Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 2 September 2024 to 31 December 2025
Charity name: Friends of Old Park & Chequers Wood
Charity registration number: 1209838
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | The objects of the CIO are: 1 To promote and conserve Old Park and Chequers Wood (OPCW) as a protected open space to be used for the benefit of the community and future generations. 2 To preserve and protect the flora and fauna of Old Park and Chequers Wood and to promote research into the wildlife of the area. 3 To work with landowners and other partners to conserve and manage the rare habitats of the area, particularly the acid grassland, alder carr and ancient woodland and to protect the sites of archaeological importance. 4 To raise public awareness of the environmental importance of the area and to encourage the active involvement of local residents and community organisations. 5 To engage with schools, youth groups, sports and other organisations to promote the use of Old Park and Chequers Wood for educational and leisure purposes. 6 To work together with other Friends groups to ensure that Old Park and Chequers Wood are an integral part of the open space network of the city |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
The Friends of Old Park & Chequers Wood work in a variety of ways to promote and conserve OPCW as a protected open space to be used for the benefit of the community and future generations. The main activities include the following: Working with naturalists to document the flora and fauna of OPCW and to publish the information collected. This information was the basis for the creation of a Local Wildlife Site across the non-SSSI parts of |
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Old Park and for an application to Natural
England to extend the SSSI.
Working with the City Council and wildlife
organisations to plan for the future of the
area. Much of the area is still owned by the
MoD, but negotiations are in progress
about the purchase of the area for the
benefit of the wildlife and the local
community
Liaising with the team of archaeologists
from Cambridge University to protect the
site of archaeological importance and to
increase public understanding that this is
the oldest excavatable site in the UK and
one of the oldest in Europe.
Organising meetings and producing
newsletters to raise public awareness of
the environmental importance of the area,
particularly the acid grassland, alder carr
and ancient woodland, and to encourage
the active involvement of local residents.
Engaging with schools and youth groups,
such as Parkside School, the Prince of
Wales Youth Club, Canterbury College and
local Universities to promote the use of Old
Park and Chequers Wood for educational,
research and leisure purposes.
Working together with other Friends groups
and with the City Council to ensure that Old
Park and Chequers Wood are an integral
part of the open space network of the city .
Statement confirming Para 1.18 The Trustees, in promoting the objects of
whether the trustees have the CIO, have had regard to the guidance
had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on
issued by the Charity public benefit.
Commission on public
benefit
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Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | N/A |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | N/A |
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Para 1.38
Contribution made by The Friends of OPCW has several hundred
volunteers members, many of whom get involved in
volunteering in the area. Other volunteers
come from local wildlife organisations and
community groups, schools and
universities, and local residents.
Activities by volunteers include surveying
flora and fauna, carrying out litter picks,
removing fly tipping, leading walks to hear
nightingales and turtle doves, organising
events to learn about butterflies and moths,
clearing and marking footpaths, and
reporting misuse of the Old Park by
motorcyclists and others to the police and
other agencies.
Other N/A
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Achievements and Performance
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SORP reference
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| Achievements and Performance | Achievements and Performance | Achievements and Performance |
|---|---|---|
| SORP reference | ||
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | The main achievements of the charity have been to make local people aware of this extraordinary open space, to collect and share information about the wildlife of the area, to educate people about its archaeology and its history, to encourage use of the area by schools and youth groups, and generally to open up for the use of local people an area which has been out of bounds because of its former use by the military. For the last 200 years or so most of Old Park was owned by the MoD and use by local people was discouraged and often completely banned. The setting up of the Friends of OPCW coincided with the withdrawal of the MoD from regular use of the area, which is now up for sale. Recently local people were asked to provide evidence about their on-going use of the Old Park and the ways in which they benefit from it. The result was over 200 compelling accounts which underlined the great variety of different ways in which Old Park is used and in which it enhances the lives of those who know and love it. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | Objective: to set up a successful Friends Group for the Old Park. Achievement: the Friends of OPCW was set up in 2021 and is now a flourishing organisation with several hundred members, regular newsletters and social media posts, a programme of talks and walks, and a respected position in the local community. Objective: to research and record the wildlife of the area. Achievement: specialists have documented the flora and fauna of Old Park, and have shared the results both with wildlife organisations and with local people. The evidence so collected is currently the basis for an application to Natural England for an extension of the SSSI. Objective: to increase understanding about the archaeology and history of the area. Achievement: Local people have become more aware of the significance of the site, through the publication of studies on its history, and through walks and talks. These new discoveries have also increased the interest of visitors to Canterbury. The site is adjacent to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Objective: to ensure the future of OPCW Achievement: An Action Plan for the period 2024-2030 sets out plans for the future. These include the acquisition of the MoD land for the community, protecting the buffer zones round the SSSI, improving management and public access, increasing public engagement, curbing anti-social behaviour and ensuring organisational stability. Objective: to protect the area as an Asset of Community Value. Achievement: an application for the area to be registered as an ACV has been accepted by Canterbury City Council and is now with the MoD. |
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | N/A |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | N/A |
|---|---|---|
| Other |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | The charity has sufficient funds to continue for the foreseeable future |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | To facilitate the possible purchase of the site or to improve it |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £11,393 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | N/A |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | N/A |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | N/A |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | Donations |
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | N/A |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | N/A |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Constitution |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | The Charity is a CIO |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Appointments are made by existing Trustees with due regard to the skill set required. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
|---|---|---|
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | |
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | The Friends of OPCW is run on a day-to- day basis by the main committee, which includes members with expertise in finance and planning, in wildlife and the environment, in history and archaeology, in footpaths and leisure and in publicity and social media. Members of the committee have regular meetings with the Environment Team at Canterbury City Council and with local councillors. In addition, at an early stage, an Expert Advisory Group was set up which brings together leading experts from local wildlife organisations. This meets when necessary to advise on the work of the main committee. There are also significant links with organisations for young people, including the Prince of Wales Youth Club, primary and secondary schools and Canterbury College. These links are particularly important because the Old Park is located near to some of the most disadvantaged communities in the city. Access to this great open space provides opportunities for young people to develop skills, knowledge and confidence. The Friends of OPCW is part of a network of Friends groups across the city. These include the Friends of Kingsmead Field, |
| Love Hambrook Marshes, the Friends of Westgate Parks, Canterbury Cemetery Friends and others. Friends’ groups are supported by an officer at the City Council and meet twice a year under the umbrella of the Canterbury Parks Forum. |
||
|---|---|---|
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | See above |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
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Charity name Friends of Old Park & Chequers Wood
Other name the charity uses
Registered charity number 1209838
Charity’s principal address 8 Longport
Canterbury
Kent
CT1 1PE
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Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
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Dates acted if not for whole Name of person (or body) entitled
Trustee name Office (if any)
year to appoint trustee (if any)
1 Patricia Edwards Chair
2 Hilary Adams Treasurer Appointed 15.12.25
3 Kathleen Lovell Secretary
4 Kathryn Allberry
5 Peta Boucher
6 Jean Butcher
7 Jan Pahl
8 Sian Pettman
William Appointed 3.3.25
9
Rowlandson
10
11
12 Past members
13 Dane Buckman Resigned 26.5.25
14 Michael Smith Resigned 3.3.25
15
16
17
18
19
20
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– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets N/A held in this capacity Name and objects of the N/A charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for N/A safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of Name Address adviser
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
| Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date |
P Edwards |
|---|---|
| Patricia Edwards | |
Chair |
|
| 17.2.26 | |
| 17.2.26 |
Charity Name No (if any) Friends of Old Park and Chequers Wood Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period Period start date Period end date To from 2.9.24 31.12.25
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Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds Last year
funds funds funds
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Donations 16,178 - - 16,178 -
Gift Aid 271 - - 271 -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total (Gross income for
AR) [ 16,449 ] - - 16,449 -
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- - - -
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts 16,449 - - 16,449 -
A3 Payments
Website 1,709 - - 1,709 -
Promotional material 2,217 - - 2,217 -
Software 835 - - 835 -
Insurance 295 - - 295 -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total [ 5,056 ] - - 5,056 -
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total [ - ] - - - -
Total payments [ 5,056 ] - - 5,056 -
Net of receipts/(payments) 11,393 - - 11,393 -
A5 Transfers between funds - - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end - - - - -
Cash funds this year end 11,393 - - 11,393 -
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CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
08/03/2026
1
| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at | the end of the period | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B1 Cash funds |
Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Bank Details Details Details Signature P Edwards |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 11,393 - - - - - 11,393 - OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name P EDWARDS |
Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - |
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - - - - - When due (optional) Date of approval 2.3.26 |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
08/03/2026
2