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2023-03-31-accounts

Charity Registration No. 214927 Company Registration No. 738693 (England & Wales)

THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATION

Trustees B Stothart (Chair)
P Rushton
C Neame
S Judd
S Williams
C Swarbrick
S Ridsdale (resigned November 2022)
J Roscoe
R Collins
J Richards
Secretary Charlotte Harris
Chief Executive Charlotte Harris
Registered office Bickley Hall Farm
Bickley
Malpas
Cheshire
SY14 8EF
Charity number 214927
Company number 738693
Auditors Mitchell Charlesworth (Audit) Limited
Chartered Accountants
Statutory Auditor
3rdFloor
44 Peter Street
Manchester
M2 5GP
Bankers CAF Bank
25 Kings Hill Avenue
Kings Hill
West Malling
Kent
ME19 4JQ
Solicitors Gough-Thomas & Scott
8 Willow Street
Ellesmere
Shropshire
SY12 0AQ

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THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

CONTENTS PAGE

Page
Chair’s Report 4
Trustees’ Report 5 – 18
Independent Auditor’s Report 19 – 23
Statement of Financial Activities 24
Balance Sheet 25
Statement of Cash Flow 26
Accounting Policies and Notes to the Accounts 27 – 42

THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

CHAIR’S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Cheshire Wildlife Trust works for people, wildlife and nature in Cheshire, Wirral, Stockport, Trafford, Tameside, Warrington and Halton. We now have about 20,000 supporters, champions and volunteers and many thousands more followers who believe that we need nature and nature needs us. I am proud of the achievements and performance of the Trust in 2022/23 which are set out in this report.

Last year, 2021/22, was a transition year out of the Covid-19 restrictions and financial turnover was c. £2.7m. In 2022/23 CWT has again grown its impact and grown its turnover by 20% to £3.1m. The Trust returned a surplus for the seventh successive year and continues to be financially sound. A further 1,350ha of land was protected for nature as a result of our work and 329 landowners received advice to enhance the management of 8,217ha for wildlife. Overall, we connected with more than 250,000 people and inspired 24,000 actions for nature including the creation of 96ha of new habitat.

Last year I commented on the purchase of Saltersford Farm in August 2021. I am delighted that in just two years, using a blend of public and private finance from different sources, we have secured enough funding for the purchase and management of the land for the next 30 years, and started to allow nature to recover and thrive there.

CWT continues to seek to acquire more, bigger, better and more joined up reserves to provide space for nature’s recovery, and also to influence others to manage their land in the interests of nature, engaging with Government at all levels, as well as farmers and landowners.

I also commented on the CWT beaver reintroduction in 2020, in an enclosure in Delamere Forest. It is a brilliant story to tell people that beaver kits were born for the first time in 400 years in Cheshire in 2022! We are working to obtain a licence for wild release of beavers in the future, and I hope we can achieve that in the next few years.

Our report into the nature impacts of HS2 from London to Manchester is being used to lobby for change at the highest levels and we mobilised 7,000 local residents in Cheshire East to petition the Council against developing a protected peat bog.

Our network of champions grew to more than 200. 44 schools joined the Wilder Schools network and we helped more than 40 community groups take action for nature where they live. We planted more than 5,000 trees in community spaces and 3,650 people in Cheshire completed our 30 Days Wild challenge. Every resident in Knutsford and Congleton now lives within a 10-minute walk of a wild space and residents in Stockport are now doing more to protect swifts and hedgehogs.

We continue to face a biodiversity crisis and a climate crisis. Cheshire Wildlife Trust, and Wildlife Trusts nationally, have a critical role in engaging and energising people to play an active part in combatting these challenges and enabling nature’s recovery. Your continued support is both valued and essential.

We need more space for wildlife, and more people on nature’s side.

Bill Stothart Chair Date: 21 September 2023

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THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their report together with the audited accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with 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).

Overview

Cheshire Wildlife Trust is the only charity dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and wild places in the Cheshire region.

Formed in 1962 by volunteers, Cheshire Wildlife Trust is one of 46 independent charities, which together form the UK-wide Wildlife Trust movement. The Trust benefits from the support of over 17,000 members and over 300 volunteers, is governed by a nine-strong Board of Trustees and currently employs 64 dedicated staff. We are passionate about securing a future for local wildlife on land and at sea and work as part of the Wildlife Trust movement to influence decision making for nature at the highest level nationally.

Cheshire Wildlife Trust Limited is required by charity and company law to act within the objects of its Memorandum of Association, which are as follows:

  1. To promote and deliver the conservation, protection, improvement and expansion of the physical and natural environment, for the benefit of wildlife and the public of the United Kingdom; particularly in the Vice County 58 (the traditional County Palatine of Chester) and adjacent areas.

  2. To advance the education and engagement of the public in the principles and practice of:

  3. a. Biodiversity conservation and enhancement;

  4. b. Sustainable living and development;

  5. c. Nature-based health and wellbeing initiatives; and

  6. d. Natural capital, and its protection, restoration and value to society.

  7. To promote research in all branches of relevant scientific study and to publish the useful results thereof.

In 2020 we launched our 2030 Strategy: Wilder Cheshire. The full strategy is available on our website https://www.cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/2030strategy on the following page.

Public benefit statement

The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duties in section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 to have due regard to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit, 'Charities and Public Benefit'. The Trust's public benefit is enshrined in its charitable objects.

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THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Our vision is for a Wilder Cheshire

Our mission is to bring wildlife back – for everyone, everywhere – and we urgently need your help.

By 2030, we must see nature recovering, wildlife returning and ecosystems restored. If we wait until the impacts of environmental breakdown are upon us – that is, until we witness the rising sea levels, personally suffer the effects of pollution or notice the lack of birdsong – it will be too late.

Our strategy is focused on tackling three crises:

1. Wildlife is in crisis – Let’s fight for wildlife’s recovery.

Outcome: At least 30% of the land and sea in Cheshire needs to be managed for nature so that missing wildlife will return. We want to see more and better connected wild spaces and the pressures on the environment reduced.

Nature today is not normal. Since the 1930s, species-rich wildflower meadows have become virtually extinct; since the 1950s, we have lost over half the abundance of all species across the UK; since the 1970s, there’s been a 60% fall in vertebrates globally. Elsewhere, recent reports tell us that insect populations have collapsed by 75% between 1990 and 2014. In the UK, we have lost half of our farmland birds in one generation. Cheshire is not immune to these trends and less than 10% of our region is protected for wildlife.

2. Climate is in crisis – Let’s make nature part of the solution.

Outcome: Resilient nature will help combat climate change. We need more carbon to be locked up in our plants and soils and to restore broken ecosystems.

We are facing a climate crisis and nature is a big part of the solution. Healthy ecosystems and restored habitats will help us play our part in delivering the UN’s Paris Agreement to tackle the climate emergency. Our peatlands, woodland and wetlands, if restored, can protect us. These habitats store carbon, cool our towns and help control flooding as well as supporting our economy and wellbeing. Our utility bills are higher because we need to clean our water. Our food bills are rising because farming is not sustainable. The costs of flood damage are devastating where nature’s defences fail.

3. We are in crisis – Let’s have more people on nature’s side.

Outcome: Our wellbeing and economy relies on a healthy, natural environment. We need everyone to be passionate about wildlife and at least 1 in 4 people to be taking action for nature’s recovery.

Our disconnect with nature is snowballing with each passing generation. New generations grow up ever more distant from the natural world. They do not miss it when it disappears, and so it continues to slip away unnoticed. When we lose our connection with nature, mental health problems, obesity and isolation rise. We need at least 1 in 4 people to be taking visible and meaningful action for nature in order to achieve a social tipping point. We need caring for and protecting nature to be a normal part of everyday life and the decisions we take. Only then will we start to see nature recover.

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THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

TRUSTEES’ REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Strategic report

The information below, including the review of achievements and performance, financial review, risk management statement and summary of future plans, forms the Strategic Report for the purpose of the Companies Act 2006.

Achievements and performance

Our charitable objects are the drivers behind our 2030 strategic framework. Our achievements and performance are reported against each of the three strategic outcomes and we also report on a fourth underpinning objective to ensure that Cheshire Wildlife Trust is effective and resilient.

Wildlife and climate are in crisis

In the year ended 31 March 2023, a further 1,350ha of land was protected for nature as a result of our work; 329 landowners received advice to enhance the management of 8,217ha for wildlife, we directly managed 728ha and we created 96ha of new habitat.

Outcome: 30% of land in Cheshire is good for nature

We continued the restoration of our newest nature reserve at Saltersford Farm, creating 6ha of wildflower meadows and planting 6.5ha of mixed deciduous woodland the help of 80 dedicated volunteers.

As a result of increased capacity, we doubled the number of landowners and farmers we advised and assisted. This resulted in 39ha of woodland creation through our Trees for Climate scheme and 24ha of new wildflower meadow through our Pollinating Cheshire project.

We started a Defra-funded Tests & Trials project looking at payment mechanisms for farmers to integrate regenerative agriculture and ecological recovery on their land.

Outcome: 30% of land for nature is well managed

We reviewed our nature reserve management plans and dedicated resources to grant funding for habitat management including new wildflower margins, ponds and shallow wading bird scrapes at Gowy Meadows, new hedgerows and ponds at Bickley Hall Farm, new boardwalks at Danes Moss and Owley Wood and enhancements to our wildflower meadows at our Swettenham Valley and Saltersford Farm nature reserves.

Biodiversity Net Gain and carbon payments were used to create and enhance the habitats on three of our nature reserves: grassland restoration and woodland creation at Saltersford Farm, biodiversity enhancements at Kerridge Hill, and woodland ground flora enhancement at Owley Wood.

Support from Forestry England and volunteers enabled us to continue the management of Delamere’s mosses.

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TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Our partnership with Tarmac to manage Crown Farm Quarry entered its fifth year. The wildflower meadows provided donor seed for sites across Cheshire and we introduced cattle grazing to aid seed dispersal and increase habitat diversity for invertebrates.

We further enhanced Red Rocks Marsh in partnership with Royal Liverpool Golf Club by managing the natterjack toad pools and planting sea holly to encourage grayling butterflies.

We increased the area of land managed for wildlife at Ince Marshes on behalf of Protos to just over 50ha and continue to see the site provide a refuge for water voles, important breeding habitat for barn owls and a feeding site for marsh harriers.

Outcome: Declining species are recovering

We established the South West Peak Curlew Recovery Partnership and launched a citizen science approach to reversing their decline through monitoring, wader-friendly farming and community champions.

We confirmed that the population of white-faced darter, introduced by CWT to Delamere Forest in 2016, has now spread to several other nearby restored mosses.

Summer 2022 saw the first two beaver kits born in the county in over 400 years. Our partnership with the University of Liverpool to monitor their impacts has revealed that both water quality and biodiversity have improved since their reintroduction to Hatch Mere in 2020. We began work on a licence for wild release of beavers.

The Gowy Water Vole Recovery Project surveyed their current range, threats and the availability of habitat in the catchment, with the University of Liverpool helping to answer questions about population genetics.

At Red Rocks Marsh we adapted the management to help natterjack toads cope with spring tides and hot weather during the breeding season and volunteers helped plant sea holly grown at Chester Zoo to boost grayling butterfly numbers.

We trained 75 people in citizen science to help monitor species such as swifts and hedgehogs and helped schools to use trail cameras.

Outcome: 30% of land is protected for nature

We surveyed 150ha of Local Wildlife Sites and provided management advice to their owners.

We mapped important areas for wildlife across 4,525 ha for four Neighbourhood Plans, protecting 450ha of wildlife corridors in planning policy.

We influenced planning outcomes for 202ha and protected 115ha of the Mersey Estuary Local Wildlife Site by succeeding in getting it removed from the Local Plan.

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THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

We provided training and advice to approximately 270 local authority planners, ecologists, developers and Wildlife Trust staff to influence the roll-out of Biodiversity Net Gain, ensuring good practice is embedded from the very start.

We published a comprehensive review of HS2’s No Net Loss of Biodiversity calculations between London and Crewe. We raised our concerns with the Transport Select Committee, and HS2’s Principal Advisor from Natural England met with us on multiple occasions to discuss our findings. We also voiced our concerns on local and national media, securing a mention on Radio 4’s Today programme. We believe our findings have led directly to HS2 changing their assessment methodology for Phase 2b (Crewe to Manchester).

Our plans for April 2023–March 2024:

• Acquire more nature-poor land for restoration. • Create 100ha of new space for wildlife. • Improve management of 2,000ha through farm advice.

• Ensure our nature reserves remain well managed and provide refuge to declining species. • Influence local plans and policies to ensure they deliver the best outcomes for nature. • Help reverse the declines of our most threatened wildlife including curlews, water voles, swifts and natterjack toads.

We are in crisis

In FY23, our communications and engagement programmes reached 259,161 people and inspired over 24,000 actions for nature.

Outcome: People in Cheshire are more connected to nature

We engaged almost 10,000 children and families through our sessions and events at school grounds, on nature reserves and in the community. Activities included Family Woodland days, Nature Tots, Wilderness Town Tots and Wildlife Friendly Farming Walks, which all help build a connection with nature and for some provide their first ever encounter with wildlife.

We engaged 174 people and planted 5,125 trees in community spaces across Cheshire East. Alongside this, we planted 140 fruit trees across four new community orchards. Three of those orchards were of 40 trees, marking 40 years of foster care within Cheshire East Council.

Our Wild Work Day offer engaged 20 people from three businesses and has given us a base from which we can build a more inclusive, broader corporate offer for the year ahead.

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TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Outcome: More people are aware of the nature and climate crisis and what they can do to help

Our social media following grew to 34,183, meaning we are able to reach even more people with our nature messaging and with things they can do to help. We launched Wild Life Hacks in January, encouraging people to save time and money, as well as the environment.

A total of 3,650 people took part in 30 Days Wild, doing small things every day throughout June to notice nature where they live, work, play and learn.

Every Wednesday, 7,320 people received Wild Cheshire into their inbox, with over 500 each week clicking through to read, watch and learn about the topic in more detail.

We delivered in-person assemblies on the nature and climate crisis to over 3,600 children as well as digital assemblies watched by 29 primary schools, resulting in 7,829 pledges and 1,957 direct actions on school grounds. Two schools in Stockport were inspired to raise money for Cheshire Wildlife Trust, whilst others made bird boxes and held awareness days.

We engaged over 9,000 people at events, enabled almost 4,000 actions for nature and recorded more than 500 pledges. We met people from across the spectrum of nature connection, from those at the RHS Tatton flower show who are already doing amazing things in their gardens for wildlife, to families in the heart of Crewe who have no outside space at home. Our place-based events for our projects in Stockport and Crewe focused on inspiring people about their local wildlife and building community connections.

Outcome: Everyone has access to urban wild space

We are making wild spaces more accessible. In Congleton and Knutsford every resident now lives within a 10-minute walk of either a restored wildflower meadow, a community orchard, or a newly planted woodland, and 200,000 now have a native wildflower meadow within their town.

Nextdoor Nature in Crewe engaged 4,500 people through events and community listening, helping us align nature-based solutions to local problems. We worked with five communities to transform spaces around the town and make them better for nature.

Rewilding Stockport supported 2,800 people through a growing network of community groups, businesses, schools and individuals in Stockport who are taking action for nature. We are a key stakeholder in Stockport's Green Network and we mapped 27 wasted spaces and supported seven groups on their transformation journey, including GRIT Studios.

We made 25 school grounds more nature friendly by sowing 11 wildflower meadows, planting seven fruit orchards, building willow domes, sensory gardens and raised beds, as well as creating four ponds. This has improved the biodiversity of the grounds, enhanced children’s access to nature and provided meaningful learning opportunities to more than 5,000 young people.

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TRUSTEES’ REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Outcome: A network of champions & warriors are empowered to take action for nature

A total of 17,077 individuals took action for nature through their continued membership support of Cheshire Wildlife Trust.

We enabled over 40 groups to inspire their communities with everything from simple habitat management advice through to helping residents protect a swift colony in Warrington through Local Wildlife Site designation. Our ‘community organising’ approach is helping to bring people together around a common cause by reaching out, listening and connecting to people to build a collective power.

We launched our ‘Wilder Champion’ network, supporting and connecting over 200 individuals through a dedicated Facebook group, newsletter and website.

We created 19 new guides and advice packs to support our champions, in response to their needs. The guides range from information on how to find funding for a project, to how to set up a community group, to transforming a space on a budget, as well as how to embed ‘nature connection’ approaches into their activities.

We worked with 23 farmers across the Southern Meres and Mosses area of Cheshire on a Defrafunded project exploring how a blended finance model for future farm payments could be structured across the farmed landscape.

Our ‘Wilder Schools’ network grew to 44 schools, acting as a hub of expertise, ideas and learning resources for those committed to taking action for nature.

Our 10 Young Leaders succeeded in embedding their National Park City vision into the Chester One City Plan and worked with the local record centre to bring the international City Nature Challenge to Chester, encouraging people to record their wildlife sightings. They also transformed two spaces in Chester.

Our campaigns influenced decision makers to make the right choices for nature. We challenged a plan to build nearly 1,000 house units on Danes Moss North Local Wildlife Site and over 7,000 Cheshire East residents signed our petition. We worked with community forums to shape and support local campaigns and became members of the Chester Sustainability Forum and Warrington Climate Emergency Commission.

Our plans for April 2023–March 2024:

• Inspire more individuals to take action though social media, events, toolkits and training days and support at least 420 champions.

• Mobilise 10,000 people to take action through campaigning. We’ll broaden our campaigning work to support more local groups, with Saves Danes Moss showing the success of this approach.

• Continue our place-based projects, Nextdoor Nature and Rewilding Stockport, as they gain momentum in creating rich spaces in the heart of urban towns, benefitting both people and wildlife.

• Grow our Wilder Schools Network to at least 100 and provide inspirational family events.

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TRUSTEES’ REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

We are effective and resilient

Below is a summary of our programme to ensure that CWT has the financial resources it needs, is well run and has a high-performing and valued staff and volunteer team.

Outcome: CWT is financially sustainable

Our total income increased by 20% from £2.7m in FY22 to £3.1m in FY23 and we returned an overall surplus of £79,955, which was higher than last year due to a generous legacy donation. This is the seventh successive year in which the Trust has managed its expenditure within budgetary limits.

Earned income grew by a further 3% from £1,165,280 to £1,195,226. During the year we continued to secure new contracts for habitat creation and land management advice, including working with Natural England to provide baseline surveys for their Lost Wetlands initiative, the National Trust to provide advice, guidance and delivery of wildflower meadows across a number of their properties in Cheshire, United Utilities to provide advice and practical solutions to prevent water quality issues from farming in our Pennine Fringe Living Landscape area, and Canal & River Trust to assist them in enhancing the wildlife value of the National Waterways museum in Ellesmere Port.

Income from grants grew significantly from £708,579 to £1,127,482, secured from a range of sources including National Lottery Heritage Fund, People’s Postcode Lottery and a number of charitable trusts. Grant funding enabled the continuation of existing engagement activities.

Income from supporters remained steady at £509,290 (2022: £509,134), demonstrating that even during a cost-of-living crisis, supporting environmental causes remained high on the public agenda. The total number of members increased from 16,923 to 17,077. Income from donations and legacies fell slightly to £113,796 and we raised £204,876 through appeals thanks to the generous support given to our ‘3x3’ nature reserve acquisition campaign.

Outcome: CWT is well governed

During the year we have further refined our governance to ensure that our Board of Trustees operates effectively and receives quality and timely information on which to base decisions.

Attracting and retaining a talented workforce is key to our success and this year we have made improvements to staff benefits including pensions, pay and provision for flexible working.

Outcome: CWT is an effective member of the Wildlife Trust federation

CWT continued to play its full part in the federation. The CEO and Chair took part in national conferences and working groups on a range of strategic topics.

CWT worked closely with North Wales Wildlife Trust to deliver the Our Dee Estuary project and with Cumbria and Lancashire Wildlife Trusts to campaign for better protection of the Irish Sea.

We provided training and advice to other Wildlife Trusts on biodiversity net gain and collaborated with Warwickshire and Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trusts on a Governmentbacked Natural Environment Investment Readiness project. We also worked closely with our neighbours at Lancashire Wildlife Trust to progress nature recovery plans for Greater Manchester.

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TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

CWT’s Evidence and Planning team influenced at the highest level by leading the collation and analysis of evidence for a Wildlife Trust report into the impact of HS2 on nature. We presented our findings at a House of Commons Select Committee and attracted national media attention.

Our plans for April 2023–March 2024:

Financial review

Review of the year

Cheshire Wildlife Trust's financial position remained stable during the year with unrestricted income for the year of £2,129,404 (2022: £1,973,586) and restricted income £1,085,055 (2022: £715,250).

Expenditure for the year totalled £3,134,504 (2022: £2,677,971).

Principal funding sources

The largest source of unrestricted income is now from contracts and commercial income, although membership subscriptions continue to provide a major part of the Trust’s ongoing unrestricted funding. The main sources of funding for the charity were:

Contracts and earned income 37.2 % Grants 35.1% Membership subscriptions (including gift aid) 15.8 % Appeals and sponsorships 6.4 % Donations and legacies 3.5 % Fundraising 1.6 % Other income 0.4 %

Generating funds

We receive approximately 27.3% of our financial support from individuals through a range of activities. Trust membership is the foundation of everything we do and we endeavour to grow this each year. The overall number of members at 31 March was 17,077. This is attributable to an increased public interest in environmental concerns combined with an increased CWT profile and the use of alternative recruitment methods such as digital conversion and direct mail. Members not only provide vital funding which enables the positive work for wildlife but they also represent the collective voice of people who care about wildlife. This is critically important in helping the Trust to stand up for wildlife and get our message across to key decision makers.

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TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

We also aim to build lasting support from institutional bodies, including our corporate members, statutory grant funders and charitable trusts. Some of our charitable activities also generate income, especially from land management, ecological advice and education services.

In our activities, we receive extensive assistance from our volunteers, who are at the heart of what the Trust does and achieves; without their help our work would be greatly diminished. Volunteers founded the Trust in 1962 and they are still fundamental to our work. They carry out a variety of roles, from practical conservation and field surveys, to support for office and education activities. All the volunteers are doing vital jobs that allow us to maintain our core business.

Financial reserves

Total funds
Less restricted
Less designated
Unrestricted funds
Unrestricted cash and investments		 £1,371,853
£744,838
£161,194
£465,821
£533,568

The Council has examined the Trust’s requirements for financial reserves in the light of the main risks to the organisation in order to:

The Trust has targeted a level of unrestricted cash and investments of four months’ expenditure by the Trust (excluding that on grant-funded projects). At March 2023 the Trust had cash reserves which are sufficient to cover 3.9 months’ unrestricted expenditure. The Trust is looking to increase this cover to safeguard both the operational and financial sustainability of the Trust as the organisation grows.

Investment policy

Any surplus cash, over and above the amount required to support one month’s working capital requirement, is held in fixed term deposit accounts at competitive rates.

Risk management

The Chief Executive maintains a strategic risk register which is regularly reviewed by Council. The Council, in conjunction with the Chief Executive, works to both minimise and mitigate strategic risks.

The current main strategic risks are:

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TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Structure, governance and management

Governing document

The Cheshire Wildlife Trust Limited (CWT) is a charitable company limited by guarantee and as such has no share capital. It was incorporated on 24 October 1962 and registered as a charity on 20 February 1963. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association (as amended in 2020).

Recruitment and appointment of Trustees

The Trustees are members of CWT who, having been nominated and seconded by other members, have been duly elected by members at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Under the CWT Articles, such elected members are known as Council Members.

Council Members are registered as Directors of the company under company law and are also registered as charity trustees with the Charity Commission.

In compliance with the Articles of Association adopted on 14 November 2020, Directors are appointed to the Board for terms of three years. On expiry of the three-year term the Director shall resign unless re-elected by an ordinary resolution of the charity. A Director may not serve on the Board for more than three consecutive terms of three years.

Additional Council Members may be co-opted during the period. They must retire at the next AGM, though they may stand for re-election.

The Council aims to have a representative mix of skills from various sectors of the community. The current mix of men and women, living across the area served by the Trust, includes expertise from backgrounds in the public, private and voluntary sectors. In addition to their knowledge and interest in wildlife, Council Members bring to the Trust managerial and organisational skills in policy, strategy, financial and legal matters.

The Articles of Association specifically preclude any payment to Council Members, other than reimbursement of properly incurred travel and incidental expenses. During the period Council Members claimed £nil in expenses (2022: £nil).

There are no other financial transactions with any Trustees (or any persons connected with them).

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Council Members induction and training

All Council Members have undergone an induction programme which included an induction pack, an explanation of our governance arrangements and the opportunity to visit Trust reserves and offices and to have discussions with Trust management, employees and volunteers.

As part of this induction, all Council Members have a Council Members’ Handbook containing the reference material to guide the governance of the Trust, including copies of the Trust’s Articles of Association, the Charity Commission booklet CC3 ‘The Essential Trustee’, the Companies House ‘Incorporation and Names’ booklet (GP1), the Companies House ‘Hallmarks of an Effective Charity’ booklet (CC10) and the Health and Safety Executive booklet ‘Leading Health & Safety at Work’, and ‘Good Governance: a practical guide for trustees, chairs and CEOs’ by Dorothy Dalton.

Organisational structure

The Council is responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the charity, and for appointing the Chief Executive, Charlotte Harris (from 1 April 2013), who attends Council meetings but does not have a voting entitlement. The Council holds at least four regular meetings a year, with occasional additional workshops to focus on special topics.

The Council utilises a number of committees and working groups to scrutinise and support specific areas of the Trust’s operations in more detail. From January 2020, the following committees support the work of Council: Finance, Audit, Risk & Resources, Governance & Nominations and Health & Safety Committees.

Each committee and working group is chaired by a Council Member. Membership of the group includes up to five Trustees and senior staff responsible for each work area. Meetings take place as required and report to Council.

The strategic direction, annual work plans and budget are agreed by Council with operational day-today decision making delegated to the Chief Executive and Senior Management Team.

Pay and remuneration of the Chief Executive is dealt with by the Chair of Council in consultation with the Board of Trustees. The Finance, Audit, Risk & Resources Committee considers recommendations from the Chief Executive regarding salaries for the Senior Management Team, who in turn set pay levels for more junior staff in line with the approved budget and CWT salary scales. Benchmarking data from the Wildlife Trust movement and the wider charity sector are used to inform decision making.

Relationship with the charity and related parties including its subsidiary

The Cheshire Wildlife Trust Limited is the sole shareholder in a dormant company, Cheshire Ecological Services Limited (CES) (Company No: 2623356), which is a private limited company incorporated on 24 June 1991 which has been dormant since April 2021.

CWT is a member of the Wildlife Trusts Partnership (registered as the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, registered charity number 207238), which acts as an umbrella body carrying out lobbying and public relations on behalf of all Wildlife Trusts. Partners have the use of the Wildlife Trusts logo and benefit from the resources, best practice and specialist experience of other member Trusts. Membership gives

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the charity a national voice and profile, as well as respectability by association for those unfamiliar with its particular work. However, each member of the partnership remains entirely independent in terms of governance.

Statement of the Board's responsibilities

The Trustees (who are also Directors of Cheshire Wildlife Trust for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report 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 these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and 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.

Statement as to disclosure of information to auditors

The members of the Board who were in office on the date of approval of these financial statements have confirmed, as far as they are aware, that there is no relevant audit information of which the auditors are unaware. Each of the members of the Board have confirmed that they have taken all steps that they ought to have taken as members of the Board in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that it has been communicated to the auditor.

Auditors

A resolution to re-appoint Mitchell Charlesworth (Audit) Limited as auditor will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting.

17

THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

TRUSTEES’ REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

This report has been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective 1 January 2019).

The Report of the Members of the Board, which includes the Strategic Report on pages 7 to 13, was approved by the Board on 21 September 2023 and signed on their behalf:

Bill Stothart Chair of Council

21 September 2023

18

THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members and Trustees of The Cheshire Wildlife Trust Limited

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of The Cheshire Wildlife Trust Limited for the year ended 31 March 2023 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Company Balance Sheet and the 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, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

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 Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the 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 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 Trust'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.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

19

THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members and Trustees of The Cheshire Wildlife Trust Limited

Other information

The Trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Trustees’ annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report 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 there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. 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.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of our knowledge and understanding of Cheshire Wildlife Trust and its subsidiary, and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees’ report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

20

THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members and Trustees of The Cheshire Wildlife Trust Limited

Responsibilities of Trustees

As explained more fully in the Trustees’ responsibilities statement, the Trustees (who are also the Directors of the 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 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 company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

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 an auditor’s report 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.

Extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud

We identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, and then design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, including obtaining audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Identifying and assessing potential risks related to irregularities

In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we considered the following:

21

THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members and Trustees of The Cheshire Wildlife Trust Limited

As a result of these procedures, we considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the company for fraud and identified the greatest potential for fraud in the following areas (i) The recognition of revenue, (ii) the allocation of income and expenditure between restricted and unrestricted funds. In common with all audits under ISAs (UK), we are also required to perform specific procedures to respond to the risk of management override.

We also obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework that the Trust operates in, focusing on provisions of those laws and regulations that had a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The key laws and regulations we considered in this context included the Companies Act 2006, Charities Act 2022, and Health and Safety legislation.

In addition, we considered provisions of other laws and regulations that do not have a direct effect on the financial statements but compliance with which may be fundamental to the Trust's ability to operate or to avoid a material penalty. These included Data Protection Regulations.

Audit response to risks identified

As a result of performing the above, we identified the recognition of revenue, and the allocation of income and expenditure between restricted and unrestricted funds as the key audit matters related to the potential risk of fraud.

In addition to the above, our procedures to respond to risks identified included the following:

22

THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members and Trustees of The Cheshire Wildlife Trust Limited

We also communicated relevant identified laws and regulations and potential fraud risks to all engagement team members and remained alert to any indications of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations throughout the audit.

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.

This report is made solely to the charitable company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’s members and its Trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s 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 charitable company and the charitable company’s members, Trustees as a body and the charitable company’s Trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

3[rd] Floor 44 Peter Street Manchester M2 5GP 21 September 2023

Jamielee Johnston (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of Mitchell Charlesworth (Audit) Limited Statutory Auditor

Mitchell Charlesworth (Audit) Limited is eligible to act as an auditor in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.

23

THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

Statement of Financial Activity

Year ended 31 March 2023

Notes
Income
Donations and legacies
2
Charitable activities
3
Investments
4
TOTAL
Expenditure
Raising funds
5
Charitable activities
6
TOTAL
Net income/(expenditure)
Transfers between funds
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds:
Total Funds brought forward
Total Funds carried forward		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
2023
£
£
£
671,117
156,845
827,962
1,456,987
928,210
2,385,197
1,300
1,300
2,129,404
1,085,055
3,214,459
302,359
47,956
350,315
2,070,941
713,248
2,784,189
2,373,300
761,204
3,134,504
(243,896)
323,851
79,955
39,165
(39,165)
-
(204,731)
284,686
79,955
831,746
460,152
1,291,898
627,015
744,838
1,371,853		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
2022
£
£
£
625,072
156,715
781,787
1,344,673
558,535
1,903,208
3,841
3,841
1,973,586
715,250
2,688,836
342,245
38,530
380,775
1,753,871
543,325
2,297,196
2,096,116
581,855
2,677,971
(122,530)
133,395
10,865
208,942
(208,942)
-
86,412
(75,547)
10,865
745,334
535,699
1,281,033
831,746
460,152
1,291,898

24

THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

Balance Sheet

Year ended 31 March 2023

Notes
Fixed Assets
Tangible assets
12
Heritage assets
12
Investments
13
Total fixed assets
Current assets
Stock
14
Debtors
15
Cash at bank and in hand
Total current assets
Liabilities
Creditors:
Amounts falling due within one
year
17
Net current asset
Liabilities falling due in more than
one year
18
Total net assets
The funds of the charity
Unrestricted funds
20
Restricted income funds
20
Total funds		 Year ended
31 March 2023
£
£
594,503
316,046
100
910,649
4,679
917,120
1,626,629
2,548,428
1,987,224
561,204
(100,000)
1,371,853
627,015
744,838
1,371,853		 Year ended
31 March 2022
£
£
618,496
316,046
100
934,642
4,853
798,505
1,027,831
1,831,189
1,193,833
637,356
(280,000)
1,291,898
831,746
460,152
1,291,898		 Year ended
31 March 2022
£
£
618,496
316,046
100
934,642
4,853
798,505
1,027,831
1,831,189
1,193,833
637,356
(280,000)
1,291,898
831,746
460,152
1,291,898
1,291,898
831,746
460,152
1,291,898

The notes on pages 27 to 42 form part of these financial statements.

Signed: Signed: Bill Stothart Peter Rushton

21 September 2023

21 September 2023

25

THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

Statement of Cash Flow

Year ended 31 March 2023

Notes
2023
£
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities
24
626,127
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and
equipment
1,700
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
(29,029)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
(27,329)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of borrowing
-
Net cash inflows from new borrowing
-
Net cash from financing 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		 2023
£
598,798
1,027,831
1,626,629		 2022
£
169,290
8,460
(544,800)
(536,340)
(220,000)
500,000
280,000		 2022
£
(87,050)
1,114,881
1,027,831

26

THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

Accounting Policies Year ended 31 March 2023

1 Accounting policies

1.1 General information

The Cheshire Wildlife Trust Limited is a charity incorporated as a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales. The registered office is Bickley Hall Farm, Bickley, Malpas, Cheshire, SY14 8EF.

1.2 Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and 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). The figures in the accounts are rounded to the nearest £ and the presentational currency is sterling.

Cheshire Wildlife Trust meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical costs or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.

1.3 Fund accounting

1.3.1 Unrestricted funds

Unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.

1.3.2 Restricted income funds

These funds are given to the Trust for a particular purpose to be used in accordance with the wishes of the donor.

1.3.3 Designated funds – projects

Designated funds are unrestricted funds set aside by the Trustees for specific projects. These projects may only be partly funded with the unfunded element set aside from general funds.

1.4 Incoming resources

The Trust was formed in 1962 by volunteers and continues to benefit from their support in both financial and non-financial ways. Examples of financial support include membership income, donations and legacies. These contributions are included in the accounts within voluntary income.

Voluntary income is received by way of donations, gifts, subscriptions and fundraising activities. The income is credited to the SOFA on the earlier of receipt or when the receipt is probable, the value can be ascertained, and the Trust gets the legal right to the income. Tax refunds on gift aid income are, however, accrued as earned.

Legacy income is included in the accounts when the amount due can be quantified with reasonable probability and the timing of the receipt is known.

27

THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

Accounting Policies

Year ended 31 March 2023

Grants receivable which are not conditional on the delivery of a specific performance by the charity are recognised when the charity becomes unconditionally entitled to the grant. These are recognised as ‘Income from donation and legacies’.

Grants receivable that relate to the delivery of a specific performance by the charity are recognised when the charity earns the right to consideration by its performance. A number of these grants are retrospective and where these are outstanding at the year-end for work completed, they are accrued. These are recognised as ‘Income form charitable activities’.

All grants receivable are charged to the SOFA in the period to which they relate.

1.5 Resources expended

All expenditure, other than that which is capitalised, is included in the SOFA, recognised on an accruals basis as a liability when incurred.

Charitable activities consist of the costs incurred in support of expenditure on the objects of the charity.

Costs of raising funds consists of expenditure associated with attracting voluntary income and the costs of fundraising and maintaining memberships.

Support costs relate to expenditure incurred in support of the charitable objects of the charity. These include the provision of premises, personnel, information technology, insurances and audit fees and have been allocated on the basis of direct staff wage costs.

Many of our volunteers provide non-financial support covering a wide range of activities from acting as Trustees to assisting in conservation activities including surveying, as well as providing administrative support. No amounts are included in the financial statements for services donated by volunteers.

Capital purchases are included in the accounts at cost. Capital purchases of less than £250 are expensed.

1.6 Irrecoverable VAT

The charity is partially exempt. Irrecoverable VAT is allocated to the appropriate cost categories.

1.7 Going concern

At the time of approving the financial statements, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. As such the Trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

1.8 Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset, except for land, over its estimated useful life:

Plant and machinery – 25% per annum reducing balance Fixtures and fittings – 25% per annum reducing balance

28

THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

Accounting Policies Year ended 31 March 2023

Motor vehicles – 25% per annum reducing balance

Computer equipment – 25% per annum straight line basis

No depreciation is provided on freehold land.

Capitalised expenditure on buildings is depreciated over the remainder of the lease period.

1.9 Heritage assets

Heritage assets are nature reserves, capitalised at the date of addition. Any assets donated, where the cost is unknown, are capitalised at the date of addition. Further details are disclosed within Note 12 to the accounts.

1.10 Stock and work in progress

General stock is valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value, where cost comprises purchase price.

Work in progress is valued at cost.

1.11 Deferred income

Restricted funds received for projects which are substantially incomplete or not commenced at year end are recognised in the year in which they are received and carried forward in the balance of restricted funds. The restricted funds are reduced each year by an amount equal to any expenditure on such projects which have been incurred in the year.

1.12 Pension costs

The company operates a defined contribution scheme for the benefit of its employees. Contributions payable are included in the SOFA in the year they are payable.

1.13 Finance and operating leases

Rentals payable under operating leases are charged to the SOFA over the period in which the cost is incurred. The Trust has no finance leases.

1.14 Provisions

A provision is recognised when the Trust has a legal or constructive obligation as a result of past events and it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation.

1.15 Taxation

The Trust is a registered charity and is not liable to United Kingdom income tax or corporation tax on charitable activities.

1.16 Material uncertainties/judgements

There were no material uncertainties or judgements contained within the presented figures.

29

THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

Accounting Policies Year ended 31 March 2023

1.17 Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

1.18 Government grants

During the year the charity received no government grants (2022: £1,561).

1.19 Financial instruments

The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.

Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Basic financial assets

Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.

Basic financial liabilities

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans, are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities.

Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Derecognition of financial liabilities

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the Charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

30

THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

Notes to the Accounts Year ended 31 March 2023

2 Donations and legacies

Donations & legacies
Subscriptions
Appeal income		 Unrestricted
Restricted
2023
£
£
£
113,796
113,796
509,290
509,290
48,031
156,845
204,876
671,117
156,845
827,962		 Unrestricted
Restricted
2022
£
£
£
115,938
115,938
509,134
509,134
156,715
156,715
625,072
156,715
781,787

3 Charitable activities

Fundraising
Grants
Earned income
Other sales		 Unrestricted
Restricted
2023
£
£
£
50,010
50,010
215,064
912,419
1,127,483
1,181,629
13,597
1,195,226
10,284
2,194
12,478
1,456,987
928,210
2,385,197		 Unrestricted
Restricted
2022
£
£
£
25,550
25,550
150,044
558,535
708,579
1,165,280
1,165,280
3,799
3,799
1,344,673
558,535
1,903,208

31

THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

Notes to the Accounts Year ended 31 March 2023

4 Investment income

Interest received Unrestricted
Restricted
2023
£
£
£
1,300
-
1,300
1,300
-
1,300		 Unrestricted
Restricted
2022
£
£
£
3,841
-
3,841
3,841
-
3,841

32

THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

Notes to the Accounts Year ended 31 March 2023

5 Expenditure on raising funds

Staff costs
Membership costs
Other direct costs
Support costs (Note 7)		 Donations &
legacies
Fundraising
Total
2023
£
£
£
8,799
176,520
185,319
49,763
49,763
302
50,459
50,761
3,061
61,411
64,472
12,162
338,153
350,315		 Donations &
legacies
Fundraising
Total
2022
£
£
£
8,214
155,134
163,349
54,792
54.792
750
103,712
104,462
1,617
56,556
58,172
10,581
370,194
380,775

6 Expenditure on charitable activities

Staff costs
Reserves costs
Motor & travel
Professional fees
Sundries
Depreciation
Support costs (Note 7)		 Conservation &
reserves
management
Community
engagement
Total
2023
£
£
£
851,129
492,542
1,343,671
668,847
103,087
771,934
41,473
25,361
66,834
8,144
0
8,144
43,719
39,928
83,647
35,506
6,988
42,494
296,109
171,356
467,465
1,944,927
839,262
2,784,189		 Conservation &
reserves
management
Community
engagement
Total
2022
£
£
£
680,901
397,014
1,077,915
567,146
83,388
650,554
30,242
11,572
41,814
6,543
2,371
8,914
70,488
26,983
97,470
31,191
5,486
36,677
278,176
105,696
383,872
1,664,686
632,510
2,297,196

33

THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

Notes to the Accounts

Year ended 31 March 2023

7 Support costs

Training
Insurance
Light & heat
Repairs & maintenance
Legal & professional
Staff & volunteer expenses
Motor expenses
Telecoms
Post & stationery
Sundry expenses
RSWT contribution
Bank charges
Depreciation
Admin salaries
Office costs
Accountancy
Audit fees
Computer expenses
Premises costs
Recruitment
Irrecoverable VAT
Doubtful debts		 Total
2023
£
12,872
33,542
8,051
4,056
17,804
24,615
1,602
9,025
4,673
5,741
25,920
2,639
8,565
240,092
7,700
31,405
103,836
1,390
9,528
(21,119)
531,937		 Total
2022
£
702
28,609
4,767
7,508
14,081
5,459
1,860
9,456
3,541
5,346
27,230
3,227
5,139
164,329
6,369
28,703
11,615
27,402
58,171
1,299
7,049
20,181
442,044
Allocation of support costs
Raising funds
Charitable activities		 2023
£
64,472
467,465
531,937		 2022
£
58,172
383,872
442,044

34

THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

Notes to the Accounts Year ended 31 March 2023

8 Net movement in funds

The net movement in funds is after charging/(crediting):

Note
Auditor’s remuneration
Operating lease payments
Profit on disposal of fixed assets
Depreciation
12
9 Staff costs
Wages & salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs		 2023
£
7,700
1,812
(658)
51,966
2023
£
1,542,442
130,754
79,957
1,753,153		 2022
£
11,615
1,812
(7,010)
42,376
2022
£
1,234,939
103,055
67,600
1,405,594

The average number of full time equivalent employees, analysed by function, was:

2023 2022
Charitable activities 38 30
Generating funds 9 9
Management & administration 6 5
53 44

10 Pension costs

The trust operates a defined contributions pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the trust in the independently administered fund. The pension costs charge represents contributions payable by the company to the fund and amounted to £79,957 (2022: £67,600).

11 Related party transactions

No trustee or any person connected with the trust received any remuneration from the trust during the year (2022: £nil).

During the year Trustees were reimbursed travel expenses of £nil (2022: £nil).

35

THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

Notes to the Accounts Year ended 31 March 2023

12 Tangible assets

Cost or donated
value
01 April 2022
Additions
Disposals
At 31 March 2023
Depreciation
01 April 2022
Charge for the year
Disposals
At 31 March 2023
Net book value
At 31 March 2023
At 31 March 2022		 Heritage
assets
£
316,046
-
-
316,046
-
-
-
-
316,046
316,046		 Land &
buildings
£
581,379
-
-
581,379
113,684
-
113,684
467,695
467,695		 Plant &
machinery
£
124,679
1,463
126,142
77,180
12,240
-
89,420
36,722
47,499		 Fixtures &
fittings
£
36,653
4,150
40,803
27,295
3,377
30,672
10,131
9,358		 Motor
vehicles
£
106,344
15,700
(6,295)
115,749
39,109
19,161
(5,239)
53,031
62,718
67,235		 Computer
equipment
£
76,682
7,716
84,398
49,973
17,188
67,161
17,237
26,709		 SFP
entitlement
£
10,258
-
10,258
10,258
-
-
10,258
-
-		 Total
£
1,252,041
29,029
(6,295)
1,274,775
317,499
51,966
(5,239)
364,226
910,549
934,542

36

THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

Notes to the Accounts Year ended 31 March 2023

Heritage assets

The focus of the Trust is the protection and enhancement of wildlife habitats and biodiversity within Cheshire. As such the Trust owns and maintains a number of nature reserves that fall within the definition of heritage assets in accordance with FRS 102.

The Trustees consider that, owing to the intrinsic nature of the Trust's reserves, conventional valuation approaches lack sufficient reliability and that, even if valuations could be obtained, the costs would be onerous compared with the additional benefits derived by the Trust and the users of the accounts. As a result, these assets have been capitalised at cost and, being land, have not been depreciated.

Nature reserves acquired by gift are not capitalised unless a reliable enough reference value of the deemed cost of the asset is available without undue expense to the Trust.

The costs of maintaining heritage assets are expensed through the Statement of Financial Activities when incurred as part of the Trust's charitable activities.

Five-year summary of heritage asset transactions

Additions
Purchases
Donations
Total		 2022/23
£
-
-
-
-		 2021/22
£
-
-
-
-		 2020/21
£
-
-
-
-		 2019/20
£
66,230
-
-
66,230		 2018/19
£
-
-
-
-

Capital commitments

At 31 March 2023, the Trust had a capital commitment of £nil for the purchase of land (2022: £nil).

13 Investments

Cheshire Wildlife Trust Limited owns the entire share capital (1 ordinary share of £100) in its subsidiary, Cheshire Ecological Services Limited, which is incorporated in England.

The subsidiary was dormant for the full financial year and as such the financial statements presented for the Trust have not been consolidated as they are immaterial to the understanding of the results of the Trust.

The net assets of Cheshire Ecological Services Ltd are £100.

37

THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

Notes to the Accounts Year ended 31 March 2023

14 Stock

Stock 2023
£
4,679		 2022
£
4,853
4,679 4,853
15
Debtors
2023
£
Trade debtors
545,748
Prepayments and
accrued income
371,372
Other debtors
-
917,120		 2022
£
451,785
342,478
4,142
798,405

Trade debtors is stated net of a provision of £18,078 (2022: £39,197)

16 Taxation

The company is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

17 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

Trade creditors
Deferred income
Taxation & social security
Accruals
Loan
Other creditors		 2023
£
161,626
1,171,053
231,253
234,880
185,268
3,144
1,987,224		 2022
£
137,719
863,946
132,297
57,953
1,918
1,193,822

38

THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

Notes to the Accounts Year ended 31 March 2023

18 Creditors: Amounts falling due after one year

Loans 2023
£
100,000
100,000		 2022
£
280,000
280,000

19 Commitments under operating leases

At 31 March 2023, the charity had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under noncancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:

Land & buildings
Within one year
Two to five years
Greater than five years
Total
Other
Within one year
Two to five years
Greater than five years
Total		 2023
£
67,556
67,556
-
135,112
1,812
4,209
6,021		 2022
£
67,556
135,112
-
202,668
1,812
6,021
7,833

20 Analysis of restricted funds

Restricted funds represent monies (including donations and grants) which have been received for specific purposes as outlined by the donor. The Trust has a number of such funds and for the purposes of statutory reporting these have been grouped together under the four headings below.

Transfers out of restricted funds are made where a project is completed and no funding is required to be returned to the funder. Transfers into funds are made when a project is completed and the shortfall in funding is made up from the Trust's general funds.

39

THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

Notes to the Accounts Year ended 31 March 2023

Restricted income funds
Reserves acquisition funds
Capital grants
Community engagement funds
Conservation & reserves		 As at 1
April 2021
Income
Expenditure
Transfer
As at 31
March 2022
Income
Expenditure
Transfer
between
funds
As at 31
March 2023
between
funds
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
161,193
-
-
(161,193)
-
-
-
-
-
16,481
140,094
10,669
(449)
145,457
7,775
3,957
(15,823)
133,452
137,527
246,649
212,543
(36,507)
135,126
400,001
345,245
(19,744)
170,352
220,498
328,507
358,643
(10,793)
179,569
677,279
412,002
(3,598)
441,036
535,699
715,250
581,855
(208,942)
460,152
1,085,055
761,204
(39,165)
744,838

The reserves acquisition funds have been transferred to a designated unrestricted fund by the Trustees to fund future land purchases for habitat creation projects.

Capital grants represents grants received to fund capital purchases including land for habitat creation.

Community engagement funds and conservation & reserves funds represent grants received to carry out the Trust's charitable activities.

Funding has been granted by a variety of organisations including:

40

THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

Notes to the Accounts

Notes to the Accounts
Year ended 31 March 2023
As at 1 Income Expenditure Transfer As at 31 Income Expenditure Transfer As at 31
April 2021 between March between March
Unrestricted funds funds 2022 funds 2023
£ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £
General fund 732,887 1,973,586 2,096,116 60,195 670,552 2,129,404 2,373,300 39,165 465,821
Designated fund 12,447 148,747 161,194 161,194
745,334 1,973,586 2,096,116 208,942 831,746 2,129,404 2,373,301 39,165 627,015

41

THE CHESHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED

Notes to the Accounts

Year ended 31 March 2023

21 Analysis of net assets between funds

Tangible fixed assets
Heritage assets
Stock and work in progress
Investments
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
Liabilities
Total net assets		 Unrestricted
£
567,728
316,046
4,679
100
500,110
530,607
(1,292,255)
627,015		 Restricted
£
26,775
417,010
1,096,022
(794,969)
744,838		 2023
Total
£
594,503
316,046
4,679
100
917,120
1,626,629
(2,087,224)
1,371,853

22 Share capital

The Charity has no share capital being a company limited by guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £2 per member in the event of a winding up situation.

23 Control

The Charity is controlled by the Trustees.

24 Reconciliation of net income/(expenditure) to net cash flow from operating activities

Net income/(expenditure) for the reporting period
(as per the statement of financial activities)
Depreciation
(Gains)/losses on investments
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
Loss/(profit) on the sale of fixed assets
(Increase)/decrease in stock
(Increase)/decrease in debtors
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
Net cash inflow from operating activity		 2023
£
79,955
51,966
(658)
174
(118,715)
613,405
626,127		 2022
£
10,865
42,376
(7,010)
3,114
(333,353)
453,299
169,290
Cash at bank and in hand As at 1 April
2021
Movement in
year
As at 31
March 2022
Movement in
year
As at 31 March
2023
£
£
£
£
£
1,114,881
(87,050)
1,027,831
598,798
1,626,629

42