## **Annual Report – Covering Period 01/01/2022 to 31/12/2022** Charity address: 7 Eldon St, Reading, RG1 4EA Charity Type: Charitable Incorporated Organisation Charity Number: 1187238 Trustees: Nichola Jeanne Ebbern Chair Richard Charles Parkinson Treasurer Daisy Coates Michael Robert Turner Secretary Jonathan Bartlett Sim ## **Charity Structure and Governance** Our small charity is run by five trustees who manage all aspects of our charitable purpose from design and planning of the gardens, organising volunteer events to clear and plant the gardens and fundraising. Should we need to recruit additional trustees, these would be from the local community. We would determine the particular skill set we require, advertise the position through our social media platforms requesting CVs to be submitted. Where we had multiple suitable candidates, we would undertake a formal interview process to select the individual most suited to our skills gap and charitable aims. ## **Charity Objectives** _For the public benefit the conservation, preservation protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment, in particular through the maintenance of the King George V Memorial Gardens (also known as (Eldon Square Community Gardens) located within the Eldon Square Conservation Area, Reading with the aim of enhancing the history and heritage of the designed landscape of Eldon Square, raising awareness of its local and national importance, promoting biodiversity within the gardens and conserving the gardens as a place for exercise, recreation and leisure for the benefit of the local community and visitors._ Eldon Square Gardens Community Group: Registered Charity No. 1187238 ## **Activities for the year** Our activities this year have built on those of previous years in a similar vein. Progress has been made across the square with additional planting and clearance. We have run several volunteer events where members of the local community have come to the gardens to plant the large circular bed cleared in 2021 and a long rectangular sensory bed of Rosemary and other shrubs and flowers was planted, this was the most expensive project so far. We again completed the spring bird watch to enable us to track the bird life in the garden year on year and saw some increased activity. ## **Achievements** As a result of our activities, we had two additional flower beds and enhanced borders which provided colour and habitat for local wildlife from early spring through to late summer. We have had more positive feedback about this achievement from the local users of the gardens which has included that the space is brighter, more accessible, and colourful. Anecdotally we have seen an increase in insect life in the gardens. ## **Financial Review** In this financial year we received donations from two local businesses and a few residents totally 1695 GBP. The trustees did not contribute financially this year Expenditure has been on buying the plants, a few hand tools and a small rotavator. Other plants were donated. The charity has not yet had the option of building reserves. As the position changes it is our intention to build a reserve that would enable planting and maintenance to be maintained for a period of 6 months and will also allow us to build towards long term plans, for example providing additional seating and setting aside an area as a sensory garden. The reserve will also be beneficial when applying for grants that require match funding. ## **Declaration** Eldon Square Gardens Community Group: Registered Charity No. 1187238 The trustees declare that have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees. Michael Robert Turner: Secretary Richard Charles Parkinson: Treasurer Dated: 31/10/2023 Eldon Square Gardens Community Group: Registered Charity No. 1187238 r tll tm]llll] tll lll lllm] tll tll]llm tll 111111 1111 ImlttttDI tttmi tttWittttttWi ttttDI 11111