

  1. To promote the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of the American Garden in Peckham Rye Park for the benefit of the local community and visitors.

  2. To promote for the benefit of the public the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances or for the public at large in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving the condition of life of those using the garden.

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  1. To advance education for the public benefit particularly by providing opportunities for learning about horticulture in and around the American Garden. Equally, the Charity wishes to honour the international stature of Peter Collinson, the 18th century botanist, and to commemorate the exchange of seeds and plants he had with John Bartram of Philadelphia for more than forty years. This will be accomplished by populating the Garden with specific plants found in his Peckham garden.

Activities

The Charity’s Project has been broken into three stages:

  1. Preparing the Garden

  2. Planting the Garden

  3. Education and Outreach

This report covers the second year of the Project. Having completed the first stage, activities were therefore focused on the continued planning and planting involved in establishing a new garden. These included:

As noted in last year’s annual report, real progress was made in 2020 with the creation and preparation of the new beds for the Garden. This concluded the first stage of the project.

The Planting stage of the project was divided into three parts: trees, shrubs, perennials. The planting of ten ‘American’ trees in December 2020, secured through a grant from the U.S. Embassy London, began this part. Planting shrubs, the second part, began in April 2021, using the grant from the Postcode Local Trust. Just under 200 shrubs, of 26 different varieties, were planted following the planting plans created by JCLA. The specialised plants were chosen not only to replicate those Collinson had in his 18th century Peckham garden, but to provide colour and interest throughout the year with flowers, berries and seed pods. They were also chosen to support biodiversity in the Garden. Among those planted were Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Kalmias, Hydrangeas, and Clethra alnifolia . Finding that weeds thrived along with the shrubs, it was decided to to cover the beds with ericaceous bark mulch. Before this could be done, extensive weeding was needed. This was accomplished by volunteers and the London Plantman team during June and July. Availability of plants remaining a problem, 133 additional shrubs were sourced in the Autumn and planted in November/December. These included Ilex (holly) and roses.

In September, trustees organised an American Garden stall at the Annual Fête put on by the Friends of Peckham Rye Park. This event allowed trustees to share information about the American Garden and to garner support from those interested in the Project. American Garden brochures and stickers were given out. Visitors to the stall were asked if they had heard of Peter Collinson. Of the 62 people questioned, 61 had never heard of him. An email data base was created of those visitors interested in the Garden.

Throughout the year, the Charity continued to fundraise, preparing and submitting applications to various organisations. A large part of this constituted requesting letters of support from dignitaries, members of the community and other visitors to the Garden. More than 50 letters of support were collected.

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The Instagram page (@americangardenpeckham) was continued.

Impact of Coronavirus

The lack of availability of plants and labour during Covid lockdowns continued through 2021. This not only caused delays in planting but also forced acceptance of plant sizes less than those desired. Being able to plant when conditions were optimal continued to be a challenge during 2021.

Public Benefit Statement

The Trustees confirm they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the Charity’s aims and objectives and in planning future activities.

Achievements and Performance

The Charity received a successful grant of £3,000 in May 2021 from The Finnis Scott Foundation. This grant is to be used for plants and planting.

The greatest achievement of the year by far, after an arduous application process, came in October 2021 with the awarding of a grant from Viridor Credits Environmental Company (“Viridor Credits”) of £48,572. As Southwark Council owns the property on which the American Garden sits, this grant was awarded to Mr Nils Battye (our Southwark Council project manager) but the application was written and submitted by Charity trustees. The grant is to be used for seating, perennial plants, compost and labour.

The Friends of Peckham Rye Park donated £2,500 in March of 2022. The trustees greatly appreciate the ongoing support of the Friends.

A colourful three-fold brochure about the Garden, its history and its goals, was created. This brochure was given to visitors at the FoPRP Fête and also to people who inquired about the Garden when trustees were in attendance. Stickers (customised, 50mm in size, with yellow fritillaria pictured) were created and also used at the Fête. These proved very helpful, and were especially enjoyed by children. Brochures are also kept in the Park Office.

With the planting of shrubs, feedback from visitors and the local community was even more encouraging than last year. Trustees report visitors stop to ask questions, especially about the ‘new’ plants, share how they have been watching the progress of the Garden and indicate how pleased they are to see it being re-created. Staff at the Park tell Trustees they receive many positive comments about the Garden. The FoPRP, also enthusiastic, regularly includes recent news of the American Garden on their website. Our resident local freelance photographer Phil Polglaze continued to capture the progress of the Garden and its visitors in black and white photos.

Plans for the Future

Detailed planting plans are in place for the completion of the planting phase of the Garden which is scheduled to begin in Spring 2022. Having planted trees and shrubs, the third phase of the planting scheme will be the perennials. Using the specialised plant list (replicating plants found in Collinson’s Peckham garden), these perennials, numbering more than 2000, will be sourced and planted in the late Spring and, if necessary, completed in Autumn 2022. Trustees are aware there could be further delays caused by Covid and the effects of Brexit.

The Charity will take part in the FoPRP Annual Fête, held in September, to share information about the Garden and recruit potential supporters. Trustees will continue to collect letters of support as part of their fundraising strategy.

Future plans include more formal surveys of the Garden’s visitors and others, to collect ideas about the Garden and its future development.

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The Charity will begin planning the third phase of the project, education and outreach. This will involve research into the best ways to reach out to the community. It will also involve substantial fundraising.

A website will be set up to provide news and information about the Garden’s history and its progress. This will be especially valuable to those who are not able to visit the Garden.

Knowing the value of current research regarding climate change and how it affects people, plants and wildlife, trustees will continue to monitor research of this nature. Of particular interest is the work being done by Kieron Doick et al for the Valuing our Non-Woodland Trees Project: TH4_18, within PH0496 (Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs, London 2021), which acknowledges the ecological importance and economic benefit of non-woodland trees.

Trustees realise it is important to increase the number of trustees on the board. This will be a priority for 2023 when several trustee’s terms are due to end.

The above Trustee’s Report is approved by order of the Board of Trustees and signed on their behalf.

Nancy Coleman-Frank Chairperson

3 February 2023

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Financial Review

Funds brought forward from the 2020-21 financial year were £33,723.

Financial income for the second year as a charity totalled £9,649, made up of £3,000 in grant awards, £6,600 in donations, £13 generated through Smile Amazon shopping and a refund of £36. The grant amount awarded by Viridor Credits is not included in the Statement of Financial Activities for the year. By their funding agreement, Viridor Credits holds their funding, asking awardees to submit a report and request payment when agreed works are completed. Funds are then paid, by Viridor Credits, directly to the Contractor.

Expenditures for this period amounted to £20,901.

Funds available at the end of the financial year 2021-22 were £22,471.

The Trustees are of the opinion the Charity is in a secure financial position and has enough funds to meet its obligations for Stages 1 and 2 of its Project (Preparing and Planting the Garden). Fundraising will continue in order to meet the financial needs of Stage 3 (Education and Outreach).

Fund Accounting

The financial statements have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis which summarises the movement of cash in and out of the organisation. This format is available to non company charities with a gross annual income of £250,000 or less.

Funds Structure

The Charity maintains both restricted and unrestricted funds. Unrestricted funds may be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the Trustees. Restricted funds provided to the Charity may only be used for particular restricted purposes, as specified by the donor, within the objectives of the Charity.

Risk Management

The Trustees confirm they have considered major risks which may arise and, in their opinion, no significant risks are seen at the date of this report.

Reserves Policy

Although there is no formal policy in place, the Charity reviews the level of funds available on a regular basis.

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Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of The American Garden in Peckham, Charity No 1186914:

I report to the Trustees on my examination of the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 5 April 2022 which are set out on pages 9 and 10.

Responsibilities and Basis of Report

As the Trustees of the Charity, you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the Charity's financial statements carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act. In carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent Examiner’s Statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that, in any material respect :

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Andrew P Cooper

Chartered Fellow Institute of Personal Development

28 Watford Close Battersea London SW11 4QT

6 February 2023

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Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 4 April 2022 Receipts and Payments

eceipts and Payments
Notes Unrestricted
funds
£		 Restricted
funds
£		 Total funds
£
Receipts
Donations 1 100 6,500 6,600
Grants 2 3,000 3,000
SmileAmazon reward 13 13
Refund (Classic Roses) 36
Sub total 113 9,536 9,649
Total receipts 113 9,536 9,649
Payments
Zoom US 144 144
Southwark Council 3 15,000 15,000
Millais Nurseries 763 763
Classic Roses 137 137
CTP 4 4857 4857
Sub total 144 20,757 20,901
Total payments 144 20,757 20,901
Net of receipts/(payments) -31 -11,221 -11,252
Statement of assets and
liabilities at year end		 Unrestricted
funds
£		 Restricted
funds
£
Balance brought forward 33,723
Cash funds this year -31 -11,231 -11,252
Total cash funds year end 22, 471

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Notes to the Financial Activities

otes to the Financial Activities
1. Donations
Private donations 100 3,500 3,600
Anonymous donation 3,000 3,000
Total donations 100 6,500 6,600
2. Grants
Finnis Scott Foundation 3,000 Restricted-to be used
to purchase plants/
planting
Total Restricted Grants 3,000
3. Payments
Southwark Council 15,000 Funds transferred to
Southwark Council to
cover expenses, as
directed by Trustees.
Funds spent on
plants, compost and
labour.
4. Payments
CTP - Contributing Third Party payment 4,857 Per Viridor Credits, a
CTP payment of 10%
of the total award
must be paid to them
within one month of
the date of the ofer
letter.

The above Financial Statement is approved by order of the Board of Trustees and signed on their behalf.

Nancy Coleman-Frank Chairperson

3 February 2023

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