## **The Dulwich Park Friends: trustees’ annual report for presentation at AGM on Tuesday 25 April 2023 from 6-7.30pm Francis Peek Building** We would very much welcome anyone who would like to join us as a committee member/trustee, equally anyone who is able to help us by volunteering in upcoming events. If you are interested in helping in any way please contact us at dulwichparkfriends@gmail.com. ## **Principal events DPF have organised/been involved with** The main events that we have organised or been involved with during the year (all with the valued support of volunteers) are: - Tend the park sessions- these are gardening activities in the Park- typically every month in the Spring/early Summer months and then again in the Autumn. In Autumn 2022 we planted 1000s of daffodils in the grass by the lake as well as alliums in the grass space between the boat house and the café. Other jobs have included clearing and cutting back trees in the copse and mulching the new orchard trees by the tennis courts. - Litter picking- every Monday morning from Easter to September a small group supports the park staff in picking up litter where this has been left by visitors and then spread by foxes even if left in the park bins. Litter control in the park continues to be a challenging issue, especially when the weather is warm enough for pic-nics and take away food in the park. - The May park fair- we support Southwark Council in organising a fair in the park every May. This year, the fair will take place on Sunday 14 May and is free of charge to enter. After a few years of Covid- related disruption this will return to full capacity with the ever-popular children’s farm, craft and gift stalls, food outlets, bands, dancers and entertainment for children. We extend particular thanks to Emily Montague and Trevor Moore who put in enormous efforts to make this event enjoyable and a financial success. ## **Other activities** In addition to the regular events which we organise, other activities have included: - Liaising with Southwark Councillors and park management where issues arise which affect the Park and visitors to it eg seeking support to arrange the installation of a defibrillator at the Francis Peek Centre and other Park maintenance issues. - Making applications for Southwark Council grants to fund activities and improvements in the park, for example under the Cleaner, Safer, Greener grant funding scheme. We enjoyed good success this year with grants awarded for Tend the Park plants and materials and for lake improvement works. Sadly, our application for fox-proof and larger wheelie bins to replace the existing park bins was not successful. - Representing the interests of park users and the preservation of the fabric of the park in the face of increasing number of commercial events in the park such as Pub in the Park and Luna Cinema. - Representing park users at one off events- this year Emily Montague worked with Southwark Council to get a blue plaque displayed at the Francis Peek building in honour of the philanthropist, Francis Peek who first donated the land for Dulwich Park. This was unveiled last October with descendants of Francis Peek invited to the unveiling ceremony. - Encouraging and supporting the participation of volunteer groups in park gardening and care activities. A number of corporate and school groups kindly send groups to do jobs such as weed pulling and bramble clearance in the American Garden. 1 UK-#750761044-v1 - Keeping members informed about Dulwich Park with a seasonal newsletter. Celebrating the park with a calendar with park photos. This project started during lock down and we were delighted to receive photos for inclusion form park users. ## **Our finances** This year saw our transition to a Charitable Incorporated Association ( **CIO** ). As a result of this, we had to open a new bank account in the name of the CIO. Thank you to all of our members who kindly changed their standing orders to reflect this. Membership remains steady at 242 households. Income from membership subscriptions was £2,387 and from grants received was £3,675. Expenditure during the year was £6,017. ## **Objectives and priorities for the coming year** Our general objectives and purposes as set out in our constitution are as follows: “….. the restoration, preservation, conservation, improvement of Dulwich Park, hereinafter the **Park** , as a public facility of historic and ecological interest, preserving the features, conserving the natural parkland and wildlife sanctuary and enhancing the whole of the area and the use of it for the relaxation, leisure and tranquillity of the public and to stimulate the interest of the public in the Park and the enhancement of the whole area, its restoration and preservation.” In addition to continuing to support the activities and events outlined above, our specific objectives for the coming year are: - Increasing our membership base- as mentioned above, our numbers have reduced somewhat as a result of becoming a CIO. - Widening our volunteer base- there are always jobs to do – please spread the word! - Selecting some key projects to work on- eg the Japanese Garden and work to improve the overgrowth at the lake. ## **Thanks to members, volunteers and trustees** We are very grateful for the continued support of the members of Dulwich Park Friends. We extend special thanks to our wonderful volunteers who turn up in all weathers to help at our events. Finally, as Chair, I would like to thank our Trustees, Emily Montague, Trevor Moore, Jackie Prescott, Roland Green and Nino Harvey-Jones all of whom have put in a lot of their time and effort as Committee members. Thanks also to former trustees, Neil Ellis and Stephen Henden who retired from the Board following their move from the Dulwich area. Jill Gauntlett, Chair, The Dulwich Park Friends April 2023 The Dulwich Park Friends Registered as a charitable incorporated organisation at the Charity Commission, charity number: 1196576. 2 UK-#750761044-v1 Dulwleh Park Frlands Reglster•d chorlty no 1196576 Accounts for yur end•d 2&h F•bruary 2023 Recelpts and p•yment¥ accounts 2022 Tot•1 VA￿trtetyd Fund• e 2.387 RaBtrlct Ine¢¥n• Subscripli( Fun¢* £ 1,135 728 401 2,875 2,387 Ca￿[￿lar Sa 440 3,675 1.108 91 HMRC Gdl aKI T•k•n 91 m•nts Postag? ILhlwKJ w•b Inswant• 12 271 1130 287 91 Duh¥K* Path F•lr& cc￿¢￿rt LiiierwkiryJ Mpierlth CateThSor rec4rts 2.821 2.821 16 Tw*Y Its p• 111 322 1,Q]O 912 •x 11.1 12.852 C•th bJr#J8 at 281h F•bru• STATEME1￿ OF ASSETS AND LLA8iunES AT 28th FEBRUARY 2023 2022 B•nk Bal•n¢ G*nernl fund Path F* & Fund DULWICH PARK FRIENDS R•glstor¥d Charlty No. 1196676 Ind•p•nd•nt Examlnots R¢portto the Tn•t••s of r￿lwkh Park Frlends I report on the accounts oftsw ch¥*yfor end¢d 28 Febfuw 2023, 7AthiGh ar? ￿t OLrt an page 1. Re8pectlv• rn8pon8lbllllles of Tr￿te￿ and Examlner ¢hwitls Trustees are re8w)8lb￿ for the kvepw&on ofthe a¢counts: The Ch8riW8 Truth8 consider that the audit requirement of section 144 of the Charitss Act 2011 (the P£t) dtxs not 8ppty, and thatan Ir￿ eyxnin*ion ig no*d. 11 is my ff86wn8foilty to: exami￿ the accounts under 145 dthe W" to foii¢M proc•dures lahj dtr*n in the Genernl Direction5 g￿￿Tr by th• Charity commi￿oft undef wtIc￿ 14515) (b) of the A¢ 8•$ls of Indépondent Exarnln¢¢s Report My oxamin8tti)n was carried out in accordance G￿eral DirKiions grrf8n by Charity CcthMtssic￿. An exaninattsn indudes a rewthv ofth6 accounting records kepl by the charity and a comparison of the accounts prosenteil with those records. tt also ir￿lUdeS consideratton d any unusual it&xs cf disdosures ui the accourts, *KI seeking explangttcffls from you as Trustees cl￿¢•m1ng any such m*ters. The pmcedure5 undertaken do not p￿￿de all the ev￿jenCe that wwkl be required in an a￿lit. and consequenuy no Opin￿an b gi￿￿ as to whets the accounts present a Itue and fair and the roport is limited to those mattws set ¢Jrt in the statement bekx. Ind•p•ndent Examlnerf8 Statemont 1 which gNes me reaxThbl• cauw to bgvm th* kn ary mat¢ri•i rnsp•Gt the requsremeMs {al 10 keep ac¢ounting records kn ￿{1￿ce section 130 of the Act.. and (bl to prepare accounts whrh accord wlh thè &counting r￿ordS and to compty with the accountuig requirements of the 2011 Act not bean mat" or 2 to which, in my opinkjn, attention shouky b8 drawn ￿ ord•rto enabl• a pr undetstanding of the aCc￿nts lo te reacts￿. S. A. Jeffrfes Charterèd Accountant K. ￿ Jeffrles & Company 18 Melbourne Grovo London SE22 8RA Dlts: SIS. fG*