GROWING TOGETHER il
REPORT INTRODUCTION Tom Skirrow- Chair of Board As Chair of The Art of Forests, it is a trl FAeasure to present ow fi'rst Annual Report for the year eling 31 December 2025. This first year of being a registered ch8rity tss been cne d steady progress and growing contidence in the value of our commmity. and tts activities. The challenges that face tfK)se working to restore 8ThJ protect nature remain si8nrficant ArourKI the world. practitioners are navigating ir)creasingly complex environmental, fina181 and SOCI81 landsc8pes, often with limited opporturwties to learn frLYn one another or access ttr suppK)rt tlw reed. Against this backdrop, The Art of Forests has continued to provide 8 space where pe0Fe can conrEct across disciplines, geographbes and institutions in a spirit ot frietlshIP. reciprocity and shared pwwse. What makes The Art of Forests distir£tive is not simth the breadth of our membership. but the quality of the rat¢nShIpS wthin tt. We bring tcgether practitioners. project deloper$. researchers, tinancier& commurity leaders and others workn at different rKJints in the nature restoration ecosystem. By Creati opwrtunities for honest conversation and practal exchange. we [p brge the divKles that can otherwise hinder progress. Throughout 2025, we cOntind to strengthen ow ro as 8 trusted convenor. Our dialogue initiatives created opportynities for participants to share experiences and perspectrves that are often absent from formal discuOnS. ImportanOy, these conversations demnstrated that many of the barriers faced across the sector are shared. even where t1Y are experienced differenuy. Part1pantS repeatedly highlghted tl Val of devdoping a greater understanding of one another's realities constraints contritMJtir to a nre nuanced and collaratIve appr08ch to prOblenF1r8. ()Jr knoWledge-S9rIng work also evolved 0r tF year. A great example of our work in practice is a workstream that was lJJilt from earlier discussions around land rights and tenure,. this exparKled into deeper, more practical discuSsnS and case studies on communtty berEfit sharing and partsierships. One of the rrnst encoura8irE aspects of tse exchanges has been the willirgness of members to share lessons. tools insights that might traditionally remain within indrvTrdual organisations. gjch as management plans or community agreement templates. This generosity reflects the culture that has develcped wrthin Art of Forests reinforces our bdief thgt collective progress depends on openness arKI trust.
8 a small charity, we remain rrdndful of our responsibility to use o resources Careful and effectively. Much of that have achieved h8s been made possible throu8h the dedication cl trustees staff, volunteers 8nd members who continue to cOntribe thr time. expertise and energy because they believe in oiK mis&cn. While our tinanc181 and operatbonal capacrty remains ndest and ueY1n. our influence is increasin8ly demor6trat&J through the comectio we facilitate, the conversatKins we enable and the confidence cur members place in our conynunity. None of this would be possible W[[Ul those cfM)ose to walk alongsKle u& On behalf of the Board, I would like to eXtLd my sincere thanks to our members. partners, supporters and furKlers for IF1r continued encouragement 8r)J commitment. I would also like to recognise the hard work a1 dedaCli of my fdlcfvv trustees ar) everyone invOd in tt* day-to-day runrmng of Organisati1. As we l(xik ahead. we (k) so with Opti1$M. The environment81 challenges we face are profound and urgent, but so tcL) is the determination of those working to address therYL The Art of Forests was fourKled on the belief that meanin8tul change happens through relationships.. by bringing people together. fosterin8 ufKJerstarKJin8 and creatin8 LVWrt1tieS to leam from one amther. The experIeeS of the past year have ody strengthened that convictiorL l am proud of what The Art (A Forests has aclieved dwing 2025. 8Tr grateful to all those wh) have contribjted to this jourY. Together. we continue to build a community capable of sur4)ortin8 the peOe and organisations working to restore and protect nature for the beneh't of pecple and the planet. Tom Skim>w Chair ol TnJstee& l)) of Ttre Art of Forests P(swd d Trus 4 August 2026
Our Charitable Objectives and How We Deliver Them During the year ended December 2025, The Art of Forests pursued the following charitable objectives. Our charitable objectives ale to advance environmental protection for the public benefit worldwide by: Objective I Uniting organisations who are dedicated to the advancement of environmental protection, afforestation, reforestation. ecosystem restoration and nature conaservation. Objective 2 Advancing education by fostering a space for the exchange of information and best practices and to make the useful results and guidance available and accessible for people globally. Objective 3 Fosterng sustainable and resilient livelihoods through. but not limited to. the provision of education and knOedge, facilitatK)n of access to technok)gy and innovations, and financial support to encourage tree plantin& agroforestry, conservation and other such activitEs concerning the elimination of the detrimental effects ot climate change and environmentsl degradation.
How These Objectives are Delivered in Practice The Art of Forests gJFPtrts menbers n the desi Mpmentati)Tr scaring of their nature-based 8obJtiorts. We h&ft close to 200 I1val membws reryeseniing over 130 orglSatIC third4 oJr members are er81(S ar devekws n the Fèforestaiim Afftyest8ticn 8rKI Rtor8DCI 4xce whilst others 8re in Folt'SurPcrt' rc4e5 such 85 ttehnc4w. fnance aG8derria. The Art of Forests A¢fvctAtes lorour membas and flIfte$ sh8ring irlorm8tv)n cm p1 updates.. we so ld didogue entS al¢Ming merrtjers to spea direcly ith rewlatw bcMlie5 such &$ carbr sttrKlrxd& pc4y makers in¥eus. The Trtlees hwe had ¢JJe regard the Charity CrmISSi.5 gud8rce cffi pl1trA trenelii n Aethrtknce hth seeuon 17 of Chariries Act 2011 Tthen makrE decisons enwring cxJr tr¢ieS reman fctused cn deSbering p)sni¥e 1c(re3 fcK ttre ccrtnmthity we seple. wrth al res0¢8 de(%cated to charit&) aim& We IlIf¢e 0r spe fr)r merrters io CoreCt drecdy thdicated Wh8tsApp dMe fr>CLksng on IfifferÈnt trpic4 ch As biom qJantlfrCat Lgnd riBht4 or FYOPCt mJ)a8emeni 0he$. We 4$0 run events tfjsed the •nèrEeni of tmjf merrbèo nviting wÈrts ta tyesent on sFeeific tLViC& These are he over Zocm Bs we community-only ents vknich 81(M peer-t FEer sharng. supprrt. probkni Nkntrr5 t access CL¥dIS of Al past erts ttrwh Shtred online (*Ne.
Introduction Caroline Pakel- Executive Director & Community Lead Whether you are readirg this as a memter. supporter. patron. ambassador of tFE Art of Forests or gmply as sOrrE0 curious to more about the Charity its activitE& eaSe be wdcorre! Registsring the Art of Forests as a charity with the UK tharity commission in November 2024 Maed ttrE xt iteration for a community of land stewards which had 0ri8in8lly grown Or88rC811Y 8s 8 need for friendship and help in the desgn, devdoprrEnt 8nd implementation of thar Afforeststion, Reforest8tK)n and Revegetation FKoject. Indeed, when initially laUhed by Celia Frarris 8nd Sarah Scott at COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021. our beginnings were veyy humble. It is only ttrNgnks to a sponsorship from Terrafomation that we were able to experiment and eXOre what the ccmmurnty needed for the first rIOd of 25 years. Gaining a charitable status was key to r1$ of a wider range of funders and SpororS arKI amplty Ihe work cOThjtl thus f8r. And so it was. as we were granted funds fr7) the Robert Bosch Foundation in January 2025. 2025 suddenly became mt only our first operational year as a charity but our first experIee of being funded to a level that allowed tlE implementatior) of solid organisation81 strtureS and esseS the corOIaCffi of o kncmledge sharing online platform and the wototyping of acfvocacy work wtth fi'nance. To both TerrafOrmBti( and the Robert Bosch FOdatn. we remain grateful. For thr shared Msion and UerstandirE of the need for Sljch community as the Art of Forests for thar bdief 8nd trust wlich have oped the door to many new conversatiorn8 8nd possibilit& The work to support those wh) protect restore and heal the land and the comMunitS who depend on it for t1r surviwdl a wellbeing keeps on. We ho to attract contiwed interest from those who can frdcilirate th"s support Mcwi forward. If you are one of them. please get in loth! W*mest wishes. C•rofine hkel Ewuuve Direa(w & C¢ynrrnJnity Le8d 3 AuKu5t 2026
ptslie The work t(bSU4polthose who protect,frestore and heal the land and th£ communitses who de P-D, it for their surviva! a SNellbeing keeps on. 14 jl
Trustee's Report: Highlights of our activities This year was focused on building our membership base and offering responsive support to emerging member needs. Insights raised by members directly shape our planned activities - from launching new workstreams and expert sessions, to conducting surveys, publishing guidance, or convening stakeholders on topical issues. Objective I Uniting organisations who are dedicated to the advancement of environmental protection. afforestation. reforestatio ocosystern restoration and nature conservation. rked on eyarding pbsite to en(nur8ge lo enajle (firtt nah)rk8 beeen rrEmtEr5. We set up inta&tNe trmters rn4)' cffi oJr website, 81wng mwnbers fynd wSir$I to each 01 8btrl reporL w(KEd on B prIVe memtrEfS b. b%l)ere memters upload prohles cortA det818.' this is io Iwnch in 202& We oflicialy IwrKhed the Art d Fe$l$ chwffy Lond<)n Climate Action vk in June 202& rasin8 I18re$S lor our woth 8rKI tyjr rnembws as 11 8s wcking wih mY oiher olgl1C dsobÈpn a LInklItt cnppA8n 1th stt8d in Octc)er 2025 and ceThed In 2026,. this has alohed us to cThe our MeMr$, the beli1$ of tEinE 8 merrtjer. netbth rew rrÉfflbers We grevrf oJr memtership to194 ty the end of 2025 a)gJrirE dl members had CesS toour a[e tsApp communfty chats." ttre oiSr* sPe Ped ro include over 30 cne. We held resporsNe online everts to manbern to 0)nnt Pp1 8rther cwer Zocm didcELtt.
Objective 2 Objective 3 Advancin8 education by fostering a space for the exchan8e of information and best pra¢ti¢es and to make th8 useful results and guidance available and a¢ce$$ible for people globally. Fostering sustainable and resilient livelihoods through, but not limited to. the provision of education and knowledg8. tacilitation of acce$$ totechnology and innovations, and Ilnancial supportto encourage tr88 planting, a8rotorestry. conservation and other such a¢tivitie$ concerning the elimination of the detrimental effects of climato change and environmental dègradation. We hekl 34 onlire Zoom dakws in 202& wh.ch toteJ 747 inc5vJud registrat1) f0CLed c trpics th8t emer6d from nber corwers8tth)ns as timety reV[. mcA8t ptpukT W•StreA$ k)r the on L1 Rghts &rl Ternre. Ic¥ vA)£h ekl three ordine di¥u QLeritC8fiCll frx wtrich %e hekl sevffi try end of ttre ye¥. Our Secretal keerts in ccffimuriclon with thjr memLws. reaches to new memlers. byho We 8Ctivety kIr 4anst the detriffentg effects of clin&Tr ch8rEe and ¥Orrenf4 dey&J8ri(n (r YkstreamS C 8 wide rry el irtlLdr¥. - Agroftytsiry [reIAoEY B)dIversItY - Brro$S Qua)tikAtitin - 8hJe Carbon - C8rbon siw¥d5 Hub Yrked to laclitste difectcomrrnnicthie between mertjers Fx)1'cn8kerS 8nd other srakehcA(kns such as certi8 bcxJie& We A sei& of en[S with reweseniotives fr<Yn the Symb'osis Inves1 coaliti)rL as well as dieJ(wes ith matr credii verifi(8tiC 5tWKlwds brxyy - FirnncirE Ing FuThSng Opp¢Jtunilies - Rights TenJre - Loed Cixnmurity Engagement - Verra ARR Methodd4ry - PRIMedH InfIing - S8feguarcÈ aid 11 Irnpt - Symb'oss RPF so r&sed &renesS drec1 Ic¥ tsjr manbers and their This inckJded a rVeY of memters, eXereS in C1)n rn8rkEL wh£h was corrpi intr& a feprt th th quditative and wAnb"tatNe dats andysis in 202& We invite exFerts io speak and present cn specifc t1¢ such 8$ T¥ Rinwdo cffi tsrmers rn81 n8lLwd re8eTwattin {FMNRI Professcy Shbun l)Jeg8n Ircm ihe Eurcpthn Spe A&wKy. E8th gJest i5 irvited to treir expvtise. but 8&0 f1&tte n discussion in every sessioTr 81owin8 al merrbets. voices to te Frd. Al e¥er¢s we recc(kn 8r(l pled 8 shwed rrÈmbef5' Gwle ThR r£ludnE a trcTI[ eetw)8 summary, enbt4ng 81 membtrs io 8cctss nformath)n frcm 81 sessicr6 regardbss of ltIlty me20ne.
Structure and Governance
Structure
Reference and
Athninistration Details
Thè Charity is regBieral as a Chait8trAe Inefjrw8ted
(ganill0n (cio). and esia)Ished un(Èr
CL)nailuti¢K vA)ich d81es b&k to12th knembef 2(r24.
The Art of FostS is 8 UK Charity stsfed
12th ernb 2024.
The CIO rrthd was ced ty itre )msSic
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Financial Performance The linancid report. 1ThpeenY exwnined t found In the folowing pes of this rewi. The Trustees bre paSed io rwt thai the charity h& mei wrth trjr Fro'ect's funrth&sing targets in oJr fvst fftr. A totd gmss •Mnt raised £102,070 Expendtturg tIrtd £62,161 Net cAsh funds at the ond d tNs fknHnclal year totsllod £39,909 This repui w85 0ved the Bd of TrlE[ eit drv He&kl tyPerS<In ofthe Board Ch beh4f of The Art of Foresi$ &)wd cl Trus*e8 25 AugLJS= 2C26 12
Reserves Policy The Art of Forests is tIve seekirÉ ln$tCted fur(Iing to hleVe tke thsired Ve1 of reserlfft rriiiE8te risk cl unfrxeseen costs and temprK8ry C85h fbw Sh1&. The Art of Ftrests SeS pc4ty reWed updatrd during May 202& This pdry LS Xttvely Monired rled & ihe Pld Trustees. m&iin8S tw¢ month The trLBtees hwe designated reser whwe thwe e pl&d crynmitments th8t c?[ tr mrf trty ttipar&l fuiure intorrE ÈkTr. Ihese res@¥e5 arè oken dohn into a numter OF funds that rele t FU1& D•dr•d R•s•p4e8 by.. 3181 D•cwnbw 2025 al Fun topro4i¢ toma8t wlu8seen èy0$ £zo E2011 roswve costor fè(wirq fLfftdry loc an w8ent pK)IL 5wJ sri months of stwwrt Costs. Pwg)r¥wl Rasw¥• £I&LK)O Tryéo months to&ts ofGrant Irr(y ÉSJ topro4i¢* e4th if (¥t IxLYr Cash Fkjw Éio n••J to thcrt-twm dthits ina c8 Wet. for èxam0• mLffiey Tot•1 £2,017 13
tr Art
Independent Examiner's Report Ind8p8nd•nt Examinqrf# r•p(rt to the trugtq•s al ThB Art ol For•sts I to the trustees cn my a8mn8ticffj ol the ¢nIS ot the &JcF4e chwty f the period to 31st fcerter 202& As the tharily truaÈè5 of thÈTfUSi. IrAJ WÈ responsib fcA thè pryfAtion of ttrÈ 8ccoJnts n ldarte vlith ihe requrai)ents d the charit$ kt 21 {"the Acr J I report in rFect of my e)3mir¢ticfft d the T'S a(cour¢s rrEd uThJer seciDn 145 of the 2011 Aa and n trwn8 my exvnlDry I fcAbb%Ed thÈ Dl'recti)ns gNen ty the Charity thrrm1ss1L under secti7 I5)(b} of the Att. The c0JntS W be PFered 8 Rec8pts Pwmer¢s b8sis in ace0rdè with settion r43 crf thè èct l eonh"m thai i trove the rewisite sklis exp"e[e the In<perTrdeni Ex8min8fi(m ihis chwity 10 tte &8rdS feqJired 8s set cxJt li AFpendix 5 c CC32 Atthc rebred frcKn 8S an Bttourt8nt &8 8 rrÉmber of 8 lisd professi atctyJntbncy bjty. I cortinut tts condud a Thjmber of ertarThriations on voluntary b88iS year. l c(J)fimi thlaM irKperKknt d the charity as set wi in tJ"recti)n 2 of CQ2 I have comFJeted fty exwninaiitrL I ttfirn that no mawial mtttters have cfft to my 8ttenti in cc¥v)ecil With the extrninL}ft Thl)Trch gives me cwse to bd¥e that irL 8ry material SPeCt actNting reeords V•rÈ kerrt in ¥bith SÈCXits) IX) Act the èc£ourts do noi Ibith the tnt1Th8 l r#) c(eMS Cofre rC8S Th) other rrotters in conrecti)n 1h the ey3rninatDn to vthich alntI sh(MJld drA¥bm in or(r io prcper understsndr4g ol the &c(yJnis to be re&hed. Andrew Mo(e (hdependent Ex•ffdner) Bbawentr¢ SwlIfynmn Ystr8d Pèeurig SY25 6AW 15
Tilrt Financial Statements Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31st December 2025 Charity Registered Number 1210898 I'r . ril.
Receipts and Payments Account The Art of Forests For the year ended 31 December 2025 R•atrkt•d lthr#trfct•d R•e•5pts 82.Tas 3.&)8 8S803 MbSlip &Jbscipiion8 76248 16248 BaL Cash B8c 19 T•t•l A•¢dpts 815 B275 IOZ070 Ptym•nts Prc4•ct C•%ts ALI1 & Mkètin8 COnstarrtS 9.081 44351 E4nt Spx• Hr• 4.3 4380 Sth)mit CLXts 115 s•V An&Vsis & R•wtviq l620 1.820 Tra1 & SS&s18• 3.827 6.282 Tat•l Pril•et Costs 43353 644 $8.$97 SUprt Co¥t• £CO¥V Fees 40 40 8ard( Fws compl•c(¥ 85 85 IT &)ttw8 & Cel)mabl&S 4XJ lJ34 l664 3) 512 Paynt S•Thi¢ F••$ 770 770 SthLYioDns 189 169 Trn1 & D•VjpMt Website Dw•bpMl & H(tng llo T•1 suPrt Costs 950 1614 3.S64 Totsl P•ym•nts 44x13 17.258 N•t he•lpt• & Payrmnts IMo¥•mffit kn Funth 37.892 39.909 Tat•l Fundiewrl•d loVd ••at 31* D•e•mb•Y 2025 37.892 39.909 17
Statement of Assets & Liabilities The Art of Forests As at 31 December 2025 31 O•t 2025 Ass•ts CA%h and h)d 39.9 Tatd CUrrt AM•ts Furds 37B92 Lkyestre¢j FurKts 2017 T•td Funth The Fnanckal St&eMlS were appythed and Jihorised ICY i8S try the Tru8e8 ( 25 Augus: 2026 J sigred on their teh8f ty. Andrew Herjd Ch&ir of Trustres The rw)tes on pg8e 19 form of these finCId sts*ments. 18
Notes to the Financial Statements The Art of Forests For the year ended 3tst December 2025 l. Accounting Policies 4. Transactions with trustees B•sls olAeeountlr There tfe Th) during the reLgted io trLtstres' rernurer8ti)n berfvtS. tr11se w&5 These aCcntS we on 8 rec8pts payments b8si4 lolbbvng best FY&lise as l&d dtr+ in statwwt of reCcmmjed te"Ac0)Urtln8 d Rep)rting by C8riies" ISORP2019). Tmih al rtswxjè apèns& shovm on a eAsh b&i p•d £50.S) t-to-PrkE[ travd &pense& 5. Transactions with related parties Fund ACcntI Untricd fuTrJs we w81J)le fu Le a itre dsue1 of rhe trLEtees in rther>e of itre gEr81 d)&rit8b Obl11¥e$. Restrrted furyls We donthl fc 8 P&trubr prqt PLfFose. itre Le of thich s reStrted thai ryqert cx Pur5& These lIde attirE grart5 ayj contracts from irdivJuds i)StibJtwx6 Ic yoMs)n of SFecth'c tiVitIeS iy There we no trSaCtI(S during the with itrtsae pefSCfftS enDtits t1 we dosely conneaed with Ihe ch¥i(y cf its trustees (rebted wrties). 6. CIO guarantees and secured debts 2. Going concern The irustees corlirm n fLcc¢darte vrfith the Ch¥itatAe Irc3d Orgl58t1CfftS IGènef8D ReIstIc5 2011th at theAr the Clodid not ha¥eAry oJtstsN&ry8 gU&te& to tliTd p&ties nor any thbl Se0J C assets of the CD. The therity i8 c)er8ting cn a &rJirE o)nwn b8si& )ing coyern assessment is the bo8rd of trustees vthth h&5 a rea&&Jlè th the Art ol Fcxests has $Jflen1 res(NJrces to CltIJe n orErh)n ar le8St 8 ye8r frcm ihe d*e c 5EninE tti5 trustees reput ar ftr thè foreseetsb futu. 3. Charitable activities Grant& FI0rt Boxeh Stiftth8 Unr•stTrkt•d 202S R•stAet•d 2025 Toial 2025 8Z795 .Tr5 81795 •Z795 19
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