UNSTEAD NATURE COMMUNITY GROUP
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ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2026
| Contents | Page |
|---|---|
| Legal and administrative information | 1 |
| Trustees’ Report | 2 |
| Independent Examiner’s Report | 5 |
| Receipts and Payments Account | 6 |
| Balance Sheet | 7 |
| Notes to the Accounts | 8 |
TRUSTEES
The Trustees in office during the year were:
John Mairs (Chair) Richard Acton John Cheesman Peter Cornish Christopher Kirton Keith Lightfoot (Warden) Deborah Simmons Stuart Smith
SITE ADDRESS
Unstead Wetland Nature Reserve, Trunley Heath Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU5 0BS
CONTACT ADDRESS
c/o 9 Home Farm Road, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 1TX
BANKERS
Lloyds Bank plc, 25 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7HN
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
Stewart Roberts
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1196835
UNSTEAD NATURE COMMUNITY GROUP
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TRUSTEES’ REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2026
The Trustees present their Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2026.
Constitution
Unstead Nature Community Group (‘the Charity’) is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, established on 29 November 2021. It is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales with registered number 1196835.
Objects and activities
The object of the Charity is to promote, for the benefit of the public, the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of Unstead Wetland Nature Reserve. The Reserve covers an area of about 25 acres south of Guildford in Surrey. Through volunteer action, the Group develops and maintains the diverse habitats of the Reserve for the benefit of wildlife across its 25 acres. It provides visitor facilities and information about the Reserve and its wildlife to create an educational and recreational resource.
The charity has no staff and all its activities are undertaken by volunteers. Workparties for volunteers are held on site every Thursday with administrative duties being undertaken by the Trustees. During the year, volunteers contributed 3,773 hours of time on organised workparties.
Achievements and performance
Through the year we have continued to develop the Nature Reserve to create a wider diversity of natural habitats attractive to wildlife of all kinds. Several hundred more sapling trees have been planted, particularly in the Works Field and beside the cross-path, to establish light woodland, hazel copses and blackthorn thickets. Further coppicing of sections of trees in the East Lagoon, Hide Footpath and North Meadow has increased the light in these areas which will increase ground flora and consequently invertebrate activity.
A major project towards the end of the year was the creation of a new reed bed lagoon in the ‘Back of Lagoon’ area. The excavations were undertaken by specialist contractors funded by Thames Water. A new hide overlooking the new (albeit as yet unplanted) reed-bed is anticipated later in 2026.
We were grateful to receive three grants from Surrey County Council during the year, and we now have a new mower and a new shed – constructed by Unstead volunteers. The third grant was for the installation of a swift nesting tower. Unstead volunteers constructed one nest tower. Another was funded, constructed and installed by staff for UK Power Networks Services Ltd. We were fortunate to secure the services of the reed bed construction team, whose equipment was ideal for installing the 10 metre masts on which the swift nest boxes are mounted.
UNSTEAD NATURE COMMUNITY GROUP
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TRUSTEES’ REPORT (continued)
Achievements and performance (continued)
As well as the more high-profile projects referred to above, the Reserve requires management - keeping access paths clear, looking after newly planted trees in their early years, hedge-laying, mending broken fences and gates, selective reed-cutting and willow coppicing and a myriad other jobs. These projects and maintenance tasks are all undertaken by volunteers on Thursday (and occasional Sunday) workparties. We have also welcomed a regular small group of pupils from Rodborough School, accompanied by their teacher, who have actively participated in these tasks on a Thursday. The Trustees are grateful for the willingness and enthusiasm of all those volunteers and are pleased that the number of volunteers coming along has been increasing, now with a weekly average of 14, and adding up to 3,773 hours over the year. The Trustees also greatly appreciate the time given by other volunteers undertaking surveys at the Reserve – of birds, butterflies, reptiles, moths, bats, mammals, invertebrates, flora, fungi, mosses and water quality.
Membership has also been increasing as more people hear about the site and have been enjoying the birds and other wildlife to be seen at the Reserve. There were 250 members (including joint members) at the year end. Throughout the year members have been kept informed of activities through an excellent, well-illustrated monthly newsletter put together by the Warden.
The Trustees have organised and managed the significant work undertaken by volunteers as outlined above and the Reserve has continued to develop in its habitat diversity and quality. Additionally, through the installation of information boards and in hosting visits by young people and interested groups, it has enhanced the wildlife knowledge of visitors. The Trustees are pleased that Unstead Nature Reserve has now been recognised as such on Google and Ordnance Survey maps.
The Trustees are satisfied that, throughout, they have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
Trustees
The trustees who held office during the Year are set out on page 1. The Charity’s constitution allows for between 3 and 12 trustees. One third of the trustees are required to retire each year, albeit normally being eligible for reappointment. No trustee may hold office for more than three terms. Trustees are elected by members at the AGM by simple majority of those present. Where trustee vacancies arise, volunteers who have shown an interest in site management or governance may be invited to offer themselves for election as trustees.
Accounting principles
As a small Charity, the Trustees have chosen to present the annual accounts on a receipts and payments basis. Previously there was no requirement for the accounts to be independently examined or audited, but a significant grant received during the year has resulted in the Charity requiring an independent examination of its financial statements this year.
Financial Review
During the year the Charity received £110,576 of income (2025 - £11,519) of which £5,719 (2025£7,519) was restricted funds. Expenditure during the year totalled £10,617 (2025 - £9,744), resulting in funds at the end of the year of £108,888 (2025 - £8,929). Of this, £561 (2025 - £3,414) was restricted funds and £100,000 was a designated fund, leaving £8,327 (2025 - £5,515) available as general reserves.
UNSTEAD NATURE COMMUNITY GROUP
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TRUSTEES’ REPORT (continued)
Reserves and Investments
Donations and grants to the Charity which have been given for a specific purpose or project are held as ‘restricted funds’ and cannot used for other purposes. To the extent that these funds are not fully spent at the year-end, they are carried forward to be used for those purposes in the future. Other income – primarily membership subscriptions – is available for general expenditure for the Reserve without restriction. The Trustees aim to hold at least 6 months’ expenditure in general reserves to meet future unforeseen expenditure.
Towards the end of the year, the Charity received a substantial grant of £100,000 from Thames Water. Although its use was not restricted, its grant was linked to the development of the newly constructed reed bed and its future maintenance over a lengthy timespan. Consequently, the Trustees have designated the fund for this purpose.
At the year end, the charity held £361 (2025 - £3,414) in restricted reserves and £100,000 (2025 - £nil) in a designated reserve, leaving £8,327 (2025 - £5,515) as general reserves.
Until the receipt of the grant from Thames Water in February 2026, the Charity’s reserves were modest and held with Lloyds Bank. At the year-end, the Charity’s financial assets were held in deposit and current accounts with Lloyds Bank. The Trustees anticipate investing a proportion of the designated funds with a specialist charity investment fund during 2026, but at the year-end there were no investments.
Risk review
The major risks to which the Charity is exposed, as identified by the Trustees, have been reviewed and systems have been established to mitigate those risks.
Future Plans
During 2026 we will be working with Thames Water to plant the new reed bed and to construct a hide overlooking it – with appropriate access ways. Additionally we have been in discussion with neighbouring landowners and we anticipate working with them to plant hedgerows to link with their woodland areas for the benefit of the Reserve and local wildlife.
This annual report was approved by the Trustees at a meeting held on 4 June 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
| John Mairs | Christopher H Kirton |
|---|---|
| John Mairs | Christopher Kirton |
| Chair of Trustees | Trustee |
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF UNSTEAD NATURE COMMUNITY GROUP ON THE UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2026
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I report to the charity’s trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2026 which are set out on pages 6 to 11.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
-
the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Stewart Roberts
Stewart Roberts
Date: 28 July 2026
Camberley Surrey
UNSTEAD NATURE COMMUNITY GROUP
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RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2026
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | |||
| 2026 | 2026 | 2026 | 2025 | |
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ |
| Income | ||||
| Subscriptions | 3,109 | - | 3,109 | 2,723 |
| Grants | - | 5,574 | 5,574 | 6,602 |
| Other Donations | 100,965 | - | 100,965 | 1,768 |
| Gift Aid | 733 | 145 | 878 | 426 |
| Interest received | 50 | - | 50 | - |
| ----------- | --------- | ----------- | --------- | |
| Total Receipts | 104,857 | 5,719 | 110,576 | 11,519 |
| ----------- | --------- | ----------- | --------- | |
| Charitable Expenditure | ||||
| Materials | 631 | 6,993 | 7,624 | 5,629 |
| Tools | 201 | 1,579 | 1,780 | 3,066 |
| Bird food | 90 | - | 90 | 236 |
| Publicity and signage | 112 | - | 112 | 110 |
| Volunteer refreshments | 158 | - | 158 | - |
| Baseball caps | 290 | - | 290 | - |
| Donation to bird-ringing group | 65 | - | 65 | 200 |
| Sundry expenses | 21 | - | 21 | - |
| Bank charges | 1 | - | 1 | - |
| Governance Expenditure | ||||
| Insurance | 418 | - | 418 | 481 |
| AGM venue hire | 58 | - | 58 | 22 |
| --------- | --------- | -------- | ---------- | |
| Total Payments | 2,045 | 8,572 | 10,617 | 9,744 |
| --------- | --------- | --------- | --------- | |
| Excess of Receipts over Payments/ | ||||
| (Payments over Receipts) | 102,812 | (2,853) | 99,959 | 1,775 |
| Fund balances brought forward | 5,515 | 3,414 | 8,929 | 7,154 |
| ----------- | --------- | ----------- | --------- | |
| Fund balances carried forward | 108,327 | 561 | 108,888 | 8,929 |
| ======= | ===== | ======= | ====== |
UNSTEAD NATURE COMMUNITY GROUP
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BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2026
| Total | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | ||
| Notes | £ | £ | |
| Assets | |||
| Bank balance – current account | 1,837 | 8,929 | |
| Bank balance – deposit accounts | 107,051 | - | |
| ----------- | --------- | ||
| 108,888 | 8,929 | ||
| ======= | ====== | ||
| Reserves | |||
| Restricted Funds | 3 | 561 | 3,414 |
| Unrestricted Funds | |||
| Designated Fund | 4 | 100,000 | - |
| General Reserves | 5 | 8,327 | 5,515 |
| ---------- | --------- | ||
| 108,888 | 8,929 | ||
| ======= | ====== |
The financial statements on pages 6-11 were approved by the Trustees at a meeting held on 4 June 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
John Mairs Christopher Kirton Chair of Trustees Trustee
UNSTEAD NATURE COMMUNITY GROUP
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NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Preparation
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis in accordance with the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements are prepared in sterling which is the functional currency and have been rounded to the nearest pound.
Income and expenditure
Income and expenditure is accounted for in the period in which it was received or paid. Expenditure is inclusive of VAT.
Tangible Fixed Assets
Expenditure is accounted for on a cash basis and thus no value is included in the accounts for any fixed assets other than the initial capital expenditure, shown in the Receipts and Payments Account.
Donated Goods and Services
The charity is grateful to its benefactors – both individuals and organisations - who have supplied tools and equipment, many trees (with stakes and guards), timber and other materials. These gifts in kind are not included in the accounts as there is no cash-based transaction to record.
The charity is also grateful for the services of its trustees, workparty volunteers, corporate volunteers, species surveyors and others who have given their expert time freely. However, no value is included in the accounts for the hours of unpaid work that they undertake.
Gift Aid
The Charity is eligible to claim Gift Aid on donations. Where donations are treated as restricted funds, any Gift Aid associated with such donations is treated as part of the relevant restricted fund.
Restricted Funds
These are gifts and grants which have been given to the Charity to be used in accordance with the wishes of the donor/grantor. They may only be applied for the purposes for which the funds were donated or granted.
Unrestricted Funds
The use of these funds has not been restricted to a particular purpose by donors. They are subdivided into Designated Funds and General Reserves.
Designated Funds
Designated funds are those funds which have been allocated by the Trustees for particular purposes. Such funds can be re-allocated back to general funds if the Trustees so decide. Further information on the nature and basis of the designated funds used by the Charity is given in Note 4.
General Reserves
General Reserves are the working fund of the Charity and are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the Charity’s objectives. Among the uses of the General Reserves are the costs of maintenance and improvement of the Unstead Wetland Nature Reserve and the general administration of the Charity.
UNSTEAD NATURE COMMUNITY GROUP
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NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued)
2. DONATIONS
| 2. DONATIONS | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Donation from Thames Water – see note 4 | 100,000 | - |
| Donations from groups and organisations | 170 | 200 |
| Donations from individuals | 795 | 1,568 |
| ---------- | -------- | |
| 100,965 | 1,768 | |
| ======= | ===== |
3. RESTRICTED FUNDS
| 3. RESTRICTED FUNDS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tools, | Shed, | ||||
| Sand | Lectern & | Mower & | |||
| Public | martin | Dipping | Swift | Total | |
| Year ended 31 March 2026 | Access | Nestbank | Platform | Tower | |
| Fund | Fund | Fund | Fund | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Brought forward | 2,728 | 342 | 344 | - | 3,414 |
| Donations received | - | - | - | - | - |
| Grants received | - | - | - | 5,574 | 5,574 |
| Gift Aid added | - | 145 | - | - | 145 |
| Expenditure* | (2,586) | (330) | (344) | (5,312) | (8,572) |
| ------ | ------- | ------ | ------- | -------- | |
| Carried forward at 31 March 2026 | 142 | 157 | - | 262 | 561 |
| ==== | ===== | ==== | ==== | ===== | |
| Tools | |||||
| Sand | Lectern & | ||||
| Public | martin | Dipping | Total | ||
| Year ended 31 March 2025 | Access | Nestbank | Platform | ||
| Fund | Fund | Fund | |||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Brought forward | 2,994 | - | - | 2,994 | |
| Donations received | - | 825 | 825 | ||
| Grants received | - | - | 6,602 | 6,602 | |
| Gift Aid added | - | - | - | - | |
| Expenditure* | (266) | (483) | (6,258) | (7,007) | |
| -------- | ------- | ------ | -------- | ||
| Carried forward at 31 March 2025 | 2,728 | 342 | 344 | 3,414 | |
| ===== | ==== | ==== | ===== |
*Where actual expenditure exceeds the restricted fund available, the balance is covered by the Charity’s general fund and is shown in the Receipts and Payments Account under ‘Unrestricted Funds’.
UNSTEAD NATURE COMMUNITY GROUP
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NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued)
3. RESTRICTED FUNDS (continued)
The Public Access Fund results from a grant from Thames Water to enhance the public access to the Reserve. A significant proportion of this has previously been spent on materials for the construction of the viewing platform.
The Sand martin Nestbank Fund arose from donations by individuals to fund the construction of a nest bank for sand martins overlooking a Reserve lagoon. This was substantially completed during the previous year, generously assisted by the free supply of materials and construction services by UK Power Networks Services Ltd.
The Dipping Platform Fund arose from a grant from Surrey County Council for the construction of a pond-dipping platform on one of the Reserve ponds. It was substantially completed during the previous year, being constructed by Unstead volunteers.
The Tools and Lectern fund derives from a grant from Surrey County Council for the provision of an information display board and for specific tools. Most of the tools were purchased during the previous year. The lectern was paid for during the previous year, although delivered and installed by Unstead volunteers during the year.
Grants were received during the year from Surrey County Council for the purchase of an additional shed, for a mower and for the construction of a swift nesting tower. The shed was purchased during the year and constructed by Unstead volunteers. The mower was purchased during the year. Two swift nesting towers were constructed and erected during the year, one by Unstead volunteers and one by staff from UK Power Networks Services Ltd, who generously provided the materials for their box.
4. DESIGNATED FUNDS
| 4. DESIGNATED FUNDS | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Designated Fund – Reedbed maintenance | 100,000 | - |
| ======= | ======= |
In early 2026 Thames Water contractors excavated a new reed bed in the ‘Back of Lagoon’ area. Additionally Thames Water generously provided Unstead Nature Community Group with a substantial grant of £100,000. The grant was not made with any restrictions, but the Trustees will use these funds to enhance the visitor access to the new area, to purchase specialist equipment for the future maintenance of the reed bed and generally to maintain this wetland are over the next 30 years. The Trustees have decided to designate the whole of the grant to be held for this purpose.
5. GENERAL RESERVES
| 5. GENERAL RESERVES | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | |
| £ | £ | |
| General Reserves | 8,327 | 5,515 |
| ===== | ===== |
General Reserves are the working fund of the Charity and are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the Charity’s objectives.
UNSTEAD NATURE COMMUNITY GROUP
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NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued)
6. FIXED ASSETS
The accounts are prepared on a receipts and payments basis and thus no value is included in the accounts for any fixed assets that the Charity owns. At the Year end the Charity held numerous tools and equipment that had been donated or purchased. Its most significant fixed assets are the hide constructed in about 2000 by Thames Water, sheds purchased in 2023 and 2025, the viewing platform constructed in 2023, the pond-dipping platform constructed in 2024.
The nature reserve land is owned by Thames Water and the Charity has developed and maintained the site with their support. The Trustees have agreed a formal 10-year lease for the site with Thames Water which was signed during the year.
7. DONATIONS IN KIND
No value is included in the accounts for donations in kind. Many individuals have kindly volunteered their time in support of the Charity’s work, both in developing and maintaining the Nature Reserve (including species surveying) and in the administration of the Charity. A record of hours worked by volunteers on organised workparties is maintained, although many more hours are freely given by Trustees and others.
| Trustees and others. | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | |
| Workparty volunteer hours | 3,773 | 3,191 |
| ===== | ===== |
In addition to regular or occasional Unstead volunteers, corporate and group volunteering was undertaken by the following during the year:
Atlantic Technology Ltd Haslemere Draca Explorers Pupils of Rodborough School UK Power Networks Services Ltd
The Charity has also received numerous donations of tools, equipment, materials and trees as well as advice and assistance (including surveys). The Trustees are grateful to all these benefactors. Organisations that have given to the Charity during the year include:
Frimley Bird-ringing Group Surrey Amphibian and Reptile Group Surrey County Council Surrey Wildlife Trust The Conservation Volunteers The Woodland Trust UK Power Networks Services Ltd West Surrey Natural History Society