Trustees Annual Report From 1[st] January 2023 to 31[st] December 2023 Charity Name : Wild North Trust Charity Registration Number 1197300
Charity Governance
Wild North Trust is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, whose only voting members are its charity trustees. So far there are four trustees, Gale Blackburn, Jessica Britch, Joanne Coley and Sarah Roe, who have been involved from the outset. Any new appointments of trustees would be agreed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees, with due regard to the skills, knowledge or experience for the effective administration of the CIO.
Objectives and Activities
The objects of the CIO is to promote for the benefit of the public, the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment in Northern England, including by promoting biological diversity, and to advance the education of the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment, in particular by:
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Promoting good practice, raising awareness and educating the public of the benefits of rewilding as a tool to promote biological diversity.
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Facilitating projects for other community groups and landowners to increase rewilding on land managed by them.
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Looking for possible leases of land for the Trust to carry out its own rewilding initiatives.
Achievements and Performance
The Trustees have been establishing the charity operations by developing its profile, publicising itself and developing links with other community organisations. The Trust has partnered with another charity, Guide over Sands Trust, to involve participants in fundraising activities, namely two walks across Morecambe Bay Sands in which 84 people joined, in June and July. This raised the Trust £1,187 and was also influential in raising the profile of the Trust through social media posts and blogs.
The Trust has reached out to grant funding organisations with a view to developing future rewilding projects and developed links which can be useful for future planning or collaboration. Also the Trust has begun to reach out to landowners, including United Utilities, and local councils to identify possible potential pieces of land upon which rewilding operations may take place, and will continue to look for opportunities to find them.
Around 10 primary schools with land in the Swinton area of Salford, Greater
Manchester, were contacted to discuss how the Trust could assist with rewilding projects. Of the three that responded, we are working with two to set up areas within school grounds for wildlife. By liaising with school staff and the local council, Wild North Trust has created a plan for one school which involves rewilding 1/3 of an acre of school grounds. The Trust has also procured 200 free whip trees for planting in the other school’s grounds.
Review / statement of accounts
All donations were from the charity’s lead trustee, Gale Blackburn Trading activities include the income from the walks led by Guide over Sands Trust Outgoing was the contribution made to reserve places from Guide Over Sands Trust.
Start of year: £314
Donations £500 Income from other trading activities: £1187
Outgoing: £750
End of year: £1351