CAPEL GREENBELT PROTECTION SOCIETY
CAPEL GREENBELT PROTECTION SOCIETY (CGPS):
Registered Charity 1192171
ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
FOR THE PERIOD
01/07/24 TO 30/06/25
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CAPEL GREENBELT PROTECTION SOCIETY
Contents
| Reporting Requirements ......................................................................................................................... 2 |
|---|
| 1. Chair’s Report ..................................................................................................................................... 3 |
| 2. Objectives 5 |
| 3. Achievements ..................................................................................................................................... 6 |
| 4. Impact and Value ................................................................................................................................ 6 |
| Capel Path Rangers (CPR) .................................................................................................................... 6 |
| Education ............................................................................................................................................ 6 |
| Save Capel Campaign .......................................................................................................................... 7 |
| 6. Other activities ................................................................................................................................... 7 |
| Green Belt Public Awareness Campaign ............................................................................................. 7 |
| 7. Long Term Strategy ............................................................................................................................ 8 |
| 8. Statutory Information ......................................................................................................................... 8 |
| 9. Treasurer’s Report and Accounts ...................................................................................................... 9 |
Reporting Requirements
The Charity was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation on 5[th] November 2019. As our annual income for this Financial Year did not exceed £25,000 this year, we are not required to have our accounts audited or independently examined.
We have also abbreviated our charity’s operational name to Capel Greenbelt Society (CGS) with the Charity Commission although our Banking, and other, Institutions still utilise our original Capel Greenbelt Protection Society for continued administrative purposes.
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1. Chair’s Report
The CGS financial year of 2024-2025 was again a very successful one raising £2,282 during the year.
Expenditure was funded from funds raised in previous years. Total reserves of £8,526 were recorded at the end of the 2024-2025 financial year.
Donations were received from the local community. These supported the Charity’s goals of conserving our Green Belt – but also assisting the utilisation and education of the Capel Parish community regarding the Greenbelt’s benefit to the local public.
Since incorporation in 2019 CGS has continued to participate in, or provided grants to, several local organisations in the parish. These include:
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Capel Path Rangers (CPR)
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Capel Parish Council Allotments
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Capel Greenbelt Photograph Competition
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Capel New Year Quiz Night
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Capel Fete
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Youth Groups
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a. Capel Pre-school
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b. Capel School
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c. Five Oak Green Brownies
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Five Oak Green Community Gardening Group
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Kent Day of Action
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Save Capel
The Quiz night and Photographic competitions were particularly successful. Sponsored by local companies and the community. These projects are reported on in more detail in this report below and on the CGS website (https://www.capelgb.com/).
Capel Greenbelt Protection Society (CGS) has now been running for over five years. It was originally formed in 2019 by residents of the small Parish of Capel near Tonbridge in Kent, who were concerned about inappropriate development of our Green Belt, and enhancing the use of, and education of, the countryside around the Parish. Capel is situated in combination of Metropolitan Green Belt and the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It provides a wonderful rural backdrop to life in the small community of around 900 dwellings and 2,400 residents.
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council had included 2,400 new houses in West Capel (Tudeley) in their Local Plan for the period to 2038. The community’s support for our objectives has influenced the Inspector and convinced the council to drop this development from their plan for the immediate term. The situation is likely to reviewed in 5 years therefore this development may be included in the local plan in 10 years’ time. However, 2,160 new houses on flood plains on Green Belt between Five Oak Green
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and Paddock Wood remain in their revised, and submitted, Local Plan. We wait to see whether the Inspector believes these are justified.
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The continuing concerns of the local community that conflict with the use of our Greenbelt include:
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the pressures of modern life resulting in residents finding it more difficult to find the opportunity to take part in outdoor activities.
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the threat of the Parish being swamped by new housing developments, as the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Draft Local Plan envisages putting 4,260 new dwellings out of a total of 8,500 in the plan (50 per cent) in this corner of the borough which makes up only 6.5 per cent of its area (21.5 sq.km out of 331.3 sq.km).
The Charity continues to review all new planning permission applications that would affect the local Greenbelt.
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CAPEL GREENBELT PROTECTION SOCIETY
2. Objectives
Our Charitable Objectives are primarily to protect our local Green Belt and educate and support the General Public to use the Green Belt for their benefit.
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To promote for the benefit of the public the conservation protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of Capel Green Belt and High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
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To advance the education about the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of Capel Green Belt and High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
We believe in
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the advancement of our local environmental protection and improvement
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conservation of our local flora, fauna and the local environment in these areas
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we want to do this through the promotion of sustainable development and biodiversity in our Parish
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including the promotion of recycling, flood defences, and sustainable waste management
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the advancement of community development
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supporting the local Youth Organisations in the parish of Capel
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sustainable urban and rural regeneration within the Parish of Capel
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through the promotion of volunteering for public benefit
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coordinating different, like-minded societies and organisations
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raising, and managing funds and donations for organisations that support our Society objectives
CGS are involved in:
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The promotion of the conservation, protection, and improvement of the physical and natural environment by supporting access and conservation projects and programmes that protect features of wildlife flora and fauna in the British countryside generally and responsible and sustainable use of these environments.
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The education of the public in subjects pertaining to the conservation, protection, and enjoyment of the countryside.
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3. Achievements
Since the charity’s initial reporting period, the charity has
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raised Donations and successfully applied for Gift Aid from the HMRC
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sponsored 5 local organisations (see section 5 below)
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sponsored a local campaign for a full community review of the submitted Local Plan for Housing with the Government’s Inspector
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participated as members of the Parish Council’s Neighbourhood Plan programme
4. Impact and Value
In its fifth full financial year, the impact of the charity has continued to be:
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to highlight the harm that would be done to the Green Belt if the TWBC plans are adopted
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to increase awareness of the value of the countryside and the ways it can be enjoyed
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to support local young people and children in the appreciation of wildlife, the countryside and saving greenbelt land
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to enhance green areas in the parish
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to provide support to the Capel Path Rangers to encourage and enable walking for wellbeing.
5. Sponsored Organisations
Capel Path Rangers (CPR)
An extensive network of footpaths is a feature of the Parish of Capel much appreciated by residents and others who come to enjoy our countryside. The Capel Path Rangers have, for many years, worked with KCC Rights of Way to keep the paths open, well maintained and signposted. CGS have helped CPR to extend their work by funding equipment for maintenance, and insurance for volunteers and the public.
Education
In order to encourage and foster a long-term love for local green spaces, wildlife and the outdoors, CGS is liaising with local schools and the youth groups within the Capel parish boundaries. Through these affiliations we continue to engage with early years and school age children, their teachers and parents. The National Curriculum has a focus on the natural environment and sustainable lifestyles. CGS will support these local schools and youth groups by helping to deliver these elements of the national
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curriculum and other activities that will encourage use of the greenbelt countryside. CGS will achieve this through financial support, expertise and other materials and resources.
During 2024/2025 funds were granted to Capel pre-school for some rodent resistant bird feeders and bird food. Pre-School staff have assured CGPS of the sustainability of this project and the future provision of bird food for the feeders.
The leaders of two previously funded projects at Capel School and the Five Oak Green Brownies have kept the trustees informed during 2024/2025 of the wildlife and outdoor educational value being added by the grants donated by the charity.
Save Capel Campaign
CGS has continued support of the local campaign called “Save Capel” - whose sole objective is to protect the Green Belt from over-development by building developers due to the local Borough Council’s draft Local Plan. Professional expertise has been successfully engaged by Save Capel in the continued legal, planning and environmental areas to assist in responding to the local Borough Council’s draft Local Plan. The Plan was subsequently reduced with Tunbridge Wells Borough Council eliminating an unsound Garden Village from their revised draft Plan.
6. Other activities
Green Belt Public Awareness Campaign
CGS continues to publicise and promote the purposes of the charity and explain the activities that CGS are involved in. Publicity is achieved through social media (Facebook), local publications, a presentation at the Annual Parish Meeting and through the CGS website. This activity results in financial donations and pledges to the objectives of CGS.
CGPS had a gazebo and stand at Capel Fete in July 2024to raise the awareness of the importance of protecting the greenbelt. Capel fete is generally well attended each year with approximate attendance of 1000 to 2000 people.
During 2024/2025 a Photographic Competition was held to raise awareness of the greenbelt land in our parish. The competition was sponsored by a local company. Entries were judged according to stated criteria which included the story the photograph told about the Capel Greenbelt, the photograph’s impact, the lighting, its technical quality, creativity, composition, points of interest, use of colour, style and lastly presentation. 1[st] ., 2[nd] , and 3[rd] . prizes were awarded with the winning photographs being used on the website, on social media, in the Parish magazine and at the Quiz Night in January 2025.
In January 2025 a Quiz Night was arranged by the Trustees and was well attended. A further Quiz Night is planned in 2026’
The charity submitted hearing statements and attended the Independent Examination Hearings of the TWBC Local Plan, focusing on the harm that would be done to the Green Belt if it is adopted.
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7. Long Term Strategy
CGS believes that protecting the Green Belt in Capel is an important short-term objective. Once the status of this section of Green Belt has been secured the charity will concentrate on seeking donations and grants to sustain the CGS Education Strategies for the benefit of the General Public. We will continue to seek grants and donations to sponsor local organisations increase public benefit from the use of the Green Belt particularly among the following groups:
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School age children
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Elderly
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Dog walkers
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Adults who may not otherwise enjoy the Greenbelt/countryside
8. Statutory Information
CGS was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 5[th] November 2020, charity number 1192171.
The Registered Office is:
3 Bank Farm Cottages Sherenden Lane Tudeley Tonbridge Kent, TN11 0PB
Full details are available at www. https://www.capelgb.com
The current Trustees are:
Chair Dr David Parrish Deputy Chair Konrad Legg Trustees Robert Assirati CBE Hilary Andrews Geoffrey Turner Dr Sarah Jones
The charity’s bankers are:
HSBC UK 39 High Street Ashford Kent, TN24 8TG
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9. Treasurer’s Report and Accounts
CAPEL GREENBELT SOCIETY
| CAPEL GREENBELT SOCIETY | CAPEL GREENBELT SOCIETY | CAPEL GREENBELT SOCIETY | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FINAL | ||||
| l |
FY 2023/24 | FY 2024/25 | ||
| MANAGEME | T ACCOUNTS | 01-Ju-24 to 30-Jun-25 |
12 months ended | 12 months ended |
| Opening balance INCOME EXPENDITURE Closing bank bala |
30th June 2024 | 30th June 2025 | ||
| 9,440.03 £ 16,275.64 £ 500.00 £ |
20,008.34 £ 236.79 £ 2,045.46 £ |
|||
| Total income | 16,775.64 £ |
2,282.25 £ |
||
| Save Capel Expenditure CGPS Expenditure |
5,789.08 £ 418.25 £ |
11,535.54 £ 2,228.84 £ |
||
| Total Expenditure | 6,207.33 £ |
13,764.38 £ |
||
| Surplus/deficit | 10,568.31 £ |
11,482.13 -£ |
||
| nce | 20,008.34 £ |
8,526.21 £ |
I confirm that this report and accounts are an accurate representation of the CGS activities between 1[st] July 2024 and 30[th] June 2025
………………………………………………….
Name:
………………………………………………….
………………………………………………….
Signed
position
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