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2025-03-31-accounts

Lancashire Wildlife Trust

1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Annual Report 2025

Contents

Chair’s Statement Chair’s Statement 3 Resilience 24
Our Vision, Mission & Goals 4 Future Outlook
Green Finance Initiatives		 24
26
Public Beneft Statement
Sustainable Development Goals		 5
6		 Our Visitor Centres
Environmental Performance		 28
30
Our Reserves 8 Our Systems 32
Our keyimpacts
Nature Recovery		 10
12		 Equality, Diversity& Inclusion(EDI)
Maintenance
Health & Safety		 32
33
33
Principal risks & uncertainties 34
People Engagement
Youth Council		 18
22		 Structure, Governance
and Management
Reference and Administrative Details		 35
36
Fundraising 38
Little egret
© Alan right		 Statement of the Board’s
Responsibilities
 40
Financial Review 42
Independent Auditor’s Report
Consolidated Statement
of Financial Activities
 44
48
Consolidated and Charity
Statements of Financial Position
 49
Consolidated Statement
of Cash Flows
 50
Notes to the Financial Statements 51
Cover photography: TV star and Championing
Nature Ambassador Steve Backshall with young
people at Wimbledon © Andrew Baker

Cover photography: TV star and Championing Nature Ambassador Steve Backshall with young people at Wimbledon © Andrew Baker

Chair’s Statement

Give nature a chance and it can bounce back. It’s a cheery thought when so many indicators point in the wrong direction. I was a member of the European Parliament’s environment committee for more than 15 years and I remember when the goal of EU governments was to halt and reverse the decline in biodiversity by 2010. When that date approached with few signs of progress it was put back to 2020. Now it has been set at 2030. We are now outside the EU but Britain’s record on maintaining biodiversity is one of the worst.

One of the objectives of The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Ltd (LWT) must surely be to provide hope for the future. We need to demonstrate, through the places we own or influence, that nature can recover and species can thrive. Sometimes we can just let nature get on with it. Other times we give a helping hand. The speed with which improvement can happen can exceed even the highest hopes of our expert staff.

During the past year the charity’s trustees paid a visit to our ‘carbon farm’ near Winmarleigh Moss, southwest of Lancaster. The peatlands around have long since been drained to create farmland but in one place the Trust started, four years ago, to raise the water table to develop wetter farming techniques and work towards restoration of the bog. Five species of dragonfly were observed for the first time within a month of work commencing. At the time of our visit the lapwings and curlews seemed to signal their pleasure with the restored habitat.

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LWT Chair Chris Davies
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The ambition is to achieve much much more, sometimes through land acquisition, sometimes through working in partnership with other landowners. We are developing a programme to promote the reintroduction of species lost to our region. Some may have wings or be so small that they will be best seen through a photographer’s lens, but others may be larger, have four legs, fur and teeth.

Our finances are tight. Hopes that a new government would give greater financial priority to nature recovery do not look likely to be realised anytime soon. The support of our members and donors, both private and corporate, is absolutely vital.

To achieve our ambitions for nature we will have to keep exploring how to do more in different ways. LWT was created by volunteers, and, while its current work relies hugely on the commitment and enthusiasm of our professional staff, close on 1,000 people volunteer some of their time each month to support our work. Recruiting even more volunteers, listening to the advice of those who already give their time, and making better use of members with nature expertise, are actions I believe must be given even greater priority.

And when promoting nature recovery is fun too, what’s not to like?

Chris Davies, Chair

2 – 3

Annual Report 2025

Our Vision

Our Vision, Mission & Goals

That nature is recovering on a grand scale across Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside, and in our sea, and that everyone can enjoy our increasingly abundant wildlife.

Our Strategic goals Ambition by 2030

Our Mission

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30%
of land and
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1 in 4

3 LWT has the financial and

human resources, be bigger,

systems and skills that it better and

needs more

to improve our impact for joined up* nature’s recovery

Our National Goals:

These are the nationally agreed priorities with the partnership of The Wildlife Trusts (TWT)

Bigger: a larger organisation in terms of people, revenue and benefits for nature achieved. Better: Able to measure, monitor and demonstrate improved performance with evidence. More joined up: Working and sharing of knowledge and skills between teams, and across Trusts, and working in partnership with and through stakeholders to deliver goals externally.

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited Public Benefit Statement

LWT is one of 46 separate charities in The Wildlife Trusts federation. All trusts exist to promote the care and protection of the environment. The advancement of environmental protection and improvement is recognised as a charitable purpose, regarded universally as producing a clear public benefit.

LWT’S philosophy is based on the belief the natural world deserves conserving for its own sake and, since this is perceived to be a worthy aim of public policy, it is also a benefit to the public at large. However, the public benefits provided by the Wildlife Trusts go much further.

Our land management work on our own land, on others' land, and done by our contracts team, helps mitigate climate change by avoiding carbon release and sequestering carbon. Our work helps avoid downstream flooding, coastal erosion, enables climate adaptation, and cleans air and water.

Our nature reserves are open to the public, many have access on way-marked routes. Where there are any conflicts between management requirements and unfettered access, we try to keep any restrictions to a minimum. Information and interpretation is provided to visitors. Our education work is also recognised as a charitable activity in its own right.

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Having fun at the Manchester
Festival of Nature by Paul Heyes
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Our information gathering and provision of expert advice and opinion to local authorities and others helps to ensure that planning decisions are made on a rational basis taking full account of the public benefit of wildlife. We can also exert influence through our substantial membership at local level, and nationally through our membership of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts.

It is also our belief that the involvement of many volunteers in our work provides an outlet for altruistic endeavour which is of special benefit to those involved as well as delivering benefits to the wider public.

Promoting the enjoyment of the natural world is an important part of what we do: contact with the natural world and the appreciation of wildlife and wild places provides great pleasure to many people and contributes towards wellbeing and health. Our nature reserves and activities are available to benefit everyone and we also actively work with people to improve their mental health. We are also working to improve our provision for diverse audiences and underserved communities wherever possible.

The Trustees have referred to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit and our Constitution when reviewing key aims and objectives and planning future activities.

Blackburn Council Asylum Case workers at The Witton Park Greenhouse Project

4 – 5

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Annual Report 2025

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)

We are a local grass roots organisation that thinks globally and acts locally. In our work, and the work we undertake with others, we are actively working to creating a healthier more sustainable environment in Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside. Whilst acting locally, right is a short list of some of the ways that our work aligns with the United Nations international targets that all member states committed to.

As an environmental protection and improvement charity, part of our core purpose is to advance the education of the public in the principles and practice of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. “...development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’ (Brundtland Commission).

GOALS INTERNATIONAL TARGETS 15. Protect, 15.1 Ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, international agreements sustainably manage forests, combat 15.3 Combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land desertification, and halt and reverse degradation-neutral world land degradation and 15.4 Ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their halt biodiversity loss

15.1 Ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements

15.3 Combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world 15.4 Ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development

15.5 Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species

15.8 Introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and control or eradicate the priority species

15.9 Integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts 14.2 Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans

14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

14.5 Conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

3.4 Reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being

3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

4.7 Ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development

4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

13.2 Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning 13.3 Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning

13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

6 – 7

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Annual Report 2025 The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited
1 38
Our
2 Nature

Reserves 3 reserves
1 Warton Crag 4
2 Over Kellet Pond 5
Lancaster
3 Aughton Woods
4 Freeman’s Pools 1,252.46
5 Heysham, Heysham Moss & Middleton
6 Winmarleigh Moss hectares of
6
78 Moor Piece Salthill Quarry & Cross Hill Quarry 7 Clitheroe land managed
9 Brockholes, Boilton, Redscar 8 for nature
& Tunbrook Woods
10 Foxhill Bank
11 Cop Lane Blackpool
12 Willow Farm Wood
13 Mere Sands Wood 9 23 nature
14 Freeman's Pasture 11 Preston 10
15 Dean Wood 12 reserves
1617 Summerseat Island Longworth Clough with public
18 Red Moss access
1920 Freshfield Dune Heath Kirkless 13 14 15 16 17
Southport
21 Wigan Flashes
22 Cutacre 19 18
23 Lunt Meadows
20
24 Moston Fairway
25 Holiday Moss 23 25 21 22 24
26 Lightshaw Meadows 26
27 Seaforth Nature Reserve 27 28
28 Rindle Moss, Astley Moss, 29
Cadishead & Little Woolden Moss
Manchester
29 Highfield Moss
Liverpool
38 Named nature reserves owned or managed by us some of
which are continuous and are marked as one site on the map. –
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The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Annual Report 2025

Our Key Impacts

13,049 Hectares of land improved/advised on for nature

203 53 sites/greenspaces partnerships improved led

57,841 people engaged with Trust activities

148 partnerships supported

144

landowners supported/ advised

556

external groups supported

Highlights

April to June

July to September

Curlew © Richard Steel/ 2020VISION

Common tern feeding at Seaforth © A.J.Critch Wildlife

652 events delivered and attended

647 people trained

429

advocates supported (e.g. teachers, champions, ambassadors, trustees, lead volunteers, group leaders)

42,029 volunteering hours

550 people reporting improved health and wellbeing

68

staff Carbon literacy accredited

397

schools/colleges /universities supported

805 volunteers

October to December

January to March

Sand lizard © Alan Wright

Large heath © Andy Hankinson

10 – 11

Annual Report 2025

Nature Recovery

Our nature recovery work in 2024-25 has been as exciting and impactful as ever…

Thanks to our Step up for Wildlife Appeal the six new rafts and the islands at Seaforth nature reserve enabled the common tern to bounce back after the devastating 2023 bird flu outbreak, with an estimated 120 fledglings from 109 common tern pairs.

We grew our herd of longhorn cattle to our highest ever number: 48, all of them now fitted with and trained on No Fence collars, providing much needed conservation grazing across all of our nature reserves for the first time. Lunt meadows is one reserve that benefits from these fantastic beasts. The reserve had more than 2,500 overwintering teal and lapwing, a first record for harvest mouse, five species of bat and six wintering barn owls.

All three of our National Lottery-funded trainee reserve officers from Lunt have gone into employment in the nature sector, two within LWT. Otters made a comeback at both Mere Sands Wood and Scutchers Acres.

At Brockholes, funding from Highways England and Biffa enabled us to create and restore breeding wader habitat, manage reedbeds, reprofile nesting islands, install fencing to keep predators out, clear scrub and add a new tilting weir to enable us to more accurately manage water levels.

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The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited
Conservation grazing is helping us
to create habitats on nature reserve
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The early impacts of this work are promising, with large numbers of lapwing immediately roosting on the islands, and evidence of successful lapwing, oystercatcher and little ringed plover breeding. In Boilton Woods we have planted Dutch elm resistant elm trees as a vital step in keeping our special population of the rare white letter hairstreak butterflies flourishing.

The team completed another survey season of the reintroduced large heath butterfly populations at Winmarleigh Moss and Astley Moss to show both populations (and their mother site at Heysham Moss) doing well.

We have now put 424ha of upland Lancashire on the long path towards restoration: protecting peat soils from further erosion, making the land more resilient to wildfires, drought and flooding, securing the carbon in the soils and improving the biodiversity of the land.

Meanwhile, funding from Mace enabled our peatland team to carry out 100ha of enhancement work across our Greater Manchester mossland reserves in preparation for the reintroduction of the white faced darter dragonfly.

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Planting sphagnum moss
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Across the West Pennine Moors the team has installed over 4,000 different ditch blocks, created 5.5 km of surface bunding, reprofiled 1.5 km of eroding edges and planted 182,000 sphagnum moss plug plants. More than 60,000 of these plants were planted with the help of volunteers. In future, bog plants will be grown and supplied by our Witton Country Park Greenhouse Project.

The last year saw the completion of our Round One Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme (NCPGS) funding restoration of 200ha of degraded lowland raised bog across 14 sites in the North of England: securing an estimated 46,457 tons of C0[2] e. We are now starting on a further 417 hectares across 16 sites in round three, including Darwen Moor, Red Moss in Greater Manchester and Colliers Mosses in Merseyside.

This will secure an estimated 90,000 tonnes of CO[2] e by 2050 - the equivalent of taking 22,000 cars off the road for a whole year. Partnership working is key to successful delivery at scale for nature recovery, and the NPCGS work has enabled us to forge new partnerships with land owners such as National Trust (at Rufford and Dunham Massey), the Church of England, Mersey Forest and Lords Hall Estate in the West Pennines.

Annual Report 2025

Over 2024/5 our activity to promote alternative management of lowland agricultural peat soils (paludiculture, or wetter farming) really took off. We brought in £600,000, starting three new projects and extending two existing ones. This includes our Winmarleigh Moss Carbon Farm, Rindle Moss food crop trials and two trials of farming typha (reedmace heads) to provide material for sustainable plant-based textiles.

These works allow us to forge exciting partnerships with farmers and businesses, test innovative technologies, such as using drones for sowing crops, and make links with international partners and academics across Europe.

We really are leading the way internationally on developing a range of new generation best practices and land uses to spearhead the establishment of wetter farming practice and markets for farmers. Through the GM Wetlands Land Manager group we continue to deliver a varied programme of training, demonstration visits and workshops for local farmers, focussing on water quality, natural flood management, farmland birds, wetland linkages and ponds.

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Restoration work at Astley Moss
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We are now one of the only charities in the country to be hosting two of the government’s flagship pioneer Landscape Recovery Schemes. This year we completed the first year of West Pennine More Nature, which aims to rejuvenate 7,000ha (27 square miles) of the West Pennine Moors, including approximately 2,000ha of blanket bog and encompassing areas around landmarks like Darwen Tower, Winter Hill, and Rivington Pike.

The team have made great inroads on the mammoth task of bringing together stakeholders including 26 farms, 12 landowners, four councils, plus government agencies, charities, residents and visitors to develop a long-term plan for how to care for this place so that it can provide us with a series of ecosystem service benefits: more wildlife, clean drinking water, carbon storage, sustainable farming businesses, and a place where people can spend time enjoying the great outdoors and improving health and wellbeing.

Meanwhile, the Wigan Greenheart Landscape Recovery Scheme came close to submitting its management and funding plans across 1500ha of this nature-rich ex-mining landscape. And we held the Flashes Festival of Nature, two Heritage open day tours, a number of community Talking Shops, and took part in the Wigan Youth Climate summit among others.

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Our Wet Willow Wildlife Species Survival Fund project, in partnership with The Conservation Volunteers, completed its first year delivering willow-tit friendly habitat improvements and creation to create better habitat networks benefiting multiple species across 193 ha in Bolton, 119 ha in Trafford and Mersey Gateway. 78 volunteers were involved in the LWT-led habitat works, and 58 people were trained in willow tit surveying and ran events such as Helleborine Hunts. In total, the project’s events and workshops reached nearly 400 people in Bolton, increasing their awareness and connection with nature.

The award-winning Fylde Sand Dunes project continued its programme of community engagement and habitat protection including Beach Schools (33 sessions delivered to 1,287 students), guided walks, the volunteer and corporate work party programme and special events such as the hugely successful inaugural Irish Sea Day connecting with other Wildlife Trusts from the Irish Sea Network.

At the Christmas Tree event, we planted 2,000 Christmas trees, over 1km of coastline from St Anne's Pier, with the help of 483 volunteers from the local community, 18 different businesses and four schools/ colleges) which helps to prevent erosion of the Dunes habitat.

We were supported to develop a bespoke Beach School programme for delivery to Blue Influencers by the Ernest Cook Trust.

Guests at the launch of the learning centre at Lunt

Fylde Sand Dunes Achieved "Outstanding" in the It's Your Neighbourhood category of the North West In Bloom awards for the eighth consecutive year. A record 82 sand lizards were recorded on the dunes – the highest number since release in 2018. And we continue to lead engagement with coastal communities across 10 sites in Lancashire and Merseyside through Our Future Coast, looking at community readiness for sea level rise, and the poitential for naturebased solutions to reduce the impacts of coastal erosion and flooding.

More than 1,800 people from Formby, Fleetwood and Fylde have taken part so far, with a further 600 conversations at other coastal locations through “Hello Coast”. We have installed communityco-designed hand-crafted sediment trapping devices at Hest Bank and Bese grids at Bolton-le-Sands. We have also led farmer workshops in the Pilling area and recruited a Saltmarsh officer for the project to start investigating the feasibility of saltmarsh site restoration at Cockerham Marsh and Lytham.

Thank you to everyone on the LWT team for looking after nature in our little part of the world, I can't think of anything more valuable

Sam Worthington, Worthington Sharpe, Local Business Member

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Dragonfly over still waters at Rimrose Valley Park by John Hegarty

Annual Report 2025

We continue to influence and advocate in important and powerful ways: playing central roles in all three Local Nature Recovery Strategies in our region (Lancashire, Liverpool City region and Greater Manchester) We have influenced the Advisory Boards of IUCN Peatland Code and Wilder Carbon to drive forward Green Finance mechanisms for lowland peat, as well as DEFRA’s Lowland Peat Task Force and the Great North bog partnership.

July 4th saw a UK General Election and high turnover in our 46 MPs, with many new, and others representing altered or new constituencies. We began the process of forging new relationships, setting up meetings with MPs across the patch, with our CEO meeting both our elected Metro Mayors.

We strongly welcome the news that Rimrose Valley has been saved from the A5036 Port of Liverpool access scheme, and we continue to engage productively with all the major providers of linear energy and transport infrastructure through Green Northern Connections: looking at how their assets can promote nature connectivity rather than destroy it.

We continue to engage with a number of other major infrastructure and development schemes to safeguard wildlife and reduce impact including Mersey Tidal, the onshoring of powerlines from the Morgan and Morecambe Offshore Windfarm underneath the Fylde Sand dunes, planned windfarms in the West Pennines, major housing development proposed adjacent to our Longworth Clough nature reserve, and major engineering works proposed upstream of Belmont on the West Pennine Moors SSSI.

As a volunteer for LWT I gather wildlife records, this whilst gathering all those positive thoughts on what the LWT has done to for Chat Moss (and beyond). It’s Wildlife and me...

Dave Steel, LWT Volunteer

Cllr Richard Silvester, Tom Burditt and Edward Bailey outside the cafe at Queens Park in Bolton

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Annual Report 2025

People Engagement

Our people engagement work continues to with flourish with a steady increase of people with whom we directly engage with, and people or groups that we empower to go on to do great things for nature. We have directly supported 57,841 people through our engagement activities and we have supported 397 schools and colleges, 556 community groups, led 53 partnerships and supported a further 148 partnerships – a staggering reach in terms of the ripple effect to empower others to take action we will have created.

Funding through UK Shared Prosperity Fund helps a number of programmes that directly support this in both Lancashire and Greater Manchester with 550 people benefitting from their participation.

In the West Pennine Moors the team carried out community conversations through a commission with Natural England to help identify priorities for action and groups keen to drive forward change. This work has given a great starting point for the community engagement work as part of the Landscape Recovery Scheme.

Nature and Wellbeing has expanded to become our Community Engagement team in recognition that place-based and whole-population approaches benefit the wider community not just those experiencing poor wellbeing. Despite no major funder work has continued with contracts, commissions, charging for wild wellbeing days, as well as grant-funded activity.

We have seen our collaborations with cultural, creative and arts organisations strengthen with proven experience of how art can be an influence, improve a setting, provide an inspiration and embolden an experience. This work will maximise the opportunity for deepening connections with nature, attracting new audiences, bring people together and can help us to advocate and challenge society to think differently about nature recovery.

While this mix of income sees a more sustainable approach, administration of this way of working has grown substantially. Contracts with NHS Trusts alongside health and employment sector organisations and partnerships recognise the value that nature-based activity can have for wellbeing, developing life skills and confidence, and improved employability.

The importance of restoring areas of lowland peat is critical to carbon capture and restoring nature. Working with LWT at Manor House Farm has been a pleasure, I've learnt so much and seeing the transformational change has been energizing Justin Matthews, Lead Ranger at National Trust

Our role as part of the Down To Earth consortium, a Creative People and Places partnership funded by Arts Council England, is an example of how we can bring art and nature perspectives together to create places that can celebrate and enjoy both nature and creativity.

The Witton Park Greenhouse project similarly is continuing with an increase in contracts, donations and charged activity which demonstrates the value placed on the resource and staff locally. Other projects are following this model, for example the Chai Centre garden is becoming a valued asset within the community.

The Bay, our partnership with Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, Eden Project and Cumbria Wildlife Trust has continued thanks to supporters, donations and a variety of grants. The partnership continues to gain recognition for its work to support wellbeing through nature-based activities. The team delivering engagement activities to promote our Living Seas and the Blue Influencers, funded through Ernest Cook Trust, are enabling action led by young people along our coastline.

This last year we have reviewed our priorities and we are now more focussed on ensuring staff are trained and supported, with volunteers experiencing a consistent and high standard of opportunities. Our move to the new Assemble database has proved more challenging than hoped, however both staff and volunteers are now appreciating the benefits and the improved communications. Our data will be more accurate, up to date and accessible. At the end of March 2025, we had 805 active volunteers registering their time which accumulated to 42,029 hours. Our Supporters’ Day was one of the best to date at a new location, Darwen Aldridge Community Academy, in the heart of the West Pennine Moors.

Promoting ways for people to take Action for Nature has gone well with a huge interest from schools, colleges and youth groups at events where our Communications Officer has seen a lot of people enthused to take action. Collating actions after events though has proved more challenging and our use of the interactive map needs a review to ensure good take up.

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Volunteers at Cutacre by Lydia German
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18 – 19

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Annual Report 2025

Getting children out into nature has benefits for the whole family by Paul Heyes

Critically to reach our 1 in 4 ambitions we recognise the importance of empowering others to take action for nature. Greater Manchester Environment Trust’s Green Spaces Fund, which is hosted by us, is a great example of this. As a consortium with Groundwork Greater Manchester and others we employ a Green Space Fund Advisor.

They target those groups within neighbourhoods that are deprived of nature to listen to their ideas and concerns and support them to create a project that they can apply to the fund to deliver. Lancashire Environment Fund, for which we are also the managing partner, has been excelling at support to groups with additional work this year to signpost people to other funding sources that has strengthened the projects potential.

Our Nature Works team have been providing great examples of how we can produce advice and support to enable a school or a group to take forward ideas that they will continue to use. The team have made improvements to 119 school grounds and other community spaces, and is able to offer advice and costings, and to make recommendations on the funding which could support this work.

Our education team gets children really close to nature by Paul Heyes

The team have a brochure of designs indicating features that could benefit nature, climate and of course people. A link with the RHS’s National Education Nature Parks is supporting this work alongside direct requests.

Our Education work has done extremely well despite some challenging conditions and a boost in activity in Bolton has been provided through a partnership with Inflexion . The team have worked hard to make education sessions at Brockholes, Mere Sands Wood and the Hive in Bolton a huge success and we are looking forward to expanding our education offer to Queens Park in Bolton and Lunt Meadows as well as supporting our community engagement and nature recovery work particularly in the West Pennine Moors.

Our Forest School training is beginning to increase again with groups keen to make the most of more basic training which will support groups new to nature to have the confidence to explore their local green spaces.

Our Nature Works team have been excelling as great examples of how we can produce advice and support to enable a school or a group to take forward ideas that they will continue to use.

20 – 21

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Annual Report 2025

Youth Council

LWT is proud that we are one of a few Wildlife Trusts with an active and passionate Youth Council.

LWT recognises the importance of getting young people involved in the business and policies of the charity and the Youth Council has been the “face” of the Trust at many events over the past year.

There is much more Trust officers can do to involve our passionate young people and if anyone needs to get a sense of their passion they should listen into the buzzing WhatsApp group. This is a place for sharing news, ideas, videos, photographs and friendships that have grown since they formed in March 2024.

Tammy and Naeha joined officers and volunteers in the Restore Nature Now march in London in June, and reported back that they were part of a 60,000 gathering of all ages demanding that nature is lifted up the political agenda. And they are also part of a huge movement for wildlife.

In July Euan Norman became our first Youth Council Assistant Officer with Lauren Fairfax being voted by members to be chair. The Youth Council received £10,000 from the Step Up for Wildlife appeal.

A busy autumn saw a visit from Roshni from RSPB and Manchester Festival of Nature and Euan, Lilia and Lois heading to the Green Party Conference. Tammy attended an Apple Day event at Heaton Park.

At the LWT Supporters Day, Lauren, Tammy and Monty launched their Youth Manifesto and the Gull Campaign, focussing on “less loved” species. Members also attended the Youth Climate Conference in Blackpool. Euan attended the Communicate Conference, a national event for environmental communicators in Manchester. Tammy and Amy took part in Carbon Literacy training at the LWT full staff meeting and reported back to the council.

The Youth Council all have LWT emails, making communication with Trust officers easier.

This year members have attended Myerscough College Careers Fair, Nature Connections event at Heaton Park and a Marine Week event at Blackpool Sixth Form College. Other guests at Youth Council meetings have included John Loder, Molly Toal, Jenny Benion, Lydia German and Matt McMullan and officers are always welcome to discuss projects and reserves.

The Youth Council has a busy diary of events to consider and do an amazing job while juggling university and work.

Working with LWT is the best thing I’ve ever brought into my business and the inspiration of the trust team flows into our business to do better and to do good

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Simon Owen,
Standby Productions
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Council member Tammy
litter-picking in the Tawd Valley
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The Youth Council at Manchester
Festival of Nature by Paul Heyes
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22 – 23
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Gorse Covert School and Birchwood CoE Primary School at the launch of Risley, Holcroft and Chat Moss NNR by Alan Wright

Annual Report 2025

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Resilience

Future Outlook

A huge thank you to all those who have supported us during 2024/5, to partners and funders, donors and volunteers, including to all those people and businesses who supported our biggest ever appeal: Step Up for Wildlife.

Two of the most influential staff members in our Trust’s history, with over 70 years of combined experience at LWT, retired this year: Mick Weston (Director of Development) and Tim Mitcham (Director of Conservation). The Trust is grateful for their loyalty, tirelessness and vision over many decades. Whilst they shall be missed, we welcomed our new Director of Nature Recovery Dr Rachael Antwis to lead our nature recovery strategy, and teams, into the future.

You wait a lifetime for a National Nature Reserve in Greater Manchester and then two come along at once...following the recent declaration of The Flashes of Wigan and Leigh National Nature Reserve, in 2025 our restored peatlands at Little Woolden Moss, and Astley Moss, become the centrepiece of a new National Nature Reserve for Chat Moss – alongside Risley and Holcroft Mosses, part of the “King’s Series”.

This is a magnificent achievement for the Trust after two decades of campaigning, management, species reintroductions and ground-breaking restoration work.

Great crested grebe are a highlight of Wigan Flashes by Peter Smith

It’s a paradise for wildlife just a few miles from Salford and Warrington. Our peatland teams have never been more dynamic: with major restoration underway on the West Pennine Moors, and “wetter farming” trials in partnership with local farmers and landowners scaling up across the peat-soiled lowlands of Greater Manchester and West Lancashire.

Speaking of Wigan, this year the Flashes look set to become one of the very first Landscape Recovery Schemes in the country to move into a delivery phase: a government flagship scheme that we are delivering for and with Wigan Council and Forestry Commission. If successful it would see a business plan for 20 years over 1500ha of land, blending public money with private finance, and seeing a range of public benefits including natural flood prevention for surrounding residents.

2025 sees the end of our major Lunt Meadows National Lottery Heritage Funded project in Sefton, Mersyside; leaving its legacy of a truly incredible nature reserve, a great place to get up close to wildlife, with an education centre and programme, and upgraded visitor facilities including plans for a new cafe. Our reserve now sits at the centre of a growing area of land set aside for nature recovery, and we’ll be working closely with our new neighbours the National Trust, as well as with the Environment Agency, Forestry England and the Halsall estate.

In 2025 we are investing to improve both the visitor facilities/infrastructure and nature reserve condition at Mere Sands Wood and Brockholes.

As Lunt ends, so our National Lottery Heritage Funded Red Squirrel Recovery Network project begins – featuring a large and diverse range of partners and hoping to make major breakthroughs in the longterm fight for our beloved red squirrels.

Championing Nature, a 7-year programme supported by the All England Lawn Tennis Club (“Wimbledon”) and Emirates starts in 2025 in Wythenshawe. This will transform the lives of the people living in this part of South Manchester, engaging them with their local greenspaces and creating new ones.

Other important partners in our educational work are National Grid and Inflexion, allowing us to continue our large-scale engagement with schools on our nature reserves in summer and going into local communities in quieter months.

We are looking to scale up our volunteer, wellbeing, and wild plant growing work at Witton Country Park Greenhouses in Blackburn with a new vision, business plan and fundraising plan; and to consolidate our nature and wellbeing delivery across East Lancashire, GM (esp. Bolton and Bury), South Lancashire and Morecambe Bay. We are looking to step up our volunteering diversity and improve our training offer for current and new volunteers.

We continue to work with businesses, donors and supporters to raise vital funds for our work. We are making some breakthroughs with the development of our “Green Finance” products (see next section); but there have never been more or better ways to support the Trust – whether it is through corporate memberships, funding projects, wild welly workouts for employee groups or our “adopt a species” gift packs.

Annual Report 2025

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Green Finance Initiatives

Here, our work to raise water tables, rewet degrading peat, and restore lowland blanket bog formation will be good for wildlife but also will prevent measurable amounts of carbon dioxide release. This restoration will be funded through purchasers of a voluntary carbon market scheme called Wilder Carbon .

From the international COP nature summit to UK government and corporate boardrooms there has been much talk of “Green Finance” in recent years: this is a new way of thinking about the natural environment as something that underpins economic growth, and as such has a financial value that can attract investment.

From a Wildlife Trust perspective this is an exciting opportunity, and we must ensure that any Green Finance “product” that we sell is genuinely delivering measurable, auditable uplifts for biodiversity or carbon sequestration/emissions reductions. It must fit with our management and nature recovery plans, and help create new habitat for wildlife.

We are continuing to explore new opportunities with a range of private and public landowners. We have received money from Aviva to look for locations to create and restore precious Celtic Rainforest in our uplands and we will have more BNG and carbon units for sale once the Wigan Greenheart Landscape Recovery scheme gets accepted by DEFRA and moves into delivery.

As we start the 2025/6 financial year, we are now ready to launch our first Green Finance products. Our first habitat bank selling Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) units to developers, housing, and infrastructure providers is now registered at Cutacre (Tyldesley). This will fund not just the restoration of new meadows and hedgerows, but ongoing management and monitoring too.

If your organisation has set net zero targets around greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions it’s likely you’ll need to ‘offset’ your essential emissions, having taken actions to reduce your impact.

Most existing GHG offset products are internationally based, however our regionally based new initiatives are now an opportunity to localise carbon products in the UK and benefit wildlife at the same time.

We also have our first carbon bank at Turf Nest farm, a silage field adjacent to our Astley Moss nature reserve that will eventually form a part of the new Risley, Holcroft and Chat Moss National Nature Reserve.

If you work in construction, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) should be familiar. If you’re looking for a partner, we’re subject matter experts and have extensive experience of supporting clients to deliver BNG commitments successfully.

Ring us on 01772 324129 or email info@lancswt.org.uk for a conversation about how we can help you meet your environmental targets.

Volunteers hedgelaying at Cutacre by Lydia German

In a time when funding is ever tighter, and we are all having to do more with less, being part of a consortium with like-minded individuals and organisations, like LWT, really helps. It’s that old line of being greater than the sum of our parts

Dr Rachel Webster Senior Curator Natural Sciences and Curator of Botany, Manchester Museum

Little Woolden Moss by A.J.Critch Wildlife

26 – 27

Annual Report 2025

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Our Visitor Centres

Our visitor centres and cafés continue to play a vital role as the beating heart of Lancashire Wildlife Trust’s public engagement work. These spaces are not only places to enjoy a coffee or pick up a gift, but gateways into the natural world, helping people build stronger, lasting connections to nature and to each other.

Our visitor centres and cafés at Brockholes, Mere Sands Wood, Queen’s Park and Moss Bank Park have welcomed tens of thousands of visitors over the past year. Whether people are popping in after a walk, attending a wildlife talk, or enjoying one of our seasonal events, these locations offer accessible and welcoming environments that bring nature closer to home. They are often the first step on someone’s journey with wildlife and play a key role in growing the community of people who care for nature right here in the North West.

Importantly, our commercial sites also support local people’s wellbeing. We know from national research and our own visitor surveys that green spaces and wildlife experiences help reduce stress, improve mood and promote physical activity.

By offering calming places to explore nature, whether through walking trails, wildlife watching, or simply enjoying the view with a cup of tea, we want to make a real impact on public health, particularly for those living in more urban areas such as Bolton.

Mere Sands Wood’s visitor centre has been booming since the refurb

In 2025-26, we want to build on this success, and we are excited and hopeful that our brand new Learning Centre at Lunt Meadows will really thrive in its first year open to the public. We are exploring new ways to evolve our offer, making sure our spaces are as inclusive and inspiring as possible.

This means improving interpretation and signage to tell the story of the landscapes and species and developing new ways for visitors to engage with our work, whether through volunteering, membership, or supporting an appeal.

We are also investing in training and tools to empower our staff and volunteers to become confident ambassadors for nature, ready to answer questions, guide experiences, and inspire action.

At the heart of this is a commitment to putting the visitor at the centre of everything we do. We want people to leave our sites not only inspired and uplifted, but with a deeper understanding of how they can help protect wildlife and the environment on their doorsteps.

Celebrating Christmas at Brockholes

As we look to the future, we see our visitor centres as a crucial touch point in delivering our strategic goal of 1 in 4 people taking action for nature. They are where our values come to life, in conversations over the counter, on guided walks, and through the stories we share with every leaflet, exhibit, and cuppa served.

They are also increasingly important contributors to our income, helping to support the wider work of the Trust through their operation as LWEL (Lancashire Wildlife Enterprises Ltd, our trading subsidiary).

Ultimately, we want everyone who steps into a Lancashire Wildlife Trust visitor centre or café to feel part of something bigger: a movement for nature’s recovery in Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside.

I'm hoping to see another piece of the jigsaw puzzle slot into place at Manor House Farm, where nature is thriving and part of a wider community of nature havens in the region. Long term I want to work with LWT to fine-tune these changes and do the absolute best we can for nature and wildlife

Justin Matthews, Lead Ranger at National Trust

28 – 29

Annual Report 2025

Environmental Performance

To reduce climate change and create healthy ecosystems, LWT is committed to identifying, managing, mitigating and reporting on our own climate and nature related impacts during our activities.

The Trust has long recognised the inter-dependency between nature and climate and the value that nature based solutions can have to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Whilst in the first stages of assessing our impact, further work will be conducted over the next five years in line with initiatives led by RSWT to understand and improve our reporting metrics and processes. To help identify and address any gaps in line with the recommendations from the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD).

One of our goals is to work more closely with businesses to help them become both nature and carbon positive. Work to date has seen a number of businesses work with us to deliver Corporate Social Responsibility, align to UN Sustainability Goals, and to achieve positive nature benefits close to where they are based. We have also worked with companies to fund carbon compensation and are working closely with academics to create a product that can robustly demonstrate carbon offsetting.

Alongside this we have been working with young people to give them the opportunity to have a say in our work, get involved in our activities, and become strong advocates for nature. We have now been running a Youth Council for 3 years. It's members are passionate advocates for both nature and climate.

However, we also recognise that if we are talking to companies about reducing carbon, we need to be Carbon Literate and making positive steps to becoming carbon neutral ourselves.

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Local businesses on a tour of Lunt Meadows by Alan Wright
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The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited LWT team at Queens Park cafe
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Thanks go to DWF Foundation for the funds that have given us the ability to become Carbon Literate. We used the whole of our Full Staff Meeting to run Carbon Literacy Training. The training attracted 127 staff to give us the best attendance since Covid. The training was delivered by 4 members of the Carbon Club and we had 3 members of our Youth Council in attendance as well as a number of our trustees.

There is clearly a huge climate anxiety felt across our Youth Council members and a recognition that nature can play an important role in tackling the climate crisis.

The Youth Council are actively involved in our Carbon Club - a group of staff who are taking action across our organisation to investigate ways in which we can reduce our Carbon Footprint. Both the Youth Council and the Carbon Club were keen that the Trust becomes a Carbon Literate organisation and have campaigned to ensure all staff receive Carbon Literacy training.

Everyone found the training extremely emotive with some fantastic discussions about what we can do both as individuals and as an organisation. Our CEO summed up the day by saying how immensely proud he was to see how the training was creating some top priorities for LWT to embed and to achieve organisation change.

Sixty eight staff are now certificated and this gives us the ability to become an accredited Carbon Literate organisation (at least one third of staff need certification to achieve this).

Annual Report 2025

Thanks to the incredible dedication of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, the garden at the Chai Centre has been beautifully revitalized - bringing colour, life, and a sense of peace to the space. This transformation simply wouldn’t have been possible without the time, passion, and commitment of the Trust’s staff and volunteers

Our Systems

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI)

Neither the composition of LWT’s employees nor its volunteers adequately reflects the ethnic diversity of our area. However, LWT is taking more proactive steps to embed EDI into all activity, and its leadership are taking an active role in the EDI Community of Practise across the Wildlife Trusts. Our most diverse Youth Council yet has been recruited with 3 members taking an interest in how to influence EDI across the organisation. Job applications are coming from a more diverse range of applicants.

Recognition of the importance of Entry Level Officers with templates and guidance produced to ensure consistency. Annual data is submitted by staff to measure workforce diversity. Key areas to address concern ethnic minority representation and young people employed with LWT and this has led to establishing alternative pathways to employment, and the need to develop more partnerships with groups under-represented by our workforce.

Every business should be collaborating with a NGO. LWT are well set up with a very motivated team who are working towards creating a better world for animals and people. The Webinar Vet has loved working and learning from them! Anthony Chadwick, Webinar vet

Our events will help to get many communities across the North West interested in nature by Alan Wright

Staff are actively asking questions and providing more feedback to ensure priorities address their issues and concerns. More projects and events are targeting different audiences to ensure there is the opportunity for everyone to have contact with nature. Staff are sharing best practise and attending training to support ways to improve EDI.

Staff attended the Access for All Outdoor Conference and audits have now been undertaken at Brockholes, Lunt, Mere Sands Wood, Foxhill Bank and Heysham Nature Reserve. Some actions have already been put into place for example at Heysham an accessible path has been constructed with funding through EDF Energy.

Videos have been produced indicating how to get to Brockholes and there will be a future one for Mere Sands Wood. The Right to Roam project for Darwen Moor will help promote countryside access and the need to improve diversity within those visiting our landscapes.

Hasan Sidat, Senior Operational Manager for the Community Roots & HARRI

Health & Safety

Our dedicated SHE Committee actively monitor Safety, Health & Environmental reports and processes to ensure the safety of our sites and activities. Having consolidated compliance under one system, the group continues to review functionality to ensure best practice is maintained across LWT.

Maintenance

The Facilities team has experienced significant change this year, which provided an opportunity to reset our approach and link the department more closely with the commercial team to manage our facilities. This move has enabled us to implement best practice and standardised procedures that have been trialled successfully within the Lancashire Wildlife Enterprises Limited (LWEL) over the past five years, supported by our growing relationship with HMP Kirkham volunteer and staff placements.

We have seen an encouraging reduction in the number of Accidents and Incidents as staff and volunteers continue to report Safety Observations and Near Miss reports, before they develop into accidents or incidents, enabling LWT to take a proactive approach to health and safety.

The team focused heavily on a comprehensive fire compliance audit. To ensure our buildings meet fire safety regulations and insurance requirements.

To improve efficiency, we have introduced a new compliance software across our sites. This software enables a “responsible person” at each location to handle routine checks, significantly reducing the need for facilities staff to travel between sites, allowing staff to focus more time on critical maintenance tasks.

Health and safety is important on wetland reserves by Alan Wright

32 – 33

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Annual Report 2025

Red squirrel by Peter Smith

Principal risks & uncertainties

They discuss any principal or emerging risks and how to manage them. Oversight of key risks is shared with appropriate subcommittees/committee groups and reported to Trustees.

The Trustees are responsible for ensuring that there are effective and adequate risk management and internal control systems in place to manage the strategic and operational risks the Charity could be exposed to. LWT has a documented Risk Management Procedure ensuring a risk register is updated and reviewed regularly by the Senior Management Team.

The Risk and Governance committee continues to meet quarterly to oversee the process. Key risks include:

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RISK MITIGATION
Continued decline LWT is working with RSWT on national advocacy and continues to develop
in public sector more diversified income streams e.g. Biodiversity Net Gain, Carbon Credits
funding sources and Nature Based Solutions.
Cashflow issues LWT has an unrestricted financial reserve policy, which is reviewed monthly
to ensure sufficient reserves are held to fund cash flow requirements.
Cash is reviewed daily to monitor key movements. Cashflow planning
supports financial resilience and monthly forecasting.
Climate change Identification of susceptible habitats, significant impact likely on some
undermines habitat sites. Focus on habitat management and future proofing where investment
management basis is available. Manage habitats on a landscape scale where possible and
be ready to respond to issues arising, e.g. fires. reduced rainfall/drought
means loss of peatlands or where storms have damaged paths.
Loss of environmental Maintain good relationships with key funders and continue to identify
funds / wildlife alternative sources of income and diversify income streams. Developing
subsidies / grants opportunities via ELMS, Biodiversity Net Gain and Carbon funding.
Damaging new Work with The Wildlife Trust movement and other Trusts to monitor,
legislation or policies influence, campaign and lobby.
for land management
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In a time where our wildlife has never been in more danger, the varying and unique stories that come to us from LWT are the dose of positivity that our readers thoroughly enjoy. Our relationship with Alan and the LWT goes back many years and we genuinely treasure it and hope to continue for many years to come

Natalie Christopher, Managing Director, Lancashire and NW Magazine

34 – 35

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Annual Report 2025

Structure, Governance and Management

The Trustees are Trustees of the Charity (according to charity regulations) and serve as the directors of the Company for the purpose of the Companies Act and are the officers of the Company.

The Charity is governed by the Articles and Memorandum of Association for the incorporated company which instructs the Trustees to act to promote the objects of the Charity for public benefit.

The Trustees are responsible for all policymaking, budgetary decisions and strategic leadership. The Chief Executive Officer, appointed by Trustees, manages the day-to-day operations of the Trust, including management of staff. In addition to Council meetings, the Charity has established the following advisory groups and committees:

The Trustees hold ultimate responsibility and authority for the charity and work collectively as “Council/Board” in the governance of the charity. Council consists of up to 30 Trustees. Trustees are elected at the Annual General Meeting in accordance with the Memorandum and Articles of Association. Trustees can also be co-opted by Council and serve until the next Annual General Meeting and then stand for election.

 Nominations Committee

Trustees have a recruitment and retirement policy, all Trustees must now stand for re-election every three years and have limited terms in office as Trustees, serving a maximum of nine years, except in exceptional circumstances that best serve the interests of LWT.

The policy has helped Council to increase skills and diversity within the group. In line with the policy, two co-opted Trustees were elected and two Trustees retired at the AGM in November 2024. All Trustees are volunteers and members, who have access to a Trustee Team site and easy access to Charity Commission guidance.

Other groups/task and finish groups are commissioned as required by the Trustees and Senior Management team.

Related parties

The Group includes The Lancashire Wildlife Trust’s subsidiary trading company Lancashire Wildlife Enterprises Limited.

The Charity 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 47 Wildlife Trusts across the country. Partners have the use of the Wildlife Trusts’ logo and benefit from the resources, best practice and speciality experience of other member trusts. Membership gives the Charity a national voice and profile, as well as respectability by association for those unfamiliar with our work.

The Trustees of the charity, who are also Members of the Board (“Council”), who have held office in the year and to the date of this report were:

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Mr J B Jackson Chair
Resigned 21/11/2024
His Honour Judge J R Duggan
Resigned 21/11/2024
Ms. H A Ryan Vice-Chair
Mr J M Wells
Mr Chris Davies Chair
Mr Nick Williams Hon. Treasurer
Professor Sheila Pankhurst Vice-Chair
Ms Deborah Shackleton CBE Vice-Chair
Mr Jimmy Thompson
Mr Iqbal Hasan
Ms Joan Hunter
Mr John Loder
Professor Philip James
Ms Gemma Wren
Mr Richard Betts
Mr James Stocker
Mrs Sarie Mairs Slee Appointed 21/11/24
Ms Lucie Unsworth Appointed 21/11/24
Mr Paul Davies Coopted 27/03/2025
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The Charity is a member of Lancashire Environmental Fund Limited (“LEF”) with the power to appoint one Trustee to the Board. Full details of transactions with LEF are given in note 20 to the financial statements.

The Charity is a member of Greater Manchester Environment Trust (“GMET”) with the power to appoint one Trustee to the Board. Full details of transactions with GMET are given in note 20 to the financial statements.

Reference and Administrative Details

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited is a company limited by guarantee and a registered Charity. Registered with the Charity Commission in England and Wales with the number 229325. Registered office: The Barn, Berkeley Drive, Bamber Bridge, Preston, PR5 6BY

President
President Lord David Alton coopted 27/03/2025
Vice President
Mr E E Jackson MBE
Chief Executive Ofcer
Dr Tom Burditt
CompanyRegistered Number
00731548
Entrust Registered Number
025077
Bankers
Virgin Money (formerly Yorkshire Bank)
44 Fishergate, Preston, PR1 8BH
Investment Advisors
Brooks MacDonald Group plc
No 1 Marsden Street,Manchester,M2 1HW
Auditors
MHA, Richard House, 9 Winckley Square,
Preston, PR1 3HP

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

The red squirrel project has benefitted from the Step Up for Wildlife appeal by AJCritch Wildlife

Annual Report 2025

Fundraising

A Year of Stepping Up for Wildlife:

We have a strong and engaged membership base which is vital to our financial stability, and it’s important to us that we show the direct impact of our members and donors support, clearly and transparently.

This hugely important gifted income gives us greater resilience against external funding pressures, supports core conservation work, and enables us to invest more confidently in long term planning.

However, we know that the way that people gift money is changing. Across the UK, charities including ourselves are reporting a noticeable drop in regular giving income via memberships.

Tom raised money on his 100km run around our reserves by AJCritch Wildlife

The appeal helped conservation grazing by Alan Wright

Given these changes in the way that people prefer to donate and appreciating that living costs are rising for us all, we’re looking at creative and pro-active ways to increase our supporter base, giving our local communities the flexibility to donate for nature when they’re able. This refreshed approach includes a new ‘adopt a species packs’ which will enable us to diversify our income streams going forward.

We work with partner agencies Working for Wildlife and QTS to facilitate our membership recruitment and other administrative tasks such as Gift Aid data collection. Our online membership recruitment remains in-house and around 250 new members last year came via recruitment at other Wildlife Trust sites.

In our Partnerships team our green network of corporate supporters is steadily growing. We have seen an increase in corporate engagement activities in the form of Welly Workout opportunities with many teams returning for multiple days scheduled throughout the year offering both physical and financial support.

Teams from all over the country have been joining LWT's conservation projects on site to assist in the vital work undertaken across the region. New partners have joined at multiple levels with an increase in multi-year funding support. Businesses committing to multi-year funding is positively creating stability in the Trusts finances and the ability to undertake projects and staffing in a more structured way.

The Partnerships team have been requested to host conversations and speak at a number of sustainability conferences and events and are able to share the work of the Trust wider than ever and connect with new industries and sectors in an effort to garner support for our cause and align with new legislation and frameworks required for businesses in their approach to sustainability.

As a responsible fundraiser we’re a levy paying member of the Fundraising Regulator and carry their logo proudly to show our commitment to respectful fundraising. Our fundraising practise across the board is transparent, ethical and put the donor first at every junction.

Looking ahead, we’ll be focusing on embedding our successes of 2024/25 into the coming years. That means nurturing long-term relationships, celebrating the stories of those who make our work possible, and continuing to evolve the way we talk about the importance of nature recovery.

Mere Sands Wood by Alan Wright

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Annual Report 2025

Statement of the Board’s responsibilities

The Trustees (who are also directors of Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited 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 the group and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable group 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 the group 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 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 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.

The Report of the Trustees, which includes the Strategic Report on pages 4 to 40, were approved by the Board on 24th July 2025 and signed on their behalf:

Chris Davies, Chair LANCASHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH 2025

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Goldcrest by Simon Owen
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Kingfisher’s fresh catch by Simon Owen

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40 – 41
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The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Annual Report 2025

Financial review

The year ended 31 March 2025 has been one of considerable activity again with financial pressures and challenges. Despite the successful appeal in the year, income has been under pressure due to the economic environment. Our unrestricted net expenditure during the year was £147,000 after investing in staff and new activities. Membership income, grants and sales contracts were all under pressure in the year but savings on expenditure ensured better financial performance than the previous year despite the other pressures.

Work to continue the improvement of the financial platform and create a sustainable financial position is ongoing to ensure that there is continued delivery of Business Plan objectives into the future and finances remain sustainable.

Financial activities

Overall financial activity showed an increase in turnover on the prior year with income of £9.2m compared to £8.2m in 2025. There was also an increase in expenditure in the year resulting in the deficit in unrestricted funds and the net expenditure of £613,000 in restricted funds represents spending brought forward balances.

The operational financial performance of Lancashire Wildlife Enterprises has been maintained in the year delivering a profit for the Trust of £63,000 (2024: £143,000) on increased turnover and costs.

Statement of financial position

There was only a small amount of fixed asset investment during the year. Additions to fixed assets amounted to £233,000 including the completion of the learning centre at Lunt Meadows (£71,000) and various pieces of equipment. The overall value of fixed assets decreased by £357,000 with depreciation and amortisation on the existing assets of £595,000.

Our investments reduced in the year with withdrawals to fund ongoing work net of a donation added to the portfolio and to support cash flow.

The level of debtors has decreased in the year, reflecting income recovery. Trade creditors have shown a small decrease, related in part to timing as well as increased activity. RSWT provided a concessionary loan during the year to support cash flow which is at Nil% interest until 2026-27 and which is repayable on demand.

Cash flow

Cash balances have increased by £46,000 in the year to £518,000.

Investment policy

The Trustees have an investment policy in place that allows them to employ a specialist investment management company to manage the Trust’s investment funds. This company is charged with investing the funds in a portfolio of socially responsible collective investments that maximises return from the charity’s investments with a moderate level of risk. The performance of the fund is reviewed on a regular basis and in the event of under-performance, the Trustees would consider placing the investment elsewhere.

The Trust’s investments include an endowment fund which was established to provide income to support the maintenance of Freemans Pool, a parcel of land near Heysham and a restricted fund established for the management of Scutchers Acres.

Financial reserves

The Trust’s financial reserves are made up of permanent endowment funds of £508,000 (2024: £546,000), and a variety of restricted and unrestricted funds. Total funds as at the 31 March 2025 were £9.8m (2024: £10.6m).

Restricted funds

The Trust has a number of restricted funds where the donor restricts the purpose for which the funds can be used. As at 31 March 2025 restricted funds were £8.5m (2024: £9.1m) including fixed assets of £7.1m. Further details of these funds and the purposes for which they are intended are provided in note 20.

Unrestricted funds

The remainder of the Trust’s funds are heldin a general unrestricted fund, which as at 31 March 2025 was £783,000 (2024: £930,000).

Reserves policy

The Trust has established a financial reserves policy to cover for unexpected reductions in short-term income. Under the policy the Trust aims to hold sufficient unrestricted reserves in sufficiently liquid form (ie. as net current assets and investments) to enable it to cover three months of core operating expenditure (excluding depreciation). Core operating expenditure excludes expenditure funded by restricted or endowment funds.

Based on the budget for the coming year the Trust has calculated that the level of reserves required under this policy to be approximately £832,000. At 31 March 2025 the Trust had £783,000 of unrestricted funds of which £285,000 (2024: £379,000) are unrestricted net current assets and investments, which is a cover ratio of 0.34, the equivalent of 1.0 months core operating expenditure. General reserves provide 2.5 months of cover. Work to bring the ratio back to at least three months cover through the development of a sustainable financial plan for the future is underway.

Remuneration

The Trust is committed to ensuring that we pay our staff fairly and in a way that ensures we attract and retain the right skills to have the greatest impact in delivering our charitable objectives.

The Head of Human Resources undertakes comparisons with other public sector and charitable organisations, particularly other Wildlife Trusts, to benchmark salaries in combination with an internal benchmarking system.

The overall objective of the policy is to ensure that staff are provided with appropriate incentives to encourage performance and, in a fair and responsible manner, be rewarded for their individual contributions to the success of the Trust.

Lancashire Wildlife TrustThe Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Annual Report 2025

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

Basis for opinion

We have audited the financial statements of The Lancashire Wildlife Trust (the ‘parent charitable company’) for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Cash Flow Statement and related notes, including a summary of significant accounting policies.

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 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 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.

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, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice)).

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.

In our opinion the financial statements:

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’s or 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.

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 other information comprises the information included in the trustees’ annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. 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.

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 course of 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.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the group and parent charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the trustees’ report and the directors’ report.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

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

44 – 45

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Annual Report 2025

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 group’s 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 group or the parent charitable 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 specific procedures for this engagement and the extent to which these are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance.

The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

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 auditor's report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company’s members, as a body, in accordance with the 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 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 as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Nicola Mason MA (Cantab) FCA DChA for and on behalf of MHA Senior Statutory Auditor Preston

Date: 17 September 2025

MHA is the trading name of MHA Audit Services LLP, a limited liability partnership in England and Wales (registered number OC455542)

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Annual Report 2025

LANCASHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

(INCORPORATING CONSOLIDATED INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

----- Start of picture text -----
Notes Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total Total
funds funds funds 2025 2024
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Income
Donations and legacies 2 1,535 357 - 1,892 1,619
Charitable activities 3 1,623 4,231 - 5,854 5,179
Other trading activities 4 1,459 6 - 1,465 1,349
Investment income 5 6 3 1 10 15
Other income - - - - -
Total income 4,623 4,597 1 9,221 8,162
Expenditure
Raising funds 6 (2,290) (71) (6) (2,367) (2,135)
Charitable activities 6 (2,395) (5,219) (31) (7,645) (7,097)
Other expenditure 6 - - - - -
Total expenditure (4,685) (5,290) (37) (10,012) (9,232)
Net (outgoing) /
incoming resources
before other recognised
gains and losses (62) (693) (36) (791) (1,070)
Gains / (losses) on
investments (1) (4) (2) (7) 11
Net (expenditure) /
income (63) (697) (38) (798) (1,059)
Transfers between funds (84) 84 - - -
Net movement in funds (147) (613) (38) (798) (1,059)
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds
brought forward 930 9,137 546 10,613 11,672
Total funds
carried forward 783 8,524 508 9,815 10,613
----- End of picture text -----

The statement of financial activities contains all gains and losses for the year and all activities relate to continuing operations.

The accompanying accounting policies and notes on pages 51 to 77 form an integral part of these financial statements.

LANCASHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST

CONSOLIDATED AND CHARITY STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT 31 MARCH 2025

----- Start of picture text -----
Group Charity
Notes Total Total Total Total
2025 2024 2025 2024
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Fixed assets:
Intangible fixed assets 10 29 33 26 32
Tangible fixed assets 11 5,751 6,109 5,731 6,082
Heritage assets 12 3,631 3,631 3,631 3,631
Investments 13 170 317 170 317
Total fixed assets 9,581 10,090 9,558 10,062
Current assets:
Stock 14 57 36 34 17
Debtors 15 1,382 1,768 1,346 1,646
Cash at bank and in hand 518 472 364 374
Total current assets 1,957 2,276 1,744 2,037
Liabilities
Creditors: falling due within one year 16 (1,723) (1,753) (1,572) (1,645)
Net current assets 234 523 172 392
Total assets less current liabilities 9,815 10,613 9,730 10,454
Creditors: falling due after one year - - - -
Total net assets 9,815 10,613 9,730 10,454
The funds of the charity:
Endowment funds 20 508 546 508 546
Restricted funds 20 8,524 9,137 8,524 9,137
Unrestricted funds 20 783 930 698 771
9,815 10,613 9,730 10,454
----- End of picture text -----

The accompanying accounting policies and notes on pages 51 to 77 form an integral part of these financial statements. The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 24 July 2025 and signed on their behalf by:

Chris Davies Nick Williams Chair Treasurer

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Annual Report 2025

LANCASHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

----- Start of picture text -----
Notes 2025 2024
£’000 £’000
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash (outflow) from operating activities 21 (8) (342)
Cash flows from investing activities:
- -
Purchase of intangible fixed assets
Purchase of tangible fixed assets (233) (362)
- -
Proceeds from disposal of tangible fixed assets
Purchase of heritage assets - (163)
Additions to investments (20) (80)
Withdrawal of investments 157 353
Net cash used in investing activities (96) (252)
Cash flows from financing activities
Net borrowing 150 -
Net cash used in financing activities - -
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period 21 46 (594)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the reporting period 472 1,066
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period 518 472
----- End of picture text -----

The accompanying accounting policies and notes on pages 51 to 77 form an integral part of these financial statements.

LANCASHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

1.1 Basis of accounting

These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention as modified by the inclusion of investments at market value and in accordance with the Companies Act 2006.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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 October 2019) – (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Lancashire Wildlife Trust meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.

All income resources and resources expended derive from continuing activities. The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

1.2 Going concern

The Trustees have considered the appropriateness of the going concern assumption and believe it is appropriate to prepare the financial statements on this basis due to the Trust’s level of reserves and agreed funding.

At the time of approving the financial statements, the Trustees deemed the Trust to have sufficient resources to continue to operate for a period of at least twelve months and there are no material uncertainties regarding the Trust’s financial position. The financial statements have therefore been prepared on a going concern basis.

1.2 Consolidated financial statements

The Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) and Statement of Financial Position consolidate the financial statements of the charity and its wholly owned subsidiary undertaking, Lancashire Wildlife Enterprises Limited on a line-by-line basis.

The charity has availed itself of Paragraph 4(1) of Schedule 1 of the Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and adapted the Companies Act formats to reflect the special nature of the charity’s activities. No separate statement of financial activities has been presented for the charity alone as permitted by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 and paragraph 397 of the SORP.

1.3 Company status

The Trust is a company limited by guarantee. The members of the company are the Trustees named on page 36 to 37. In the event of the Trust being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the Trust.

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Annual Report 2025

LANCASHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

1.4 Funds held by the charity

Endowment funds

Endowment funds are capital funds which the Charity is legally prevented from spending and must retain intact as part of the Charity's capital.

The permanent endowment fund is represented by the nature reserves of the Charity and the expendable endowment fund is represented by the Barn Resource Centre, and land at Freeman’s Pool.

Restricted funds

Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors which have been raised by the Charity for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund.

Unrestricted funds

General funds are those held where there are no restrictions, and which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Charity.

The Trustees occasionally vote to designate unrestricted funds for specific projects or programmes of work, thereby reclassifying them as designated funds.

1.5 Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. Restricted income is included in the restricted statement of financial activities when receivable.

Membership subscriptions are accounted for on a cash received basis.

Donations are recognised as income when the donation is made.

Each legacy and bequest entitlement are recognised as an incoming resource once a reasonably reliable estimate of its value can be made and when it is reasonably certain of the ultimate receipt. Where the Trust is left part of the residue of the estate, recognition is normally the date when payment or a letter of notification from the solicitor advising of the likely amount is received.

Grants income is recognised in the statement of financial activities in the period to which it relates. Where a grant is restricted by the funder for use in a future period, its recognition is deferred until the charity becomes entitled to the resource. Grants in respect of specific projects are credited to a restricted fund against which relevant expenditure is charged.

Contractual income is recognised in incoming resources in the statement of financial activities to the extent that the charity has provided the related goods and/or services. Where such income is received in advance then the income is deferred until the charity becomes entitled to the resource. Payments generated from an invoice are treated as contract income and are recognised in the year they are earned rather than received.

Investment income and gains and losses on disposals are allocated on the basis of whether the funds invested are for restricted use or for general unrestricted purposes.

Gifts in kind donated for distribution are included at valuation and recognised as income when they are distributed to the projects. Gifts donated for resale are included as income when they are sold. Donated facilities are included at the value to the Charity where this can be quantified, and a third party is bearing the cost. No amounts are included in the financial statements for services donated by volunteers.

Intangible income, which comprises donated services, is included in income at a valuation which is an estimate of the financial cost borne by the donor where such a cost is quantifiable and measurable. No income is recognised where there is no financial cost borne by a third party.

1.6 Resources expended

Resources used are accounted for on an accruals basis, inclusive of any irrecoverable VAT. Resources used are apportioned on the basis of whether the incoming resources were for restricted purposes or for general unrestricted purposes. Expenditure is reported gross of related income.

Cost of generating funds comprises the costs associated with attracting voluntary income and the costs of other income generation.

Charitable expenditure comprises direct expenditure including direct staff costs attributable to the charity's activities. Where costs cannot be directly attributed, they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources as detailed below.

Governance costs include those costs incurred in the governance of the charity's assets and are associated with constitutional and statutory requirements.

Support costs include the central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on the basis of staff numbers and activity. All support costs have been treated as unrestricted expenditure as they relate to the overall running of the charity.

1.7 Intangible fixed assets

Intangible assets comprise the cost of computer systems. Intangible fixed assets are amortised over ten years.

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Annual Report 2025

LANCASHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

1.8 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

All assets costing more than £2,000 are capitalised at cost.

Depreciation is not provided on freehold and long leasehold land or land acquired by the Trust for nature reserves. Long leasehold is considered to have a useful life of more than fifty years.

Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets, other than land and nature reserves, at rates calculated to write off the cost of fixed assets, less their estimated residual value, over their expected useful lives on the following bases:

Land and buildings 4% to 20% straight line

Motor Vehicles 33⅓% straight line

Furniture, fittings and equipment 20%

straight line

Donated assets, other than nature reserves, are included at fair value at the date of acquisition.

1.9 Heritage assets

The charity's objects include the conservation of nature for the purpose of study and research and to educate the public in the understanding and appreciation of nature, the awareness of its value and the need for its conservation. As such the charity owns and maintains a number of nature reserves that fall into the definition of heritage assets as they cannot be readily resold and so in the normal operations of the Trust are not available for other use.

The Trustees consider that owing to the incomparable nature of these 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 users of the accounts.

The figures in the accounts represent the cost or valuation of the asset on acquisition where available, or where this is not available are included at the historic book cost.

The costs of maintaining the heritage assets are expensed through the statement of financial activities as incurred, as part of the Trust’s charitable activities.

1.11 Stocks

Livestock assets are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value.

Retail stock is valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value after making due allowance for any obsolete items.

1.12 Operating leases

Rentals applicable to operating leases where substantially all of the benefits and risks of ownership remain with the lessor are charged to the statement of financial activities as incurred.

1.13 Pension costs

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for the benefit of eligible employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the Trust, being invested with insurance companies. Contributions are charged to the statement of financial activities in the year to which they relate.

1.14 Financial instruments

The charity and its subsidiary 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.

1.15 Critical accounting estimates and areas of judgement

The charity makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates and assumptions will be, by definition, seldom equal to the related actual results. The estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of the assets and liabilities within the next financial year are discussed below:

Useful economic life of tangible fixed assets

The useful economic life of tangible fixed assets is judged at the point of purchase. As standard, a useful economic life of five to twenty-five years is set for land and buildings, three years for motor vehicles and five years for furniture, fittings and equipment.

There are no critical areas of judgement.

1.10 Investments

Quoted investments held in the nature of fixed assets are stated at market value. Gains and losses on disposal and revaluation are credited or charged to the statement of financial activities in the year in which they arise.

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Annual Report 2025

LANCASHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

2. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total Total
funds funds funds 2025 2024
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Income
Membership 1,214 - - 1,214 1,225
Donations 204 357 - 561 394
Legacies 111 - - 111 -
Donated goods and services 4 - - 4 -
Other 2 - - 2 -
Total donations and legacies 1,535 357 - 1,892 1,619
----- End of picture text -----

In 2023-24 donations and legacies of £1,619,000 comprised £1,428,000 unrestricted and £191,000 restricted funds.

3. INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total Total
funds funds funds 2025 2024
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Income
Grants 345 4,017 - 4,362 3,592
Primary purpose trading 1,278 214 - 1,492 1,587
Total income from
charitable activities 1,623 4,231 - 5,854 5,179
----- End of picture text -----

In 2023-24 income from charitable activities of £5,179,000 comprised £1,790,000 unrestricted, £3,388,000 restricted and £1,000 endowment funds.

3. INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES (continued)

The following grants are included in the restricted funds in the consolidated of financial activities and as a funding requirement are highlighted below:

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Annual Report 2025

LANCASHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

4. INCOME FROM OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total Total
funds funds funds 2025 2024
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Income
Events and car parking 1,441 - - 1,441 1,323
Visitor centres 7 - - 7 8
Rent and room hire 6 - - 6 10
Other 5 6 - 11 8
Total income from other
trading activities 1,459 6 - 1,465 1,349
----- End of picture text -----

In 2023-24 income from other trading activities of £1,349,000 comprised £1,348,000 unrestricted and £1,000 restricted funds.

5. INVESTMENT INCOME

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total Total
funds funds funds 2025 2024
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Income
Bank interest 5 - - 5 7
Dividends 1 3 1 5 8
Total investment income 6 3 1 10 15
----- End of picture text -----

In 2023-24 investment income of £15,000 comprised £10,000 unrestricted, £2,000 restricted and £3,000 endowment funds.

6. ANALYSIS OF TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED

----- Start of picture text -----
Direct Other Support costs Total Total
staff costs direct costs (note 7) 2025 2024
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Cost of raising funds
Visitor centres 697 587 120 1,404 1,208
Membership recruitment - 186 8 194 368
Marketing and advertising 422 113 22 557 545
Other - 203 9 212 14
Total cost of raising funds 1,119 1,089 159 2,367 2,135
Cost of charitable activities
Nature recovery 1,753 3,164 271 5,188 4,485
People engagement 1,247 217 232 1,696 1,696
Maintenance and contracts 512 143 106 761 916
Total cost of charitable activities 3,512 3,524 609 7,645 7,097
Total resources expended 4,631 4,613 768 10,012 9,232
----- End of picture text -----

In 2023-24 total direct staff costs were £3,990,000, total other direct costs were £4,475,000 and total support costs were £767,000.

Total resources expended are stated after charging:

----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2024
£’000 £’000
Amortisation of intangible assets 7 7
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets owned 588 583
Auditor’s remuneration
Audit fees (including irrecoverable VAT) 19 20
Taxation services 2 2
Operating lease rentals
Land and buildings 3 3
Office equipment and vehicles 7 7
----- End of picture text -----

No Trustees were remunerated for their role as Trustees during the year.

Trustees were reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, with total expenses of £Nil (2024: £Nil).

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Annual Report 2025

LANCASHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

7. ALLOCATION OF SUPPORT COSTS

----- Start of picture text -----
Raising Nature People Maintenance Total Total Basis
funds recovery engagement and commercial 2025 2024
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Finance 20 78 68 29 195 214 (1)
Human resources 47 54 45 22 168 152 (2)
Management
and Governance 70 80 68 32 250 226 (2)
Premises 8 31 27 12 78 105 (1)
IT 4 16 14 6 40 37 (1)
Health and Safety 10 12 10 5 37 33 (2)
Total 159 271 232 106 768 767
----- End of picture text -----

(1) Estimated % of charity only activities

----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2025 2024 2024
Average number of employees (and full-time equivalents Total FTE Total FTE
analysed by activity for the year ended 31 March 2025 No No No No
Nature recovery 50 47 54 50
People engagement 63 58 56 53
Maintenance and contracts 4 3 7 5
Fundraising 11 10 12 11
Commercial 17 14 20 17
Management and administration 27 24 23 20
Total staff 172 156 172 156
----- End of picture text -----

In addition to the above there were an average of 32 employees (2024: 25 employees) on zero-hours contracts.

In addition to our employees the Trust relies on volunteers to help in all aspects of our work, particularly conservation work, administration and fundraising.

(2) Estimated % of total group activities

8. EMPLOYEES

----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2024
Total staff costs £’000 £’000
Salaries and wages 4,579 4,003
Redundancy payments 3 -
Social security costs 376 351
Other pension costs 152 175
Total staff costs 5,110 4,529
----- End of picture text -----

----- Start of picture text -----
The number of employees whose emoluments (including taxable benefits 2025 2024
in kind but excluding employer pension costs) exceeded £60,000, was as follows: £’000 £’000
£70,000 to £79,000 - 1
£80,000 to £89,000 1 -
Total over £60,000 1 1
----- End of picture text -----

8. EMPLOYEES (continued)

During 2024-25 employee salary and benefits of the key management personnel of the Trust totalled £757,000 (2024: £776,000) in relation to 16 individuals (2024: 17 individuals).

Emoluments paid to the highest paid employee, the Chief Executive, were £84,000 (2024: £74,000). Payments made by the Trust during the year into the defined contribution pension scheme on behalf of the Chief Executive amounted to £6,000 (2024: £14,000).

Trustee roles are voluntary and received £Nil remuneration (2024: £Nil).

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Annual Report 2025

LANCASHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

9. PENSION ARRANGEMENTS

Historically the Trust had an obligation for one ex-member of staff who is part of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT) multi-employer defined benefit pension scheme but this obligation ended in 2024-25. The underlying assets and liabilities of the scheme cannot be identified on a reasonable and consistent basis and the scheme is accounted for as a defined contribution scheme.

The Trust operates a group personal pension scheme for its employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity. In addition, the Trust partakes in the “auto-enrolment” pension scheme for staff not members of the company scheme. The annual contributions payable are charged to the statement of financial activities in the year incurred.

Based on the last valuation at 1 April 2024, the Trust's share of the scheme deficit amounted to £Nil (2024: £4,000).

10. INTANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

----- Start of picture text -----
Group Charity
Computer Total Computer Total
systems systems
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Cost:
At 1 April 2024 75 75 61 61
Additions - - - -
Reclassification (5) (5)
At 31 March 2025 70 70 61 61
Amortisation:
At 1 April 2024 (42) (42) (29) (29)
Charge for the year (7) (7) (6) (6)
Reclassification 8 8 - -
At 31 March 2025 (41) (41) (35) (35)
Net book value:
At 31 March 2025 29 29 26 26
At 31 March 2024 33 33 32 32
----- End of picture text -----

11. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS (excluding Heritage Assets)

----- Start of picture text -----
Group Freehold Leasehold Buildings Motor Fixtures, Total
buildings buildings under vehicles fittings and £’000
£’000 £’000 construction £’000 equipment
£’000 £’000
Cost:
At 1 April 2024 10,961 720 523 389 1,561 14,154
Additions - - 71 - 162 233
- - - -
Disposals (7) (7)
Assets completed - 594 (594) - - -
Reclassification (91) - - - 96 5
At 31 March 2025 10,870 1,314 - 382 1,819 14,385
Depreciation:
-
At 1 April 2024 (5,800) (598) (325) (1,322) (8,045)
-
Charge for the year (451) (31) (32) (74) (588)
Disposals - - - 7 - 7
Reclassification 91 - - - (99) (8)
At 31 March 2025 (6,160) (629) - (350) (1,495) (8,634)
Net book value:
At 31 March 2025 4,710 685 - 32 324 5,751
At 31 March 2024 5,161 122 523 64 239 6,109
----- End of picture text -----

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Annual Report 2025

LANCASHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

11. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS (excluding Heritage Assets) (continued)

----- Start of picture text -----
Charity Freehold Leasehold Buildings Motor Fixtures, Total
buildings buildings under vehicles fittings and £’000
£’000 £’000 construction £’000 equipment
£’000 £’000
Cost:
At 1 April 2024 10,961 720 523 389 1,363 13,956
Additions - - 71 - 157 228
- - - -
Disposals (7) (7)
Assets completed - 594 (594) - - -
Reclassification (91) - - - 91 -
At 31 March 2025 10,870 1,314 - 382 1,611 14,177
Depreciation:
-
At 1 April 2024 (5,800) (598) (325) (1,151) (7,874)
-
Charge for the year (451) (31) (32) (65) (579)
Disposals - - - 7 - 7
Reclassification 91 - - - (91) -
At 31 March 2025 (6,160) (629) - (350) (1,307) (8,446)
Net book value:
At 31 March 2025 4,710 685 - 32 304 5,731
At 31 March 2024 5,161 122 523 64 212 6,082
----- End of picture text -----

12. HERITAGE ASSETS

----- Start of picture text -----
Group and Charity Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total Total
funds funds funds 2025 2024
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Cost:
At 1 April 2024 345 3,074 212 3,631 3,468
Additions - - - - -
Disposals - - - - -
At 31 March 2025 345 3,074 212 3,631 3,468
----- End of picture text -----

A five-year summary of heritage asset transactions is as follows:

----- Start of picture text -----
Group and Charity 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Cost brought forward 3,631 3,468 3,468 3,133 3,113
Purchases in year - 163 - 335 -
Disposals in year - - - - -
Cost carried forward 3,631 3,631 3,468 3,468 3,133
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Heritage asset additions in 2023-24 relate to the acquisition of 4.7 hectares of land known as Astley Moss extension at Turf Nest Farm.

The buildings under construction were the new learning centre at Lunt Meadows completed in early 2025.

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Annual Report 2025

LANCASHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

13. INVESTMENTS

The Trust has one externally managed mixed fund whose purpose is to generate income to support the maintenance of two reserves. The movement in that fund during the year was as follows:

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Group and Charity 2025
£’000
Market value at 1 April 2024 317
Additions 20
Withdrawals (157)
Movement in valuation from investment management (10)
Market value at 31 March 2025 170
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The analysis of investments by category of holding is as follows: 2025 2024
£’000 £’000
Collective investment funds 168 309
Cash held as part of the portfolio awaiting re-investment 2 8
Total investments 170 317
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The above investments were all invested through UK registered funds in the UK although, in some cases, they include overseas holdings.

14. STOCK

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Group Charity
2025 2024 2025 2024
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Livestock 34 17 34 17
Visitor centre retail and food stocks 23 19 - -
Total stock 57 36 34 17
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15. DEBTORS

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Group Charity
Amounts falling due within one year 2025 2024 2025 2024
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Trade debtors 327 460 305 435
Other debtors 39 21 2 8
Prepayments and accrued income 1,016 1,287 1,016 1,203
Amounts due from subsidiary undertaking - - 23 -
Total debtors 1,382 1,768 1,346 1,646
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Lancashire Wildlife Enterprises Limited

On 10 May 2010, Lancashire Wildlife Enterprises Limited, a company limited by guarantee was incorporated. Lancashire Wildlife Trust is the sole member of the company and has control of all the voting rights of the company.

Further information is provided at note 24.

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Annual Report 2025

LANCASHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

16. CREDITORS

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Group Charity
Amounts falling due within one year 2025 2024 2025 2024
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Trade creditors 687 704 636 635
Social security and other taxes 84 78 84 78
VAT 83 99 44 61
Other creditors 465 497 465 497
Accruals and deferred income 404 375 343 275
Amounts due to subsidiary undertaking - - - 99
Total creditors 1,723 1,753 1,572 1,645
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17. OPERATING LEASE COMMITMENTS

At 31 March 2025 the Trust had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases which fall as due as follows:

Land and buildings
Ofce equipment
and vehicles		 Land and buildings
Ofce equipment
and vehicles
2025
£’000
2024
£’000
2025
£’000
2024
£’000
Within one year
Between one and two years
Between two and fveyears		 3
3
-
-
-
-
6
2
1
2
2
3
6
-
9
7

Included in other creditors is a concessionary loan of £150,000 (2024: £Nil) which has been provided to support cash-flow. The loan is provided at Nil% interest until 2026-27 and is repayable on demand.

18. CAPITAL COMMITMENTS

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Group Charity
Deferred income 2025 2024 2025 2024
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Balance as at 1 April 2024 81 116 81 116
Amount released to income (81) (116) (81) (116)
Amount deferred in year 139 81 93 81
Balance as at 31 March 2025 139 81 93 81
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At the 31 March 2025 the group had no contracted future capital expenditure not provided for in these financial statements (2024: £Nil).

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Annual Report 2025

20. ANALYSIS OF CHARITABLE FUNDS

LANCASHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

19. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited is a member of Lancashire Environmental Fund Limited (“LEF”) with the power to appoint one Trustee to their board. Mr J Drury, a former Trustee of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, is the charity’s appointed representative on the LEF board during the year. During the year the charity provided management, organisational, administrative and supervision services to LEF for which £64,000 (2024: £61,000) was received in the statement of financial activities.

A balance of £7,000 (2024: £6,000) was due from LEF as at 31 March 2025. This comprised outstanding grants of £Nil (2024: £Nil) and service charges of £7,000 (2024: £6,000). Grants totalling £182,000 (2024: £108,000) have been awarded to Lancashire Wildlife Trust by LEF during the year.

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited is a member of Greater Manchester Environmental Trust (“GMET”) with the power to appoint one Trustee to their board. Dr T Burditt, the Chief Executive Officer of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, is the charity’s appointed representative on the GMET board during the year. During the year the charity provided management, organisational, administrative and supervision services to GMET for which £24,000 (2024: £26,000) was received in the statement of financial activities.

A balance of £280,000 was due to GMET (2024: £316,000) at 31 March 2025. This comprised net grants received on behalf of GMET of £260,000 (2024: £290,000) and costs of services and costs on behalf of the company of £20,000 (2024: £26,000). Grants totalling £3,000 (2024: £27,000) have been awarded to Lancashire Wildlife Trust by GMET during the year.

It is the charity policy that Trustees must inform the board of their interests in grant applications at the start of Board meetings. The interested Trustee will not participate during the consideration of these applications. In the case of the Chair having an interest in an application, the Chair is taken by the Vice-Chair.

Unrestricted donations of £26,000 (2024: £43,000) have been received from Trustees in the year.

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At 1 April Total Total Net gains on Transfers At 31 March
2024 income expenditure investments £’000 2025
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Endowment:
Freemans Pool 212 1 (8) (2) - 203
-
Endowment fixed asset
funds (expendable) 122 - (29) - 93
-
Endowment fixed asset
funds (permanent) 212 - - - - 212
Total endowment funds 546 1 (37) (2) - 508
Restricted:
West Pennine More LRS - 230 (265) - - (35)
Sand Dunes 86 118 (71) - - 133
Our Future Coast 20 59 (33) - - 46
Green Northern
Connections 8 60 (12) - - 56
Wigan Greenheart LRS 6 339 (389) - - (44)
Highfield Moss BNG 12 - - - - 12
Wet Willow Wildlife - 201 (184) - - 17
Freedom to Graze - 5 (1) - - 4
Lunt Meadows Visitor
Centre 280 260 (244) - - 296
Scutchers Acres 164 3 (63) (4) - 100
Boilton Wood Paths 9 28 (37) - - -
Nurturing Nature /
Brockholes Islands - 73 (72) - (1) -
Lower Ribble Network
for Nature 1 226 (222) - (5) -
Heysham Reserve - 41 (38) - 5 8
Heysham Moss Access - 2 (9) - 7 -
Aughton Woods - 49 (24) - (4) 21
Peatlands - 54 (10) - (42) 2
Lancashire Peat
Partnership 150 119 (71) - - 198
Ribble Revival - 5 (4) - - 1
Peatland Carbon
Farming - 48 (49) - - (1)
Nature for Climate
Peatland (20) 97 (145) - 68 -
PGS Nature for Climate
Red Rose - 1,096 (964) - (19) 113
Horizon PaludDemos - - (6) - - (6)
A Bog’s Life 7 3 (9) - (1) -
Growing Peatland
Recovery - 37 - - - 37
Manchester Mosses
Connectivity and
Biodiversity 1 47 (52) - 4 -
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The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Annual Report 2025

LANCASHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

20. ANALYSIS OF CHARITABLE FUNDS (continued)

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At 1 April Total Total Net gains on Transfers At 31 March
2024 income expenditure investments £’000 2025
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Restricted (continued):
Red Moss Connectivity
and Biodiversity 8 17 (15) - (10) -
Precious Peatlands –
Rindle Moss 26 26 (50) - (2) -
Maximising Manchester
Mosslands 34 - (45) - - (11)
Paludiculture Exploration 22 175 (166) - - 31
Dunham Massey - 37 (41) - 4 -
Wetter Farming and
Hydrology 1 - (1) - - -
Peat Water Discovery
Pilot 3 222 (165) - - 60
Restoring Aushaw Moss - 10 (5) - - 5
Precious Peatlands
Winmarleigh Moss 75 46 (37) - (84) -
Red Rose Peatlands
Recovery - 39 (122) - 83 -
Manchester Festival
of Nature - 2 (1) - - 1
Nature Tots 6 - - - - 6
Heysham Community 8 40 (37) - - 11
Nature and Wellbeing 34 9 (40) - 2 5
Next Steps 27 - (30) - 3 -
Move Forward - 4 - - (4) -
Arts Development 44 - (36) - - 8
Nature and Wellbeing
Greater Manchester 98 82 (147) - - 33
Nature and Wellbeing
Lancashire 15 87 (82) - - 20
Witton Greenhouses - 72 (59) - - 13
The Bay 37 117 (155) - (4) (5)
Living Seas 71 - (22) - - 49
Building Resilience - 125 (96) - - 29
Greater Manchester
Green Space - 25 (24) - - 1
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20. ANALYSIS OF CHARITABLE FUNDS (continued)

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At 1 April Total Total Net gains on Transfers At 31 March
2024 income expenditure investments £’000 2025
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Restricted (continued):
My Wild City - 67 (55) - 77 89
Philips Park 22 52 (37) - - 37
Community Food
Growing 1 38 (31) - - 8
Action for Nature 4 20 (23) - (1) -
Other restricted
project funds 78 85 (88) - (3) 72
Restricted fixed
assets funds 7,799 - (706) - 11 7,104
Total restricted funds 9,137 4,597 (5,290) (4) 84 8,524
Unrestricted:
General funds 930 4,623 (4,685) (1) (84) 783
Total funds 10,613 9,221 (10,012) (7) - 9,815
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The general unrestricted funds represent the available unrestricted funds of the charity which the Trustees are free to use in accordance with the charitable objectives of the Trust.

Restricted funds represent funds received by the Trust for use towards a specific purpose or particular project.

The permanent endowment fund is represented by certain nature reserves of the Charity. The expendable endowment funds are represented by the construction of the Barn Resource Centre and Freemans Pool (contained in notes 12 and 13).

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Annual Report 2025

LANCASHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

21. CASH FLOW ANALYSIS

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2025 2024
The reconciliation of net expenditure to net cash flow £’000 £’000
from operating activities is as follows:
Net (expenditure) / income for the year
(from the statement of financial activities) (798) (1,052)
Depreciation and amortisation 595 583
- -
Surplus on sale of tangible fixed assets
Losses/(gains) on investments 10 (7)
(Increase)/decrease in stock (21) 1
Decrease/(increase) in debtors 386 (378)
(Increase)/decrease in creditors (180) 511
Net cash (outflow) from operating activities (8) (342)
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2025 2024
Analysis of cash and cash equivalents £’000 £’000
Cash in hand and at bank 518 472
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22. ANALYSIS OF GROUP NET ASSETS BY FUNDS

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Unrestricted Restricted Endowment 2025 2024
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Intangible fixed assets 29 - - 29 33
Tangible fixed assets 142 5,516 93 5,751 6,109
Heritage assets 345 3,074 212 3,631 3,631
Investments - 84 86 170 317
Net current assets 267 (150) 117 234 523
783 8,524 508 9,815 10,613
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23. COMPARATIVE FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR TO 31 MARCH 2024

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Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total
funds funds funds 2024
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Income
Donations and legacies 1,428 191 - 1,619
Charitable activities 1,790 3,388 1 5,179
Other trading activities 1,348 1 - 1,349
Investment income 10 2 3 15
Other income - - - -
Total income 4,494 3,582 4 8,162
Expenditure
Raising funds (2,107) (22) (6) (2,135)
Charitable activities (3,195) (3,867) (35) (7,097)
Other expenditure - - - -
Total expenditure (5,302) (3,889) (41) (9,232)
Net (outgoing) / incoming resources before
other recognised gains and losses (726) (307) (37) (1,070)
Gains / (losses) on investments (6) 22 (5) 11
Net (expenditure) / income (732) (285) (42) (1,059)
Transfers between funds 204 (204) - -
Net movement in funds (528) (489) (42) (1,059)
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward 1,458 9,626 588 11,672
Total funds carried forward 930 9,137 546 10,613
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The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Limited

Annual Report 2025

LANCASHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

23. COMPARATIVE FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR TO 31 MARCH 2024 (continued)

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Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total
funds funds funds 2024
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Fixed assets:
Intangible fixed assets 33 - - 33
Tangible fixed assets 173 5,814 122 6,109
Heritage assets 345 3,074 212 3,631
Investments 61 167 89 317
Total fixed assets 612 9,055 423 10,090
Current assets:
Stock 36 - - 36
Debtors 666 1,098 4 1,768
Cash at bank and in hand 145 207 120 472
Total current assets 847 1,305 124 2,276
Liabilities
Creditors: falling due within one year (529) (1,223) (1) (1,753)
Net current assets 318 82 123 523
Total assets less current liabilities 930 9,137 546 10,613
Creditors: falling due after one year - - - -
Total net assets 930 9,137 546 10,613
The funds of the charity:
Endowment funds - - 546 546
Restricted funds - 9,137 - 9,137
Unrestricted funds 930 - - 930
930 9,137 546 10,613
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24. TRADING SUBSIDIARY

These include car-parking, retail and catering services at the Brockholes Visitor Centre and Mere Sands Wood Nature Reserve and catering services at Moss Bank Park and Queen's Park in Bolton. It is intended to expand these activities to other Trust sites when and if opportunities arise.

The charity is the sole member of a company limited by guarantee, Lancashire Wildlife Enterprises Limited, and has control of all of the voting rights of that company. It is registered in England and Wales.

The company’s objective is to raise funds for the Trust through commercial activities.

During the twelve months to 31 March 2025, the trading subsidiary made a profit of £81,000.

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2025 2024
Profit and loss account for twelve months to 31 March 2025 £’000 £’000
Turnover 1,453 1,323
Cost of sales (1,139) (982)
Gross profit 314 341
Overheads (233) (198)
Profit before interest 81 143
Interest receivable - -
Profit for the financial year 81 143
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2025 2024
Balance sheet as at 31 March 2025 £’000 £’000
Fixed assets:
Intangible fixed assets 3 1
Tangible fixed assets 20 27
Total fixed assets 23 28
Current assets:
Stock 23 19
Debtors 71 221
Cash at bank and in hand 154 98
Total current assets 248 338
Liabilities
Creditors: falling due within one year (168) (207)
Net current assets 80 131
Net assets 103 159
Capital and reserves
Profit and loss account 103 159
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Our History

We are The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside. Founded in 1962 by people who knew they needed to take-action for nature. Since then, we have grown to be the largest nature conservation body in the area.

We are uniquely positioned to lead change in our region, working at a grass roots, local level whilst also being part of a strong cohesive movement of Wildlife Trusts across the country. We have saved many special places, acquiring and managing many of them as nature reserves.

We look after over 1,288 hectares as nature reserves, plus at least the same again in partnership with others, all of which are havens for rare and threatened species and habitats. We strive to connect people with nature and help them to take-action for wildlife.

We deliver environmental education to around 20,000 children in an average year, and we have built three eco buildings for our operations to demonstrate how we can live lightly on the earth.

We have the powerful voices of over 30,000 members, whose invaluable support we simply could not do without. We engage over 4,000 volunteers in our mission, with around a quarter of those active on a very regular basis alongside our team of 192 staff. Whether this is ‘digging in’ on the land or helping with education, fundraising or governing the charity, together we contribute locally to nature’s conservation and recovery.

Barn owl in flight - Simon Owen

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@Lancashirewildlifetrust
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www.lancswt.org.uk

@lancswildlife