## **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|
**----- Start of picture text -----**
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