Barn Owl Legacy Trust - BOLT Charity No: 1190997
Annual Report & Accounts 2024 - 2025
Trustees :
Keith Grant, Frances Jaine Ramsden Mark Pountney, Kevin Keatley, Matthew Twiggs*, Marianne Bryan, Tony Hulatt.
Pied Flycatcher - April 2024
The Barn Owl Legacy Trust (BOLT) was entered onto the Charity Register on 24th August 2020.
The aims of the charity are - To hold and manage habitat and to advance the conservation of wildlife, especially the Barn Owl and provide education on the links between humans and the natural world. To provide a safe environment for wildlife to flourish in a natural environment.
The charity currently has 6 Trustees. *Matthew Twiggs resigned on 28th January 2025. The Trustees meet quarterly, and minutes of meetings are recorded.
On 31st March 2021, the transfer of 26 acres of land, known as the Lennon Legacy Project (LLP) at Waterleat, Ashburton in Devon, was made to BOLT by the Barn Owl Trust (BOT). The residue of the original legacy used to buy the LLP land in 2001 was transferred to BOLT on 10th June 2021.
BOLT Trustees have agreed with the Barn Owl Trust (BOT) that BOT will continue the day-to-day management of the land and provide regular reports to the Trustees of BOLT agreeing any major management changes in advance. Monthly updates are given in the Barn Owl Trust’s online Wildlife Diary (barnowltrust.org.uk/news-events/wildlife-diary/) and quarterly reports at BOLT Trustee’s meetings.
A huge amount of wildlife has been seen on the LLP over the last year. We were delighted (and surprised!) to find three young Tawny Owlets when checking the pole box in the main field in April, and even more delighted when in September, a Barn Owl was spotted perched on the beam at the back of the new Field Shelter in Kiln Close. Another Barn Owl was seen in November, roosting in the Kestrel provision of our Wildlife Tower in North Park. We have been privileged to see a variety of different bird species including Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Woodcock, Kingfisher, Wheatear, Fieldfare, Goldcrest, Pied Flycatcher, Greenfinch and many more. The highlights being a Red Kite which was spotted flying over the main field in June and our first recorded sighting of a male Cirl Bunting in January!
Barn Owl in Kiln Close Field Shelter - September 2024
There were noticeably fewer butterflies around this year. Poor weather has played its role with a cold and wet spring, however this year’s obvious reduction forms part of the many years of long-term decline being observed. It should be noted that it is not just butterflies that are struggling, we are also seeing reduced numbers of bees, hoverflies, moths and even aphids alongside many more species. Climate change will undoubtedly have an affect on all our flora and fauna, and here at the Trust we are trying to raise awareness and do what we can to conserve our native species alongside the Barn Owl.
We have held 10 guided walks around the LLP this year, which were well attended and included a new walk looking specifically for Dragonflies, Grasshoppers and Crickets. Volunteers, organised by our Reserve and Volunteer Co-ordinator Harry Hingston, helped with various practical conservation tasks in the LLP nature reserve such as pulling up brambles and thistles, scrub clearance, erecting fence posts and hedge-laying.
During the financial year 2024-2025 all but one of the Trustee meetings were held on Zoom. The meeting in July was held in person.
Barn Owl Legacy Trust - BOLT As at 31st March 2024
| Balance Sheet Fixed Assets Tangible Assets Current Assets |
March 2025 60,094 48,343 108,437 |
March 2024 60,094 46,703 106,797 |
|---|---|---|
Barn Owl Legacy Trust - BOLT Receipts & Payments Account As at 31st March 2024
| Bank Interest Rent from BOT* Total income Funds brought forward Total carried forward |
March 2025 1639 1 1,640 46,703 48,343 |
March 2024 589 1 590 46,113 46,703 |
|---|---|---|
* Barn Owl Trust
Volunteers working in the LLP - October 2024
Slow Worm - May 2024
Kingfisher by the River Ashburn - Oct 2024
Dark Bush Cricket - September 2024
Wood Mouse - May 2024