**REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 00729746 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 212744**
Report of the Trustees and Consolidated Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
for Shropshire Wildlife Trust
Thorne Widgery Accountancy Ltd Chartered Accountants Statutory Auditors 2 Wyevale Business Park Kings Acre Hereford Herefordshire HR4 7BS
Shropshire Wildlife Trust
Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
||Page|
|---|---|
|Reference and Administrative Details|1|
|Report of the Trustees|2 to 7|
|Report of the Independent Auditors|8 to 10|
|Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities|11|
|Consolidated and Company Balance Sheet|12 to 13|
|Cash Flow Statement|14|
|Notes to the Cash Flow Statement|15|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|16 to 30|
Shropshire Wildlife Trust
## Reference and Administrative Details for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
## **Trustees**
Veronica Cossons President Kirsten Mould Chair (to 21 October 2020) Roger Owen Hon Secretary (to 21 October 2020); Chair (from 21 October 2020) Alan Salt Hon Treasurer (deceased in June 2020) Steve Marsh Hon Treasurer (appointed 21 October 2020) Alex Grant Hon Secretary (from 21 October 2020) Rod Aspinwall Richard Carpenter James Drever Katie Foster Andrew Hearle Lizzie Hulton-Harrop (appointed 21 October 2020) Kate Mayne Malcolm Monie (appointed 21 October 2020) Adrian Platt (stood down 21 October 2020) Anne Wignall Daniel Wrench
**Company registered number** 0729746
**Charity registered number** 212744
## **Registered office**
193 Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY2 6AH
## **Company Secreta** r **y**
## **Chief Executive Officer**
Colin Preston to 30 October 2020; Richard Grindle from 2 November 2020
## **Senior Management Team**
John Hughes, Development Manager Jan McKelvey, Conservation Manager Helen Trotman, People and Wildlife Manager Sheila McNeil, Finance Manager Pete Lambert, River Projects Manager
## **Honorary Advisors**
Dr John Box Andy Whyle Mervyn Evans (deceased in March 2020)
## **Auditors**
Thorne Widgery, 5 Parkway, Off Corve Street, Ludlow, SY8 2PG
## **Bankers**
HSBC, 33 High Street, Shrewsbury, SY1 1SL
## **Solicitors**
McKenzie Law, Dogpole House, 14 Dogpole, Shrewsbury, SY1 1EN
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Shropshire Wildlife Trust
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2021. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## **Objectives and aims**
The Trust’s charitable objects are for the public benefit to safeguard and enhance biodiversity (meaning the variety of life in all its forms, levels and combinations, including ecosystem diversity, species diversity and genetic diversity), and sustainability (meaning to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs) and in particular
- to undertake and promote the conservation of wildlife species and their habitats including the maintenance, restoration and creation of such habitats;
- to promote public understanding of, support of and involvement with the natural world
- to advance knowledge by research and recording
We seek to achieve these objects in partnership with The Wildlife Trusts (TWT) federation by carrying out programmes across Shropshire (including Telford & Wrekin) to address the ‘triple crisis’: the ecological crisis, the climate crisis, and peoples’ disconnection from nature.
On the ecological crisis we are working to create a nature recovery network (NRN) that will see 30% of the land managed for nature by 2030. We do this by restoring, creating, protecting and linking habitats to halt and then reverse the loss of biodiversity and abundance. We do this through managing our own nature reserves but increasingly through working with other land managers to bring much greater areas into recovery.
Climate change and ecological crisis are inextricably linked and must be tackled together. In the short-term our goal is to reduce our own net emissions to zero by 2030, and to encourage and support organisations and individuals to do the same. Beyond that we aim to maximise the use of nature-based solutions to sequester increasing amounts of carbon in the long term to help bring emissions to net negative.
We carry out innovative programmes to engage individuals, communities, schools and businesses with nature. Our aim is that 1 in 4 people will take action for nature’s recovery, improving their own health and wellbeing in the process. We aim to extend our reach to all communities in Shropshire.
## **Volunteers**
Volunteers are integral to the Trust’s ability to deliver these programmes: the help with surveys, practical conservation, outreach work and in a variety of other roles. The Trust has over 500 regular volunteers organised into 10 branches, three friends’ groups and three affiliated groups.
## **Public benefit**
The Trustees have had due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit in making decisions on the Trust’s aims, objectives and future activities. As set out in more detail below, the Trust provides public benefit by ensuring that Shropshire’s wild spaces are protected and continue to thrive, that access is available to the general public, and that provide a net gain for wildlife and the public.
## **What were our aims for 2020-21; and how did we do?**
The Covid 19 pandemic had a significant impact on the Trust’s activities, with a number of staff furloughed in quarter 1 and with most education, outreach and volunteering activities suspended during periods of lockdown. This has resulted in delays to the implementation of some projects and programmes. At the same time the Trust has played a valuable role in helping people connect to nature during lockdown, notably through the ‘Feed the Birds’ project. The Council of Trustees wish to thank all staff and volunteers for the flexibility and dedication with which they kept Shropshire Wildlife at the forefront during the COVID pandemic, finding new ways of working and engaging with new audiences.
## **Significant activities and achievement and performance**
This section summarises the aims that the Trust set for itself for 2020-21 and _in italics, the progress made towards these aims during the year._
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Shropshire Wildlife Trust
for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
## Report of the Trustees
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES - continued** Ecological and Climate Crisis
BogLIFE Project – pursue purchase of additional land that strengthens the core area and peatland network. _A further five hectares has been purchased at World’s End for peatland restoration in partnership with Natural England. A viewing platform has been completed and is open to the public. Snipe are breeding on the mosses for first time in 25years_
Wild Marches – Develop Wild Marches plan into one or more deliverable, funded projects. _Detailed development work is under way in partnership with Radnorshire, Herefordshire and Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trusts with support from The Wildlife Trusts national team._
Species recovery – beavers and pine marten – Seed funding to promote pine marten conservation and identify full extent of existing population. _Pine Marten monitoring has continued; an application has been submitted to Natural England for a captive release of Eurasian beavers at the Old River Bed SSSI in partnership with Shrewsbury Town Council._
River Recovery Network – Enable and seek funding for full range of river restoration and catchment management projects that include aquatic species recovery and community engagement. _The final report on the Corvedale ‘slow the flow’ project is due soon, and will inform the adoption of natural flood management (NFM) techniques on a larger scale. 20,000 trees have been planted at Melverley and in the Corvedale with funding from the Environment Agency._
Nature Recovery Network – Refine current Ecological Network Map, validating information on sites and landowners to produce an informed baseline for recovery and identify where the optimal areas are to create 30% more nature. _One member of staff now seconded to TWT to work on nationwide approach; in collaboration with our branches, 110 SWT volunteers being trained to carry out ground-truthing surveys._
Stiperstones – _an additional 12 hectares of upland acid grassland has been purchased at Tankerville, extending the buffer around the national nature reserve._
Working with Farmers – _We continue to deliver biodiversity advice to over 350 landowners under the Severn Trent Water contract and through our general operational activity. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Test and Trial scheme was successfully delivered in the Clee Hills – testing farmer’s perceptions and understanding of a nature recovery network, to inform the new environmental land management (ELM) schemes._
Climate change emergency. _We have completed the baseline study to measure our annual carbon emissions. In 201920 these totalled 317 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e) of which 207 tCO2e were from conservation grazing and 110 tCO2e from travel and utilities. The Trustees have agreed a strategy to reach net zero by 2030. In 2020-21 emissions from conservation grazing remained at 207 tCO2e as the number of livestock was virtually the same. Emissions from travel and utilities had dropped to 29 tCO2e, though this was due largely to Covid and we expect 2021-22 to be higher. We are active in the Shropshire Climate Action Partnership and the Telford and Wrekin Borough Climate Change Partnership._
## Disconnection from nature
Telford - Develop bid for Telford green spaces using match funding from Potter Group. _Expression of interest has been submitted and more detailed planning is under way._
Volunteers. _A new volunteer coordinator was recruited. The immense support of our volunteers did not stop completely during the repeated lockdowns and their efforts still resulted in a contribution of over 4,600 hours, equivalent to 658 days across all areas of work._
Our Feed the Birds project adapted to enable visits to the 41 beneficiaries to continue during the pandemic. _Additional funding was secured to provide more than 600 socially isolated people as a result of the pandemic with a bird feeding starter kit. This was done in conjunction with 15 public and voluntary sector organisations. 100% of those that provided feedback said they’ll continue to feed the birds…_
Youth outreach (Growing Confidence/young activists, ‘Make My Weekends Wild’, traineeships, alternative curriculum, Youth 4 The Wild, and work-based learning through Universities). _Many activities were adapted to become virtual such as content for families with small children, young person’s question time and key debates for young people on issues such as HS2, climate change and careers. We launched the Green Influencer Scheme, funded by the Ernest Cook Foundation, which will support groups of children and young people to lead environmental social action projects in their area._
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Shropshire Wildlife Trust
## Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES - continued**
Support to schools. _The Natural Childhood team joined ‘Future in Minds’, a local authority partnership supporting children and young people’ emotional health and wellbeing. They have been active nationally in Strategic Education Learning Forums and the Education and Learning network and Youth Revolution in TWT. Five students from Mary Webb Science College took part in an ‘Alternative Curriculum’, working on Earls Hill Nature Reserve, completing their outdoor first aid qualification as well as a John Muir Explorer award. The Nature Friendly Schools project enabled more than 100 staff from four schools to receive bespoke outdoor learning training and 1:1 support to gain confidence in curriculum linked outdoor education sessions. 1,710 children in the most deprived areas of Telford benefitted from school interventions leading to positive behaviour change, social and emotional mental health, wellbeing, attendance and improved attainment. Secondary teachers were consulted to determine their views around outdoor education as part of cultural capital._
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
## **Financial Position**
During the reporting period income was £2,152k (2019-20 restated: £2,338k) and expenditure was £2,027k (2019-20 restated: £2,146k). Net income was £136k (2019-20 restated: £187k). Total funds at year end increased from £3,066k to £3,202k, of which £286k were unrestricted and £2,916k restricted (2019-20 restated: £95k unrestricted and £2,971k restricted). The net book value of tangible fixed assets at the year end stood at £2,899k (2019-20 restated: £2,884k).
Covid19 meant that both income and expenditure were slightly less than plan, and lower than the previous year. In particular trading and face-to-face membership recruitment were curtailed for most of the period, though online membership recruitment increased by 85%. Grants from national and local government and the National Lottery Heritage Foundation meant that the Trust still made a modest surplus in 2020-21, of £136k. Most income-generating activities have now resumed.
The Trust has a strong track record of securing grants and contracts from the National Lottery, the Landfill Communities Fund, corporations, trusts and foundations. These pay for the majority of our charitable work. Unrestricted income comes from individual and corporate members, legacies, individual giving, retail, and conference room hire. This pays for organisational management costs and allows us to continue essential conservation and education work for which grant funding may not be sufficient. Unrestricted funds not required in the short term are held in sustainable investments; the level of risk is reviewed regularly by the Finance Committee.
The Trustees have identified the principal financial risks to the Trust as a significant reduction in grant funding, whether as a consequence of Brexit or for other reasons, and the underperformance of unrestricted income streams. The funding pipeline is reviewed regularly by the finance committee and action is taken where necessary to reduce costs. The Trust will seek further to diversify unrestricted income streams in order to provide greater financial resilience.
In the course of the 2021 audit some earlier allocations of income and expenditure were revised to bring restricted fixed assets into line with the correct net book value, to include a previously unrecorded gift of land, and to eliminate a deficit on one restricted fund. A prior year adjustment has been made between restricted and unrestricted funds, which is detailed in the Statement of Financial Activities.
## **Reserves policy**
The Trust has updated its reserves policy to one that is specific and measurable. The new policy is to maintain free reserves (unrestricted current assets plus investments) equivalent to three months’ core operating costs, or circa £250k. As a result of the prior year adjustment free reserves are below this level: at the year end they stood at £69k in funds, an improvement of £199k compared with the restated opening position (2019-20 restated: £130k overdrawn). The Trust is actively prioritising income-generating activities to grow and diversify unrestricted income streams in order to increase free reserves to this level at the earliest opportunity without unduly affecting the Trusts’ ability to achieve its other objectives. The Development team is being increased from six to eight, and a new post created to coordinate and expand campaigns and marketing. Membership recruitment will be expanded through the use of door drops, and through digital channels as part of a wider national campaign being led by TWT. Full cost recovery will be incorporated in all funding applications.
## **Going concern**
The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in a greater degree of uncertainty about some income streams, although emergency funding from national and local government and the National Lottery Heritage foundation has meant that the Trust still recorded a modest surplus in 2020-21. The prior year adjustment means that free reserves are less than was hitherto thought. Nonetheless, having considered emerging external opportunities and having carefully reviewed operational plans and budgets, funding pipeline, and cash-flow projections for the coming three years, the Trustees are satisfied that the organisation is a going concern and have reported on that basis.
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Shropshire Wildlife Trust
## Report of the Trustees
## for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
## **PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS**
## **Ecological and Climate crisis**
By 2030 we will create a nature recovery network for Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin in partnership with landowners and land managers, local government and other conservation organisations. This will combine a number of elements:
We will maintain our own nature reserves to a high standard, both to protect valuable habitats and species, and as exemplars for other land managers; and support habitat restoration and creation projects on third-party land. We are planning the UK’s first urban captive release of Beavers in partnership with Shrewsbury Town Council, for 2021-22.
We will expand and develop our advice to land managers, seeking to reach the maximum possible number and to provide a greater breadth of advice, in order that 30% of land in Shropshire be manage for nature by 2030.
We will work with neighbouring wildlife trusts and other partners to bring about nature’s recovery in landscape-scale projects, particularly in the Meres and Mosses, and in south-west Shropshire (‘Wild Marches’).
We will work as part of the River Severn Partnership to promote natural flood management in the upper Severn catchment and to restore and recreate wetland and woodland habitat.
We will expand and improve our capacity for Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and data collection, and will continue to support volunteers from our local Branches in regular habitat surveys, in order to monitor progress and to identify opportunities for habitat creation and restoration as part of the Nature Recovery Network.
We will continue stand up for nature where it is threatened by excessive or ill-planned development and infrastructure projects, including for example the Shrewsbury North-West Relief Road.
We aim to reduce the Trust’s own emissions to net-zero by 2030. We will do this by reducing energy use, replacing petrol and diesel vehicles with electric and in due course hydrogen. We will reduce conservation grazing to the minimum level required to maintain the unique habitat of each nature reserve. Where it is impossible to eliminate, reduce, or substitute emissions any further we will seek to offset the residual emissions, where possible through increased sequestration on our own land.
More broadly we will encourage and support our members, partners and suppliers to reduce their own emissions to net zero as soon as possible; and we will maximise additional carbon sequestration both on our own land and on land managed by others, through the creation and restoration of peatland, wetland, and woodland, and the restoration of organic matter in the soil.
## **Disconnection from nature**
We will pilot new approaches in wellbeing and natural prescribing with the aim of establishing long-term provision.
In 2021-22 we aim to secure funding for a multi-year engagement and wellbeing project in Telford.
We will continue to work with school leaders to develop Nature Friendly Schools, and will provide hands-on environmental education for school groups.
We will engage young people in environmental social action through the Green Influencers scheme.
We will maintain a network of branches and affiliated groups and a large and diverse group of volunteers to support all of our activities.
We will carry out an audit of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and develop and then implement an action plan to ensure that our organisation is fully representative and that members of all communities are encouraged to engage with nature.
## **Organisational capacity**
We will expand our Communications, Campaigns & Marketing capacity to maximise unrestricted income and to engage a larger and more diverse section of the population of Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin with nature. We aim to increase our membership by 50-100% in the period 2021-26 using digital as well as traditional channels.
We will modernise our ICT to increase efficiency and to allow more remote working and hence reduce our carbon impact.
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Shropshire Wildlife Trust
for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
## Report of the Trustees
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document and charity constitution**
The Shropshire Wildlife Trust is a charitable company limited by guarantee. The SWT group comprises SWT and its trading subsidiary Shropshire Wildlife Trading Company Ltd (SWTC). The group was set up by a Trust deed on 10 November 2009.
## **Related parties and wider network**
Shropshire Wildlife Trust has 10,750 members, around 500 active volunteers, 16 Branches and Friends Groups helping to drive forward its work, and nature reserves covering over 1,000 hectares in 40 locations throughout the county.
Shropshire Wildlife Trust is a member of The Wildlife Trusts (TWT) (registered as the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT), charity no: 207238). This is a federation 46 autonomous charities covering every part of the UK. TWT acts as an umbrella body carrying out lobbying and public relations on behalf of all Wildlife Trusts. Trusts cooperate on joint projects but each Trust remains entirely independent in terms of governance.
## **Organisational structure, appointment and training of new trustees and key management remuneration**
The Trust is governed by the Council of Trustees, which has up to fourteen members. All members of the Trust are eligible to seek election to the Council at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) limited to two terms of four years. The Chairman, Vice Chairman and Treasurer are elected at the first meeting of Council following the AGM and serve oneyear terms. The Trustees are guided by the Trust’s articles of association and Governance Handbooks.
Council sets and reviews strategic direction, monitors delivery of agreed targets, and ensures that Trust’s finances and assets are managed appropriately. holds the management to account for day to day operational matters. Operational decisions are delegated to the Senior Management Team.
Council is supported by committees responsible for finance, personnel, land management, and communications. The Finance Committee includes the Chair, Treasurer, Hon Secretary, CEO, and Finance Manager; it meets quarterly to review risks, performance against budgets, and financial projections, and reports its findings and recommendations to the board.
Newly appointed Trustees receive a full induction to the Trust including the Trust’s Strategic Plan, articles of association, governance handbook and Charity Commission guidance for trustees, as well as visits to Trust projects and sites.
The Council of trustees appoints the Chief Executive Officer and supports the appointment process for members of the Senior Leadership Team. The pay of the Senior Leadership Team is reviewed annually by the Personnel Committee each February in line with other staff.
## **Risk management**
The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the Charity and the group is exposed, in particular those related to the operations and finances of the Charity and the group, and are satisfied that systems and procedures are in place to mitigate our exposure to the major risks.
## **FUND-RAISING STANDARDS**
The Trustees have taken account of the provisions of the Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Act 2016. The Trust is registered with the Institute of Fundraising and the Fundraising Regulator; we follow the Fundraising Regulator’s Code of Fundraising Practice and the Charity Commission guidance on charity fundraising; and we subscribe to the Fundraising Preference Service.
In 2020-21 we did not use a commercial participator or professional fund-raiser. The Trust employs membership recruiters who attend public events and carry out door to door recruitment. They are closely supervised by SWT management. The Trust complies with the General Data Protection Regulations and the Fundraising Regulator’s Code of Fundraising Practice. All staff have been made aware of its requirements, and those involved in fundraising are given specific training and are closely supervised. We take care to ensure that vulnerable people and other members of the public are not subject to unreasonable intrusion on their privacy, unreasonably persistent approaches, or undue pressure on a person to give money or other property.
In 2020-21 we received no complaints about activities by the charity, or by a person on behalf of the charity, for the purpose of fund-raising (2019-20: none).
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Shropshire Wildlife Trust
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES**
The trustees (who are also the directors of Shropshire Wildlife Trust for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
In so far as the trustees are aware:
- there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company's auditors are unaware; and
- the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information.
## **AUDITORS**
The auditors, Thorne Widgery Accountancy Ltd, will be proposed for re-appointment at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 21 September 2021 and signed on its behalf by:
..................................................... R W Owen - Chair
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Report of the Independent Auditors to the Trustees of Shropshire Wildlife Trust
## **Opinion**
We have audited the financial statements of Shropshire Wildlife Trust (the 'parent charitable company') for the year ended 31 March 2021 which comprise the Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities, the Consolidated Balance Sheet, the Charity Balance Sheet, the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion the financial statements:
- give a true and fair view of the state of the group and parent charitable company's affairs as at 31 March 2021 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended;
- have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
- have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
## **Basis for opinion**
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the group and parent charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC's Ethical Standard, and the provisions available for small entities, in the circumstances set out in note 21 to the financial statements, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
## **Conclusions relating to going concern**
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the group and parent charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
However, we draw your attention to Note 20 which shows that the charity has unrestricted free reserves of £69,181 at the year ended 31 March 2021. Please refer to the going concern accounting policy in the notes to the financial statements which highlights how the charity will address the situation going forward. If these actions were to prove unsuccessful, this may indicate that a material uncertainty exists and may cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern. Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
## **Other information**
The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report, other than the financial statements and our Report of the Independent Auditors thereon.
Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.
## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception**
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
- the information given in the Report of the Trustees is inconsistent in any material respect with the financial statements; or
- the group and parent charitable company has not kept adequate accounting records; or
- the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
- we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
8
Report of the Independent Auditors to the Trustees of Shropshire Wildlife Trust
## **Responsibilities of trustees**
As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities, the trustees (who are also the directors of the group and parent charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the group and parent charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
## **Our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements**
We have been appointed as auditors under Section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue a Report of the Independent Auditors that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
- Fraud and breaches of laws and regulations ability to detect Identifying and responding to risks of material misstatement due to fraud
To identify risks of material misstatement due to fraud ("fraud risks") we assessed events or conditions that could indicate an incentive or pressure to commit fraud or provide an opportunity to commit fraud. Our risk assessment procedures included:
- Enquiring of trustees, the finance committee and inspection of policy documentation as to the Charity's highlevel policies and procedures to prevent and detect fraud as well as whether they have knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud.
- Reading Trustees' meetings and finance committee minutes.
- Considering performance targets for management.
We communicated identified fraud risks throughout the audit team and remained alert to any indications of fraud throughout the audit.
As required by auditing standards, and taking into account our overall knowledge of the control environment, we perform procedures to address the risk of management override of controls, in particular the risk that management may be in a position to make inappropriate accounting entries. On this audit we do not believe there is a fraud risk related to revenue recognition because the revenue is non-judgemental and straightforward, with limited opportunity for manipulation.
We did not identify any additional fraud risks. We performed procedures including identifying journal entries to test based on risk criteria and comparing the identified entries to supporting documentation. These included those posted by finance management/ those posted and approved by the same user/ those posted to unusual accounts.
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Report of the Independent Auditors to the Trustees of Shropshire Wildlife Trust
- Identifying and responding to risks of material misstatement due to non compliance with laws and regulations
We identified areas of laws and regulations that could reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the financial statements from our general commercial and sector experience, and through discussion with management (as required by auditing standards) and discussed with management the policies and procedures regarding compliance with laws and regulations.
We communicated identified laws and regulations throughout our team and remained alert to any indications of noncompliance throughout the audit.
The potential effect of these laws and regulations on the financial statements varies considerably. Firstly, the Charity is subject to laws and regulations that directly affect the financial statements including financial reporting legislation, taxation legislation and the Charities Act legislation and we assessed the extent of compliance with these laws and regulations as part of our procedures on the related financial statement items.
Secondly, the Charity is subject to many other laws and regulations where the consequences of noncompliance could have a material effect on amounts or disclosures in the financial statements, for instance through the imposition of fines or litigation or the loss of the Charity's license to operate. We identified the following areas as those most likely to have such an effect: health and safety, anti-bribery, employment law, data protection, anti-money laundering and specific areas of other legislation recognising the nature of the Charity's activities.
Auditing standards limit the required audit procedures to identify non-compliance with these laws and regulations to enquiry of management, inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any. Therefore, if a breach of operational regulations is not disclosed to us or evident from relevant correspondence, an audit will not detect that breach.
Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some material misstatements in the financial statements, even though we have properly planned and performed our audit in accordance with auditing standards. For example, the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely the inherently limited procedures required by auditing standards would identify it.
In addition, as with any audit, there remained a higher risk of non-detection of fraud, as these may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal controls. Our audit procedures are designed to detect material misstatement. We are not responsible for preventing non-compliance or fraud and cannot be expected to detect non-compliance with all laws and regulations.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Report of the Independent Auditors.
## **Use of our report**
This report is made solely to the group and parent charitable company's trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the group and parent charitable company's trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditors' report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the group and parent charitable company and the group and parent charitable company's trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Thorne Widgery Accountancy Ltd Chartered Accountants Statutory Auditors Eligible to act as an auditor in terms of Section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006
2 Wyevale Business Park
Kings Acre Hereford Herefordshire HR4 7BS
Date: 23 September 2021
10
Shropshire Wildlife Trust
## Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities (Incorporating an Income and Expenditure Account) for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
|Notes
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
2
**Charitable activities**
5
A Living Landscape
Standing up for Wildlife
People and Wildlife
Meres and Mosses
BOG Life
Rivers
Planning Searches
Other Charitable Activity
New Initiatives
Other trading activities
3
Investment income
4
**Total**
**EXPENDITURE ON**
Raising funds
6
**Charitable activities**
7
A Living Landscape
Standing up for Wildlife
People and Wildlife
Meres and Mosses
BOG Life
Rivers
Planning Searches
Other Charitable Activity
New Initiatives
**Total**
Net gains/(losses) on investments
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
**Transfers between funds**
20
**Net movement in funds**
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
**Total funds brought forward**
As previously reported
Prior year adjustment
12
**As restated**
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
**CONTINUING OPERATIONS**|Unrestricted
funds
£
405,117
238,570
24,450
18,718
-
-
341,388
7,287
68,347
26,570
38,454
165
1,169,066
357,684
210,061
13,193
68,365
-
-
343,546
62,541
100,192
45,604
1,201,186
10,630
(21,490)
212,393
190,903
530,276
(434,951)
95,325
286,228|Restricted
fund
£
36,269
-
-
283,594
21,220
188,725
398,340
-
6,200
49,000
-
-
983,348
4,343
-
-
264,081
20,220
166,574
329,878
-
-
40,599
825,695
-
157,653
(212,393)
(54,740)
2,437,842
532,829
2,970,671
2,915,931|31.3.21
Total
funds
£
441,386
238,570
24,450
302,312
21,220
188,725
739,728
7,287
74,547
75,570
38,454
165
2,152,414
362,027
210,061
13,193
332,446
20,220
166,574
673,424
62,541
100,192
86,203
2,026,881
10,630
136,163
-
136,163
2,968,118
97,878
3,065,996
3,202,159|31.3.20
Total
funds
as restated
£
611,972
297,596
33,039
240,203
73,888
240,792
705,354
18,555
-
-
114,825
1,996
2,338,220
382,773
398,950
34,086
358,259
70,388
152,473
493,142
49,650
206,414
-
2,146,135
(4,736)
187,349
-
187,349
2,878,647
-
2,878,647
3,065,996|
|---|---|---|---|---|
All income and expenditure has arisen from continuing activities.
The notes form part of these financial statements
11
Shropshire Wildlife Trust
## Consolidated Balance Sheet 31 March 2021
|Notes
**FIXED ASSETS**
Tangible assets
13
Investments
14
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Stock
15
Debtors
16
Cash at bank and in hand
**CREDITORS**
Amounts falling due within one year
17
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES**
**NET ASSETS**
**FUNDS**
20
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
**TOTAL FUNDS**|31.3.21
£
2,898,705
45,829
2,944,534
12,523
540,156
281,481
834,160
(576,535)
257,625
3,202,159
3,202,159
286,228
2,915,931
3,202,159|31.3.20
as restated
£
2,884,127
35,264
2,919,391
15,665
351,819
217,006
584,490
(437,885)
146,605
3,065,996
3,065,996
95,325
2,970,671
3,065,996|
|---|---|---|
The group and charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2021.
The members have not deposited notice, pursuant to Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006 requiring an audit of these financial statements.
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for
- (a) ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and
- (b) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.
These financial statements have been audited under the requirements of Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 21 September 2021 and were signed on its behalf by:
............................................. S G Marsh - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
12
Shropshire Wildlife Trust
## Charity Balance Sheet 31 March 2021
|Notes
**FIXED ASSETS**
Tangible assets
13
Investments
14
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Debtors
16
Cash at bank and in hand
**CREDITORS**
Amounts falling due within one year
17
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES**
**NET ASSETS**
**FUNDS**
20
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
**TOTAL FUNDS**|31.3.21
£
2,898,221
45,829
2,944,050
573,898
271,032
844,930
(574,882)
270,048
3,214,098
3,214,098
298,167
2,915,931
3,214,098|31.3.20
as restated
£
2,882,192
35,264
2,917,456
413,125
183,424
596,549
(451,273)
145,276
3,062,732
3,062,732
92,061
2,970,671
3,062,732|
|---|---|---|
The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2021.
The members have not deposited notice, pursuant to Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006 requiring an audit of these financial statements.
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for
- (a) ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and
- (b) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.
These financial statements have been audited under the requirements of Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 21 September 2021 and were signed on its behalf by:
............................................. S G Marsh - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
13
Shropshire Wildlife Trust
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
|Notes
**Cash flows from operating activities**
Cash generated from operations
1
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities
**Cash flows from investing activities**
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Purchase of fixed asset investments
Sale of tangible fixed assets
Interest received
Net cash used in investing activities
**Change in cash and cash equivalents in**
**the reporting period**
**Cash and cash equivalents at the**
**beginning of the reporting period**
**Cash and cash equivalents at the end of**
**the reporting period**|31.3.21
31.3.20
as restated
£
£
102,257
(33,500)
102,257
(33,500)
(37,947)
(293,313)
-
(40,000)
-
15,122
165
1,996
(37,782)
(316,195)
64,475
(349,695)
217,006
566,701
281,481
217,006|
|---|---|
The notes form part of these financial statements
14
Shropshire Wildlife Trust
## Notes to the Cash Flow Statement
## for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
|**1.**|**RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES**|**RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES**|**RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES**||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||31.3.21|31.3.20|
|||||as restated|
||||£|£|
||**Net income for the reporting period (as per the Statement of Financial**||||
||**Activities)**||136,163|187,349|
||**Adjustments for:**||||
||Depreciation charges||23,369|33,759|
||(Gain)/losses on investments||(10,565)|4,736|
||Interest received||(165)|(1,996)|
||(Increase)/decrease in stock||3,142|1,487|
||(Increase)/decrease in debtors||(188,337)|67,313|
||Increase/(decrease) in creditors||138,650|(326,148)|
||**Net cash provided by/(used in) operations**||102,257|(33,500)|
|2.|**ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET FUNDS**||||
|||At 1.4.20|Cash flow|At 31.3.21|
|||£|£|£|
||**Net cash**||||
||Cash at bank and in hand|217,006|64,475|281,481|
|||217,006|64,475|281,481|
||**Total**|217,006|64,475|281,481|
The notes form part of these financial statements
15
Shropshire Wildlife Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## **Basis of preparing the financial statements**
The financial statements of the group and parent charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, with the exception of investments which are included at market value, as modified by the revaluation of certain assets.
The Consolidated statements of financial activities (SOFA) and Consolidated balance sheet consolidate the financial statements of the group and its subsidiary undertaking. The results of the subsidiary are consolidated on a line by line basis.
The Group has taken advantage of the exemption allowed under section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 and has not presented its own Statement of financial activities in these financial statements.
## **Going concern**
The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in a greater degree of uncertainty about some income streams, although emergency funding from national and local government and the National Lottery Heritage foundation has meant that the Trust still recorded a modest surplus in 2020-21. The prior year adjustment means that free reserves are less than was hitherto thought. Nonetheless, having considered emerging external opportunities and having carefully reviewed operational plans and budgets, funding pipeline, and cash-flow projections for the coming three years, the Trustees are satisfied that the organisation is a going concern and have reported on that basis _._
## **Income**
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
The recognition of income from legacies is dependent on establishing entitlement, the probability of receipt and the ability to estimate with sufficient accuracy the amount receivable. Evidence of entitlement to a legacy exists when the Charity has sufficient evidence that a gift has been left to them (through knowledge of the existence of a valid will and the death of the benefactor) and the executor is satisfied that the property in question will not be required to satisfy claims in the estate. Receipt of a legacy must be recognised when it is probable that it will be received and the fair value of the amount receivable, which will generally be the expected cash amount to be distributed to the Charity, can be reliably measured.
Grants are included in the Consolidated statement of financial activities on a receivable basis. The balance of income received for specific purposes but not expended during the period is shown in the relevant funds on the Balance sheet. Where income is received in advance of entitlement of receipt, its recognition is deferred and included in creditors as deferred income. Where entitlement occurs before income is received, the income is accrued.
On receipt, donated professional services and facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the Charity which is the amount it would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt.
On receipt, donated professional services and facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the Charity which is the amount it would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt.
Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Income tax recoverable in relation to investment income is recognised at the time the investment income is receivable.
16
Shropshire Wildlife Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued**
## **Expenditure**
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset's use.
All expenditure is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.
## **Raising funds**
Expenditure on raising funds includes all expenditure incurred by the Group to raise funds for its charitable purposes and includes costs of all fundraising activities events and non-charitable trading.
## **Charitable activities**
Expenditure on charitable activities is incurred on directly undertaking the activities which further the Group's objectives, as well as any associated support costs.
## **Tangible fixed assets**
Tangible fixed assets costing £500 or more are capitalised and recognised when future economic benefits are probable and the cost or value of the asset can be measured reliably.
Tangible fixed assets are initially recognised at cost. After recognition, under the cost model, tangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. All costs incurred to bring a tangible fixed asset into its intended working condition should be included in the measurement of cost.
Depreciation is charged so as to allocate the cost of tangible fixed assets less their residual value over their estimated useful lives.
Depreciation is provided on the following bases: Freehold property - not provided Improvements to property - 10% on cost Fixtures and fittings - 25% on cost Motor vehicles - 25% on cost Computer equipment - 25% on cost
## **Taxation**
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Trustees for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
## **Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits**
The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.
17
Shropshire Wildlife Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued**
## **Investments**
Fixed asset investments are a form of financial instrument and are initially recognised at their transaction cost and subsequently measured at fair value at the balance sheet date, unless the value cannot be measured reliably in which case it is measured as cost less impairment. Investment gains and losses, whether realised or unrealised, are combined and presented as "gains/(losses) on investments" in the Consolidated statement of financial activities.
## **Stock**
Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value after making due allowance for obsolete and slow-moving stocks. Cost includes all direct costs and an appropriate proportion of fixed and variable overheads.
## **Debtors**
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
## **Cash at bank and in hand**
Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short-term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
## **Liabilities and provisions**
Liabilities are recognised when there is an obligation at the Balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably.
Liabilities are recognised at the amount that the Charity anticipates it will pay to settle the debt or the amount it has received as advanced payments for the goods or services it must provide.
Provisions are measured at the best estimate of the amounts required to settle the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the provision is based on the present value of those amounts, discounted at the pre-tax discount rate that reflects the risks specific to the liability. The unwinding of the discount is recognised in the Consolidated statement of financial activities as a finance cost. ‘
## **Financial instruments**
The Group only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value -with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
## **2. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES**
|Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
£
£
Donations
58,144
36,269
Legacies
10,152
-
Membership subscriptions
332,194
-
Income from Branches
4,627
-
405,117
36,269|31.3.21
as
Total
funds
£
94,413
10,152
332,194
4,627
441,386|31.3.20
restated
Total
funds
£
110,279
128,461
360,444
12,788
611,972|
|---|---|---|
31.03.2020 - £514,094 Unrestricted, £97,878 Restricted
18
Shropshire Wildlife Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
## **2. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES - continued**
Shropshire Wildlife Trust receives grants from a range of generous funders, for which we are very grateful. The list below is not exhaustive but we would like to thank the following:
## **Grants and Donations**
Bradford Rural Estates Britpart Canoe Foundation Daniell Charitable Trust DEFRA Environment Agency European Regional Development Fund Garfield Weston Foundation Hitachi Capital UK Invest in Shropshire Millichope Foundation The National Lottery Heritage Fund The National Lottery Community Fund McPhillips of Wellington NLCF Our Bright Future Programme Natural England Potter Group Environmental Fund The Rivers Trust Royal Society of Chemistry Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts Severn Rivers Trust Severn Trent Water Shropshire Council Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership Sport England Telford and Wrekin Council The 10:10 Foundation The Woodland Trust TK Maxx Tudor Griffiths Environmental Fund Water Environment Grant (WEG) Whitley Animal Protection Trust Wildflower Society
We would also like to acknowledge financial assistance from all our Shropshire Investors in Wildlife/Business Members and business environment network (MMBEN) Members as well as support from Caradoc and Severn Valley Field Club, Friends of Pontesford Hill, Friends of Whitcliffe Common, Vine House Farm, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and Wildlife Travel.
Thanks are due to supporters of the Tankerville land appeal. 247 people sponsored barn owls, dormice, hedgehogs, the hollies and pine martens.
The following assisted with donations of time and help in kind:
Bridgnorth Town Council, Leo Smith, Mervyn Evans, The National Trust, Shrewsbury Town Council, Shrewsbury Town Fisheries, Tudor Griffiths Group, Upper Onny Community Wildlife Group.
## **Legacies and gifts in memoriam**
Legacies were received from W Kenyon-Slaney and Michael Black. In Memoriam bequests and funeral donations were received from the friends and families of AJ (Jim) Wells, Richard Wall, Mike Taylor-Wilson, William Roy Barnes, and Melvin Roy Arnold. Memorial trees were planted for Sue & Ann Owen, Laura Beveridge, Sara Tyson-Payne, Helen Haywood and Sandy Burton.
19
Shropshire Wildlife Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
## **3. OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES**
|Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
£
£
Shropshire Wildlife Trading Company Ltd
38,454
-
31.03.2020 - £114,825 Unrestricted, £Nil Restricted
**4.**
**INVESTMENT INCOME**
Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
£
£
Deposit account interest
165
-
31.03.2020 - £1,996 Unrestricted, £Nil Restricted
**5.**
**INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES**
Activity
Grants and charitable income A Living Landscape
Grants and charitable income Standing up for Wildlife
Grants and charitable income People and Wildlife
Grants and charitable income Meres and Mosses
Grants and charitable income BOG Life
Grants and charitable income Rivers
Grants and charitable income Planning Searches
Grants and charitable income Other Charitable Activity
Grants and charitable income New Initiatives
£947,079 (2020: £1,030,739) of the above income related to the restricted fund.
**6.**
**RAISING FUNDS**
**Raising donations and legacies**
Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
£
£
Staff costs
231,521
-
Membership and recruitment
27,820
-
Marketing and event costs
1,963
-
Office costs
12,591
-
Motor and travel
3,294
-
Professional fees
323
4,343
Bank charges
3,998
-
Others
265
-
Management Charge
40,250
-
Carried forward
322,025
4,343|31.3.21
Total
funds
£
38,454
31.3.21
Total
funds
£
165
31.3.21
£
238,570
24,450
302,312
21,220
188,725
739,728
7,287
74,547
75,570
1,672,409
31.3.21
Total
funds
£
231,521
27,820
1,963
12,591
3,294
4,666
3,998
265
40,250
326,368|31.3.20
as restated
Total
funds
£
114,825
31.3.20
as restated
Total
funds
£
1,996
31.3.20
as restated
£
297,596
33,039
240,203
73,888
240,792
705,354
18,555
-
-
1,609,427
31.3.20
as restated
Total
funds
£
247,542
-
8,337
-
-
6,508
-
8,825
-
271,212|
|---|---|---|
|||as|
20
Shropshire Wildlife Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
## **6. RAISING FUNDS - continued**
## **Raising donations and legacies - continued**
|Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
£
£
Brought forward
322,025
4,343
Project Development Charge
(21,600)
-
300,425
4,343
**Other trading activities**
Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
£
£
Shropshire Wildlife Trading Company Ltd
57,259
-
Aggregate amounts
357,684
4,343
31.03.2020 - £382,773 Unrestricted, £Nil Restricted
**7.**
**CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS**
Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
£
£
A Living Landscape
210,061
-
Standing up for Wildlife
13,193
-
People and Wildlife
68,365
264,081
Meres and Mosses
-
20,220
BOG Life
-
166,574
Rivers
343,546
329,878
Planning Searches
62,541
-
Other Charitable Activity
100,192
-
New Initiatives
45,604
40,599
843,502
821,352
1|31.3.21
31.3.20
as restated
Total
Total
funds
funds
£
£
326,368
271,212
(21,600)
-
304,768
271,212
31.3.21
31.3.20
as restated
Total
Total
funds
funds
£
£
57,259
111,561
362,027
382,773
31.3.21
31.3.20
as restated
Total
Total
funds
funds
£
£
210,061
398,950
13,193
34,086
332,446
358,259
20,220
70,388
166,574
152,473
673,424
493,142
62,541
49,650
100,192
206,414
86,203
-
,664,854
1,763,362|
|---|---|
31.03.2020 - £823,178 Unrestricted, £940,184 Restricted
21
Shropshire Wildlife Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
## **7. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS - continued**
## **ANALYSIS OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE**
|Raising funds
SWT Trading Company
Charitable activities
|Staff
costs
£
231,521
34,380
828,541
1,094,442|Depn
£
-
1,451
21,918
23,369|Auditors
remun-
eration
£
-
-
8,750
8,750|Other
costs
£
73,247
21,428
443,618
538,293|31.3.21
£
304,768
57,259
1,302,827
1,664,854|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
## **8. NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):
||31.3.21|31.3.20|
|---|---|---|
|||as restated|
||£|£|
|Depreciation - owned assets|23,369|33,759|
|Operating leases|8,276|10,496|
|Auditor's remuneration|8,750|9,800|
## **9. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS**
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2021 nor for the year ended 31 March 2020.
## **Trustees' expenses**
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2021 nor for the year ended 31 March 2020.
## **10. STAFF COSTS**
|**CHARITY**
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs
**GROUP**
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs
The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:
Management
Other staff|31.3.21
£
860,660
61,494
137,908
1,060,062
31.3.21
£
888,869
63,893
141,680
1,094,442
31.3.21
6
44
50|31.3.20
as restated
£
882,290
64,286
136,058
1,082,634
31.3.20
as restated
£
917,991
67,884
139,600
1,125,475
31.3.20
as restated
7
46
53|
|---|---|---|
No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.
22
Shropshire Wildlife Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
## **10. STAFF COSTS - continued**
During the year, the key management personnel as listed on page 2 received total emoluments (including employers pension contributions) of £269,671 (2020: £363.137).
|**11.**
**COMPARATIVES FOR THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
Unrestricted
funds
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
514,094
**Charitable activities**
A Living Landscape
67,662
Standing up for Wildlife
14,598
People and Wildlife
36,398
Meres and Mosses
73,888
BOG Life
-
Rivers
367,587
Planning Searches
18,555
Other trading activities
Investment income
114,825
1,996
**Total**
1,209,603
**EXPENDITURE ON**
Raising funds
382,773
**Charitable activities**
A Living Landscape
182,127
Standing up for Wildlife
-
People and Wildlife
152,302
Meres and Mosses
70,388
BOG Life
-
Rivers
162,297
Planning Searches
49,650
Other Charitable Activity
206,414
**Total**
1,205,951
Net gains/(losses) on investments
(4,736)
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
(1,084)
**Transfers between funds**
(446,113)
**Net movement in funds**
(447,197)
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
**Total funds brought forward**
542,522
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
95,325|
Restricted
fund
£
97,878
229,934
18,441
203,805
-
240,792
337,767
-
-
-
1,128,617
-
216,823
34,086
205,957
-
152,473
330,845
-
-
940,184
-
188,433
446,113
634,546
2,336,125
2,970,671|Total
funds
as restated
£
611,972
297,596
33,039
240,203
73,888
240,792
705,354
18,555
114,825
1,996
2,338,220
382,773
398,950
34,086
358,259
70,388
152,473
493,142
49,650
206,414
2,146,135
(4,736)
187,349
-
187,349
2,878,647
3,065,996|
|---|---|---|
## **12. PRIOR YEAR ADJUSTMENT**
Prior year adjustments have been made during the year to account for the value of freehold property which had been left to the charity via legacies which have not previously been accounted for within the financial statements and a correction of historic difference in the funds balances.
This adjustment has resulted in a decrease in opening unrestricted funds of £434,951, an increase in opening restricted funds of £532,829 and an increase in the value of fixed assets of £97,878.
23
Shropshire Wildlife Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
## **13. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**
## **CHARITY**
|**COST**
At 1 April 2020 as restated
Additions
At 31 March 2021
**DEPRECIATION**
At 1 April 2020 as restated
Charge for year
At 31 March 2021
**NET BOOK VALUE**
At 31 March 2021
At 31 March 2020 as
restated
**GROUP**
**COST**
At 1 April 2020
Additions
At 31 March 2021
**DEPRECIATION**
At 1 April 2020
Charge for year
At 31 March 2021
**NET BOOK VALUE**
At 31 March 2021
At 31 March 2020|Freehold
property
and
nature
reserves
£
2,833,671
25,040
2,858,711
-
-
-
2,858,711
2,833,671
Freehold
property
and
nature
reserves
£
2,833,671
25,040
2,858,711
-
-
-
2,858,711
2,833,671|Improvements
to
property
£
85,096
-
85,096
52,877
8,503
61,380
23,716
32,219
Improvements
to
property
£
85,096
-
85,096
52,877
8,503
61,380
23,716
32,219|Fixtures
and
fittings
£
199,509
12,907
212,416
185,122
11,500
196,622
15,794
14,387
Fixtures
and
fittings
£
201,444
12,907
214,351
185,122
12,951
198,073
16,278
16,322|Motor
vehicles
£
66,437
-
66,437
64,522
1,915
66,437
-
1,915
Motor
vehicles
£
66,437
-
66,437
64,522
1,915
66,437
-
1,915|Totals
£
3,184,713
37,947
3,222,660
302,521
21,918
324,439
2,898,221
2,882,192
Totals
£
3,186,648
37,947
3,224,595
302,521
23,369
325,890
2,898,705
2,884,127|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Included in cost or valuation of land and buildings of both the charity and group is freehold land of £2,858,711 which is not depreciated.
Included within freehold property and nature reserves of both the charity and group is land with a closing NBV of £570,895 which has been leased on a 99 year lease to Natural England. It has not been deemed appropriate to classify this value as investment property due to the common objectives of the charities and that Shropshire Wildlife Trust does not earn rental income or any other form of capital appreciation.
24
Shropshire Wildlife Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
## **14. FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS – CHARITY AND GROUP**
|**FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS – CHARITY AND GROUP**||
|---|---|
||Listed|
||investments|
||£|
|**MARKET VALUE**||
|At 1 April 2020|35,264|
|Revaluations|10,565|
|At 31 March 2021|45,829|
|**NET BOOK VALUE**||
|At 31 March 2021|45,829|
|At 31 March 2020|35,264|
3.78% of the investment value is held within the UK the remainder is held in overseas investments.
Cost or valuation at 31 March 2021 is represented by:
|||Listed|
|---|---|---|
|||investments|
|||£|
|Valuation in|2020|(4,736)|
|Valuation in|2021|10,565|
|Cost||40,000|
|||45,829|
The company's investments at the balance sheet date in the share capital of companies include the following:
## **Shropshire Wildlife Trading Company Limited**
Registered office: UK Nature of business: Retail Shop
|Registered office: UK
Nature of business: Retail Shop||||
|---|---|---|---|
||%|||
|Class of share:|holding|||
|Ordinary shares|100|||
|||31.3.21|31.3.20|
|||£|£|
|Aggregate capital and reserves||(11,938)|3,265|
|(Loss)/profit for the year||(11,940)|3,263|
The charity has a wholly owned trading subsidiary, Shropshire Wildlife Trading Company Limited (02452421), which is incorporated in the United Kingdom. The company gifts its profits to Shropshire Wildlife Trust. A summary of trading results is shown below.
|Turnover
Cost of sales
Gross Profit
Admin expenses
Other operating income
**Operating profit / (loss)**|**2021**
**£**
22,209
(12,260)
9,949
(44,999)
23,110
**(11,940)**|**2020**
**£**
114,825
(38,248)
76,577
(73,314)
-
**3,263**|
|---|---|---|
25
Shropshire Wildlife Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
|**15.**
**STOCKS**
**GROUP**
31.3.21
as
£
Finished goods and goods for resale
12,523
**16.**
**DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
**CHARITY**
31.3.21
as
£
Trade debtors
102,190
Amounts owed by group undertakings
33,793
Other debtors
436,098
Prepayments and accrued income
1,817
573,898
**GROUP**
31.3.21
as
£
Trade debtors
102,241
Amounts owed by group undertakings
-
Other debtors
436,098
Prepayments and accrued income
1,817
540,156
**17.**
**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
**CHARITY**
31.3.21
as
£
Trade creditors
240,832
VAT
4,840
Other creditors
320,460
Accruals and deferred income
8,750
574,882
**GROUP**
31.3.21
as
£
Trade creditors
242,319
VAT
5,004
Other creditors
320,462
Accruals and deferred income
8,750
576,535
**18.**
**LEASING AGREEMENTS**
Minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases fall due as follows:
31.3.21
as
£
Within one year
6,056
Between one and five years
4,235
10,291|31.3.20
restated
£
15,665
31.3.20
restated
£
106,177
54,864
246,723
5,361
413,125
31.3.20
restated
£
99,313
-
246,723
5,783
351,819
31.3.20
restated
£
192,049
1,964
247,458
9,802
451,273
31.3.20
restated
£
174,397
2,435
251,251
9,802
437,885
31.3.20
restated
£
8,276
10,040
18,316|
|---|---|
26
Shropshire Wildlife Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
## **19. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS**
## **CHARITY**
|Fixed assets
Investments
Current assets
Current liabilities
**GROUP**
Fixed assets
Investments
Current assets
Current liabilities
**20.**
**MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
At 1.4.20
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General funds
421,108
Designated funds
109,168
530,276
**Restricted funds**
Restricted funds
2,437,842
**TOTAL CONSOLIDATED**
**FUNDS**
2,968,118
Net movement in funds, included in the above a
**Unrestricted funds**
General funds
Designated funds
**Restricted funds**
Restricted funds
**TOTAL CONSOLIDATED FUNDS**|Unrestricted
funds
£
216,563
45,829
123,851
(88,076)
298,167
Unrestricted
funds
£
217,047
45,829
113,081
(89,729)
286,228
Prior
year
adjustment
£
(434,951)
-
(434,951)
532,829
97,878
re as follows:
Incoming
resources
£
1,169,066
-
1,169,066
983,348
2,152,414|Restricted
fund
£
2,681,658
-
721,079
(486,806)
2,915,931
Restricted
fund
£
2,681,658
-
721,079
(486,806)
2,915,931
Net
movement
in funds
£
(18,521)
(2,969)
(21,490)
157,653
136,163
Resources
expended
£
(1,198,217)
(2,969)
(1,201,186)
(825,695)
(2,026,881)|31.3.21
Total
funds
£
2,898,221
45,829
844,930
(574,882)
3,214,098
31.3.21
Total
funds
£
2,898,705
45,829
834,160
(576,535)
3,202,159
Transfers
between
funds
£
318,592
(106,199)
212,393
(212,393)
-
Gains and
losses
£
10,630
-
10,630
-
10,630|31.3.20
as restated
Total
funds
£
2,882,192
35,264
596,549
(451,273)
3,062,732
31.3.20
as restated
Total
funds
£
2,884,127
35,264
584,490
(437,885)
3,065,996
At
31.3.21
£
286,228
-
286,228
2,915,931
3,202,159
Movement
in funds
£
(18,521)
(2,969)
(21,490)
157,653
136,163|
|---|---|---|---|---|
27
Shropshire Wildlife Trust
## Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
## **20. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
|**Gains /Losses**
**Opening**
**Incoming**
**Outgoing**
**and**
**Restricted Funds**
**Balance** **Resources**
**Resources**
**transfers**
**Fixed Assets**
Capital Reserve Account
2,656,618
-
-
25,040
2,656,618
-
-
25,040
**Net Current Assets**
Bwyltai Woods
5,051
-
-
(5,051)
Furbers Appeal
64,731
-
-
(54,731)
Llanymynech Butterfly
Appeal
14,118
-
-
(5,911)
Darwins Garden Appeal
6,000
-
-
(6,000)
Stiperstones/Nipstones
73,946
-
-
(37,000)
Pontesford Hill Appeal
30,452
-
-
(5,758)
Farfields Appeal
1,563
-
-
(1,563)
Whitchurch Branch -
Greenfields AFA
1,000
-
-
-
Cadbury - Lightmoor
10,000
-
-
-
Restored Earth Clarity
10,000
-
-
-
Whixhall Bird Hide Appeal
1,692
-
-
(1,692)
Badger Vaccination Appeal
3,957
-
-
(1,500)
Reserves appeal fund
1,937
-
-
(1,937)
Stiperstones New Land
purchase
-
33,461
-
(5,000)
Pine Marten Appeal
6,361
2,073
-
(5,973)
Jean Jackson - Oswestry Pilot
32,750
-
-
(16,750)
Wildlife Sites (WAPT/Jean
Jackson/Millichope)
14,625
-
-
(14,625)
Live Well Work Well
8,159
-
-
-
Natural England
-
72,198
(50,048)
-
Heritage Lottery
-
116,526
(116,526)
-
Marches Mosses Carbon
Capture
-
21,220
(20,220)
(1,000)
Growing Confidence
1,318
146,099
(146,099)
-
Woodland Trust Tree
Planting
5,000
-
(1,000)
-
Tesco - Feed the Birds
21,393
31,848
(29,602)
-
Feed the Birds Phase II
Community Lottery Fund
-
19,522
(19,522)
-
Wild Marches Development
-
6,200
(4,343)
(1,857)
Nature Friendly Schools
-
61,589
(61,589)
-
Green Mentor Project
-
18,000
-
-
Riparian Trees
-
63,775
(63,775)
-
Scottish PEN
-
13,575
-
-
River Friendly RSC
-
2,000
(2,457)
457
River Friendly EA
-
27,305
(20,333)
(6,972)
Severn Canoe Trail
-
11,672
(1,985)
-
WEG SINSSI
-
11,334
(7,500)
(3,834)
WEG Newport Canal
-
24,959
(24,444)
(515)
CABA National
-
28,515
(17,754)
(10,761)
CABA Local
-
7,500
(220)
(2,280)
Slow the Flow
-
58,150
(44,410)
(13,740)
Freshwater First
-
148,557
(144,998)
(25,040)
Birch Road Pond
-
1,000
(1,000)
-
Climate Change
-
10,000
(1,600)
(8,400)
Covid Emergency Grant
-
39,000
(39,000)
-
TG Environmental
-
7,270
(7,270)
-
314,053
983,348
(825,695)
(237,433)
**Total Restricted Funds**
2,970,671
983,348
(825,695)
(212,393)|**Closing**
**Balance**
2,681,658
2,681,658
-
10,000
8,207
-
36,946
24,694
-
1,000
10,000
10,000
-
2,457
-
28,461
2,461
16,000
-
8,159
22,150
-
-
1,318
4,000
23,639
-
-
-
18,000
-
13,575
-
-
9,687
-
-
-
5,000
-
(21,481)
-
-
-
-
234,273
2,915,931|
|---|---|
28
Shropshire Wildlife Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
## **20. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
|**Gains /Losses**
**Opening**
**Incoming**
**Outgoing**
**and**
**Balance** **Resources**
**Resources**
**Transfers**
Fixed assets
225,574
-
(21,918)
12,907
Current assets
(242,681)
1,069,287
(1,075,791)
316,315
**Total Unrestricted Funds**
(17,107)
1,069,287
(1,097,709)
329,222
**Designated**
Biodiversity projects
109,168
-
(2,969)
(106,199)
Newts
-
64,588
(50,114)
-
109,168
64,588
(53,083)
(106,199)
**Unrestricted and**
**Designated Funds**
92,061
1,133,875
(1,150,792)
(223,023)
**Total Funds Charity**
3,062,732
2,117,223
(1,976,487)
10,630
**Total Consolidated funds**
3,065,996
2,152,414
(2,026,881)
10,630
Trading company funds
3,264
35,191
(50,394)
-|**Closing**
**Balance**
216,563
67,130
283,693
-
14,474
14,474
298,167
3,214,098
3,202,159
(11,939)|
|---|---|
## **Transfers between funds**
During the year transfers between funds have been carried out to accurately reflect the closing balances.
29
Shropshire Wildlife Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
## **20. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
## **Comparatives for movement in funds**
|**Unrestricted funds**
General funds
Designated funds
**Restricted funds**
Restricted funds
**TOTAL FUNDS**|At 1.4.19
£
542,522
-
540,137
2,336,125
2,878,647|Net
movement
in funds
£
(110,252)
109,168
(1,084)
188,433
187,349|Transfers
between
funds
£
(446,113)
-
(446,113)
446,113
-|At
31.3.20
£
(13,843)
109,168
95,325
2,970,671
3,065,996|
|---|---|---|---|---|
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
|**Unrestricted funds**
General funds
Designated funds
**Restricted funds**
Restricted funds
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Incoming
resources
£
1,100,435
109,168
1,209,603
1,128,617
2,338,220|Resources
expended
£
(1,205,951)
-
(1,205,951)
(940,184)
(2,146,135)|Gains and
losses
£
(4,736)
-
(4,736)
-
(4,736)|Movement
in funds
£
(110,252)
109,168
(1,084)
188,433
187,349|
|---|---|---|---|---|
## **21. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES**
Kate Mayne, a Trustee of the Shropshire Wildlife Trust, has been appointed as a contractor on the DEFRA tests and trials project. Standard procurement and tendering processes were adhered to in the appointment of the contractor. During the year, Shropshire Wildlife paid Kate Mayne £16,450 (2020: £Nil) in contractor fees. At the year end there were no amounts outstanding.
## **22. FRC ETHICAL STANDARD - PROVISIONS AVAILABLE FOR SMALL ENTITIES**
In common with many other businesses of our size and nature we use our auditors to prepare and submit returns to the tax authorities and assist with the preparation of the financial statements.
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 30