THE HURST WATER MEADOW TRUST REGISTERED CHARITY.. 1191096 Annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 Reference and administration details The Hurst Water Meadow Trust was fomied on 13 October 1995 to acquire the land and fishing rights to an ancient water meadow in Dorchester on Thames, Oxfordshire. It was transfomed into a Foundation Charitable IncorFrf)rated Organisation on 1 April 2021. Charity's principal address 11 Queen Street, Dorchester-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, OX10 7HR The Trustees The trustees who have served during the period are as follows: Thom Airs (Medial Graham Beland (Land and tree management) Louise Beland (Voluntr ci)ordinator) Sally Bell (Honorary Secretary) Sandra Harding (Education) Roger Seabrook {Chaimian) Sophia Stewart-Liberty (Arts) Chris Smith (Honorary Treasurer) Richard Tilley {Ecology) David Wilkinson (Arthaeology and ecology) Main advisers Independent examiner Malcolm Lucas (Chartered Accountant). Watling Lane, Dorchester-on-Thames Bank CAF Bank, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, "ngS Hill, West Malling. Kent, ME19 4JQ Trustees. annual report tsthe YearerK13l klafth 2025 %*V¢W hur51-watei-ffleadow.o Registered Charity 1191. hutstsvaterrnt
Structure, Govemance and Management Type of governing document and constitution The organisation is a Foundation Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) which assumed the responsibilities for the Hurst Water Meadow Trust on 1st April 2021. Trustee selection policy The Trust aims to have a maximum of ten trustees which there were on 315t March 2025. New trustees are selected by majorty Vote of starKling trustees, with reference to their commitment to the charity's aims and expertise. Eight of the ten trustees must be loGal residents. Dorchester Pansh Council has the POV4Er to appoint a Parish Councillor as an additional trustee. Trustee training New trustees are introduced to the operating procedures of the HuFSt. Trustees are regularly infomied of important matters and upjated on significarrt changes in Chanty Law. Decision-making processes The day-t(Klay management of the Gharity rests wrth the Irustees. Specffic projects such as land acquisition. fundraising and site improvement are managed by committees formed to arry out these tasks. Risk policy The Trustees monitor health and safety and would employ specialist advisors rf required. New projects of a capital nature involving risks which are not normally encountered in day- to-day management are undertaken, taking SFEcial care to understand the risks involved and with funding in place. Objectives and Activities Objects The objects of the Trust as set out in the Trust Deed are. to preserve. Gonsetve and protect The Hurst Water Meadow and any other land acquired by the Trust. its terrestrial and aquatic lrfe and their habitats for the benefit of the public. to advan public educab.on in the study and research of Dorchester on Thames. water meadows and their conservation and the dissemination of the useful results of such research. to provide on such land appropriate facilities for recreation for the benefit of the public th the obj'ect of improving the condrtions of life of said public. Main activitles carried out by the Trust The priority is the care and appropriate management of the land currently owned by the Trust, using volunteers and contractors as needed. Special attention is given to the creation of a 'riparian wildlrfe rridorf along the nver Thame. Provision of educational facilities for 001 parties and other visrtors to the meadows. Objectives for 2025-2026 As we look forward. our aims and obJertNes remain unchanged and the main active projed which Gould potentially impact the Hurst Water Meadow is the fish passage which is being proposed by the River Thame Conservation Trust {RTCT). They are the lead organisation, responsible for delivering all aspects and managing all risks of the project. At the time of writing this. the project has received planning permission Trustees. annual ter¥M for year eThJed 31 Matth 2025 ww.hur51-water-rneadow.o RegiStsr Chatty 1191(y36. hurstwatermt
and the trustees are encouraging the RTCT to consult the public. especially those who live close to the meadows, to ensure that those voices are heard as the project proceeds. We are pleased Ihat we have been able to continue our practicE of providing a grant to support St Birinus Forest School and W hope to continue to VlcOme other groups of young people, via the Earth Trust and Icknield Community college, to the meadows to increase their understanding and appreciation of these wonderful places. We continue to implement the land management plan prepared by an independent Consultant, to enhance biodiversity. Review the new wetland areas in Old Bndge Meadow and the new eco-hydrology arrangement in the Hurst Water Meadow to ensure that they progress in line with the intended outcomes agreed when the projects vRre approved. Observe wildlrfe wpulations on the meadows. Plans for the future The Trust is keeping alert for any opportunity for it to acquire (by purchase andlor cooperative agreement) land between the Hurst and the Old Bridge Meadow that it does not currently own. thus extendirHJ the riparian wildlife corridor and opening up the possibility of allowing walkers direct access to the two areas without using a road. Volunteers The Trust is grateful for the ServIS and gtfts in ktnd donated by its many volunteers. The Tnjst does not have a policy to measure the economic value of these activities. Major regular gifts of time and serVIS include accountancy, administration, biodiversity advice, bookkeeping, education, fundraising, site Maintenan and development. In addition, other professional services are received as and when the srtuation requires. Achievements and Performance Review of charitable activities Aside from general maintenance of the meadows and encouraging enjoyment of the meadows by members of the public, the Trust made a granl of £2.904 to St Birinus school to support educational activities undertaken by the Forest School. Fundraising During the year the Trust continued its fundraisirKJ activities to enable rt to finance the on- going Maintenan of the meadows. Public response The Trust Continues to receive positive feedback from users of the meadow and its providers of funds. Financial review Finances Income for the past year was £25,701 {2024, £17.318) and expenditure £ 10,125 {2024, £19,098) resulting in a surplus of £15.576 (2024. deficit of £1.780). Donations increased by £3,880 {+ 850). reflecting a SnifiCant one-off donation by a local business. Grant income increased by £3.924, refiecting the timing of education payments from DEFRA. The income for the year comprised entirely unrestrided funds. Unrestricied expenditure was £10,125. Bank baLanS total £89,871 {2024. £74.294) of which nil is restricted. (2024 £0 was restricted). This means that £89.871 is available to manage the Hurst (2024. £74.294). Truslee5' annual W forthe yEareThJed 31 ma 2025 huist-water-trEad(hv.o RegthfE cha 11910. hursfv4aterynt
Reserves policy Through the continued support from voluntary donations and grants the Twst has mainlained adequate reserves to manage and enhan the water meadows and deal with any unexpected setbacks. Unrestricted reserves were £89,871 at the end of the year (2024, £74,294). The Irustees have designated £21,000 to cover unexpected setbacks, £25.000 for tree surgery, £7.000 for legal fees. £10,800 replacement of equipment leaving £26,071 (2024. £24,094} unallocated reserves. Principal funding sources The main funding sources for the financial year were as follows". Donations from local residents and businesses towards the general running of the Trust Rural Payments Agency (DEFRA) under the Basic Payments Scheme. and Higher Level Countryside Stewardship Scheme. Volunteers. gifts of time and services at no charge to the Trust. Finances for 202512026 The Honorary Treasurer eskn'mates that the nomial running costs (i.e. exduding grants, projects and unforeseen events) of the Trust should be £12.000 for the year. Fundraising policy The Trustees take the view that money invested in fundraising is an investment for the Trust's fLrture and will deliver long-tenn benefits to the local communrty, the public and wildlife. The Trust has been SUCssful in raising funds from the Landfill Communty Fund and the Rural Payments Agency, as well as from statutory and voluntary SoUrS to manage and enhance the meadows. The Trust aims to cover its ordinary activtbes through the grants and local fundraising. Any significant new projects or land acquistlion would require a skEcffic fund-raising initiative. The Trust welcomes the following: Legacies and 'in memoriam, donations Pledges to support land acquisition Donations of cash, shares and land Regular giving to help wtth annual costs. How expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity £1,720 of the unrestricted expenditure was used on the general maintenance of the meadows, tools and wildlrfe monrtonng equipment. Tree and land management cost £4.203, insurance premia and banking fees amounted to £761 and the maintenance of the web-site cost £343. The grants to St Birinus School amounted to £2.904. The remaining spend of £194 was for sundries and other expendtture. There were no restricted funds received or restricted expenditure incurred this year. Reporting and keeping the public informed As a charity the Trust is registered with and regulated by the Charity Commission and omplies with rts legal requirements and recommendations of best practice. It operates to the highest standards of finanaal controls. prodUS annual accounts which are examined in accordan with the latest ststement of Recommended Practice {SORP) regulations. The Independent Examiner is a Chartered Accountant. The Trust reports regularly to the local communty through newsletters published in the lo¢al Parish magazine, through tts websrte and noti boards. Twstees. annual rEPOrt for yewerthd 31 Marth 2025 w.r$I-aier- dow.or Regi5teral Charty 1191. hur5ts¥ate rnail.com
Public Benefit ststement 'Public benefit, is the legal requirement that every organisation set up for one or more charrtable aims must able to demonstrate that tts aims are for the public benefit rf it is to be recognised, and registered, as a charity in England and Wales. The Hurst Water Meadow. Old Bridge Meadow, Overy Mead Pieo and any land acquired by the Trust is open to all members of the public for their enjoyment and education. The Trustees constandy review aSsIbIlity issues to the land for all sections of the community. The Trustees therefore confimi that they have complred wrth their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefft published by the Commission. Responsibilities of the Trustees The charity's Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees, Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations. The law applicable to charrties in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the Trustees have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance wilh United Kingdom Generally ACpted Accounting PractiQ (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). The Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charrty and the income and expenditure of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements. the Trustees are required to: select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently observe the methods and principles in the Charibes SORP make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed. subject to any malerial departures disdosed and explained in the financial statements prepare the financial statements on the going concem basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation. The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial posrtion of the charty and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Chanties Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taknng reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularikn"es. The Truslees declare that they have approved the Trustees, reFM)rt above. Signed on behalf of the chanty's Trustees Sally Date.. onor Secretary) TtsteeS. annual report forthe ar ded 31 Aqarch 225 -w., k.i.rst_W8ler-ry.Èauow o Registered Chawity 1191. Thare Jk
Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees of the Hurst Water Meadow Trust I report on the accounts of the chanty for the witxl ended 31 March 2025 set out on page 7- 10. Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner The charity's Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordan wrth the Charities Act 2011 (Ihe Acf). The charity's Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Act and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to= examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,. to follow the applicable Directions given by the Chanty Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Act, and to state whether parbcular matters have come to my attention. Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of The Hurst Water Meadow Trust Basis of independent Examinerfs report My examination was camed out in accordance wrth the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented wrth those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual Ftems or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees Conrning any such matters. The prOdureS undertaken do not provide all the eviden that would te required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view. ar7d the report is limited to Ihose matters set OLrt in the statement below. Independent EXamineS statement In connection with my examination. no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in. any material respect.. the accounting records were not kept in accordan with section 130 of the Charities Act., or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in conneth'on with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reathed. This report is made solely to the chartty's Truslees, as a L)dy. in accordance wtth Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the charity's Trustees those matters l am required to state to them in an independent examinerfs report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permrtted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibilty to anyone other than the charity and the charity Truslees as a body, for my fNork or this report. hursl-water-ffad(y*.o Regi5teTgJ Charty 11911x6. hurstwatetrnt mail.
Malcolm Lucas FCA DChA Independent Examiner Watling Lane Dorchester on Thames Date . 4 Djbkn, Z2£. Twsiees, ants1 repxllorV*)wr 31 March 2025 nur5 -water-trEadow o Regi%lered Chatty 1191. hutstwatermt
Receipts and Payments Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 Total Fund$ 2025 Total Funds 2024 Funds 2025 Funds 2025 INCOMING RESOURCES Incoming resources from generated funds Donations Grants reiVed Tax recovered Sale of cards and scrap ment Bank interest 8,445 14,400 879 8,445 14,400 879 4,565 10,476 828 15 1,726 1,726 1,164 17.048 Incoming resources from charitable activities Fishin Total incomin 25,450 25,450 251 25,701 251 25.701 270 17,318 resources RESOURCES EXPENDED Resources expended on Charitable activities Tree & Land Mana Machine & Tools ert Advi Bank Fees Insuran al Fees Fish Pass noticeboards and Website Grant to St Birinus Forest School Subscri Trainin Wildlife mon5torin Sundries ement 4,203 607 4,203 607 5,220 964 450 60 734 60 701 60 701 343 343 4,992 2.904 2,904 6,038 tions 350 1,113 194 1.113 194 290 Total resources ex nded 10,125 10.125 19,098 Net incoming l (expended) resources 15,576 15,576 11.780) Bank balances CAF bank account CAF savin s accouht TOTAL 147 89,724 89,871 147 89,724 89,871 10,082 64,212 74.294 hurst-Water-rneaO*.O Regsstered Chanty 1191. hut5twaterrn ail.com
Statement of assets and liabilities as at 31 March 2025 Note 2025 2024 Fixed assets Hurst Water Meadow Old Brid e Meadow Brid Ove 34,000 42,475 24,211 33.911 135,597 34,000 42,475 24,211 33,911 135,597 Mead Piece Current assets CAF current account CAF savin s account 147 89,724 10,082 64.212 89,871 74,294 Net assets 225.468 209,891 The funds of the chari Fixed assets fund Restricted income funds Unrestricted income funds 135.597 135.597 89,871 74,294 TOTAL CHARITY FUNDS 209,891 Approved by the Board of Trustees on and signed on its behalf by Chris Smith Treasurer Date.. Tnsiees. annual report for Ihe yeweld 31 Marth 2025 hur51-waier.mead4w.or Registered ChaY 11910£6. hurthatefflrt
Notes to the accounts 1. Basis of accounting The accounts have been prepared on the receipts and payments basis and under section 133 of the Charities Act 2011. The principal accounting policies which have been applied on a consistent basis are set out below: 2. Incoming resources Donations and grants are accounted for when received. Any income tax recoverable on donations under the gift aid scheme is included when the cash is reiVed from the Inland Revenue. 3. Resources expended The trustees do not consider it apwopriate or material to allocate resources expended between the costs of generating funds. charrtable activities and g0veman. 4. Going Concern The Trust's reliance on volunteers for almost all of rts activities enables it to redu the impact of higher levels of inflation ex[Eriend in renI years. Wrth undesignated (free) reserves of £26,071 Trt is therefore the Trustees. opinion that the going conrn basis for the preparation of the accounts continues to be approFxiate. 5. Fixed assets and fixed assets fund Fixed assets comprise land and are stated * orvJinal cost. The cost of small tools, agricultural equipment and wildlrfe monitoring is expensed in the year of acquisition. As the accounts are prepared on a receipts and payments basis. any depreciation would be shown as a movement on the fixed assets fund. 2024 Additions I (disposals) Depreciation 2025 Hurst Water Meadow Old Brid e Meadow Brid Ove Total 34,000 42,475 25.211 33.911 135.597 34.000 42.475 25,211 33,911 135,597 Mead Piece 6. Trustee expenses Trustees do not receive remuneration for their services. It is the Trust policy to reimburse Trustees for authorised purchases and expenses incurred on behalf of the Trust. 7. Trustee interest in contracts There was no trustee interest in ntraCtS to report in the year ended 31 st March 2025. 8. Taxation The charity is exempt from corwration tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for chantable purposes. 9. Purpose of restricted fiinds Restricted funds are generated when the donor stspulates how the income may be expended. In most cases there will be a timing differen between vA)en the income is received and when rt is spent. resutting in balanS being held on these funds at yearnd. Tnte8$. annual retrfxt foru yew eth131 Marth 2025 hJrst4va adtr.ts RegEtsred Chatty 1191. Ur$ValerTt 10
There were no Restricted funds as at 31 st March 2025 or 2024. 10. Purpose of unrestricted funds Unrestricted funds are generated when there is no stipulation from the donor as to how the income may be spent and includes designated fvnds where the Trustees have set aside moneys for a specific purpose. The Trustees have agreed to set up the following designated funds and movements for the A contingency fund representing two years estimated running costs to fund emergency expenditure such as the repairs to the Hurst access bridge in 2019 An equipment replacement fund.. The Trustees have agreed to set aside £600 a year for the replatsment of significant equipment A land acquisilion fund." There are currently no plans to purchase land and therefore no fund has been created for this purpose A tree surgery fund". Given the long-temi nature and unpredictable timing of tree surgery costs the trustees have decided to establish a fund which seeks to provide sufficient funds to enable the trees on the various meadows to be maintained over a 2¢>year cycle. Legal Fees. In order to maintain the Trnst's right of access, in perpetuity, to Overy Mead Piece via Old Bridge Meadow car park. the trust is awaiting invoices for this legal work. Restricted Unrestricted Total Undesignated Designated Free Contingency Legal Fees Equipment Tree Surgery At 1 st April 2025 Surplus (Deficit) for ear Increase Contingency fund Increase al Fees Increase Tree surgery fund Increase Equipment replacement 24.094 18.000 10.200 22,000 74,294 15,576 15,576 (3,000) 3,000 7.000 {3,000) 3.000 (6CKI) 600 At 31st March 2026 26,071 21,IXIO 7,000 10,800 25,000 89,871 Small nurnerical drffererKe5 are to T. annual reFQrt fottt yearefttsj 31 2025 VWO4 hurst-W3ter-mÈad Rryered Charity 1191. errn ail.CL¥n e11