LNHS Annual Report to 30[th] June 2022
LONDON NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY Registered Charity 206228
Report of the society for the year ending 30 June 2022
Objects
The objects of the society are the study and recording of natural history, archaeology and other kindred subjects within twenty miles of St Paul’s Cathedral, the promotion of scientific investigations, the appreciation and conservation of the natural environment and the publication in the society’s journals of scientific and educational papers. Activities and achievements in respect of these objectives are described below.
Governance: Council, Committees and Sections
A Council of Trustees, comprising the officers (President Maria Roberts, Treasurer Mike West, & Secretary David Howdon handing over to Annie Wilson mid-term), up to ten members’ representatives and one representative of each of the society’s Sections (currently five) governs the society. Jo Hatton, Angela Linnell, David Bevan, Ian Woodward, Jan Hewlett, Wendy Knight and Robin Blades represent the members. Liz Andrew represented the London Bird Club section; Maureen Parry the Botany section, Anke Marsh the Ecology and Entomology section and Kat Duke the Hampstead Heath Survey section. The post of Bookham Commons representative remained unfilled.
As the President can serve for only two years, Maria will be stepping down at the end of the year and taking a break from the council. We thank her for the selfless energy and enthusiasm with which she has led the society. In accordance with rule 17(6), which limits elected membership of council to a continuous period of five years, we will also be saying farewell and thank you to Jo and Angela at the end of this year.
We would love to fill all the vacancies on Council, so we would welcome people coming forward to join us. We are looking for people with a range of skills and interests, but you do not need to be an expert in natural history.
The Administration and Finance Committee, chaired by Michael Wilsdon, meets five times a year to deal with delegated business.
Despite a relaxation of restrictions, most people's work patterns have not returned to the precovid norm and not everyone feels comfortable to use public transport, so the majority of society business has been conducted using Zoom technology. This can also make attendance easier for those who live further afield.
The society is exploring accessibility considerations for outdoor meetings and plans to arrange some field meetings which are programmed with accessibility in mind.
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LNHS Annual Report to 30[th] June 2022
Finances
The annual financial report accompanies this report. The society continues to receives a significant amount of income from members who pay under the gift aid scheme, and we are very grateful to them for doing this. Members who pay sufficient tax to be eligible to use the gift aid scheme but are not signed up are encouraged to consider doing so.
Activities
The society continued to host fortnightly 'virtual' talks using Zoom. The talks remain very popular and continue to attract new audience members from more geographically diverse locations than in-person meetings. We extend our thanks to all of our speakers, who have generously shared their time and expertise to entertain us, and acknowledge the hard work of the virtual talks team to facilitate and support the talks.
In July 2021 most of our outdoor activities were suspended due to the pandemic (although some individuals continued to survey Hampstead Heath) so we were delighted when field meetings resumed in September and very pleased that they have been well supported. Many thanks to the walk leaders, new and old, and programme planners who volunteer their time and knowledge to make these events happen. New leaders and attendees are always welcome.
Regular monthly Saturday field meetings at Bookham Commons resumed in March 2022. The LNHS ecological survey of Bookham Commons, a Site of Special Scientific Interest near Leatherhead in Surrey, has been running continuously for eighty years with the result that Bookham Commons is one of the best-documented sites in the UK. The London Naturalist 100 included Steve Mellor’s report on botanical records at Bookham Commons since 2002, comparing these with the three previous surveys back to 1953. Members are strongly encouraged to visit this wonderful site and contribute to the survey. We would love to be able to form a new committee to guide this work.
Journals and other publications
The London Naturalist 100 (2021), ably edited by Nick Rutter for the final time, was distributed to members in December. It comprises annual reports from officers and articles of interest covering natural history and archaeology of the London area contributed by members. The editorial team continues to produce a high-quality journal of which the society can be proud.
The London Bird Report No 85 for the year 2020 was published in May 2022. This annual publication is a tribute to the many individuals who contribute, from the record submissions, verification, data manipulation, species accounts write up and review, to photo selection and design for printing and final dispatch. We thank everyone involved.
The Newsletter edited by Mark Burgess and published four times a year continued to provide members with regular news on the activities and operation of the society, and members’ contributions. We encourage all members, old and new, to consider submitting items for publication. The August 2021 Newsletter was accompanied by the redesigned programme of events which has been well received.
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LNHS Annual Report to 30[th] June 2022
Leslie Williams (LNHS Butterfly Recorder) is leading the project to update ‘The Butterflies of the London Area’, originally published in 1987. Colin Plant (LNHS Moth Recorder) and Les Evans Hill are updating the 'Larger Moths of the London Area' published in 1993 using data recorded up to 31st December 2022. Mark Spencer (LNHS Flowering Plant Recorder & Vascular Cryptogam Recorder) is working on an update to 'Flora of the London Area' published in 1983. Each of these publications will contribute to the conservation of London habitats and wildlife.
Keiron Brown and Anke Marsh have made great progress with the LNHS website re-design. The events calendar and news sections are proving very useful in keeping members and nonmembers up to date. And we thank our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram editors for their contributions too – they do achieve results in publicising the Society and its events! Mike Trier has also been creative in his exploration of new avenues for making the Society more widely known.
Membership
177 new members joined the society during the year. This was down from last year’s exceptionally high number of 245, but still significantly higher than the average of 98 new members per annum in the previous five years. We believe that many of the new members have joined because of the virtual talks programme and hope some have participated in field meetings and other in-person events as they resumed.
The total membership at 30 September 2022 was 1020, up slightly from 1008 at the same time in the previous year. This is a welcome increase from an average of 899 in the five years before that and continues to reverse a declining trend. We hope that the quality of our events and publications will continue to demonstrate the fascination of London’s natural history and encourage people to maintain their membership.
While many new members are attracted by our website and social media presence, we are very grateful to existing members who recruit friends who they think will enjoy what we have to offer. We encourage people to keep doing this and help the Society to continue to grow. Everyone is welcome to join field meetings or virtual talks to get a taste of the Society before they join.
We are very sorry to record the deaths of the following members (date of joining in brackets) during the year and thank them for their support of the society, in several cases over many decades: Mrs Sue Adshead (1991), Mrs Margaret Bagley (2021), Mr Bruce Carson (2015), Mr Michael Deans (1980), Mr John Fitzpatrick (1975), Mr David Harris (1957), Dr Geoffrey Joyce (2004), Mr Peter Jupp (1979), Mrs Jean Neal (1964), Miss Mary Rawitzer (1998), Professor Richard Robinson (2004), Mr Colin Turner (1947), Mr Anthony Vaughan (1958), Mr Philip Vines (1991), Mr Jeffery Wheatley (1964), Dr Stephen Wood (1978).
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LNHS Annual Report to 30[th] June 2022
Recording and research
Thanks go to all of our recorders for their continuing hard work. They do an invaluable job of gathering data on most of the species to be found in the London area, ensuring that the information is shared, and generously help individuals with their enquiries.
In early 2022, the London Natural History Society was awarded a 30-month grant from the City of London Corporation for a pilot study to map key flora, fungi and lichens in the different habitats on the Heath. This study, known as the Millennial Flora of Hampstead Heath Project 2022 (in reference to the Society’s previous survey in 2000), led by Liz Andrew (the Hampstead Heath Survey Chair) will provide a baseline to monitor changes that might occur in the future due to habitat degradation or/or climate change.
In 2022, the Rewild London Programme awarded LNHS and partners a project to map and improve hedgehog and wildlife populations in north London. Led by the Institute of Zoology and Jeff Waage, on behalf of LNHS, the project focuses on the possibility of improving and linking established populations in Regents Park and Hampstead Heath, particularly through local Sites of Interest for Nature Conservation (SINCs). Camera traps have been set up in local SINCs and an online survey with local residents’ associations had 200 responses, with about 25% of respondents reporting sightings in the past five years.
Library
The LNHS library, located in the Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity in the Natural History Museum, is an important resource for both the public (for reference) and LNHS members (for borrowing) providing access to a wide range of out of print and hard to find natural history titles. Following reduction of covid restrictions, under the care of Julie Berk the LNHS Librarian, the library re-opened to visitors in November 2021 on Wednesdays. From April 2022 the library also opened every third Saturday per month. We are now running additional activities such as visiting the wildlife garden and looking at specimens in collaboration with the Angela Marmont Centre, to attract more LNHS members to attend. Members are strongly encouraged to make use of this very valuable asset. Many thanks to Julie Berk for all her hard work.
Conservation of the natural environment
Rich habitats are still under threat from developers. The society is often asked to lend its voice to protest against such developments. Council’s view is that an appropriate campaigning body in such cases is the London Wildlife Trust, the LNHS being better placed to provide evidencebased advice if required. Our partnership with GiGL helps ensure that our high-quality validated records are available for such purposes.
This report has been prepared with due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
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London Natural History Society (Charity Registration Number 206228) Accounts For The Year Ended 30th June 2022 Meyer William8 Clter¢d Accountants Stag House Old London Road Hertford Hertfordshire SG13 7LA
LONDON NATURAL HLSTORY SOCIETY TREAS17RER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR XNDED 30- JUNE 2022 The Society's accgunts are again pres¢nt¢d on a receipts and payments b88is, as permitted by th¢ Charity Commission. The COVID-19 stri0t10nS continued to impact on th¢ Sociètys activities through the year, and as a result illcome from potential sponsorship and ¢xpenditure on hall hire relatiiig to a nornial programm¢ of events did not matsrialise. Overall ¢xpenditure totalled £37.932 (oompared to £28,656 last y¢ar). Receipts from members and supporters totalled £23,645 (co]nparcd with £21,856 last year). Subscription in¢ome again increased from £17.826 to £18,919 as Silficant ttumbers of new m¢mb¢rs were agasn attraoted throu the Society's suoc¢ssful programme of virtual online talks. In addition to this, a grant was aww'ded by The City of London Corporation for a survey of Flora on Hampstead Heath with the fjrst two instalments rec¢iv¢d during the year, totalling £5,562. The llale of this inwm¢ is restricted, Total re¢eipts were £45,392 compar¢d with £31,854 last year. During the year the Society withdrew £15,000 from its CCLA COIF Charities Deposit Fund and r¢invested £7,500 in its CCLA COTF Charilios Fix¢d ]nt¢rest Fund and £7,500 in its M&G Charibond Pund. Th¢ value of the Society's investnient assets fell by Ill/J fy during the year, and at th¢ year end the total net ass¢ts of the Society as detailed in tb¢ Statement of Assets and Liabilities h&d decreased by £33,038 to £339,946 compared wilh £372,984 last y¢ar. ReserY&¥ Polley The London Natural History Society may hold funds in th¢ form of GaskL, Stocks, shares, bonds, collective funds and other classes of investment de¢m¢d from tim¢ to timc to be appmpriuts (hei'eafter 'the res¢TV¢S'). Th¢ reserves will be held for the purpose of providing income str¢am to support the Society's activities and publi¢ationg and m&intain membership rat¢s at affoTd8bl¢ levols so as not lo exclude people from the educationYAI benefils of the Society, and to encourage illcreased and informed parttcipation in wildlife r¢cording aotivity. Where income from the r¢s¢rve5 is Sufficicnt to meet these purposes the Society may make additional p&ym¢nts fn)m the reserves to third parti¢s to research and ¢¢0108toal study (with a p&rticulAr #mphasis on the London area) where su¢h r¢search is con8isl¢nt witli the objects ogthe Society. Th¢ trugtses may deoide to use anlounts held as part of the reserves to fund publications or other projects which furth¢T th¢ Society's clthritsble aims. Funds from grants or bequests that have been accepted by th¢ So¢i¢ty for specified oharitablo puryoses orprojects shall be Artained spent sololy on su¢h ¢aus¢s. The So¢iety uses inv¢stm¢llts specifically set up for Charities, which invest in bonds and dsposits, and not direotly in th¢ equity of individual companie5. Each of th¢ funds has #ssociatsd ethical policie4 and the Society considers this is a prudetlt and proportionate me8ns of balancing our finan¢i81 n¢¢ds and ethical conc¢rns, Statement of Trustees? Responsibilities The trtl8tees are r¢sponsible for preparing the Trustees, Annu&l Repoit alld th¢ fthancial statements in accordan¢e with applicabl¢ law and United Kingdom AQUntill8 Standttrd8 (United Kittgdom GenW.lY Accepted Aoc4)unting Th'actice). The law applicabl¢ to charities in England & wal requires the tnjstees to prep&re financial statements for eaGb financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affair5 of the charity aThd of the incoming resources and application of r¢souiw of the charity for that poriod.
LONDON NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY TREASiTRERIS REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2022 StAtement of TYustee8* ResyJn8ibilities- tontinu¢d In preparing these fmancial statem¢nts, the trust¢¢s are required to.. a) select suitabl¢ accounting yolicie8 and apply them ¢on5istsntly' b) observe the mothods and pi'inciples in th¢ Charities SORP, c) make judgments and accountitig estimates that are reasonable and prndent. d) stat¢ whether applicable accounting standards have be¢n followed, subje¢t to any material deptre8 disclosed and ¢xplained in the financial statem¢nts. el prnpare the financial statements OD th¢ going corAcern basis unl¢ss it is inappropriate to pr¢sume that the charity will continue in op¢ration The trnstees are responsible for keeping sufficient accounting rOrdS that disclose with reasonable accuraGy at tim¢ tlie fclaI position of the charity and enable them to ensvre that the fiiiancial statements Comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charlty (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. 'fhey are &lso responsible for safeguarding the assels ot the charity 2nd hellc¢ for taking Irason&bl¢ steps for the pr¢v¢ntion and d¢tection of fraud and oth¢r iri'egularities.
IA)NDON NATURAL HLSTORY Soclfi TY (Charity Reglstered Numbei'_ 206228) Independent Examilltrts Report to tbt Trustees of Londou Natural Hlstory Soclety I report to tho trustees on my examination of the accounts of the London Natural History Society ('the charity,) for the year ended 30 Julle 2022 which ¢ompri8e of receipts and paym¢nts 8Jid th¢ stat¢ment of assets and liabilities. This i'eport 15 made solely to the charily's trustees, Ds a body, in accord¢¢ with section 145 Charities Act 2011. My work ha5 been undertaken so that I might Stats to the oh&rity's trustses thos¢ matters I am required to stats to them in this rert and for no other putyose. To the fullest extsnt p¢rmitted by law, we do not accept or assume r¢sponsibility to anyone other than the oharity and the charity's members as a bodyg for this rept, or for the opinions I have fornied. RESP0Tr4SIBILITIES AND BASIS OF REPORT As the truste of the charity you are responsible for tILe preparation of the aollnts in accordance with th¢ requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('Il¢ Act,). I report in resp¢ct of my examination of the ch&rity's aountS carried out under Section 145 of the Act and in ¢arrying out my examination I havc followed all the applicabl¢ Dire¢tions given by th¢ Charity Commission under seKtion 145(5)(b) of the ACL An independent examination does not iThvolvo gathering all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequ¢ntly does not cover all the matters that Im auditor considers in giving their opinion on tli6 accounts. The plantiing and conduot of an audit go¢s beyond the limit¢d assuranc¢ that an independent examination provide. Cons¢qucntly, T express no audil opinion on the accounts and my report is liniited to thos¢ specific matters s¢t out in th¢ independent examiner's Statement. DEPEiYDENf EXAMINER?S STATEMEIYT I hav¢ completed my ¢xamination. I confllm that no material matters have come to my attsntion in connection with the examination giving m¢ ¢ause to believe that in any mat¢rial respect.. accounting records were not kept in r¢spect of the charAty as requir¢d by section 130 of the Act. or
the a¢oounts do not ac¢ord with those recolxls. I have no coJ]cerns and have come across no other fftmatters in conn¢ction with the XaMination to which attention should b¢ drawn iii this report in ord¢i' lo enabl¢ a proper und¢TstandAng of the accourkts to b rea¢h¢d. R J Sears FCCA Meyer Williams Charter¢d Accountaats Sta8 House, Old London Road H¢rtford, Herts, SG13 7LA Date.. a4Y( J4)2
LONDON NATURAL HISTORY SOCtETY STATEMENT OF ASSETS AP4D LIABILITIES AS at 30th June 2022 Notes 2022 2021 Monetary Assets Bank Balances: National Westminster ¢urr¢nt account Natioiial Westminster r¢serYe account 27,270 19,770 Cash in halld 459 499 27,729 20,269 Investmettt A88ets M&G Charibond COIF Fixed Inter¢st Fulld COIF Charities Deposit Fund 134,018 176,008 138,069 195,181 314,491 352,715 Trade Cr¢ditor (2.274) Net Assets 339946 £372,984 Funds Unrestricted Restricted 334J84 5,562 372,984 Total Funds 339,946 £372,984 Approved on behalf of tlLe Truste¢s on.. 2.7/.1/.2022 M L Robert8 - President MJWest - Tr¢asurer
LONDON NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY IiECKtPTS AND PAYMENfs ACCOUNr For the year ended 30th Julle 2022 RECEIPTS 2022 2021 Reeelpts from Member8 Ydnd Swpporters: Subsoriptions Donations Tax recovered on Subsoriptions and Donations under Gift Aid Reading Cirole receipts 18,919 1,068 3552 106 17,826 1,027 2,849 154 23,645 21,856 sles. Journals 436 426 Other ineome: ho I.oThdon BTrd Atlas"_ Royalty Income R¢fvlld of contribution from th¢ London BitKI Club R¢fvnd of canccll¢d H811 and Room booking Re8tri¢t¢d Grant ill¢om¢- City of London Coryoration 63 264 122 5A62 6J27 608 Investment ineome: Chariti¢s Fixed Intsrost Fund Charities D¢po$it Fund Interest In¢ome from M&G Charibond Bank Deposit Account Jnterost Ioterest on Gift Aid tsx recovered SJ30 6.010 2565 3J60 7,920 9,390 A8set And I*vestment disposal8 Disp0581 of COIF Jnvestment 7,500 Total RecelptS 45J92 31,854 Les8: Total Payinents (Page 6) (37,932) (28,656) Net Receipts for the year 7,460 3,198 Cash at Bank and in HAnd as at 1° July 2021 Cash gt Bank and in Hand As at 30, June 2022 £27,729 £20269 Unrestri¢ted Net R¥¢oipts Restrioted Net Reipts 3,198 5,562 Total Net Receipts for the yewr £7,460 £3,198
LONDON NATURAL HtSTORY SOCIETY RECEIPTS AND PAYMKNTS ACCOITrIT (Colltinued) For the y¢aY ended 30th June 2022 2022 2021 Meeting Costs, SeetlonAI & General ExpelldSlllre: Lecthrers, Fees and Exp¢ns¢s, Sectional Expense8 eto. Reading Citcle Journals Postag¢ and Telephon¢ Olyice Siipplies and Copying S¢rvi¢es (including Zoom w5ts) Independent Bxaminers. F¢¢s InsurCe Exp¢ns¢ Allowances and Honoraria paym¢nt Paypal account charges 466 435 93 1,176 611 1000 1,846 59 180 360 328 131 614 419 1,800 1,810 165 6,666 5,627 Publxcalions: Pi'inting and Exp¢nses: London Nathrglist No. 100 London Naturalist No. 99 London Bird Report 2020 London Bird Report 2019 4.920 4,389 5,567 4,522 IOA87 8,911 Programme Newsletters Mailing Publicity 605 3,101 7,108 3,427 7.809 288 10,814 11,524 Publicationsl loumal Salos expenditure Library Websit¢ Costs 497 1.608 360 471 1,632 491 30,432 28,656 Asset and investment pur¢hase8: Payment into M&G Charibond investment accouttt 7,500 Total Payments for the Year 37,932 £28,656