SHROPSHIRE PARKS AND GARDENS TRUST
Re8lStered Charity Number 1202152
THIRD ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Thutsday 19th March 2026
SHROPSHIRE
PARKS&
GARDENS
TRusr
ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2025

SHROPSHIRE PARKS AND GARDENS TRUST
THIRD ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
6.30pm Thursday 19th March 2026
Shropshire Wildlife Trust Headquarters 193 Abbey Foregate Shrewsbury SY2 6AH
AGENDA
l. Apologies for absence
2. Minute5 of the AGM of 20 March 2025
3. Chairman's Report
4. Treasurer5 report
Resolution5.'
To receive the Report of the Hon Treasurer for the financial year January-
December 2025
To approve the appointment of the AuditorsJames, Holyoak & Parker Ltd
5. Planning and Conservation
6. Events and Winter Lectures
7. Election of Trustees
8. Date, Place, and time of next Annual General Meeting.. Thursday 18 March 2027
The AGM will be followed by a Buffet and then by a talk by Keith Forster 'The National Memorial
Arboretum,

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT 2025- 2026
The Shropshire Parks and Gardens Trust is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation ICIOI Registered
Charity Number 1202152, set up to replace the Former Shropshire Parks and Gardens Trust,
Registered Charity Number 1076257, which was set up as a Charitable Trust in 1997.
The new CIO was re8iStered by the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 2 March 2023
and all the assets and members of the former Trust have now been transferred to the new CIO.
This is the third AGM of the new CIO.
The objects of the CIO are:
To advance the education of the public in the art and science of parks and gardens by:
Promoting the understanding, conservation, protection, improvement and
recreation of Parks and Gardens and designed landscapes,. and
b. Promoting for the benefit of the public the preSe￿atron, enhancement and
recreation of whatever Parks and Gardens and designed landscapes may exist, or
have existed, in and around the present or historic boundaries of the County of
Shropshire.
Vice-chairman's Report 2025- 2026
As previously advised, l am filling this position temporarily in the absence of a formal Chair, albeit
that as announced in the current Magazine. Stephen Packer has stepped forward and bravely
volunteered to take over the role, following this year's AGM: subject of course to approval from
you, the Trust members.
Your redoubtable Trustees have again worked hard on your behalf and continue to manage and
develop the Trust to meet future challenges, with our Treasurer, Rose Gibson keeping our accounts
in order and Daphne Capps supporting our members. Membership, which had been in decline in
recent years, has received a boost thanks in part to Stephen's excellent programme of visits and
talks throu8hout the year, which have attracted a number of new members. To these we extend a
warm welcome. Please encourage your friends and family to join our events and to support the
Trust's work over the coming year. The more members we have, the stronger we become and the
more we can host future hlgh-quality talks and visits.
The most recent V15its are described in detail in the Autumn and Spring 2025 editions of the
Magazine, which again has been lovingly and expertly crafted by Tom and Gisèle Wall. The Spring
2026 Magazine is currently in preparation and will be out soon. A programme of planned garden
visits over the coming year to September, including two-day forays to Gloucestershire and
Wiltshire, is also posted on the website.

Our role in responding to various Planning applications affecting Shropshire's parks and gardens,
has taken place this year under a cloud of uncertainty over the Gardens Trust's 'Statutory
Consultee, role under review and indeed, threat, which is outlined in below in some detail.
This time last year, our resigning former Chair, Mary King, petitioned for help from members in the
future running of the Trust and l am here repeating that appeal. As well as stepping up as Chair,
Stephen will be continuing his role as Events Coordinator, but we still urgently need a Secretary
and there are a number of other important roles which stubbornly remain unfilled, such as
Publicity (including the website) and a Research Coordinator.
Chris Gallagher
Treasurer's Report for the Flnanclal Year January- December 2025
The Trust's accounts show a loss of £635 for 2025. While this is on the face of it an improvement
on the previous year, the figure is slightly distorted by timing issues for both receipts and
payments.
The trust has also committed to some further expenditure on publicity. As we mentioned last year,
we hope that once completed, this will bring in new members
On the plus side, I have now reclaimed from HMRC the Gift Aid due for 2023-2025, so that row in
the accoLtnts will no longer be blank. Depending on future receipts, it should be about £150 a year.
Rose Gibson
Planning and Conservatlon Report 2025-2026
Much has happened on the Planning front since last year's AGM. in addition to the normal
consultations with Local Planning Authorities ILPAs1. In March 2025, Government announced that
under new proposals, the Gardens Trust would no longer be a statutory consultee for planning
applications affecting Registered Parks and Gardens IRPAGS) within England. A consultation period
wa5 launched, to which the Gardens Trust and many others responded robustly and in detail,
outlining the potentially serious and long-lasting damage this would risk causing to England'5 1,720
Registered Parks and Gardens.
Currently, Historic England (HEI is ortly consulted by LPAS about Grade l (146, or 8.5°Al & Grade Il*
1461, or 26.8%) RPAGS, with the Gardens Trust being the sole consultee for the remaining 1,113
Grade11 RPAGs164.7°Al, although it also is routinely consulted about Grade l & Il*
Government says, is inefficient as it unnecessarily duplicates effort.
sites. This, the
My own thinking on this point is that, far from being a gratuitous increase in effort, it is as it should
be and that furthermore, the Gardens Trust's input into these hugely significant Grade l &11
properties, adds considerable expertise, detailed local knowledge and irreplaceable value to their
understanding and management. Historic England presently has diverse responsibilities connected

with some 379,634 Listed Buildings and nearly 20,000 Scheduled Monuments and archaeological
sites. as well as numerous other heritage assets such as wrecks, battlefields and World Heritage
Sites. Their input into Grade l & II. RPAGs on the other hand, is delivered with only about half a
dozen qualified landscape architects, not including consultants. The Gardens Trust works closely
with HE to ensure that these hugely valuable heritage properties have access to the necessary
understanding and protection they require.
The second reason given for removing the Gardens Trust as a statutory consultee, was that this
would place Registered Parks & Gardens on the same footing within the planning system, as Listed
buildings. This however, ignores that fact that Listed buildings are, and have always been, subject
to much greater direct protection within the planning system, than is presently given to Registered
Parks & Gardens.
Legislation has been in hand since 2023 under Section 102 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration
Act l5.58BI, to introduce a statutory duty for LPAS to have
-special regard to the desirability of the
preserving or enhoncing Registered Parks and Gardens or their Setting,, which would put these
assets on a level with Listed buildings. Rather than confirming the intention to proceed with this
remedy however, the present consultation merely states that it is '
..under consideration,.
The third justification given was that '...removing these the Gardens Trust as a statutory consultee
would help rationalise the planning system. It would also reduce bureaucrocy by removing around
3,000 Statutory consultotions per yearfrom the planning system,.
In the year 2024-25, the Gardens Trust received and commented on around 60% of the above
consultations. This however represents only around 0.6% of all planning applications actually
decided by authorities in the year ending June 2025. Even allowing for the totol number of
Statutory consultations quoted above, the figure rises to only 0.9% of decisions.
Given these figures, it is difficult to see also how removing the Gardens Trust as a consultee would
help to
.rationolise the planning system..., or how this would be achieved.
Fourth, the Consultation text appears to compare the statutory consultee role of the Gardens
Trust, seemingly unfavourably, with that of national amenity societies such as the Victorian Society
which, it states, are consulted only on proposals to demolish all or part of a Listed building,
without any obligation on their part to respond. Promoting this as a model for the future
protection of the 1.720 Registered Parks and Gardens in England, which together represent one of
the foremost assemblages of heritage assets of this kind anywhere in the world, might be seen as
an extraordinary step to be contemplating. given both the level of long-term damage that would
likely ensue and the future costs of its repair.
Fifth, it is proposed within the Consultation text that the Gardens Trust would not in future be
notified of applications for development outside the boundary of Grade 11 Registered Parks and
Gardens, i.e. within its immediate and wider 5etling. This would in effect separate all Re8lStered
Parks and Gardens a5 presently understood from their setling, downgrading their Significances at a
stroke, by removing the key contribution made to them by their settings.

This flies in the face of more than a decade of progress in the provision of carefully considered
protection provided for Registered Parks and Gardens and their sethngs under the NPPF. It will
also unquestionably lead to a substantial increase in applications for housing and other
development5 in these largely greenfield areas of the countryside.
Taken as a whole, it would appear that government proposals as currently outlined, relate
principally to the provision of housing development land leffectively in open countryside), rather
than as an honest attempt to '... improve thefunctioning of the statutory consultee system to
facilitate confident and timely decision making...
Were the goals expressed in this statement
actually true, there would on the face of it be little requirement for change, as the majority of
statutory consultees, including the Gardens Trust, already operate in this manner, and can
demonstrate this to be the case, citing numerous examples and robust data.
The consultation period on these proposals has now closed while responses are considered.
In the meantime, substantial changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) are also
proposed, with the stated aim of ensuring that ' .Ilocall plan5 contribute positively to our Plan for
Change milestone of building 1.5 million new safe and decent homes in England by the end of this
Parliament.. Whether this is deliverable within the stated timescale, remains to be seen. In the
meantime, the Gardens Trust, with also the 35 County Gardens Trusts, with their 7,500 or so
members and 800 'highly active volunteers.. will continue as now to offer support and specialist
expertise as requested to the owner5 and managers of England's historic parks and gardens,
designated or otherwise.
Chris Gallagher
Events Report 2025-26
Summer Visits Progrdmrne
The programme of visits for the summer was very well attended as shown in the following table.
Venue
Date
Number attended
Chillington Hall
April
26
Acton Scott Hall
May
26
Biddulph Old Hall
June
26
Wyndcliffe / High Glanau
July
31
Unfortunately, the September visit to Apley Castle had to be cancelled. The residents there felt
that their gardens had suffered during the summer drought and asked for a p05tponement. This
visit has now been rearranged for May this year.
The most popular visit was the two-day visit to Monmouthshire with 31 members attending. There
was very positive feedback for this visit.
The first visit of 2026 was to Ashwood Nursery and John's Garden. Again, this was very well
attended with 30 people having booked.
Further visits in 2026 are to Stockton Bury in April followed by the rearranged visit to Apley Castle
in May. This year we have two 2-day visits, to the Cotswolds in June and to Wiltshire in July. The

programme concludes with a September visit to Horatio's Garden at the orthopaedic hospital in
Gobowen.
Winter Talks Programme
We have been able to offer a varied programme of talks this winter by speakers with diverse
backgrounds. In October, Francesca Murray from the Gardens Trust, spoke to us about the
Gardeners Benevolent Fund and this was followed by a fine talk by Advolly Richmond entitle 'A
Short History of Flowers.. Simon Gulliver, who previously worked with the National Trust. returned
for a second year in January, giving us an insight into the plant collector Ernest 'Chinese' Wilson.
The February talk was given by Lisette Davies, head gardener at Plas Newydd in Llangollen, on the
history of roses.
The talks, held again at the Shropshire Wildlife Trust, have proved popular with between 25 and 30
people attending each talk.
Stephen Packer
Election of Trustees for 2025- 2026
The COI currently has 7 Trustees:
Vice Chairman
Chris Gallagher
Membership Secretary
Daphne Capps
Treasurer
Rose Gibson
Committee Member
Mary King
Committee Member
Kathy Hurbert
Committee
Imogen Wood
Events Organiser
Stephen Packer
Under the terms of Clause 13111 of our Constitutlon, one third of the Charity Trustees shall retire
from office at every General Meeting of the members of the CIO. Retiring Trustees may stand for
re-election.
Imo8en Wood is retiring by rotation at this AGM and standing for re-election
Rose Gibson is retiring by rotation at this AGM and standing for re-election
Stephen Packer is retiring by rotation at this AGM and standing for re-election
Further nominations forTrustees are welcome. Any Members wishing to put forward nominations
for themselves or someone else may do so either by sending them to the Chairman before the
meeting or at the meeting in person.
Nominees must be proposed and seconded by members of the CIO and have agreed to their
names being put forward.

MINUTES OF THE 2. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF
SHROPSHIRE PARKS AND GARDENSTRUST
20 March 2025
The Shropshire Wildllfe Trust Headquarters, 193 Abbey Foregate, Shrewsburyi SY2 6AH
Present
There were 25 Members present.
Welcome
Members were welcomed by SPGT President Sir Algernon Heber Percy, who thanked the Trustees
for their hard work over the year and for the organization of such good visits and for the pleasure
they bring.
l. Apologies
Apologies were received from Gareth Williams, Tom Wall, Gisele Wall, Kathy Moynes. Mark
Pollard.
2. Mlnutes
The Minutes of the I" Annual General Meeting of the Shropshire Parks and Gardens Trust on
21 March 2024 were signed and accepted as a true record.
Proposed by Rose Gibson, seconded by Kathy Hurbert and approved unanimously.
3. The Chairman's Report
The Chairman drew attention to the report that had been circulated to members with the AGM
Papers and the hard work of the Trustees over the year.
There had been another successful programme of Summer Visits and Winter Lectures and two
Editions of the Magazine had been published and sent to members.
The Trust had continued to respond to Planning consultations both on its own behalf and on
behalf of the Gardens Trust.
However, shortage of Trustees meant that it was becoming difficult to cover all our work. A
Consultant, Sarah Greenwood of Likeminded Communications, had been appointed to assist in
publicising the Trust and attracting new Members. All members were encouraged to spread the
word and recruit their friends.
4. Treasurer's Report
Mary King reported thatthe Trust made a loss in 2024 of £1,351. despite our decision last year
to pause the bursaries scheme and was largely because of reducing membership and
increasing costs. The Board had therefore decided to invest in professional help with re-design
of our publicity and promotional materials to try and attract new members, the cost of which
will appear in the current year's account5.
The Trustees had considered increasing the cost of Membership but decided that the fees
would be kept at the current level for at least another year. as increasing them could lose
further members, the opposite of what was needed.
Savings would be made by limiting the number of mailings. and by using e-mail where possible.
Our Auditors James, Holyoak & Parker Ltd had in the past very kindly audited our accounts at
no cost to us, but will be unable to continue to offer their services free of charge. and will have
to charge us a fee in the region of £150 plus VAT. The Treasurer recommended that we
continued to use their services and thank them for all the work that they have carried out for
us without charge in the past.

Resolutions:
Acceptance of the Annual Accounts for 2024 was proposed by Rose Gibson, seconded
by Paul Jackson and approved unanimously.
The appointment of the Auditors Holyoak and Parker Ltd for a further year was
proposed by Rose Gibson, seconded by Terry Lipscombe and approved unanimously.
5. Planning and Conservation Report
The Vice Chairman reported on the responses he had made on behalf of the Trust and the
Gardens Trust to the Planning Consultations we had received over the year. Whilst the majority
do not cause undue concern, we have objected to planning application at the boathouse in
Shrewsbury, a lodge at Badger, a wind turbine at Colebatch near Bishops Castle. This would
have a wide detrimental impact across the area. The details of the planning applicakn'on were
given out for members if they wanted to get involved.
He also reported on a proposal by the Minister of Housing, Communities and Local
Government to remove the Gardens Trust as a statutory consultee on planning applications
affecting Registered Parks and Gardens.
6. Events and Winter Lectures
Stephen Packer reported on the varied and interested programme of visits and lectures that
had taken place over the year and outlined the proposed visits for 2025, which include visits to
Chillington Hall, Acton Scott Hall, Biddulph Old Hall, Apley Castle and a two-day visit to
Monmouthshire which will include Wyndcliffe Court and High Glanau Manor.
The Vice Chair, Chris Gallagher, then took over for the rest of the meeting.
7. Election of Trustees
Under the terms of our Constitution, one third of the Charity Trustees shall retire from office at
every General meeting of the CIO. Retiring Trustees may Stand for re-election.
The following Trustees retlred and stood for re-elertlon:
Mary King: Proposed Jane Gallagher, seconded by Terry Lipscombe, elected unanimoLtsly.
Kathy Herbert.. Proposed Daphne Capps, seconded Nicky Lipscombe, elected unanimously.
8. Date. Place and Time ofthe next Annual General Meeting
The next Annual General Meeting will be held at 6.30pm on Thursday 19 March 2026 at the
Shropshire Wildlife Trust Headquarters, 193 Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury. SY2 6AH
The Vice Chair then thanked the Trustees for all their hard work during the year. He presented
Mary King with a gift and thanked he for all her hard work over the years. Finally, he thanked
the members for attending and all those who had provided food for the buffet.

SHROPSHIRE PARKS & GARDEYS TRUST
Reaistered Charlt No. 1202152
RECLIPTS PAYMEN'fs ACCOUNT
YEAR ENDED 31" DECENIBER 2025
JAme$, Holyoak & Parker Limited

SHROP.SHIRE PARKS & GARDF.NS TRUST
Re
istered Chari
INO. 1202152
RECEIPTS AND PAYLVIEJTS ACCOLNT
YEAR ENDED 31" DLCEMBF.R 2025
Year
Ended
31.12.25
l'ear
Ended
31.12.24
Re¢ei
Subscriptions
Lectures & Visits
Summer Event
Donaiions
Gift Aid
1,195
4,437
847
1,436
160
75
5,792
2,358
Bank Interest
186
220
5.978
2,578
Pavments
Hire ot'Room
Speakers
Insuranec
Priniing & Publicity
Entry b'ees & Coach Hirt
Secretarial Expenses
Sundries
Website Costs
AGT.Membership
Burqarie8
545
475
218
453
3,200
146
41
I,J80
149
554
339
218
536
1.391
265
167
300
159
6,613
Net Surplusl(Deficit)
(635)
(1.3511
Balanec at Bank brought forward
14.459
15,810
Balance at Bank carried foNiard
13.824
14,459
We have examined the accounts together with the books. vouchers and documents relating to Shropshire Parks and
(Jdrdens Trust for the year ended 31 %t Decembcr 2025 and the ba12nces hand at that date. In our opiniun the books
have been properly kept and the above account is in agreement with the books, vouchers and documents submiited and
expl￿dt10nS giF'en to us.
JAII qLS, HOL YOAK & PARKER LTD,
Chartered tlccountants,
l Kni(Jhts Court
Archers Wav
Battlefield Enterprlse Park
Shrewsburyy SYI 3GA