Snailslynch Wood Community Project Report and accounts for the year to 31 March 2024
Snailslynch Wood Community Project Charity number 1199983 Trustees, Annual Report for the year to 3151 March 2024 Princlpal address 45 Bridgefield, Farnham , Surrey GU9 8AW Stephen Pallant Simon Cryer Stephen Linton cff Shutler (resigned 12 December 2023) Structurey governance and management Snailsliry]ch Wood Community Project is a Charitable Incorporate Organisation (CIO), charity number 1199983, fornied under a cDnstitution dated 29th.july 2022. Under the constitution, there must be at least three trustees. One-third, or the number closest to one-third. of the charity trustees retire at each AGM. The trustees to retire by rotation are those who have been longest in office since their last appointment or reappointment. The vaeancies so arising may be filled by the decision of the members at the AGM. New trustees, including any vacancies not filled at the AGM, may be appointed at any time by the members or trustees provided the totsl number of trustees does not exceed twelve. At the AGM, Stephen Linton will stand down as a tee. but is willing to be re*lected, and the trustees recommend that Geoff Shuttler is also elected, having resigned last year to avoid a conflict of interest related to the land purchase. Objectlves and actlvltles The objectives of the Project are to promote, for the benefit of the public, the Conservation, protection and improvement of the flora and fauna of Snailslynch Wood in Farnham, Surrey, as a natural habitat in perpetuity for the benefit of the local community and users of the North Downs Way, which pa&8es through the property, mainly but not exclusively by: a. The purchase of Snai]sl)mch Wood b. Restoring and maintaining ease of access to the public right of way across the land and to enhance the enjoyment by the public of the natural environment. Public benefit The Trustees have had regard to the suidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. Page 2
Snai]slynch Wood Community Projeci Charity number 1199983 Achievements and performance The year to 315t March 2024 has been significant for the project. Through the generosity of donors we were able to raise enough funds to allow us. with the addition of Gift Ai(L to purchase the two plots of land which make up Snailslyncb Wood. This is a fantastic achievement and secures the future of the wcx)d as a eommunity asset and wildlife haven. Having secured the future of the land through purchase. the trustees have considered options for the future management of tbe land. Initially we recommend minimal intervention, keeping the site safe, maintaining the fLwath in usable condition and clearing some of the fallen wood. Depending on the availability of funding* in the future we wish to make some additional improvements, including the cutting of a small drainage channel to allow some of the stagnant water to drain, removing non-native species and potentially clearing a small area to host occasional events. There is the potential to manage the site more actively, by planting new trees and selling earlx)n credits to other businesses wishing to offset carbon emissions. This would constitute a longer-terni commitment to managing the site and would require a blIne biodiversity survey, with associated costs. This has the advantsge of providing an income to the projeet, but would require more work by the member8 over several decades to ensure that the conditions of any grants/ carbon credits were met. There would al be an attendant risk of incurring financial penalties if, for whatever reason, they weren't. At this stage we do not. therefore, recommend pursuing that source of income. Even if we decide to pr(d with minima] intervention, there will still be ongoin& annual costs, including the purchase of public liability insurance. We recommend an annual membership fee to cover this basic cost and a resolution will be brought to the AGM for a decision. We now have only a small cash reserve to eover other contingencies (e.g. a tree falling onto the North Downs Way and needing to be cleared promptly). The trustees are looking at P0&8ible grant applications, and at ways to increase our membership. Flnanclal revlew Funds have principally come from donations from local residents and associated gift aid. There have been a number of smaller donations through online w)rtals driven by articles and w)sts in local and professional media. The project raised sufficient funds to complete the purchase of the plots of land which. after purchase price and professional service, leaves the project with a small cash reserve of £2,716. Due to the limited nature of the reserves, the trustees recommend minimal intervention and associated outlay at present. This approach will be revisited in future, but there will be at a minimum, an annual requirement to purchase public liability Insurance for the site, with &ssociated cost. Page 3
Snailslynch W(K)d Community Project Charity number 1199983 Declaration The trustees declare that they bave approved the trustees, report above. Signed on behalf of the charitys trustees Stephen Pallant Chair 03-Sep 2024 Page 4
Snailslynch Wood Community Project Charity Dumber 1199983 Independent examiners report for the year to 31 March 2024 Report to the trustees of Snailslynch Wood Community Project on the accounts for the year to 31 March 2024 set out on page 5. Responsibilities and basis of report I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity for the year to 31 March 2024. As the charity 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 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 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: David Protheroe, FCA 14 Bridgefield, Farnham, Surrey? GU9 8AN 03-Sep-2024 Page 5
Snailslynch Wood Community Project Charity number 1199983 Receipts and payments for the year to 31st March 2024 Year to31 March 2094 Period to 3llt Mareh 2093 Cash funds at the start of the year 35,988 Receipts Donations Interest income Other income Total receipts 28,736 35,951 28,887 35>995 Payments Fundraising expenses Bank Charges 126 Asset purchases land purchase cost I£gal and associated fees 60,000 200 62,159 Total payments Net of receipts and payments 62 (33,272) 35,988 Cash funds at the end of the year 359988 Page 6
Snailslyneh Wood CL)mmunity Proj&rt Charity number 1199983 Statement of assets and liabilities at 31 March 2024 March 2024 31•1 Mareh gOA3 Cash funds Cash at bank 2,716 35,988 Other monetary assets Debtors 800 8,925 Assets retained for the drI8 own Land 65.519 44,913 Signed on behalf of the trustees by Simon Crye Treasurer 03-Sep-2024 Pag¢ 7