**REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: CE028483 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1198105**
## Report of the Trustees and
Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 5 April 2024
for
## Herefordshire Meadows
Golden Valley Accountancy Limited Unit 4 Westwood Industrial Estate Pontrilas Herefordshire HR2 0EL
Herefordshire Meadows
Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 5 April 2024
||Page|
|---|---|
|Report of the Trustees|1 to 4|
|Independent Examiner's Report|5|
|Statement of Financial Activities|6|
|Balance Sheet|7 to 8|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|9 to 13|
|Detailed Statement of Financial Activities|14 to 15|
Herefordshire Meadows
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 5 April 2024
The advancement of conservation, restoration and creation of flower-rich grasslands in Herefordshire for the benefit of the public, in particular but not exclusively, by promoting sustainable land management systems to achieve the purpose. The advancement of education of the public on the benefits of flower-rich grasslands and the need to conserve them.
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## **Objectives and aims**
The objective for the second year of the charity's existence was to take up new opportunities and explore ways to act as an independent entity. These ongoing projects supported a higher level of advisory and knowledge exchange activity and a greater area of meadow restoration than in 2022.23. With the expanded meadow advisory capacity this is considered to be a sustainable growth rate for the new charity's activities
There are no set fundraising objectives for the reporting period. Unsolicited donations were received as soon as the charity bank account was set up in October 2022. Herefordshire Meadows is now also registered with the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) which can accept and process online donations on the charity's behalf.
## **Significant activities**
Activities in 2023.24 included
- Restoration of 23 grassland sites covering 70.14 ha working in partnership with Wye&Usk, WWF-UK, AirWick Botanica, Buglife, Woolhope Dome Environment Trust, Herefordshire Council & Wye Valley National Landscape.
- Harvesting local native provenance wildflower seed from high quality donor meadows covering 14.7 ha.
- Working in the Wye Valley AONB floodplain to encourage 10 farmers to explore floodplain meadow restoration opportunities using Farming in Protected Landscape funding in partnership with Wye and Usk Foundation.
- Hosting a farm workshop at Waterhay Farm, Swindon and running an Advisers training day on floodplain grassland as part of the Wye Water Resources project.
- Hosting 4 summer evening meadow walk events at sites across the county. Running a Bumblebee ID training day at Croft Castle with Dr Richard Comont. A Grass ID training day with Stuart Hedley Vice-County Botanical Recorder at The Leen Farm. A Waxcap ID day with Jo Weightman, Herefordshire Fungus Recorder at Eaton Bishop. A seedling safari and winter management training day at Homme House.
- Running three SFI soil workshops on behalf of Farm Herefordshire.
- Running 4 volunteer seeding days, two of which were with local primary schools; Ashperton Primary and Much Marcle Primary.
- Re-launching the annual FORUM with guest speaker Nikki Yoxall from Pasture for Life.
- Running winter webinar with Jo Riggall from Plantlife to look at how policy to support diverse grasslands can be improved and expanded.
- Using a new seed cleaner to improve the grade of our brush harvested seed to facilitate ease of broadcasting.
- Setting up and increasing social media following to enable knowledge sharing and awareness of the benefits of meadows to the wider public.
- Launching a new project with the Wye Valley National Landscape aimed at developing an application to National Grid's Landscape Enhancement Initiative. Carrying out site visits to 15 landholdings and engaging with landowner at the launch event.
- Carrying out 7 advisory visits as part of the Wye Valley National Landscape Advice and Guidance fund to holdings within the WVNL to carry out grassland condition assessments and signpost to FiPL funding to support grassland restoration works.
Page 1
Herefordshire Meadows
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 5 April 2024
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## **Public benefit**
The Trustees have considered public benefit in line with the Charity Commission's general guidance and its charitable status: Membership of Herefordshire Meadows is currently free and open to all who share an interest in flower rich grasslands.
## **Social investments**
There are currently no social investments.
## **Grantmaking**
Grant making doesn't currently form a part of Herefordshire Meadows activities. In 2023.24 advisers supported members to access grants from project partners in order to create and restore meadows. Trustees will develop a policy for future projects where funds for meadow restoration are held by Herefordshire Meadows. (Kingspan funds were allocated through a committee of Trustees who evaluated each site against restoration suitability criteria)
## **Volunteers**
Herefordshire Meadows are building up a network of volunteers among members who volunteer to host knowledge exchange events and meadow walks. They also volunteer to support each other with meadow plant and insect surveys to monitor the success of restorations. Volunteer groups help during restoration work to broadcast wildflower seed by hand.
## **ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE**
## **Charitable activities**
In 2023.24 the mains achievements of Herefordshire Meadows have been to
- Work with local partners, grassland owners and managers to offer management advice, signpost to specialist machinery and source seed from local donor sites to facilitate restoration projects. - Expand and increase the area of meadow restoration, creation and conservation in Herefordshire. - Encourage changes to grassland management for the benefit of biodiversity, climate resilience, soil and water quality, to conserve cultural heritage, increase carbon sequestration, enhance landscape character and provide amenity and enjoyment for the public in the wider landscape.
- Co-ordinate monitoring programmes on existing flower rich grasslands and baseline surveys before restorations take place through educating members and volunteers from the general public with plant and bumblebee ID skills.
- Keep the organisation's website and social media platforms up to date with freely available information and educational resources on flower rich grasslands
- Arrange workshops, training days, meadow and farm walks, and speaker meetings to raise awareness of the benefits of flower rich grasslands and sustainable land management systems - Increase confidence of the wider public in simple measures that can be taken to improve grassland for the benefit of local communities and the wider landscape.
- Train Assistant Meadows Adviser, Carys Solman, contracted by the charity to help realise it's charitable objectives, in particular, to manage and run the charity's seed harvesting operations which are critical to the creation of new areas of flower-rich grassland across the county.
- Enable a smooth transition from being a Natural England funded Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Funded discussion group with 63 core members and a wider network of >500 meadows enthusiasts to a formal charitable CIO entity. This sets Herefordshire Meadows on a much more secure footing; now governed by trustees to ensure that the wider public benefits continue in the long term.
Page 2
Herefordshire Meadows
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 5 April 2024
## **ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE**
## **Fundraising activities**
There are no set fundraising objectives for the reporting period. Unsolicited donations were received as soon as the charity bank account was set up in October 2022. Herefordshire Meadows is now also registered with the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) which can accept and process online donations on the charity's behalf.
## **Investment performance**
NO financial investments are held
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
## **Financial position**
- Donations received by Herefordshire Meadows for the financial period 5.4.23 to 4.5.24 total £6,167 there was no gift aid this year.
- Meadow Project Income total £105,948 which had related expenditure of £106,391 , showing that in the second year most of the income was generated from projects. Spending on Kingspan funded project began in 23.24 year using funds donated in 22.23.
- Herefordshire Meadows had a healthy bank balance of £37,643 at the end of the charity year, with few debtors and creditors being outstanding.
## **Investment policy and objectives**
No financial investments are held
## **Reserves policy**
The Trustees have written a reserves policy. The policy covers 6 months of core operating costs plus the insurance excess on the charity assets (seed harvester).
This is the second financial year of the charity trading and has £38,581 in reserves for the year ending 4.5.24
## **Going concern**
There are currently no uncertainties. Herefordshire Meadows has project income for the 24.25 year already in place and project bids submitted with established partners for future work for 25.26 year.
Funds have been from project income for advisory work, for meadow restoration planning and implementation and for knowledge exchange and education events. Donations have been received from individuals.
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
At present there are no formal policies and procedures for the induction and training of new trustees. New trustees are directed to the Charity Commission guidance on trustee duties, the Charity Governance Code. and "Charity trustee what's involved (CC3a). They receive a briefing from the Chair which gives the necessary information about the Charity, its charitable purpose, strategic objectives, the history of the charity and are given a copy of the Constitution.
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS**
## **Registered Company number**
CE028483 (England and Wales)
## **Registered Charity number**
1198105
Page 3
Herefordshire Meadows
Re
ort of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 5 A
ri12024
Registered office
Warren Farm
Brockhampton Park
Bringsly
WOrSter
WR6 5TB
Trustees
J Hawkins
J Partridge
A Nixon
L Langford
M Wood
L Lewis
S Hedley
Company Secretary
Independent Examiner
Golden Valley Accountancy knmited
Unit 4
Weshvood Industrial Estate
Pontrilas
Herefordshire
HR2 OEL
Approved by order of the board of trustees on
behalf by:
and signed on tts
Trustee
Page 4
Inde
ndent Examinerfs Re
Herefordshire Meadows
rt to the Trustees of
Independent examinerfs report to the trustees of Herefordshlre Meadows (Iho Company.)
I report to the charity trust*s on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year
ended 5 April 2024.
Responsibilit5es and basis of report
As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law)
you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordan with Ihe requiremenls of the
Companies Act 2006 {'the 2006 Act,).
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not requireAd to be audited under
Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my
examination of your charitls accounts as carried out under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011
(Yhe 2011 Act,). In carying oul my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity
Commission under Section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examinefs statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in
connection with the examination giwng me cause to believe..
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by Section 386 of
the 2006 Act., or
the accounts do not accord wrth those records" or
the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of Section 396 of the 2006 Act
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.. or
the accounts have not been prepared in accordan with the meth&Js and principles of the
statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities {applicable to
charities preparing their accounts in accordance wf(h the Financial Reporting Standard
applicable in the UK and Republic of IrelarKI (FRS 102))-
I have no concems and have come across no other matters in conneclion 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.
Golden Valley Accountsncy
Golden Valley Accountancy Limited
Unit 4
Westwood Industrtal Estate
Pontrilas
Herefordshire
HR2 OEL
Page 5
Herefordshire Meadows
Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 5 April 2024
|Year Ended
5.4.24
Unrestricted
funds
Notes
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
6,167
Meadows Management, Restoration,
Creation and Education Projects
2
105,948
**Total**
112,115
**EXPENDITURE ON**
Meadows Management, Restoration,
Creation and Education Projects
3
87,598
**Charitable activities**
Meadow Projects
25,398
Other
627
**Total**
113,623
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
(1,508)
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
Total funds brought forward
39,989
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
38,481|Period
2.3.22
to
5.4.23
Total
funds
£
37,138
41,706
78,844
31,366
6,751
738
38,855
39,989
-
39,989|
|---|---|
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 6
Herefordshire Meadows
## Balance Sheet
## 5 April 2024
|5.4.24
Unrestricted
funds
Notes
£
**FIXED ASSETS**
Tangible assets
7
3,556
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Receivables from donations and other
income sources
8
12,112
Cash at bank
37,643
49,755
**PAYABLES TO SUPPLIERS**
**AND SERVICE PROVIDERS**
Amounts falling due within one year
9
(14,830)
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
34,925
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT**
**LIABILITIES**
38,481
**NET ASSETS**
38,481
**FUNDS**
10
Unrestricted funds
38,481
**TOTAL FUNDS**
38,481|5.4.23
Total
funds
£
4,183
6,121
36,416
42,537
(6,731)
35,806
39,989
39,989
39,989
39,989|
|---|---|
The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 5 April 2024.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 5 April 2024 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
- The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for
- (a) ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and
- (b) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 7
continued...
Herefordshire Meadows
Balance Sheet- continu
5 A ril 2024
These financial statements have been prepared in accordan(2 with the prowsions applicable to
tharitable companies subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on
. aniJ were signed on Tts behair ty:
Trustee
The notes fonn part of these financial ststements
Page 8
Herefordshire Meadows
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 5 April 2024
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## **Basis of preparing the financial statements**
The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
## **Income**
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
## **Expenditure**
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
## **Tangible fixed assets**
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
## **Taxation**
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
## **Hire purchase and leasing commitments**
Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.
Page 9
continued...
Herefordshire Meadows
## Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 5 April 2024
## **2. MEADOWS MANAGEMENT, RESTORATION, CREATION AND EDUCATION PROJECTS**
Meadows Management, Restoration, Creation and Education Projects income
## **3. MEADOWS MANAGEMENT, RESTORATION, CREATION AND EDUCATION PROJECTS**
## **Raising donations and legacies**
|**Raising donations and legacies**|||
|---|---|---|
|||Period|
|||2.3.22|
||Year Ended|to|
||5.4.24|5.4.23|
||£|£|
|Support costs|-|92|
## **Other trading activities**
Expenditure on: Meadows Management, Restoration, Creation and Education Projects
Aggregate amounts 87,598 31,366
## **4. NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):
|Depreciation - owned assets|Period
2.3.22
Year Ended
to
5.4.24
5.4.23
£
£
627
738|
|---|---|
|Hire of plant and machinery|564
153|
## **5. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS**
## **Trustees' expenses**
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 5 April 2024 nor for the period ended 5 April 2023.
Page 10
continued...
Herefordshire Meadows
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 5 April 2024
## **6. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
|||Unrestricted|
|---|---|---|
|||funds|
|||£|
||**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**||
||Donations and legacies|37,138|
||Meadows Management, Restoration,||
||Creation and Education Projects|41,706|
||**Total**|78,844|
||**EXPENDITURE ON**||
||Meadows Management, Restoration,||
||Creation and Education Projects|31,366|
||**Charitable activities**||
||Meadow Projects||
||Other|6,751
738|
||**Total**|38,855|
||**NET INCOME**|39,989|
||**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED**||
||**FORWARD**|39,989|
|**7.**|**TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**||
||**COST**|Plant and
machinery
£|
||At 6 April 2023 and 5 April 2024|4,921|
||**DEPRECIATION**||
||At 6 April 2023|738|
||Charge for year|627|
||At 5 April 2024|1,365|
||**NET BOOK VALUE**||
||At 5 April 2024|3,556|
||At 5 April 2023|4,183|
||||
Page 11
continued...
Herefordshire Meadows
## Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 5 April 2024
## **8. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
|Trade debtors
Other debtors
**9.**
**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
Trade creditors
VAT
Other creditors
**10.**
**MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
At 6.4.23
£
**Unrestricted funds**
Meadow Managment, Restoration,
Creation and Education Projects
39,989
**TOTAL FUNDS**
39,989
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Incoming
resources
£
**Unrestricted funds**
Meadow Managment, Restoration,
Creation and Education Projects
112,115
**TOTAL FUNDS**
112,115|5.4.24
£
12,112
-
12,112
5.4.24
£
1,217
4,424
9,189
14,830
Net
movement
in funds
£
(1,508)
(1,508)
Resources
expended
£
(113,623)
(113,623)|5.4.23
£
5,201
920
6,121
5.4.23
£
6,731
-
-
6,731
At
5.4.24
£
38,481
38,481
Movement
in funds
£
(1,508)
(1,508)|
|---|---|---|
Page 12
continued...
Herefordshire Meadows
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 5 April 2024
## **10. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
## **Comparatives for movement in funds**
|||Net||
|---|---|---|---|
|||movement|At|
|||in funds|5.4.23|
|||£|£|
|**Unrestricted funds**||||
|Meadow Managment, Restoration,||||
|Creation and Education Projects||39,989|39,989|
|**TOTAL FUNDS**||39,989|39,989|
|Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as||follows:||
|**Unrestricted funds**|Incoming
resources
£|Resources
expended
£|Movement
in funds
£|
|Meadow Managment, Restoration,||||
|Creation and Education Projects|78,844|(38,855)|39,989|
|**TOTAL FUNDS**|78,844|(38,855)|39,989|
## **11. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES**
One member of the trustees for Herefordshire Meadows received remuneration in the financial period ending 5th April 2023.
The trustee received a payment of £2,100 in the 2023/24 year for services he provided in the period, this service was a botanical training day for Herefordshire Meadows (£350) and the collation and statistical analysis of survey data from meadow restoration sites from 2019 to 2023 (£1750). There is a Trustee payment agreement in place covering this work.
Page 13
Herefordshire Meadows
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 5 April 2024
|Year Ended
5.4.24
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS**
**Donations and legacies**
Donations
6,167
Gift aid
-
Donated Equipment
-
6,167
**Meadows Management, Restoration, Creation and Education Projects**
Meadow Project Income
105,948
**Total incoming resources**
112,115
**EXPENDITURE**
**Other trading activities**
Meadow Project Expenditure
82,585
Event Expenses
4,664
Hall Hire
349
87,598
**Charitable activities**
Hire of Village Hall
215
Insurance
903
Advertising
80
Travel Costs
4,554
Administration Expenses
18,793
Computer
353
24,898
**Other**
Depreciation
627
**Support costs**
**Governance costs**
Legal and Professional Fees
-
Carried forward
-|Period
2.3.22
to
5.4.23
£
31,297
920
4,921
37,138
41,706
78,844
31,274
-
-
31,274
153
877
259
482
4,330
50
6,151
738
92
92|
|---|---|
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 14
Herefordshire Meadows
## Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 5 April 2024
|Year Ended
5.4.24
£
**Governance costs**
Brought forward
-
Accountancy and legal fees
500
500
Total resources expended
113,623
**Net (expenditure)/income**
(1,508)|Period
2.3.22
to
5.4.23
£
92
600
692
38,855
39,989|
|---|---|
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 15
## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
**From 06 April 2023 To 05 April 2024**
**Charity name: Herefordshire Meadows**
## **Charity registration number: 1198105**
## **Objectives and Activities**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|(1) THE ADVANCEMENT OF
CONSERVATION, RESTORATION AND
CREATION OF FLOWER-RICH
GRASSLANDS IN HEREFORDSHIRE FOR
THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC, IN
PARTICULAR BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY BY
PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE LAND
MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS TO ACHIEVE
THIS PURPOSE. (2) THE ADVANCEMENT
OF EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC ON THE
BENEFITS OF FLOWER-RICH
GRASSLANDS AND THE NEED TO
CONSERVE THEM.|
|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|Activities in 2023.24 included
•
Restoration of 23 grassland sites
covering 70.14 ha working in
partnership with Wye&Usk, WWF-
UK, AirWick Botanica, Buglife,
Woolhope Dome Environment Trust,
Herefordshire Council & Wye Valley
National Landscape.
•
Harvesting local native provenance
wildflower seed from high quality
donor meadows covering 14.7 ha.
•
Working in the Wye Valley AONB
floodplain to encourage 10 farmers to
explore floodplain meadow
restoration opportunities using
Farming in Protected Landscape
funding in partnership with Wye and
Usk Foundation.
•
Hosting a farm workshop at Waterhay
Farm, Swindon and running an
Advisers training day on floodplain
grassland as part of the Wye Water
Resources project.
•
Hosting 4 summer evening meadow
walk events at sites across the
county. Running a Bumblebee ID
training day at Croft Castle with Dr
Richard Comont. A Grass ID training|
|||day with Stuart Hedley Vice-County
Botanical Recorder at The Leen
Farm. A Waxcap ID day with Jo
Weightman, Herefordshire Fungus
Recorder at Eaton Bishop. A seedling
safari and winter management
training day at Homme House.
•
Running three SFI soil workshops on
behalf of Farm Herefordshire.
•
Running 4 volunteer seeding days,
two of which were with local primary
schools; Ashperton Primary and
Much Marcle Primary.
•
Re-launching the annual FORUM
with guest speaker Nikki Yoxall from
Pasture for Life.
•
Running winter webinar with Jo
Riggall from Plantlife to look at how
policy to support diverse grasslands
can be improved and expanded.
•
Using a new seed cleaner to improve
the grade of our brush harvested
seed to facilitate ease of
broadcasting.
•
Setting up and increasing social
media following to enable knowledge
sharing and awareness of the
benefits of meadows to the wider
public.
•
Launching a new project with the
Wye Valley National Landscape
aimed at developing an application to
National Grid’s Landscape
Enhancement Initiative. Carrying out
site visits to 15 landholdings and
engaging with landowner at the
launch event.
•
Carrying out 7 advisory visits as part
of the Wye Valley National
Landscape Advice and Guidance
fund to holdings within the WVNL to
carry out grassland condition
assessments and signpost to FiPL
funding to support grassland
restoration works.|
|---|---|---|
|Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|The Trustees have considered public benefit
in line with the Charity Commission's general
guidance and its charitable status:
Membership of Herefordshire Meadows is
currently free and open to all who share an
interest in flower rich grasslands.|
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|Grant making doesn’t currently form a part
of Herefordshire Meadows activities. In
2023.24 advisers supported members to
access grants from project partners in|
|||order to create and restore meadows.
Trustees will develop a policy for future
projects where funds for meadow
restoration are held by Herefordshire
Meadows.**(Kingspan funds were**
**allocated through a committee of**
**Trustees who evaluated each site**
**against restoration suitability criteria)**|
|---|---|---|
|Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38|There are currently no social investments|
|Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|Herefordshire Meadows are building up
a network of volunteers among
members who volunteer to host
knowledge exchange events and
meadow walks. They also volunteer to
support each other with meadow plant
and insect surveys to monitor the
success of restorations. Volunteer
groups help during restoration work to
broadcasting wildflower seed by hand.|
|Related Party Transactions||One member of the trustees for
Herefordshire Meadows received
remuneration in the financial period
ending 5th April 2023.
The trustee received a payment of
£2,100 in the 2023/24 year for services
he provided in the period, this service
was a botanical training day for
Herefordshire Meadows (£350) and the
collation and statistical analysis of
survey data from meadow restoration
sites from 2019 to 2023 (£1750). There
is a Trustee payment agreement in
place covering this work.|
## **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|In 2023.24 the mains achievements of
Herefordshire Meadows have been to
•
Work with local partners, grassland
owners and managers to offer
management advice, signpost to
specialist machinery and source
seed from local donor sites to
facilitate restoration projects.
•
Expand and increase the area of
meadow restoration, creation and
conservation in Herefordshire.
•
Encourage changes to grassland
management for the benefit of|
||biodiversity, climate resilience, soil|
|---|---|
||and water quality, to conserve|
||cultural heritage, increase carbon|
||sequestration, enhance landscape|
||character and provide amenity and|
||enjoyment for the public in the wider|
||landscape.|
|•|Co-ordinate monitoring programmes|
||on existing flower rich grasslands|
||and baseline surveys before|
||restorations take place through|
||educating members and volunteers|
||from the general public with plant|
||and bumblebee ID skills.|
|•|Keep the organisation's website and|
||social media platforms up to date|
||with freely available information and|
||educational resources on flower rich|
||grasslands|
|•|Arrange workshops, training days,|
||meadow and farm walks, and|
||speaker meetings to raise|
||awareness of the benefits of flower|
||rich grasslands and sustainable|
||land management systems|
|•|Increase confidence of the wider|
||public in simple measures that can|
||be taken to improve grassland for|
||the benefit of local communities and|
||the wider landscape.|
|•|Successfully bidding for new project|
||funds for the Landscape|
||Enhancement Project and Advice|
||and Guidance fund.|
|•|Developing all the required|
||charitable policy documents.|
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41|The objective for the second year of the
charity's existence was to take up new
opportunities and explore ways to act as an
independent entity. These ongoing projects
supported a higher level of advisory and
knowledge exchange activity and a greater
area of meadow restoration than in
2022.23. With the expanded meadow
advisory capacity this is considered to be a
sustainable growth rate for the new
charity's activities.|
|---|---|---|
|Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41|There are no set fundraising objectives for
the reporting period. Unsolicited donations
were received as soon as the charity bank
account was set up in October 2022.
Herefordshire Meadows is now also
registered with the Charities Aid
Foundation (CAF) which can accept and
process online donations on the charity’s
behalf.|
|Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|NO financial investments are held|
|---|---|---|
|Other|||
## **Financial Review**
|Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|-
Donations received by Herefordshire
Meadows for the financial period
5.4.23 to 4.5.24 total £6,167 there was
no gift aid this year.
-
Meadow Project Income total
£105,948 which had related
expenditure of £106,391 , showing that
in the second year most of the income
was generated from projects. Spending
on Kingspan funded project began in
23.24 year using funds donated in
22.23.
-
Herefordshire Meadows had a healthy
bank balance of £37,643 at the end of
the charity year, with few debtors and
creditors being outstanding.|
|---|---|---|
|Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|The Trustees have written a reserves
policy. The policy covers 6 months of
core operating costs plus the insurance
excess on the charity assets (seed
harvester).|
|Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|This is the second financial year of the charity
trading and has £38,581 in reserves for the
year ending 4.5.24|
|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|There are currently no uncertainties.
Herefordshire Meadows has project income for
the 24.25 year already in place and project bids
submitted with established partners for future
work for 25.26 year.|
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47|Funds have been from project income for
advisory work, for meadow restoration
planning and implementation and for
knowledge exchange and education events.
Donations have been received from individuals.|
|---|---|---|
|Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46|The charity does not hold any financial
investments.|
|||The Trustees are developing a risk
management strategyto review the risks the|
|A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|charity may face, mitigate against them and
minimise any potential impact on the charity
within the financial constraints imposed by
available funds.|
|---|---|---|
|Other|||
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|Description of charity’s
trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|
Para 1.25|Herefordshire Meadows’ constitution was last
amended on 7 February 2022 using the
"Association” model constitution of a
Charitable Incorporated Organisation with
voting members other than its charitable
trustees. Under the constitution, the members
have no liability to contribute to the assets of
Herefordshire Meadows and no personal
responsibility for settling its debts and
liabilities.|
|How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|Herefordshire Meadows was incorporated as a
charitable incorporated organisation by the
Charity Commission on 2 March 2022|
|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|7 first trustees were selected in February 2022
from the former members of Herefordshire
Meadows Countryside Stewardship Facilitation
Funded discussion group who encouraged the
formation of the CIO. In accordance with the
constitution they retired from office at the first
AGM on 23 September 2023 and were all re-
elected. Since then 1 new trustee has been
proposed for consideration for the 24.25year.|
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees|Para 1.51|At present there are no formal policies and
procedures for the induction and training of
new trustees. New trustees are directed to the
Charity Commission guidance on trustee
duties, the Charity Governance Code. and
"Charity trustee what’s involved (CC3a). They
receive a briefing from the Chair which gives
the necessary information about the Charity,
its charitable purpose, strategic objectives, the
history of the charity and are given a copy of
the Constitution.|
|---|---|---|
|The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|The Trustees meet quarterly to manage the
Charity's affairs. Such meetings are minuted
and records kept indefinitely. The day-to-day
management of the Charity is the responsibility
of the Chair of Trustees, the Meadows Advisers
(Caroline Hanks and Rory Johnson also
Meadows Advisers), Fran Keogh, administrator
and bookkeeper (until December 2023), Carys
Solman, seed harvesting and donor site co-
ordination and Meadows Adviser, Matt Cobb is
the seed harvesting contractor. The Chair and
Trustees play a vital role in the development
and running of the Charity as governance,
financial and project administrative and
reporting systems are being consolidated.|
|Relationship with any
related parties|Para 1.51|Herefordshire Meadows works in
partnership with other local and national
wildlife conservation charities, through
partnership agreements, contracts and
MOUs. Herefordshire Meadows provides
advice and support for its members to
access funding and education and
advocacy opportunities that deliver the
charitable objectives. In 2023.24 these
have included Herefordshire Wildlife Trust,
Plantlife, Wye and Usk Foundation, Wye
Valley AONB, Environment Agency,
Herefordshire Rural Hub, Pasture for Life,
Floodplain Meadows Partnership and
BugLife. Herefordshire Meadows is a
partner in Farm Herefordshire and has a
place on Herefordshire Council’s Natural
Flood Management Project,|
|---|---|---|
|Other|||
## **Reference and Administrative details**
|Charity name|Herefordshire Meadows|
|---|---|
|Other name the charity uses|N/A|
|Registered charity number|1198105|
|Charity’s principal address|Warren Farm
Brockhampton Park
Bringsty
Worcester
WR6 5TB|
|||
## **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 (ifany)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||James Ian Hawkins|Chair|||
||Lucinda Anne
Lewis||||
||Andrew Michael
Nixon||||
||Stuart Hedley||||
||Mark Jon
Townsend Wood||||
||Julian Michael
Partridge||||
||Lyn Beryl Langford||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
## – 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 there are none 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 for N/A safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
## **Additional information (optional)**
## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
|**Type of**
**adviser**
**Name**
**Address**|**Type of**
**adviser**
**Name**
**Address**|**Type of**
**adviser**
**Name**
**Address**|
|---|---|---|
||There are none||
||||
||||
||||
## **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**
Herefordshire Meadows does not employ any staff. It uses self-employed contractors to deliver meadows advice and administer and manage the work of the charity on it’s behalf. Rory Johnson and Caroline Hanks share overall responsibility as “Directors” of Herefordshire Meadows to report to, and work closely with, the Trustees.
## **Exemptions from disclosure**
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
**N/A**
## **Other optional information**
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees, report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees
Slgnature(s
Full name(s)
Position (eg Secretary.
Chair, etcl
Julian
ichael Partridge
Chair
Lyn Beryl Langford
Vice Chair
Date