Batchcombe Trust
Income & Expenditure Account, Financial Statement and Trustee Report 01 January – 31 Dec 2023
Income: £0 Expenditure: £0
The Batchcombe Trust was formed in 2020 with the specific objectives of:
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(i) raising funds to purchase an abandoned orchard in Cradley, Herefordshire known as Batchcombe Farm, which at the time was in private ownership; and
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(ii) to create a community project with a view to restoring the orchard with rare and heritage species and to create a wildlife haven.
Unfortunately, the advent of the 2020–2022 pandemic immediately presented an insurmountable barrier to progressing the project due to lack of local support. Opportunities for external funding radically reduced and funding (including Heritage Lottery funding) was directed to covid-19 relief. The private owner eventually indicated unwillingness to negotiate towards a sale and purchase.
Of the original three trustees, two have resigned, one due to work commitments, the other due to other local commitments.
The charity has remained dormant with a sole trustee, Paul Mountain. It has received no income and has incurred no expenditure whatsoever during its existence.
The charity will be closed down as soon as practicable following submission of this annual return and financial statement. This was intended to be done in late 2024 but unfortunately Mr Mountain fell seriously ill and was confined to hospital from October - December 2024 and a period of recovery of several months followed.
Signed:
Paul Mountain
Sole Trustee 30/10/2025