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
c￿ff 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 t￿￿ee. 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 b￿lIne
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 d￿rI￿8 own
Land
65.519
44,913
Signed on behalf of the trustees by
Simon Crye
Treasurer
03-Sep-2024
Pag¢ 7