## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** **From** 01/04/2023 **To** 31/03/2024 **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|Introduction
Over this year West Dorset Wilding built
upon its early successes to lay the
foundations for long-term positive change for
nature in West Dorset, with an initial focus on
the Brit Catchment. A significant
achievement this year has been our
successful application to Defra’s Landscape
Recovery Programme, which will shape our
agenda for change over the next 20+ years.
This development is discussed in more detail
at the end of this report.
Public Consultation on Beaver Release
The early part of the year included a public
consultation on the potential for wild release
of beavers in the Brit Catchment. This
involved a series of in-person events and an
online consultation, gathering detailed
feedback from more than 230 local residents.
The in-person events were held in
Netherbury, Loders, Bridport, Broadoak, and
Beaminster, featuring displays, expert talks,
and even a stuffed beaver named Justin!
The outcome of the consultation was
overwhelmingly positive, with more than 80%
of residents and over 60% of local
landowners and farmers expressing support
for the wild release. However, we recognised
that some concerns remained. In response,
we published the consultation results and set
up a webpage with a detailed FAQ section to
address a wide range of issues. This
information can be found at
westdorsetwilding.org/beavers.| Feasibility Study for Beaver Release Alongside the consultation, we partnered with Mark Elliott, a beaver specialist, and a team from Exeter University to determine the habitat availability and overall feasibility for such a wild release. The outcomes of both of these studies were positive, with significant capacity in the higher reaches of the catchment to accommodate beavers, and with good availability of food. Of course all of this depends on whether the Government will be willing to allow licensed wild releases. Our work on beavers is being continued in 24/25 through the Brit Valley project detailed below, and we want to acknowledge the support of Natural England over the last year on this project. Innovation Fund Project This year also saw the continuation of the Innovation Fund Project, supported by Rewilding Britain. Highlights of the project included the creation of a Community Engagement Strategy, the mapping of above-ground carbon by the University of Exeter, the first catchment-wide breeding bird survey, and the development of a baseline Geographical Information System (GIS) database of the catchment’s natural attributes. These efforts have been invaluable in preparing for the Brit Valley Project. For those interested, detailed information about the breeding bird survey is available at westdorsetwilding.org/baseline. Highlights of the survey include the recording of 79 species from 7,713 bird records, with 13 species on the Red List (highest conservation concern) and 19 on the Amber List (medium priority), representing 23% and 22% of the UK totals for each list, respectively. Brit Valley Project and Landscape Recovery Programme In June 2023, the government announced the second call for applications to its Environmental Land Management (ELMs) Landscape Recovery Programme. The Trustees decided to submit a bid focusing on the Brit Catchment. With a generous donation from a benefactor, we assembled a small, part-time team to prepare the bid between July and September. The result was the Brit Catchment Recovery Project, now known as the Brit Valley Project, which saw 53 farmers and landowners agreeing to work together to enhance nature across 3,700 hectares of the catchment area. In December, we were thrilled to learn that our bid had been successful. This achievement required considerable paperwork and preparation in anticipation of the project’s start on April 1st, 2024. While details of the project will be covered in next year’s report, this success marks a significant milestone for our small, farmer-led organisation in undertaking a large-scale initiative. Further details can be found at westdorsetwilding.org/brit. Impact on beneficiaries and wider society The work this year has directly helped people in the area to understand more about nature and wildlife and in particular about the role of beavers in nature restoration. More than 300 people attended meetings and many more will have seen information online. Our work this year in preparation for the Landscape Recovery project that starts next year will help many farmers and landowners in the wider Brit Catchment to look after their land better for nature, for 20+ years. This project will also help many more people in the area better understand, and therefore care for nature. ## **Financial Review** |Review of the charity’s
financial position at the
end of the period|Para 1.21|During the past year we have successfully
raised funds to support a small team to
implement the existing funded projects and
put together the Landscape Recovery bid.
However, the funding environment remains
complex, and securing core funding has
been challenging. While donors are often
eager to supportprojects,theyare less| |---|---|---| |||inclined to cover staffing and other core
costs required to bring these projects to
fruition.
The Landscape Recovery grant will be a
game changer for West Dorset Wilding,
enabling us to employ staff for the first time,
in 24/25. However, it does not address the
ongoing issue of core funding, which will
need additional support, alongside
improving our reserves. We are therefore
seeking to bolster our fundraising capabilities
at both board and operational level.| |---|---|---| |Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|From policy written and approved by
Trustees Oct 2024:
Rationale
The trustees have reviewed their financial
obligations and have agreed to set aside a
sum to allow time for the CIO to seek
alternative funds if there is an unexpected
shortfall in income or wind up the CIO and
pay any contractual obligations in the event
of the Trustees agreeing that West Dorset
Wilding is no longer a going concern.
Establishing the level of reserves
In setting the level of reserves required for
this purpose the Trustees have reviewed
their contractual obligations such as staff and
other outgoings. This is more complex than
in 2023 as the organisation has a major
contract with Defra to deliver against a
Landscape Recovery project. This covers the
vast majority of the organisational costs, with
very limited time given over to non-
Landscape Recovery work. However, the
annual liability for WDW under current
contracts are just under £8,000, which, if
there were problems with core costs, could
be reduced further through notice period.
Should this be the case, and no staff were
employed for WDW time, a minimum of
£2,000pa should be seen as sufficient to fulfil
statutory obligations through contracts.| |||The Trustees therefore target an £8,000
reserve but acknowledge that £2,000 will be
sufficient to fulfil statutory obligations.| |---|---|---| |Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|At the end of the financial year the surplus
was £9,889, of which £2,100 was restricted.
This left £7,789 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|Unit 10C
Pineapple Business Park
Pineapple Lane
Salwayash
Dorset
DT6 5DB| ||| ## **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|Retired as Trustee
31/3/24|| ||Arthur Crutchley|||| ||Philip Colfox|||| ||Tarsha Finney|||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| ## – 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 in this financial year) ## **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** 17/12/23 ## West Dorset Wilding ## Accounts For the Year Ended 31[st] March 2024 ## WEST DORSET WILDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024 |**Income**
Subscriptions - Voting Membership
Subscriptions - Non voting Membership and linked donations
Individual donations
Corporate grants
Sundry income
Restricted project income
Rewilding Britain
Natural England
**Expenditure**
Executive Director
Support Work
Reimbursed staff expenses
Recruitment costs
Postage & Stationery
Phone & Internet
PR/Design
Print & Products
Consultancy
Insurance
Accountancy
HR/Legal Costs
Donor box fees
IT costs
Event costs
Sundry expenditure
Restricted project expenditure
Rewilding Britain
Natural England
Surplus / (Defecit) for period
Opening Balance
Closing Balance|2024
£
8,250
2,013
19,250
0
1,003
0
0
30,516
13,150
2,726
426
575
29
216
500
79
375
96
240
210
16
97
23
1,069
12,546
4,830
37,202
-6,686
16,575
9,889|2023
£
6,250
628
750
4,847
0
13,000
8,000| |---|---|---| |||33,474| |||9,750
75
0
0
5
216
0
0
0
96
0
0
9
0
35
0
6,163
550| |||16,899| |||| |||16,575| |||0
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 2024 **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._ **Date:** 25[th] October 2024 **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 **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**