arity registration number205245 IEngland and Wale51 THE FRIENDS OF ASHDOWN FOREST ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025 Doc ID.. 9af8b934S8bd2eOb627d346480bdbfcb227582d9
THE FRIENDS OF ASHDOWN FOREST LEGALAND ADMINisfRATIVE INFORMATION Trustees Mrs P Arnold Ms D J Barber MBE Ms S J Taylor M5 R R MaTriott MrWNLove Ms H J Randall M5 J Wirdnaffl Chrlty number 205245 Reglsrered )fll¢¢ 4 Pollington Place Chapel Green Crowsborough East Su55ex England TN6 2NG Independent examlner Ollver Read FCCA ACA Jarnes Todd & Co Limited Drayton House Drayton Lane ChKhester West Sussex P020 2EW Doc ID.. 9af8b934S8bd2eOb627d346480bdbfcb227582d9
THE FRIENDS OF ASHDOWN FOREST CONTENTS Page TrustÈes' report Independent exarniner's report statement ol flnancial activities Balance sheet Notes to the linantial statements 6-12 Doc ID.. 9af8b934S8bd2eOb627d346480bdbfcb227582d9
THE FRIENDS OF ASHDOWN FOREST TRUSTEES, REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE2025 The trustees present their annual rewrt and financial staiements for the yearended 30 June 2025. The financial ststements hève beÈn prepared in ac£ordancÈ with the a£countin8 policies set out In note I to the flnanclal statements and comply with the charity's 8overnin8 document. the Charities Att 2011 and "Accounting and Reporting by Ch8fltles.' Statement of Recommended Prattice applicable to charities preparing their accounts In accordan with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable In the UK ènd Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021" (effective l January 20191. Objerti¥es and activities The objects. a5 laid down in the constitution are.. by voluntary effort to a5515t in the conservatioD of A5hdown FO5t and the implementstion of the charitsble purpose of the Forest Act., to provide fund5 lor the purpose ol supplernentin8 in Such a rnanneras the charity think fit the resources available to the Board of Con5ervators', and to encourage Inte$t in the con5ervotion. maintenan. preSetiOn arKI peaceful enjoyrnent of the Forest by Such means as the Charity deerns fit. The pollcles adopted in furtherance of these objects are io pUbl1$t the existence ol the Charity by whatever means are thought flt and to ralse funds by wèy of donations. subscriptions and legacies and the has beefi no £han&e in these dvring the year. The commlttee members have pèid due regard to ihe 8yidance issued by the Charity Commisslon in de¢ldlng whai acflvitles the Charity should undertake reBarding public benefit. A¢hlevernerts and performance Sl8nlflcant actfvltles and achlevements a8alnst oble(tl¥es The Committee have continued to work, in a wholly voluntary capacity. to psent your inte$t$ in assistlng the conservaiion, pSerVatIOn and educational aspetts of Ashdown Fo$1. Durlng thls flnanclal year. we have continued to support the fundin8 of the FO$1 Centre Education Programme. The academic veèr 2024125 has been another successful one for the team and over 2,5W children have visited the sitÈ. The team has again conducted outreach sessions in local schools, as well as running parent and toddler groups and a series of events for famllies and children. The monthly Youth Volunteer Group for young people from the age of thirteen up to sixth form age continues to be popular, with many attivities from pullin8 bracken. bramble clearance and cutting Christmas trees to name but a few. As school budgets are increasingly tight and coach travel is becoming even more expensNe. some of the schools continue to take up the travel bursaries provided by the Friends. Also. during this financial year, the Frv&nds agreed ro fund the refurbishment of the Information Barn at the Ashdown Forest Vis¢tor cent whKh wll be on8o¢n8 during the autumn of 2025 and into 2026. Thi5 represents a major Investment by the Friends. Flnantial review Reserves pollcv It IS the policy of the charity that unrestrirted funds which have not en designaied for a specific use should be maintained at level equivalent to between three and six month's expendiiure. The trustees consider thar reserves at this level will ensure that, In the event of a significant drop in fundin& rhey will be able to continue The charity's current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additnal lunds may be raised. This level ol resee5 has been maintained throughout the year. Plansforfuture perlods The demands on the Friends are likety to remain foT the foreseeable future. and our mission is to continue to SUPPOrt the Con5ervator5 where we can in these challenging financial time5. In light of recent funding cuts to the Fo5t and the pre55ure on their re-structured staff team. tt 15 Still envisaged we shall not be activety seeking opportunities to purchase land in the future. We shall iontinue to support the Forest Centre Education Progratnrne, and this retnains a priority. We shall also ÈndÈavour to help fund other projerts as they arise in titnÈs to torne. including itnpr(wernÈnts to the Ashdown ForÈst Visitor Centre. Doc ID.. 9af8b934S8bd2eOb627d346480bdbfcb227582d9
THE FRIENDS OF ASHDOWN FOREST TRUSTEES, REPORT ICONTINUEDI FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE2025 structure. governance and management The Charity was established by a charitablÈtFust deed on 2nd of DeCemr 1961. The trustees who Served durinE the year and vp tothe date of 5igThature of the financial statements were.. Mr5 P Arnold Ms O J Barber MBE M5 S J Taylor Ms R R Marriott Mr W N Lovett Ms H J Randall Ms J Wlrdnam Totsl a88re8ate amount of donations received from the Trustee5 amounted to £44112023.. £3621 made up a5 follows.. P Arnold £33, H Randall £120. N Lovett £36, J WirdTham £36. D 6arber £Ed), R Marriott £36. STaWor £120. The trustees, report was approved bythe Board ol Trustees. Mrs P Arnold Trustee Date.. 1011212025 Doc ID.. 9af8b934S8bd2eOb627d346480bdbfcb227582d9
THE FRIENDS OF ASHDOWN FOREST INDEPENOENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE FRIENDS OF ASHDOWN FOREST I report to the trustees on my examination of the finala1 ststements ol The FrThs of Ashdown Forest (the charity) for the yeèr ended 30 June 2025. Responsibilities and basis of report As thè trustees of the thèrity you art resw)nsiblÈ for iht pparatiOn of the financial statements in atcordancÈ with th requirements of the Charities Att 2011. I report in respert of my exèmination of the charity's financial statements carried ot under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Oirections gwen by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the Charities Act 2011. Independefit examlner's aternent Your èttention Is drèwn to the fact that the charity has prepared the linancial statements in ac£ordance wlth the relevant version of the Stètement of Recommended Practke applicable to charlties preparing their financlal statements In accordance with the Flnèncial Reporting Standard applicable in the VK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021 in preference to the Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. Statement of Recommended PractKe issued on l April 2(K)S which is referred to In the extant regulatlons but has now been withdrawn. l understand that this has been done in order for the financial statements to provlde true and fair view In accordance with UK GeTher3llyAccepted Accounting Prartice. I have cornpleted my examination. I coThfirrn that no matters have corne to my attention in connection with the e¥amination 81vin8 rne cause to believe that in any material resFect'. accountlng records were not kept in respect of the charity as requlred by sectlon 130 of the Charitles Act 2011. the financial statements do not accord with those records., or the financial statements do not comply with the applicable requiremenis concerning the form and content of flnanclal statements set out In the Chariries Ikcounts and Reportsl Regulations 28 other than any requirement that the financial statements 8ive a true and lair view. which is not a matter considered as part ol an independent examination. I have no ttJncern5 and hove come ocross no other rnotters ih tt+Thr1tin with the examiThotion to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understandin8of the financial statements to be reached. Ollver Read FCCA ACA lame5 Todd & Co Limited Drayton House Drpyton Lane Chichester West Sussex P020 2EW England Dated-. 11 11212025 Doc ID.. 9af8b934S8bd2eOb627d346480bdbfcb227582d9
THE FRIENDS OF ASHDOWN FOREST sfATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACtIVlTIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE2025 Unrestricted Restricted lurtd$ fvnds 2025 2025 Total Unrestricted funds 2024 Restrlrted funds 2024 Total 2025 2024 Notes In<tsme Irom.. Donations and legacSes Investments 119.021 854 119.021 854 82,9)9 82,909 880 Total Income 119.875 119.875 83.789 83.789 Expenditure on: R3i5ing funds 5.191 84,851 5.191 84.851 5,170 27,733 5,170 27,733 Total txptndltur• 90,042 90,042 32,903 32,903 Net gains/llossesl on investments li 13,9571 13.9571 20,323 20,323 Net Income and movement In funds 25.876 25.876 71,209 71,209 Reconclllatlon of ful$.. Fund balances at l Juty 2024 277.667 278.055 206.458 388 206,846 Fund balances at 30 June 2025 303.543 303.931 277,667 388 278,055 The statement of finèncial attivities includes all Bains and losses retO8nised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities. Doc ID.. 9af8b934S8bd2eOb627d346480bdbfcb227582d9
THE FRIENDS OF ASHDOWN FOREST BALANCE SHE ASAT30JUAIE 2025 2025 2024 Notes Fixed assets Inve5ttnents 13 211.598 215,555 Current assets Debtors Cash at bank and In hand 14 183 93.770 183 63.847 93.953 11.6201 64,030 11.5301 Credltor5: amounts fallln8 due wlthln one year 15 Net current assets 92.333 62,500 Total a55ets le55 current Ilabllhles 303,931 278,055 The funds of the charlty Restricted incoTne funds Unrestricted funds 16 17 388 277,667 303,543 303,931 278,055 1011212025 The financlal ststements were approved by the trustees on......................... Mrs P Arnold Trustee Mr W N Lovett Doc ID.. 9af8b934S8bd2eOb627d346480bdbfcb227582d9
THE FRIENDS OF ASHDOWN FOREST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL sfATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE2025 Accountlng pollcles Charity inforniation The Friends of A5hdown FO$1 is a charity listered with the Charities Commission of England and Wales. number 205245. The charity is governed by a Trust Deed dated 8 November 2012. as dÈtailÈd in the Trustees. RÈport. 1.1 Bas15 of preparatlon The finèntial statements have been prepared in at(ordantÈ with the thafity's 8ovÈrnin8 dotument, thè Charities Act 2011. FRS 102 "The Financial RÈporting Standard applitable in thÈ UK and Republic of Ireland- I"FRS 102.1 and th Charlties SORP "Accounting and Reporting by Charities." Statement of Recommended Practice appllcable to chèritles preparing thelr accounts In accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021. (effective l January 20191. The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102. The charSty has taken advantage of the provlsfjons in the SORP lor charities Trot to prepare a Ststement of Cash Flows. The financial 5tatement5 have departed from the Charitie5 IAccounts and Report51 Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide ¥ true and fair view. Thi5 deptyrtu h•5 involved followin8 the Ststement of Recornrnended Prèctice for charities applying FRS 102 rather than the Ver5)n of the Statement of Retommended Prnctice which is referred to in the Regulations but which has sinte been witFwlrawn. The flnanclal statements are prepared In sterlin& which is the functioThal currency ol the charlty. Monetary amounts In these flnancial statements are rounded to the nearest £. The finèncial statements have been Prepa under ihe historKal cost convention. The prln¢lpal ¥c¢ountin8 poll¢ies adopted are set out below. 1.2 Golnz concern At the time of approving the liTrancial ststements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charlty has adequate resources to continue In operational existence lor the foreseeable future. Thus the trustee5 contlnue to adopt the 8oin8 concern basis of accounting in preparin8 the linancial statements. 1.3 Charitabl¢lunds Unrestricted funds are avallable lor use at the dlscretion of the trustees In furtherance of their charitable oblectlves. Restricted fund5 are Subject to specific conditlOn5 by donor5 or grantors a5 to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are sel oul in Ihe rleS to the financial statements. Endowment funds are svbje¢t to specific ¢ondttions Iiy donots thai the capi1 mutt be maintained by the ¢harity. 1.4 Income Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditlOll5 have been met, the amounts can be rnea5ured reliably. and it is probable that irKorne will be received. C85h donations are recogni5ed on receipt. Other donation5 are Tecogni5ed once the tharity has been notrfied of th donation, unless perforrnante tonditions require defÈrral of the amount. Iniome tax retovÈrablÈ in relation to donations received under Grft Aid or deeds of Covenant is recognised at the time of the donation. Lega£les are recognised on receipt or othenvise if ihe charity has en noirfied of an impending distribution. the amount is known. and receipt is experted. If the annI is not known. Ihe legacy is treaied as a contingent 8sset. Doc ID.. 9af8b934S8bd2eOb627d346480bdbfcb227582d9
THE FRIENDS OF ASHDOWN FOREST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL sfATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE2025 Accounting policies Icontinuedl 1.5 Expendlture E¥penditure Is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obli8atioTh to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it 15 probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlemenL and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliablv. Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the totsl of direct Costs and shad costs, including support Costs involved in undertaking each activity- Dirert Costs attributsble to a single activity are allocated directly to that artivity. Shared costs which contribute io rn0 than one activity and sUPtK)rt Costs which a not attributable to a single artivity a apport)ned between ¢h¢he artNities on a ba515 consistent with the use of $our¢e5. Central staff costs are allocated on ihe basis of time spent. and dePCl8t10n charges a all(Kated on the portlon of the asset's use. 1.6 Flxed asset Investments Flxed asset investments are Initially measUd at transaction price excluding iransactlon costs, and are subsequently measured at fair value at each pOrting date. Changes in fair value are recognised in net incomellexpendlturel for the year. Transa¢iion costs are expensed as incurred. 1.7 Cash and cash egulvalents Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand. deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid Investments with original maturities of three month5 or less. and bank overdrafts. 8ank overdrafts are shown within borrowin85 in 1.8 Fln•n¢l•l Inmwmerfs The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 '8asic Financial Instruments, and Sectlon 12 '0ther Flnancial In5trurnent5155ue5' of FRS 102 to ¥ll ol its financial instruments. Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity bewmes party to the contractual provisions of ihe instrumeni. Flnancièl assets ènd liabilities are offset. with the net amounts psented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the re£o8nised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simuhaneously. 80si¢finon¢iqlo55ets B45ic financial a55et5, which include debtor5 and £a5h and bank balan£e5. are initialty tneasured at tran5artion price including transaction c05ts and are subsequently carried at amortised c05t Using the effertive interest method unle55 the arrèngement ton5titutes a financing transartion, where the transattion is measured at the present value of th future receipts discounted at a market rate of inttrtst. Finantial assets classified as te1vable within one year a not amortised. Doc ID.. 9af8b934S8bd2eOb627d346480bdbfcb227582d9
THE FRIENDS OF ASHDOWN FOREST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL sfATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE2025 Accounting policies Icontinuedl Boskfinonciul Ilubllitles Basic financial Iièbilities. IncludSng credrLors and bank loans are initlally recognlsed at transa£tlon price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction. where the debt instrument Is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted èt a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised. Debt instruments are sub5equenttycarried at amorti5ed c05t, usingthe effective Interest rate method. Trade creditors are obli8ations to paylor 8oods or 5ervice5 that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operation5 from Suppliers. Amount5 payable are cla55ified a5 current liabilities if payment is due within one year or le55. If not, they are preserited a5 non-current liabilitie5. Trade cdItOrS a reco8nised inttially at transaction price and subsequently measured at arnorti5ed c05t Using the effective interest methotl. Derecoqnition ojfinonciulliobilities Financial liabilities are dereco8nised when the chan5 contractual obli8ath?nsexpire or are discharged or cancelled. 1.9 Employee beneffts The c05t ol èny unused holiday entitlement is reco8nised in the perlod in which the ernployee's servlces are recelved, Termination benefits a recognised immediatety as an expense when the charity is demonstrnbly cornmitted to terminate the employment of afi employee or to provide termination benefits. Itlcal accountlng estlmates and judgements ln the application ol the charity'5 accounting policies. the trustee5 are required to rnake judgement5, estlrnates and a55UrnPtion5 about the carryin8 amount of assets and liabilities that are not adIlY apparent frorn other 50urce5. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on histori¢al experience and other factors that are consldered to be relevant. Actual re5uIt5 rnay differ from these e5timate5. The estimates and undertyinE assumffjions a reviewed ofi ah ongoihg basis. Revisions to accountinÉ estimètes are recogni5ed in the period in which the e5tirnote is ViSed where the revision affect5 Only that period, or in the period of the revision and futu peri(xls where the revision afferts both curn1 and futu periods. Income from don*lons and le8ades Unrestrlcted funds 2025 Unrestrlcted funds 2024 Donations and gift5 Legacies Other 27.343 91.678 69,877 2,554 10,478 119,021 82.909 Doc ID.. 9af8b934S8bd2eOb627d346480bdbfcb227582d9
THE FRIENDS OF ASHDOWN FOREST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL sfATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE2025 Income from Investments Unrestricted funds Unrestricted funds 2025 2024 Interest ¢t1¥able 854 880 Expendllure on ralslng lunds Vnrestrl¢ted fund5 2025 Unrestrlrted fund5 2024 Fundrdl$lTh4 and publlclty Seeklngdonations, grants and legacSes 5.191 5,170 Expendlture on charftable actfvltles Unrestrlcted fund5 Unrestrlrted fund5 2025 2024 Dlrect costs Charitable donations 1,872 Grant funding of artivilies lsee note 71 76.702 11,584 Share of support and 8o¥ernance co#$ (see fi¢ 81 Support Governance 2.247 5.902 12,747 1,530 84.851 27,733 Analysis byfund Unrestricted funds 84.851 27,733 Grants payable Vnrestrirted fund5 2025 Unrestrirted lund5 2024 Education and school ttavel 76.702 11,584 Doc ID.. 9af8b934S8bd2eOb627d346480bdbfcb227582d9
THE FRIENDS OF ASHDOWN FOREST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL sfATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE2025 Support costs allocated to actlvltles 2025 2024 Prlnting, KX)stsge and ststionery Insurance Podcast Calendars Website costs Governènte tosts 1.235 232 1.168 239 10.750 338 120 1,662 248 532 5.902 8.149 14,277 Anatysed between: Unrestrlcted funds 8.149 14,277 Tru$t••$ None of the trustees lor any persons connected with theml received any remuneratlon or beneflts from the charlty durlng the year. 10 Employ••s The average monthly number ol employees durin8 the yearwas.. 2025 Number 2024 Number Total The were no employees whose arbnual remuneratloll W¥5 more than £60,(KKI. li Galns and losses on Investments Unrestrfrted lunds 2025 Unrestrfrted funds 2024 Gain5lllossesl ari5inE On: Revaluation of inve5tment5 13,9571 20,323 12 Taxation The charity is exempt from tsxatKJn on its adi¥tties taUSe all its iome is appli frjr charitable purposes. 10- Doc ID.. 9af8b934S8bd2eOb627d346480bdbfcb227582d9
THE FRIENDS OF ASHDOWN FOREST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL sfATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE2025 13 Flxed asset In¥estments UThli5ted investment5 C05t orvaluation At l July 2024 Valuation change5 215,555 13,9571 At 30 June 2025 211,598 Carrylng amount At 30 June 2025 211,598 At 30 June 2024 215,555 14 De01$ 2025 2024 Amourfs l•lllne dut wlthln on*ye•r PPaYmentS and 3c¢Ned Income 183 183 15 Credltoys: amounts falllng due wtthln one year 2025 2024 Accruals and deferred Income 1.620 1,530 16 Remrlcted lunds The restritted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances ol donations and grants held on trust subject to 5pecilic condition5 by donor5 a5 to how they may be used. At l July 20Z4 At 30June 2025 Chelwood Vachery 388 388 Prevlous year: At l July 20Z3 AI 30June 2024 Chelwo(Kl Vachery 388 388 Doc ID.. 9af8b934S8bd2eOb627d346480bdbfcb227582d9
THE FRIENDS OF ASHDOWN FOREST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL sfATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE2025 16 Restrided lunds Icontinuedl The fund labelled Chelwood Vachery consSsts ol amounts recelved with the restrKtsd purposes of reclalmlng and mproving an èrea of Ashdown Forest known by this name. 17 Unrestrirted lunds The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subjett to specific conditlons by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds whlch have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for spe(Ific purposes. At l Juty 1024 In¢¢mln8 Rewr¢esG•lns •nd losses Al 30June 2025 reswrces expended General funds 277.667 119.875 190.0421 13.9571 303,543 Pr•vlous y•ar: At l Juty 1023 lrt¢omln¢ Resour¢esG•lns and losms At 30Jun• 2024 r•sour¢es •¥pemded General funds 206.458 83.789 132.9031 20,323 277,667 18 Analy$l$ of net aM•ts l)etween lunds Unvestrkted funds 2025 Restrfrted funds 2025 Total 2025 At 30 June 2025.. Invèstments 211.598 91,945 211,598 92,333 388 303,543 388 303,931 Unrestrlcted fvnd5 2024 Resirlcted fund5 2024 Total 2024 At 30 June 2024.. Investments Current assetsllliabilitiesl 215,555 62.112 215,555 62,500 388 277,667 388 278,055 12_ Doc ID.. 9af8b934S8bd2eOb627d346480bdbfcb227582d9