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2025-12-31-accounts

WEYBRIDGE ALLOTMENT HOLDERS’ AND GARDENERS’ ASSOCIATION (WAHGA) CIO - Association. Registered Charity Number 1189633

ANNUAL REPORT 2025

THE OBJECTS OF THE CIO ARE:

1) TO PROVIDE OR ASSIST IN THE PROVISION OF FACILITIES FOR ALLOTMENTS IN WEYBRIDGE, SURREY IN THE INTERESTS OF SOCIAL WELFARE FOR RECREATION OR OTHER LEISURE TIME OCCUPATION FOR THE PUBLIC AT LARGE WITH THE OBJECT OF IMPROVING THEIR CONDITIONS OF LIFE

2) TO PROMOTE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC THE CONSERVATION PROTECTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE PHYSICAL AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IN, AND BORDERING, WEYBRIDGE ALLOTMENTS, SURREY IN PARTICULAR THROUGH THE CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES, THE IMPROVEMENT OF WILDLIFE DIVERSITY AND PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING ABOUT SUSTAINABLE HORTICULTURE

How These Objects Were Achieved during this reporting period:

In 2025 WAHGA continued to play an important role in the support of fruit, vegetable and flower growers in Weybridge, in the interests of social welfare. These initiatives have been both practical and educational.

Allotment gardeners benefitted from loans of suitable equipment, being able to share in bulk purchase of manure, compost, seed potatoes and locally grown and coppiced hazel poles. The latter are a more sustainable alternative to imported bamboo canes and prove popular with members. WAHGA members who have gardening experience continue to share their knowledge and experience with newcomers. The Jobs for the Month, created specifically for Weybridge growing conditions was distributed to all members.

During 2025, social events, competitions, engagement with the broader community through local outreach, and the use of social media supported objectives to share knowledge and increase allotment gardeners’ enjoyment of their life. WAHGA continues to look imaginatively at ways it can add to the mental health benefits that cultivation, exercise and fresh air can bring to allotment gardeners and members.

Membership, which is open to local gardeners and allotment holders, stood at 294 at the end of 2025.

2025 ACTIVITIES AND INITIATIVES

PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING ABOUT SUSTAINABLE HORTICULTURE

WAHGA continued to inform members about sustainable horticulture in a number of ways in 2025.

The WAHGA website contains high quality, relevant articles and fact sheets which are readily available to members and to the public. Horticultural tips and techniques as well as wildlife and sustainability information are focus areas. The WAHGA ‘Jobs for the Month’ are written specifically for the local environment and tailored each month to reflect the actual growing conditions at the time. Website and Facebook statistics as well as informal feedback shows they are very popular and helpful to growers.

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The WAHGA administered Facebook group, which had increased membership to 276 members at the end of 2025, was again popular (182 posts were made during the year). The Facebook group is administered to ensure the posts are relevant and educational, as well as enhancing community engagement and exchange of information. Members are encouraged to post their hints, tips and requests for advice as well as offering surplus plants and produce.

Recycling and sharing activities continued to be a major focus area so that plastic items in particular are reused, and spare seedlings, plants and produce are shared on a “sharing table” in one of the allotment sites.

2025 AGM – 2nd April 2025

The WAHGA AGM was attended by 39 members. After the formal part of the evening was closed, there was a very interesting and entertaining talk by Ray Broughton, who is a highly experienced grower and horticulturist. The focus of his presentation was “Topical Tips and New ideas for Allotment Gardeners”. The evening ended with informal networking and exchange of ideas and experiences.

COMMUNITY QUIZ NIGHT

In order to bring the WAHGA membership together to foster an allotment holders and gardening community and to raise funds for WAHGA, another quiz night was organised on 15[th] November 2025. 71 members and their friends attended. The evening contributed net funds of £427 to WAHGA’s running costs.

THE BROADER COMMUNITY

WAHGA member volunteers renovated a prominent flower bed at the local St. James Primary School by digging out deep-rooted ivy, refreshing the soil with manure and compost, then replanting with a variety of attractive, drought-resistant plants. The plants, manure and compost were provided by WAHGA and we ensure on-going watering and maintenance of this bed as well as of the school’s mindfulness garden.

Squashes, gourds and other produce were contributed to the neighbouring church harvest festival in September.

PLOT JUDGING

In order to ensure a focus on wildlife, biodiversity and sustainability the plot judging criteria introduced in 2022 were again used as the criteria for judging plots nominated by allotment holders. An Instructor at RHS Merrist Wood and Kew Gardens, who is herself a keen allotmenteer, was again engaged to review the plots. The criteria were published well in advance of judging, and plot-holders were invited to enter their plots. 14 members put their plots forward, with judging taking place on 27th June 2025, with the help of WAHGA committee members. Prizes were awarded to the best full and half plots as well as best newcomers, best plot for biodiversity and overall judge’s favourite.

The judge was again impressed by plots with a large variety of vegetables and fruit, flowers and herbs which attract pollinators and plots with weeds under control, and which were well laid out. Plots were also checked for well-utilised compost bins, as well as water butts where sheds allowed for guttering to provide a supply of rain water.

To increase the opportunity for learning, the judge provided all participants with a copy of her scoring and comments sheet, with suggestions for the next growing season, as well as lots of positive and constructive feedback. The winners received vouchers for a local independent shop, and were awarded their prizes at the annual summer picnic. The judge’s hints and tips were published to all members to further distill the learning points from the event.

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WAHGA COMMUNITY PICNIC AND PRIZE-GIVING

The summer event was held on 10th August 2025, and was attended by around 30 members who brought their friends and families. WAHGA took the opportunity to award prizes to winners of the plot-judging event, and gave a summary of learning points from the plot-judging to encourage growers to improve the wildlife, diversity on their plots, and to learn more about sustainable horticulture. As the picnic was held during National Allotments Week, we invited plot-holders to share a word or phrase about what their garden/allotment means to them. Each message was written on a paper leaf and hung on a small tree. The result was a beautiful collection of words that capture the joy, peace and sense of community members feel. The words have since been incorporated into a word art and often used as the “logo” of the association.

BULK PURCHASE

It is important that WAHGA supports the improvement of the physical and natural environment. Supporting growers to increase yields is also a priority and supports food security initiatives. Using its knowledge of high quality suppliers WAHGA managed the bulk purchase of key items, including high quality manure, peat free compost, and seed potatoes. In April and September a total of 1255 bags of manure and compost were bulk purchased at a discount. 70 members took advantage of this. The Association also bulk-purchased 170 x 2kg bags of seed potatoes of 5 different varieties, on behalf of 60 members.

For the second year, WAHGA offered members the opportunity of bulk-purchased of locally sourced and coppiced 8 foot hazel poles. It is an advantage to members that the poles are delivered to the Weybridge allotment site direct. Use of this local resource avoids the need to purchase bamboo canes imported from across the world. 500 hazel poles were purchased by 30 members.

These bulk purchases are now offered to a second allotment site, nearby.

SEED AND SEEDLING SWAP

A new initiative for 2025, the Seed and Seedling Swap was held on 10 May and gave members the opportunity to exchange surplus seeds and young plants. With tea, coffee and homemade cakes available throughout the event, it also provided a relaxed social occasion where plotholders could meet one another, share gardening tips and swap allotment experiences

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ENCOURAGEMENT AND RECORDING OF WILDLIFE AND BIODIVERSITY

WAHGA was able to make headway in the course of 2025 in the conservation, protection, and improvement of the physical and natural environment. Particular focus areas were improving soil condition, increasing yields, and a reduction in pests as a result of a healthy balanced ecosystem. Attraction of pollinators remains a key objective.

WAHGA continues to work in partnership with like-minded local charities such as the Wildlife Aid Centre (where injured wildlife is taken). Their services are promoted actively to members.

ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT

WAHGA is managed by Trustees who may stand for re-election at the AGM. The charity trustees delegate some of their powers and functions to a committee, having determined the terms and conditions on which the delegation is made. The charity trustees may at any time alter those terms and conditions or revoke the delegation. Volunteers also support the trustees

Trustees:

WAHGA trustees for 2025: Leila Brown, Caroline Freeman, Philippa Graeme, James Higgins.

D eclaration: The Trustees are satisfied that the association is being managed in accordance with its Objects and with due regard to the Charity Commission’s public benefit requirement. Above all, it encourages participation in the cultivation of allotments and in the preservation or enhancement of wildlife and biodiversity both aspects improve the physical, mental and social well-being of members

WAHGA became a registered charity (CIO - Association) on 22nd May 2020.

END OF REPORT

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[OFFICIAL]#

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WEYBRIDGE ALLOTMENT Charity No 1189633
HOLDERS AND GARDENERS Company No N/A
ASSOCIATION CIO
Annual accounts for the period
Period start Period end
01/01/2025 To 31/12/2025
date date
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Section A Statement of financial activities (including summary income and expenditure account)

Fundraising income
Interest
Expenditure
Expenditure on:
Fundraising expenses
Administrative expense
Depreciation
Tax payable
Net gains/(losses) on
investments
Extraordinary items
Other gains/(losses)
Reconciliation of
funds:
Charitable activities
Total funds carried forward
Total
Net income/(expenditure) after tax
before investment gains/(losses)
Net income/(expenditure)
Transfers between funds
Net movement in funds
Other recognised gains/(losses):
Net income/(expenditure) before tax
for the reporting period
Total funds brought forward
Gains and losses on revaluation of fixed assets for the
charity’s own use
Total
Recommended categories by activity
Income
Income and endowments from:
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities		 Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
income
funds
Endowment
funds
Total funds
Prior year
funds
£
£
£
£
£
F01
F02
F03
F04
F05
46
46
105
-
-
-
8,175
8,175
8,417
36
36
38
8,257
-
-
8,257
8,560
565
565
320
7,748
7,748
7,413
867
867
1,491
302
302
429
9,482
-
-
9,482
9,652
1,225
-
-
-
1,225
-
1,092
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,225
-
-
-
1,225
-
1,092
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,225
-
-
-
1,225
-
1,092
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,225
-
-
-
1,225
-
1,092
-
18,913
-
-
18,913
20,006
17,689
-
-
17,689
18,913