## **Friends of Mickleover Manor Woodland Trustee Report 01 Jun 2023 to 31 May 2024** 

## **Introduction** 

Mickleover Manor Woodland is a 1.85 ha woodland, owned by Derby City Council and located in Mickleover, a residential suburb on the western edge of Derby City.  Mickleover Manor was a country house with significant grounds, but most of the land was sold for building in the late 1970’s and the house itself converted into a number of residences.  The area of grass and garden/woodland is almost totally surrounded by roads and/or housing and had been in slow decline as funding allowed DCC to do little more than grass cutting a few times per year.  In early 2023 a group of local residents came together to arrest the decline, improve the biodiversity and provide a recreational asset for local people, with an emphasis  on  accessibility.   Consequentially,  the  organisation  was  formed  as  a  CIO (charitable incorporated organisation) and was registered on 31 May 2023. There are five trustees. 

## **Objects** 

The objects of the CIO as stated in the Governing Document are: 

1. To promote for the benefit of the public the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of the land known as Mickleover Manor Woodland, situated within the City of Derby. 

2. To  advance  the  education  of  the  public  in  the  conservation,  protection  and improvement of the physical and natural environment in particular, but not limited to, the land known as Mickleover Manor Woodland. 

## **Funding in 2023-24** 

The total income for the year to 31 May 2024 was £2311, consisting of: 

Grants £1608 Unrestricted £703 

Prior to registration there had been discussions with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust about formal advice on what should and should not be done to help the woodland recover.  The cost of this consultancy work was £1108, for which a success application for funding was made to Foundation  Derbyshire.   There  is  now a  working  document,  which  will probably  need updating every 5 years or so, to provide guidance on projects to be worked on to restore the woodland. 

There are no buildings in the woodland so the provision of storage for tools was a priority. The  Secretary  submitted  a  successful  application  for  £500  to  Derby  City  Council Neighbourhood Fund to provide a secure tool storage bin and a few basic tools. 



The CIO has registered for Gift Aid with HMRC so the unrestricted £703 is a combination of donations from Trustees and the public, along with Gift Aid payments recovered from HMRC. 

## **Progress in 2023-24** 

Key activities in the year to 31 May 2024 include: 

1. Provision  of  a  small  work  area,  along  with  a  storage  bin  (made  from  pallets abandoned in various Derby parks) for wood chippings, etc.  See attached picture. 

2. Clearing damage from Storm Pia on 21 Dec 2023.  The woodland lost over a dozen mature trees in the storm, which left the woodland unsafe due to blown down trees leaning against other trees.  DCC provided 3 days emergency support for the most dangerous situations but it took 10 months for full clearance and path reopening. However, it has created a lot of opportunities for habitat development as there are now new open areas in the woodland which will support more diverse vegetation. 

3. Installation of 5 bird boxes donated by a resident. 

4. Development of a new volunteer group using social media and local events. 

5. Creation of the website www.fommaw.org.uk 

## **Objectives for 2024-25** 

The following are included in the 2024-25 jobslist.  This is not in priority order. 

1. Design and manufacture a notice at each end of the woodland to explain to visitors what the woodland is and what we are trying to do.  See attached picture. 

2. Remove invasive ivy from the three specimen Sequoia (redwood) trees, which have been confirmed as some of the oldest in the country (early 1860’s).  See attached picture. 

3. Organise a planting event to use volunteers to plant woodland bulbs for Spring 2025 flowering. 

4. Remove invasive ivy from significant areas of woodland to allow planting of bluebells and other native woodland plants. 

There are a number of pictures on the following page. 

Andrew Baker Secretary and Trustee, Friends of Mickleover Manor Woodland November 2024 






Work yard and tool storage facility created in the woodland. 

This sequoia, pictured part way through the clearance process, had been restricted by invasive vegetation for decades 

Notice board at the woodland entrance welcoming visitors and explaining the history, l t id t i d 



**Registered Charity number 1203331** 

## **Friends Of Mickleover Manor Woodland** 

## **Income and Expenditure Statement** 

## **31 May 2024** 

David Matthews BA FCA Linwood St Peters Road Arnesby Leicester LE8 5WJ 



## **Friends Of Mickleover Manor Woodland** 

**Chartered Accountants' report to the Trustees on the preparation of the unaudited accounts of Friends Of Mickleover Manor Woodland for the year ended 31 May 2024** 

In order to assist you to fulfil your duties under the Charities Comission, we have prepared for your approval the accounts of Friends Of Mickleover Manor Woodland for the year ended 31 May 2024 which comprise of the Income and Expenditure Statement and the Balance Sheet from the charities accounting records and from information and explanations you have given us. 

We can confirm that the attached represents an accurate statement of the finances of Friends Of Mickleover Manor Woodland for the year ended 31 May 2024. 

**D Matthews (Accounting) Limited Chartered Accountants Linwood St Peters Road Arnesby Leicester LE8 5WJ** 

**16 September 2024** 

1 



## **Friends Of Mickleover Manor Woodland** 

## **Income and Expenditure Statement for the year ended 31 May 2024** 

|**Income**<br>Expenditure<br>**Surplus for the year**|**2024**<br>**£**<br>2,311<br>(2,003)|
|---|---|
||**308**|



2 



## **Friends Of Mickleover Manor Woodland Registered charity number:** 1203331 **Balance Sheet as at 31 May 2024** 

|**Notes**<br>**Cash balances**<br>**Net assets**<br>**Reserves**<br>Surplus<br>**Retained surplus**|**2024**<br>**£**<br>308|
|---|---|
||**308**|
||308|
||**308**|



**A. Baker Trustee and Secretary Approved by the Trustees on 16 September 2024** 

3 



## **Friends Of Mickleover Manor Woodland Detailed Income and Expenditure statement for the year ended 31 May 2024** 

|**Income**<br>Unrestricted Income<br>Restricted Income<br>**Expenditure**<br>Room hire<br>Fete (2023)<br>Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Report<br>Tools and Equipment<br>Website<br>**Surplus for the year**|**2024**<br>**£**<br>703<br>1,608|
|---|---|
||2,311|
||88<br>58<br>1,108<br>700<br>49|
||2,003|
|||
||308|



4