Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 07/12/2021 To 31/03/2023
Charity name: West Dorset Wilding
Charity registration number: 1196964
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | Theobjectsof the CIO are: To promote for the benefit of the public the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment by promoting biological diversity and restoring degraded ecological systems. To advance the education of the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
Activitiesinclude: To deliver environmental projects for the benefit of the public; To educate the general public, particularly farmers and landowners, about the benefits of natural process led ecosystem restoration, though meetings, emails, online or other activities; To consult and discuss with the general public about issues in nature conservation; To undertake and disseminate research into the nature of the Charity’s focus area; To recruit members for the benefit of education and fundraising; To undertake fundraising for the delivery of the above activities. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit, and have a standing item at board meetings to remind them of their role and function. |
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | West Dorset Wilding (WDW) was founded in December 2021 by a group of Dorset farmers, landowners and ecologists with a shared vision for nature recovery in the Brit catchment and beyond. During the period of this report, we have made excellent progress on a number of fronts including membership, branding, governance and financial plans, project development, awareness raising and fundraising. This has led to the development of a broad portfolio of projects during the period, all of which focus initially on the Brit catchment in West Dorset and are for wider public benefit with regards to the conservation of nature. 1) Landscape scale change. The largest and potentially most impactful of these is the early development of theBrit Catchment Recovery Project, which intends to undertake large-scale extensive ecosystem restoration across the Brit catchment, focusing primarily on riparian zones and adjoining areas for habitat creation. We are doing this by bringing together farmers, landowners, NGOs and agencies into a single project. This work will be developed into a single Landscape Recovery funding application later in 2023, which, if successful, could be of benefit to the whole catchment, if not wider. 2) Baseline. During this period, we were awarded £13,000 funding from Rewilding Britain to establish an ecological and environmental baseline |
for the catchment by looking at land cover, above ground carbon and bird diversity/abundance as an indicator for wider biodiversity. This money also paid for the membership and community engagement work set out below. 3) Beavers . We have undertaken research about the suitability of the catchment for a wild release of beavers. This involved habitat feasibility research, dam capacity mapping and social and cultural feasibility. We also prepared for a public consultation which took place in the subsequent period. This project was funded by an £8,000 grant from Natural England. 4) Community engagement . Our work in this area has been led by the development of a membership scheme to involve and inspire local people, and help them engage more deeply and frequently with nature. We have also started work on a community engagement strategy, in which target groups will include farmers, landowners, teens and young adults, and lowincome families. 5) Events . WDW held a successful wilding conference of 50 people in April 2022, and later a well-received launch event at Bridport Town Hall which was at full capacity and attended by over 100 people. The event illustrated the breadth and depth of local support for the objectives of West Dorset Wilding, and the concern shared by many about the perilous state of our natural environment. Overall, it has been a very productive first year, with several core projects underway and ambitious plans for a large scale Landscape Recovery bid.
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | As a small new charity, the financial position was solid at the end of the period. The majority of funds remaining came from restricted grants and related to work to be completed in the next period. Securing sufficient core costs over and above voting member membership continues to be challenging. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | With no payroll staff, a two-week termination clause on self-employed contracts and negligible overheads, it was determined by Trustees that sufficient reserves were needed only to meet these items. This figure was estimated at £2,000 and was agreed within the period, then ratified at the Trustees meeting of 5/9/23. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | At the end of the financial year the surplus was £16,575, of which £14,287 was restricted. This left £2,288 as reserves, which met the policy. |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | n/a |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | n/a |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | The Trustees agreed that the charity can continue to operate as a going concern. |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Constitution |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | CIO by Association |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Election at AGM or co-option, no organisational appointments |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charityname | West Dorset Wilding |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses |
n/a |
| Registered charitynumber | 1196964 |
| Charity’s principal address | SYMONDSBURY ESTATE OFFICE UNIT 6 MANOR YARD MILL LANE SYMONDSBURY BRIDPORT DT6 6HG |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee(if any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luke Montagu | Chair | |||
| Nicholas Gray | Treasurer | |||
| Arthur Crutchley | ||||
| Philip Colfox | ||||
| Tarsha Finney | 9/12/22 to 31/3/23 | |||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name n/a
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
| Trustee name | Dates acted if not for whole year | |
|---|---|---|
| n/a | ||
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets n/a held in this capacity
Name and objects of the n/a charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects
Details of arrangements n/a for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Additional information (optional) Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) |
Additional information (optional) Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) |
Additional information (optional) Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) |
|---|---|---|
| Type of adviser Name Address |
||
| Accountant | Leigh Hansford | Coombe Hope Accountants |
| 60 West Street | ||
| Bridport | ||
| Dorset | ||
| DT6 3QP | ||
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Samuel Rose – Executive Director (self-employed)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
n/a
Other optional information
n/a
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Full name(s) Luke Montagu Philip Colfox Position (eg Secretary, Chair Chair, etc) Date 29/12/23
West Dorset Wilding Accounts st 7th December 2021 to 31 March 2023
Independent examiner's report to the Trustees of West Dorset wilding I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of West Dorset wilding for the Period ended 31st March 2023 Responsibilities and basis of Report As the charity trustees of West Dorset Wilding, 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 Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed 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 which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect" accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed Leigh Hansford - FCCA 8th August 2023 Coombe Hope Accountants 60 West Street Bridport Dorset DT6 3QP
WEST DORSET WILDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT PERIOD FROM 7TH DECEMBER 2021 TO 31ST MARCH 2023 2023 Income Subscriptions - Voting Membership Subscriptions - Non voting Membership and linked donations Individual donations Corporate grants Sundry income 6,250 628 750 4,847 Restricted ro ect income Rewilding Britain Natural England 13,000 8,000 33,474 Expenditure Executive Director Support Work Postage & Stationery Phone & Internet Insurance Donor box fees Event costs Sundry expenditure 9,750 75 216 96 35 Restricted ro ect ex Rewilding Britain Natural England enditure 6,163 550 16,899 Surplus l (Defecit) for period 16,575
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ Charity Name members of West Dorset Wilding On accounts for the year 31[st] March 2023 Charity no 1196964 ended (if any) Set out on pages (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/03/2023.
- Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed 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 (other than that disclosed below *) in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
-
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
- Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
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Date: 8 [th] August 2023
Signed:
Name: Leigh Hansford
Relevant professional FCCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)
qualification(s) or body
(if any):
Address: 17 Stuart Way
Bridport
Dorset, DT6 4AU
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October 2018
1
IER
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
October 2018
2
IER