ROTHERFIELD MILLENNIUM GREEN TRUST CIO ANNUAL REPORT PERIOD ENDING DECEMBER 2024
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1208064
Formation
Rotherfield Millennium Green Trust CIO (“RMGTCIO”) was registered with the Charity Commission on 30[th] April 2024. It was established to take over the assets and operations of the Rotherfield Millennium Green Trust (“RMGT”) which was approved by the Charity Commission on 3[rd] September 2024.
Aims
To preserve and enhance the Green in perpetuity, for the benefit of people and nature, and to engage with our community to encourage their use and understanding of the Green.
Objectives
-
To provide the parish of Rotherfield and its visitors with a safe and accessible amenity area for quiet and informal recreation, exercise and activities consistent with the shared enjoyment of the whole land
-
To encourage the local community and schools to use the Green as an educational resource which has historical, ecological and countryside management interest
-
To maintain and enhance the wildlife interest and landscape value of the Green, consistent with the character and ecology of the High Weald
The Green.
The Millennium Green directly adjoins the village and consists of 13 acres of sloping meadow, copse and willow carr with a spring, stream and pond. Divided into 6 fields each with their own character, the unspoilt rural quality of the whole is sustained by a summer cattle grazing rotation.
There is also an orchard of heritage apple varieties. .
Access is by surfaced paths from the High Street, Station Road, the top of New Road. and additionally by an unmade permissive path from the bottom end of New Road.
Internal access is by a mix of made and unmade paths, timber bridges and boardwalks.
Benches are sited to allow enjoyment of the views
Activities on the Green
The Green is used by walkers with and without dogs from early morning to late evening every day of the year.The forest school enclosure is used by Rotherfield primary school Wednesday afternoons in term time.The Rotherfield and Mark Cross bonfire society hold their Summer fair on the Green
Apples and blackberries are picked by walkers in season.The unreachable apples are then picked and sent for juicing locally, the profit going into Green funds. 2024 was the second year of juice production.
The Green is maintained by a team of over 30 volunteers at the monthly work party, additional maintenance such as hedge cutting and board walk maintenance being undertaken by Trustees.
Keeping a look out for any day to day problems is our team of 7 wardens, with additionally a scheduled Trustee walk around the Green before each of our 6 meetings per year.
26 bird boxes are maintained and monitored.
2 benches were replaced in the year.
A colour newsletter “Greenpiece” is produced twice a year.
The most significant non routine work undertaken in 2024 involved tree surgery to deal with extensive ash die back, and to fell 3 very large Western Red Cedars which were crowding out the 9 Black Poplars sourced from Wakehust Place and planted at the time of the Green’s creation.
We have recycycled some of the timber for fencing.
It is a fundamental principle of our management that apart from such specialist tasks all the routine care of the Green is undertaken by the local community for reasons of both cost and engagement.
In order to maintain the Green we have an on-site secure store for equipment including a small tractor
The Friends of the Green
Just over 100 households donate annually to be registered as “Friends” of the Green.
They each receive a copy of Greenpiece.
Our Accounts for the year ended 31[st] December 2024:
The following accounts have been examined and approved by an independent accountant and were approved by the trustees at the AGM on 10[th] July 2025
| ROTHERFIELD MILLENNIUM GREEN TRUST CIO | ROTHERFIELD MILLENNIUM GREEN TRUST CIO | ROTHERFIELD MILLENNIUM GREEN TRUST CIO | ROTHERFIELD MILLENNIUM GREEN TRUST CIO | ROTHERFIELD MILLENNIUM GREEN TRUST CIO | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Charity No. 1208064 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Period ended : | 31st December 2024(Note 1) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| NOTE: These are the merged accounts for the forme | r charity, Rotherfield Millennium G | reen Trust ("RMGT", Charity Comm no.1072267) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| and the new entity Rotherfield Millennium Green Tr | ust CIO ("RMGTCIO", Charity Com | m no. 1208064) which h | as replaced RMGT | |||||||||||||||||||
| RMGTCIO | RMGT | COMBINED | RMGT | |||||||||||||||||||
| Notes | 2024 | 2024 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Receipts | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Subscriptions | 2 | 845 | 3,061 | 3,906 | 4,097 | |||||||||||||||||
| Donations | 3,7 | 185 | 364 | 549 | 1,946 | |||||||||||||||||
| Grants | 500 | 500 | 500 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Giftaid forprioryear | - | 781 | 781 | 665 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Bank interest | 64 | 206 | 270 | 137 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 4 | 250 | - | 250 | - | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Receipts | 1,344 | 4,912 | 6,256 | 7,345 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Payments | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| New equipment | - | 1,636 | 1,636 | 50 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Equipment maintenance | 5 | 313 | - | 313 | 126 | |||||||||||||||||
| Maintenance of Green | 6 | 358 | 1,484 | 1,842 | 592 | |||||||||||||||||
| Forest Schoolproject | 7 | - | - | - | 1,742 | |||||||||||||||||
| Insurance expense | - | 714 | 714 | 560 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Printing& reproduction | 8 | 265 | 67 | 332 | 509 | |||||||||||||||||
| Hire of village hall | 50 | 153 | 203 | 187 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Dog-related expenses | 9 | 500 | 70 | 570 | 508 | |||||||||||||||||
| Bank charges | 20 | - | 20 | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Postage | 28 | - | 28 | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 10 | - | 189 | 189 | 136 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Payments | 1,534 | 4,313 | 5,847 | 4,410 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Excess ofpayments over receipts for theperiod | (190) | 599 | 409 | 2,935 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Balance brought forward | - | 15,938 | 15,938 | 13,003 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Funds Transferred from RMGT to RMGTCIO | 16,537 | (16,537) | 0 | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Balance carried forward | 16,347 | - | 16,347 | 15,938 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Current Assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| BankCurrent Acct | 576 | - | 576 | 525 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Bank Deposit Acct | 15,771 | - | 15,771 | 15,393 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Petty cash | - | - | - | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 16,347 | - | 16,347 | 15,938 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Represented by: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital reserve | - | - | - | 7,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Maintenance and improvements fund | 16,347 | - | 16,347 | 8,938 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 16,347 | - | 16,347 | 15,938 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ~~Rotherfield~~ |
~~Millen~~ |
~~ium Green Tru~~ |
~~st CIO~~ | |||||||||||||||||||
| ~~Inco~~ | ~~me an~~ | ~~d Expenditure~~ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ~~I~~ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ~~ncom~~ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expenditur | e | |||||||||||||||||||||
| £0 | £1,000 £2,000 |
£3,000 | £4,000 £5,000 |
£6,0 | 00 £7,000 £8 |
,000 | ||||||||||||||||
| 202 | 4 2023 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| ROTHERFIELD MILLENNIUM GREEN TRUST CIO | ROTHERFIELD MILLENNIUM GREEN TRUST CIO | ROTHERFIELD MILLENNIUM GREEN TRUST CIO | ROTHERFIELD MILLENNIUM GREEN TRUST CIO | ROTHERFIELD MILLENNIUM GREEN TRUST CIO | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Charity No. 1208064 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Period ended : | 31st December 2024(Note 1) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| NOTE: These are the merged accounts for the forme | r charity, Rotherfield Millennium G | reen Trust ("RMGT", Charity Comm no.1072267) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| and the new entity Rotherfield Millennium Green Tr | ust CIO ("RMGTCIO", Charity Com | m no. 1208064) which h | as replaced RMGT | |||||||||||||||||||
| RMGTCIO | RMGT | COMBINED | RMGT | |||||||||||||||||||
| Notes | 2024 | 2024 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Receipts | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Subscriptions | 2 | 845 | 3,061 | 3,906 | 4,097 | |||||||||||||||||
| Donations | 3,7 | 185 | 364 | 549 | 1,946 | |||||||||||||||||
| Grants | 500 | 500 | 500 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Giftaid forprioryear | - | 781 | 781 | 665 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Bank interest | 64 | 206 | 270 | 137 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 4 | 250 | - | 250 | - | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Receipts | 1,344 | 4,912 | 6,256 | 7,345 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Payments | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| New equipment | - | 1,636 | 1,636 | 50 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Equipment maintenance | 5 | 313 | - | 313 | 126 | |||||||||||||||||
| Maintenance of Green | 6 | 358 | 1,484 | 1,842 | 592 | |||||||||||||||||
| Forest Schoolproject | 7 | - | - | - | 1,742 | |||||||||||||||||
| Insurance expense | - | 714 | 714 | 560 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Printing& reproduction | 8 | 265 | 67 | 332 | 509 | |||||||||||||||||
| Hire of village hall | 50 | 153 | 203 | 187 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Dog-related expenses | 9 | 500 | 70 | 570 | 508 | |||||||||||||||||
| Bank charges | 20 | - | 20 | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Postage | 28 | - | 28 | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 10 | - | 189 | 189 | 136 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Payments | 1,534 | 4,313 | 5,847 | 4,410 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Excess ofpayments over receipts for theperiod | (190) | 599 | 409 | 2,935 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Balance brought forward | - | 15,938 | 15,938 | 13,003 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Funds Transferred from RMGT to RMGTCIO | 16,537 | (16,537) | 0 | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Balance carried forward | 16,347 | - | 16,347 | 15,938 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Current Assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| BankCurrent Acct | 576 | - | 576 | 525 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Bank Deposit Acct | 15,771 | - | 15,771 | 15,393 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Petty cash | - | - | - | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 16,347 | - | 16,347 | 15,938 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Represented by: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital reserve | - | - | - | 7,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Maintenance and improvements fund | 16,347 | - | 16,347 | 8,938 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 16,347 | - | 16,347 | 15,938 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ~~Rotherfield~~ |
~~Millen~~ |
~~ium Green Tru~~ |
~~st CIO~~ | |||||||||||||||||||
| ~~Inco~~ | ~~me an~~ | ~~d Expenditure~~ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ~~I~~ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ~~ncom~~ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expenditur | e | |||||||||||||||||||||
| £0 | £1,000 £2,000 |
£3,000 | £4,000 £5,000 |
£6,0 | 00 £7,000 £8 |
,000 | ||||||||||||||||
| 202 | 4 2023 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| NOTES TO ACCOUNTS | NOTES TO ACCOUNTS | NOTES TO ACCOUNTS | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Note 1 ** | On 30th April, The Rotherfield Millennium Green Trust CIO(Charity Commission No. | 1208064) was register | ed by the | Charity Commission | to replace the entire | |||||||||
| operations of the RMGT(charity commission no. 1072267). Approval was received fro | m the Charity Comm | ission on | 3rd September 2024 t | o transfer the RMGT's | ||||||||||
| assets and undertaking into the CIO. | ||||||||||||||
| RMGTCIO | RMGT | Combined | RMGT | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2024 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||
| Note 2 | Number of "Friends" of the Trust: | 33 | 120 | 153 | 153 | |||||||||
| Average subscriptionper Friend: | £25.61 | £25.50 | £25.53 | £26.78 | ||||||||||
| Note 3 | Donations were received from: | |||||||||||||
| Cawley | 100 | - | 100 | - | ||||||||||
| Edwards | 50 | - | 50 | - | ||||||||||
| Various relatingto Forest Schoolproject | - | - | 0 | 1,242 | ||||||||||
| Other | 35 | 364 | 399 | 704 | ||||||||||
| 185 | 364 | 549 | 1,946 | |||||||||||
| Note 4 | Other Income: | |||||||||||||
| Applejuice sales(50@£3.50) | 175 | - | 175 | - | ||||||||||
| Cake sales | 75 | - | 75 | - | ||||||||||
| 250 | - | 250 | - | |||||||||||
| Note 5 | Equipment maintenance | |||||||||||||
| Hedge trimmer repair | 283 | - | 283 | - | ||||||||||
| Tractorpuncture repair | 30 | - | 30 | - | ||||||||||
| Other | - | - | 0 | 126 | ||||||||||
| 313 | - | 313 | 126 | |||||||||||
| Note 6 | Maintenance of Green(major items): | |||||||||||||
| Tree works | 960 | 1,440 | 2,400 | - | ||||||||||
| Refund for tree workspaid byRMGT(McCall) | (660) | - | (660) | - | ||||||||||
| Other | 58 | 44 | 102 | 592 | ||||||||||
| 358 | 1,484 | 1,842 | 592 | |||||||||||
| Note 7 | Forest Schoolproject: | |||||||||||||
| Income: | Donations(Note 3) | - | - | - | 1,242 | |||||||||
| Grant | - | - | - | 500 | ||||||||||
| Expenses: | Roofing,timber etc | - | - | - | (1,742) | |||||||||
| Net cost to RMGT | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||
| Note 8 | Printing& reproduction | |||||||||||||
| Letters and forms for launch of CIO | 251 | 0 | 251 | - | ||||||||||
| Newsletter | 0 | 67 | 67 | - | ||||||||||
| Envelopes | 14 | 0 | 14 | - | ||||||||||
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 509 | ||||||||||
| 265 | 67 | 332 | 509 | |||||||||||
| Note 9 | Dogrelated expenses | |||||||||||||
| Annnual supplyof bags | 464 | 0 | 464 | 407 | ||||||||||
| Bin emptying | 36 | 70 | 106 | 101 | ||||||||||
| 500 | 70 | 570 | 508 | |||||||||||
| Note 10 | Other expenses | |||||||||||||
| Applejuicing& labels | 0 | 189 | 189 | - | ||||||||||
| Website expense | 0 | 0 | 0 | 86 | ||||||||||
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | ||||||||||
| 0 | 189 | 189 | 136 | |||||||||||
Management Committee meetings and actions.
The Trustees meet every other month.
The single most important and time consuming Trustee task in 2024 was progressing our transition to a CIO.
This was finally effected on 3[rd] September 2024. Registration of the CIO Title to the Green was still pending at year end.
The Trustees also decided to change the CIO bankers. A letter explaining the Trusts change of legal structure and Banker was sent to Friends and with the Rotherfield Parish News to 1300 local households.
A working group produced a draft 5 year Green management plan.
The AGM was held July in Rotherfield Village Hall. The guest speaker was Alan Loweth from the RSPB.
2 of the original benches were replaced with ones manufactured from recycled plastic
The Trustees and Officer details for the year
TRUSTEES
BRUNO BOHANE,ANDREW FERMOR,STEPHEN HALL (chair),SIMON KIPPING,CAROL KNATT,CHRISTOPHER KNATT, NORMA TIMMERMANS, PAUL TURNER, MICHAEL WHITE
ROGER BILLINGHAM resigned as a Trustee in September 2024
OFFICERS
Secretary JOHN RICHARDSON
Treasurer PHIL ROWCLIFFE
DECLARATION
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
SIGNATURE
FULL NAME Stephen Hall
POSITION Chair
DATE 18[th] September 2025