# THE CURRY WOODS CONSERVATION TRUST (CIO) ## REPORTS AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDING 01 APRIL 2024 Charity Number: 1190031 Company number: CE0022249 1 # THE CURRY WOODS CONSERVATION TRUST (CIO) # REPORTS AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDING 01 APRIL 2024 ## CONTENTS Reference and administrative details Receipts and payments account Statement of assets Notes to the accounts THE CURRY WOODS CONSERVATION TRUST (CIO) REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS 2 ## FOR THE PERIOD ENDING 01 APRIL 2024 Trustees: Dr P. Goodenough (Chair) - S. Goodenough (Secretary) - A. Cockerell (Treasurer) - C. Mowat - P. Deacon (until January 2024) - J. Dugdale (from November 2023) Charity registration number 1190031 Company number: CE0022249 Charity address: The Woods, Curry Rivel Langport Somerset TA10 0PW Bankers: Barclays Bank Plc 46 North Street, Taunton TA1 1LZ 3 ## THE CURRY WOODS CONSERVATION TRUST (CIO) ## TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT ## FOR THE PERIOD ENDING 01 APRIL 2024 The trustees have pleasure in presenting their report and the accounts of the Charity for the period ended 01 April 2023. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out on the final page and comply with applicable law. ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** The Curry Woods Conservation Trust was registered as a charitable incorporated organisation on 22 June 2020 and is governed by its document dated 27 May 2020. The registered company number is CE022249. It is also a registered charity, number 1190031. above. trustees. The trustees continue to review the major risks to which the charity is exposed, covering them as far as it is reasonably possible. All identified,relevant areas including financial risks risks associated with personnel have been identified, assessed and safeguards have been put in place to eliminate or mitigate them. ## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** The main charitable objectives of the CIO are: - T o c o n s e r v e , p r o t e c t a fauna and flora, pasture and grassland. - right of way providing open access to Curry Woods for the general public. - T o e n g a g e a n d i n f o r m t h e g e n e r a l p u b l i c i n t h e c o n s e r v a t i o n o f C u r r y W o o d s a n d a associated fauna and flora. The general public will be encouraged to visit and volunteer to h e l p w i t h t r e e p l a n t i n g , m a i n t e n a n c e a n d c o n s e r v a t i o n a c t i v i t i e s . I n f o r m a t i o n r e l a Curry Woods, its history and fauna and flora will be made widely available. 4 - T o i n c r e a s e t h e d i v e r s i t y o f s p e c i e s p r e s e n t a n d e n s u r e t h e s u s t a i n a b i l i t y o f T h r o u g h t h e u s e o f a p p r o p r i a t e a n d e x p e r t f o r e s t a n d l a n d m a n a g e m e n t p r a c t i n a t i v e t r e e s w i l l b e p l a n t e d a l o n g w i t h s o m e e x o t i c s a n d c o n i f e r s . T h i s a p r o v i d e l o n g t e r m v i a b i l i t y f o r t h e f l o r a a n d f a u n a t h a t c o n s t i t u t e C u r r y providing the benefits of additional carbon capture and also green space. - The Trust aims to engage the general public as w idely as possible in the preservatio Curry Woods. A community approach to sustainable management under expert guidance is for the benefit of current and future generations of the general public. - T h e T r u s t w i l l l o o k f o r e x p e r t a d v i c e a n d g u i d a n c e w h e r e a n d w h e n a p p r o p r i a t e . O t h e t r u s t e e s i s c u r r e n t l y w o r k i n g a s a n E c o l o g i s t a n d b a c k g r o u n d i n b o t a n y . I f r e l e v a n t t h e T r u s t w i l l a l s o s e e k a d v i c Wildlife Trust, the RSPB and independent ecologists. The main thrust of the work will be t o p l a n a n d o r g a n i s e t h e m a n a g e m e n t o f t h e h e r i t a g e w o o d l a n d , t h woodland and the cultivation of associated land supporting bird and mammal populations. - Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance for charities for promoting the environment. The trustees believe the activities set out above and f u r t h e r d e s c r i b e d b e l o w u n d e r ‘ a c h i e v e m e n t s a n d p e r f o r m a charity’s commitment to providing an identifiable public benefit and access to this benefit is not restricted in any way. 5 # THE CURRY WOODS CONSERVATION TRUST (CIO) # TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT ## FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 01 APRIL 2024 ## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE** Around 50 additional trees were planted in the 2023/4 winter, with the local scouts assisting under supervision. Besides some trees in the new woodland the scouts also assisted in planting some trees in the glade which has been established in the mature woodland, using deer fencing suspended from wire stretched between mature trees to form the sides. Natural growth of saplings will be surveyed within the glade and in the immediate vicinity of it as time passes. Further work on the official public footpath through the mature woodland has succeeded in preventing water from the spring flowing across the official footpath during the winter and the path is now less slippery and potentially dangerous. The test plots set up in early 2022 on the area intended to be a wildflower meadow were seeded with a wildflower mixture in the autumn but results proved disappointing with nothing other than agricultural weeds weeds observed in them in the summer of 2023. The plots were subsequently redeveloped and reseeded with the same local wildflower mix at an earlier date than in 2022. The results in these plots will be noted in the summer of 2024. Elsewhere on site a storage facility has been fabricated under the original water-collection roof using the water tanks to form one of the walls and shiplap boarding for the three other walls. The facility is padlocked and is used for the storage of deer netting, stakes and guards etc. The Curry Rivel Parish Council provided a grant to cover the cost of materials for this and the work was undertaken by a trustee at no cost. A wildlife camera has been purchased and installed in the mature woodland - foxes and deer are commonly photographed along with dogs and their owners on the footpath through the woodland. 6 There are currently three seats on site; two in the clearing, with one being a picnic bench and table combination, and the third in the WI glade. Discussion is on going about further developments in terms of additional information boards and possible organised walks around the site, to start in the summer of 2025. The website is maintained and up to date, there is a Facebook page and the Chairman writes articles for the local monthly magazine, which is distributed free throughout the village. There has been considerable interest generated in these ways and local groups have requested talks to be given to their members to explain the work of the Trust in relation to climate change and preservation of the Somerset levels and Moors. The Chairman does these talks at present and stresses that the work of the Trust is even more valuable than previously because new legislation has stipulated biodiversity net gain must be an objective of all local authorities and the Trust’s work helps provide this for our parish. Our AGM in December 2023, held in the Old School Room, was well attended. The keynote speech was given by James Chapman on his work leading the tree strategy for Somerset County, with the aim being to plant >200 hectares a year of new trees for the next 5 years. 7 FINANCIAL REVIEW Totsl receipts for the period were £628. arising from grants and donations. Total payments were £1,597. Principally for the S year website renewal a[￿ the projects outltned above. RESERVES POLICY The tn￿1¢¢5 closely monitor the charity's fitwicial FKJsition and seek to ensure the r¢serves are sufficient to rne( its ongoing liabiliti¢s. The charity does not aim to hold substantial unrestricted reserves. Signed by order of the tnistees Dr Peter GoodeDougb Chair Approved by the trnste¢s THE CURRY WOODS CONSERVATION TRUST (CIO) TRUSTEES APPROVAL CERTIFICATE FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 01 APRIL 2024 We conflrm that the Receipts and payments Accounts below have been prepared from the books and records of he Charlty. All other relevant information has been made available for their preparatlon. Dr P Goodenou8h Dat¢d.... Mr A Cockerell ## THE CURRY WOODS CONSERVATION TRUST (CIO) ## RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT |FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 01 APRIL 2024
|| |---|---| |Current Period|| |General Funds|| |£|| |RECEIPTS
|| |Donat ons|| |375|| |Grants Curry Rivel Parish Council 223|| |HMRC Gif Aid 30|| |_____|| |Total Receipts for the year|| |£628|| |PAYMENTS|| |Insurance 136|| |Purchase of Public Use Picnic Bench 249|| |Materials to build small storage unit on f eld 247|| |Wildlife trail camera and bat eries 126|| |Website fee for f ve years 690|| |Maintenance costs for site (tree watering, grass cut ng, etc).|| |149|| ||______| |Total payments for the year|£1,597| |Cash, bank and similar funds brought forward £3.945|| |Cash, bank and similar funds carried forward|| |£2,976|| ||=======| 9 THE CURRY WOODS CONSERVATION TRUST cio STATEMENT OF ASSEfs AND LIABILITIES FOR THE PERIOD ENDING 01 APRIL 2024 Current Period General Funds MONETARY ASSETS Bank Current Account £2,976 OTHER NON-m0N￿ARy ASSETS 3.1 Hectares of field and woodland. £61.549 We confirm that the above Statement of Asset5 is an accurate record of the Charit￿5 a55ets at the period end. Dr P Goodenough Oated Mr A Co£kerell Dated io ## N OTES TO THE ACCOUNTS ## FOR THE PERIOD ENDING 01 APRIL 2024 ## **1) Accounting Policies** The accounts above have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis, in line with the Statement of Recommended Practice "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" {SRF FRS L02} and the Charities Act 2011. All assets of €250 and over have been included in total assets. All expenses under £250 are included in maintenance costs. ## 2) **Remuneration** No remuneration has been paid to the Charity’s trustees in the period. ## 3) T **rustees’ expenses** No Trustees expenses have been reimbursed in the period **4) Funds** General fund: This fund exists to deal with the day-to-day receipts and payments of the association. These funds represent the funds of the Trust that are not subject to any restriction regarding their use and may be applied in achieving any of the objectives of the charity as decided by trustees. ## **5)** No guarantees have been given by the charity. 6) There are no debts outstanding at the date of the statement of assets and liabilities which is owed by the charity and which is secured by an express charge on any assets of the charity. 7) If the CIO is wound up, each member of the CIO is liable to contribute to the assets of the CIO such amount {but not more than £10} as may be required for payment of the debts and liabilities of the CIO contracted before that person ceases to be a member, for payment of the costs, charges and expenses of winding up, and for adjustment of the rights of the contributing members among themselves. 'Member’ includes any person who is member of the ClO within 12 months before the commencement of the winding up. But, subject to that, the members of the CIO have no liability to contribute to its assets if it is wound up, and 11 accordingly have no personal responsibility for the settlement of its debts and liabilities beyond the amount that they are liable to contribute. 12