Westmorfand Damson Association.
Trustees, Annual Report - Year ended 31 December 2024
TrUS7EES
The TDJStees who served during the year were:
Mark Basey-Fisher- Chair
Angela ￿ater- Secretary
Hilary Fitch- Membership Secretary
Peter Hensman- Treasurer
Andrew Griffith5
Desmond Holmes
Simon Patterson I￿Signed 23 July 2024}
Rebecca Patterson
Hartley Trotter
Adam Walker
53ndi Friend-Thornton (appointed 23 July 20241
Andrew Griffiths stood down on 22 January 2025
STRucfuRE AND GOVERNAPKE
The Westmorland Darnson Association is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) operating under 3
constttution approved by the Charity Commission and adopted on 7 June 2021. Membership of the Association
is open to anyone who supports the objectives of the Aswo"ation. The day-to4ay affairs are managed by an
Executive Committee comprising Chaimian, Wice-chairman. Secretary. Treasurer and up to 6 other members
who are appointed each year at the Annual General Meeting.
The Association can be conratted at Ingilnook. Charney Well Lane. Grange over Sands. Cumbria, L4116DB.
08JEcllvES AND ACTIVITIES
The Westmorfand Damson Association seeks to enhance the ecorrf)my and landsope of traditional damson-
growing areas in Cumbria by supporting the growin& picking and use of Westrnorland damsons. The objertives of
the A%sooation are-
To encourage. for the benefft of the public, the cor￿erVatIOn and protecrion of damson orchards and the
presetvation of thelr genetic biodiversity. landscape and heritage value in Cumbria. induding by planting and
creating more damson orchards.
To advance the education of the public in the growi￿ Cu￿1Vation. preservation and use of the Westmorland
damson variety common in Cumbria.
To pursue these objectives, the Association:
l. Organises an Annual Damson Day in Aprtl every year. This public event promdes opportuntties for those
attending to learn about the history and techniques of damson growing in the a￿8. to purchase damson
trees for planting and to buy and sell damson-based and other local products.
2. Encourages the growin& picking and use of damsons by buwng in damsons from growers at harvest-
time, freezing them and then selling them to those requiring them throughout the year.
3. Encourages the planting of new damson orchards through its Orchard Grant Stheme and the suppty of
damson suckers.
4. Promotes the growing and use of damsons by providing advice to members and the public through the
circulation of newsletters and other publiGltions and by attending local agricultural shows.

y pursuing these objectives. the Trustees continue to give due regard to the Charity Commission's
guidance on public benefiL
ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2014
Damson Day was held forthe first time since 2019 at the new venue of the We5trnodand Showground. The
Trustees were disappointed that no silltable site with all-weather parking could be found in the Lyth Valley but
were pleased with the facilrfiies antl easy access available at the Westmorland Showground. Sadly, the weather
on the day was miserable an(l. despite good trader presen￿ and a full programme of activities, attendance was
poor and the Day made a significant loss. However. The Assoaation is pleased to have been able to bring
Damson Day back again after its 5-year ab$ell￿ and 15 grateful to the Westmorland Agricultural Society for the
help it provided.
The 2024 damson crop was again affected by bad w&*her at blossom time which affected all growers. For the
first time for many years there were no damsons to buy In at har¥e5t time. Coincidentalty. demand for frO￿n
damsons picked up overthe year wfth a number of new commeraal customers being recruited. Sales grew to
1750kg leaving a stock of only 675kg at 31 December 2024. ThFS will not be enough to meet demand through
2025. Although damson sales increased. so too did costs, with a considerable increase in the pri￿ of the
electricity need to run the cold store.
The failure of the damson crop meant that plans to build on last yearfs fresh damson sales had to be put on
hold.
Two walks through the damson orchards at blossom time were arranged for members and were well supported.
There were no applications for orchard grants ¢Jurtng the year. The Assooation responded to a number of
requests for damson suckers to enable new plantin&
Two stalls were again organised at the Westmorfand County Show. Both raised the profile of damsons and thelr
use, one through displaying the Association's archive and gNing alfvice on darnson growing and the other. in the
food marquee. by selling frozen damsons.
The Assoaation gained sgme notable publiaty for damsons durinÉ the year induding a Supertato podcast. a full
page feature in the Financial Times and an artide in Cumbria Ltfe.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The poor weather and ne* venue reduced attendan￿ at Damson Day. As a result it made a loss of
£8038. Damson sales increased to £7350 (2023 £53931 but the increase in elertricity costs meant
that the deficit on sales was only marginally reduced to £1248 (2023 £13081. The overall deficit for
the year was a substantial £981312023 £14701. This redu￿ the balance in unrestrtcted funds at 31
December 2024 to £25541, of which £19084 are free cash reserves.
The Trustees aim to hold sufficient cash reseryes to enable them to fund both a Damson Day and
the purchase of a yearfs damson trop. They estimate that cash reserves required would be of the
order of £20,000.
Approved by the Trustee5 on 6 May 2025.
taL64L_
M. Basey-Fisher
Chairman

IWESIMORLAND DAMSOII ASSOCL471011 CHARITY (Mg 11Y7101
INCOldlNG RESOURCES lal
Doha¢i•ns and grart¥
Membership svbscrtption5
GiftAid Tax recowed
9453
I￿]
99.21
703.21
SponsorshlpanddonatK)Trs
Display5 and ￿15
Gateand walks
Other
om
3.&XJ.IXI
8131
7563I
Setting-up
Advertlsing and PFintin8
Emenaiment
6Èneral
&745.75
1.676.49
o)
(¥)
o.(x)
3,23956
15.fQL
SalÈs
7349
S.3￿
Costi)f sales
Storage costs
Other sales cos15
Depreaaliopof cdd st(ffe
5.417AO
1423.28
25
732.(K)
8.597.68
3.678.60
1.633.f
65725
73Ltx)
6.70L45
-L247AB
lrtterestOftL¥sh balar
619.12
-8,￿755

SIMORLAND I)AIISOM ASSOQAYIOII CHARifYi•io 11947101
RESOURCES EXPEIII)ED
Orchaid G¥ani Schew*for legen*a￿oIWesbnty
dam50nOTthwd5
Establfjshment& other costs
17(&6
L705.&)
1.483.67
-9.813.15
-1.469.79
Ftsml BalwKe8 *131st Dq¢•thr2024
34.354.58
24541.43
35.82437
a4.354.58
LAII¢E8HEEf* 31* DECEMBeR 2tr24
ghare of cold 5trye
Investrnents at COSL k55PmM5iw f￿￿T￿ted￿￿
4392.
3.6&)I
Stockof danwns
DebtDrs& Prepayments
8ankand cash ba￿nCeS
L797.fAI
91.53
.046.
20.938.73
57.30
7.215.Lll
99.21
2185337
,167.58
20.88L43
29.96158
Total N¢tA8••ts
24.541.43
34,354S8
Funds ofth• Ch
funds
24541A3
343x58
Sl&*d4M behalfof
eaw Fl%hor

WESTklORLAND DAMSONASSOCIATION ¢HARrrY (No 11947101
Opening st(Kk
Purthase5
7452.LXJ
3441.E
10893.60
7215.
367&60
7215.Tr)
1797.[
. 5417.rf1
Costof sa￿$
Stoth are valued at a)5totreali5abbÈvdlue. illgwei.
Insufan￿ -StocK buildin85. 13th in tran5ii
210AKI
2￿.ts)
Bankchar8e5
Iscelbrleous
369.f
1705.
186.
1483.67
xed Assets
$0% 5haFe Df Cold Storè
3660.rij
36flJ.(XJ
2928.tx)
4392.(X)
t￿prec￿lOn isthar8edtowtKteoff thecohl st￿￿ over lo￿arS
Shares in theWJtherslackCommwtry5hcp, aCOSL
Less provlston forwrltedown
5.C(Kl.(
.5,C[￿.(
5.C(ot
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Gift AKI Claimable
9153
99.21
& B•nkand cash balaTK
Bwi*s Bank
CAFB
Skipton BuildingStt*ty
Cash in Hathd
a(KJ
7L59.14
IL887.46
¢x(
,04&f
L439.48
2L413.89
2185337
Receipts in adwan
5730
14oÉxpenses were paidto tsU￿ee$ln 202412023£11111
the purdta5e of a yeat5 damson crw. T￿eStImate th* cash re5erbv requiredw0￿ beof
order of£20.COJ.At 31 twmber 2024, ifvwere slthty below ieveL