REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER.. 00929644 IEn8land and Wale51 REGISTERED CHARITY MUMBER: 256618 Worcestershire Wildlife Trust Re ort of IhÈ Trugtees and Con501idated Flnanclal statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 lor Worcestersh1￿ Wildlife Twst Thome Widgery Accwntancy Ltd Chartered Accountants statutory Audltors 2 Wyevale Buslne55 Park Kin45 Acre Herelord Herefordshlre HR4 7BS Worcesrerthire Wildllfe Tnt5t CtTrtents of the Flnanclal Stat¢Tr￿ts for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 Page Report of the Tw5tees 1 to 13 Statement of Trustees, Rewnlblllues 14 Report of the Independent AudliL¥5 15 to 18 Consolidated Statement of Flnancial ActI￿tIeS 19 C￿S￿ldoted Balan￿ Sheet 2¢ Charity Balance Sheet 21 Consolldated Cash Flow Staternent 22 Notes to the CL￿S011da￿ Cash Flow Statement 23 Notes to the Consolidated Flnanclal Statements 24 to 43 Worce5ter5hlre Wlldllfe Trust rt ol Lhe Twsiees fDr the Year Ended 31 hkirch 2025 The trustee5 who are also th'rectcrs of the charity for the purpts*s of the C(Arpanles Act 2006, present their report with the financial 5tatetneTrtsof the chariiyfor theyear ended 31 March 2025. The trustees have adopled the provi5ion5 of Accounting and Reportlng by Charft1es.' Staremeni of Recommended Practice appllcable to charitie5 weparing thelr accounis In accordance with the Financial Reportln8 Standard applicable in Ihe UK and Republlt of Iréland IFRS 1021 leffective 1 January 20191. Chalr's st•temént The past year ha5 seen yet more change, both ￿tfrIn wr organisatTm and in the broader political and enwrfffimental landscape. Despite sig)ific3nt challenges, Worcestershire Wildlife Trusi ha5 made strong wogress in delivering against our strate4ic prioritres. With determInati￿, Collab￿all￿ aTrd the support of our comrnunltle5, we have contlnued tD champlon nature's recovery acros5 the county. Extemally. a 5hlftln4 polltkal agenda has seen the envlrthment assume a lower wiority whlie econLYnlc ￿￿rtaIntY cffitlnues io grow, ènd so WÈ have had lo fight harder than ever for nature. We are partlcularly cwcemed that the Plannlng and Infrastructure Bill, currently being considered in Par11ament, poses a significant threat to nature by weakening envirmmental protectims. fast-tracking developYnent5, and reducing scruliny of plannlng dEc151ons. Thls could lead to habltat destruetlon, harm to protected species, and undermine efforts to restore biodiversity, wttlng long-teTm natsjre recovery and cllmate reslllence atserfous ￿Sk. Lttally, the disappointing decision to pemit housing development adjacent to ridd￿leY Wood, de5Plte (NJr best efforts and robu5¢ e￿deThce, Is a stark remlnder of the upthill batrle we face. We ren7ai committed to holding the line and defenthng nature wherever It is under threat. Internally, the year br￿ght landmark changes to leadership. We badè a fend farewell to Colin Raven after a staggerfng 38 year5 of dedicated Service to the Trust. including 30 a5 Chlef Executive. We also sald goodbye to Helen Woodrnan, our Head of C￿Se￿at10n, as she reiired shortly after year-end followng a remarkable 34-year contribution to nature conservation in Worcestershire. Both Colln and Helen departed with our heartfelt thanks and very best W15hes for Ihe luture. ThÈir legacy Is embedded In our work and rhe1r Impact wlll continue t(p be felt for many yeaTS to cane. We were dellght¢d to welccme Mike Perry as our new Chief Executive. Mike brings a deep knowledge of the Trust'5 operation5 and a strong Strat￿lc W5ion, having prewou51y Served as Head of Re50urce5, The new senior leadership teatn, now complete wlth Steve Bloomfield as Head of Conservation, Ally Tideswell as Head ol Engagement and Fundrai51n8, and Tom Jenklns as Head of Flnance and or￿rat1(￿S. 15 well rx)STtloned to take our wtrk forward. With an impressive team are passimate natur?, exceptionally hardworking, and always cheerful and optlmlstlc, we l¢Jok to the future wth confidence. Over the past year, the Trust has {￿liVered significantcon5erYaticr impact. Acr055 More than 75 nature reserffts ané teyLY)d, we have rnanaged over 1,300 hectare5 for nalure, pLan￿d over 5,(M)O trees al Green Fartn tD extend lknThkW(K￿, and led major initiaiives such as heathland restoration at Dropping Well Farm and the Severn and Wye Nature collaboratlon. Our re5erYe5 now support icrmic and rare Species, from Bech5tein'5 bat and purple ernperor butterflles to 5poonbi115, goshaw￿￿, d IEs5er 5POtted W0(￿PeCkers. Beyond our land, we have influenced nature rec￿ery acr055 thousands ol hecrares through partner5hip5 landovfflers. local authoritTe5 and conservation organisatllK15. We yJpported more than Z70 projects wa the Natural NetWLwks prograTrNre and have Started plann1ng for the expansion of key sltes, includlng Hanley Dingle and Longdon Marsh. We have ContinL￿d Lo c￿nect people with nature, which rernalns central to our MIS￿￿. Thls year we worked wlth SC dedicated volunteers who collectively ccntributed around 45,000 hours which T5 an increth'ble testament to their comrnltment. We have expanLÈd our workvrith schools and launched the WilderWorce5ler5hlre- NeighLK¥Jrhood5 Nurfuring Nature inltlatlve to helpccrnrnunltlesacr055 Draft￿ch and Worce5tertake actlon for nature In thelr ILKal area. Ourcampalgn work has remained stro￿. We rewewed over 240 planning applications, defended key sites, and engaged with parliamentsry candidates to ensure nature remains a polltical pnority. Whlie the dec1s1￿ on Tiddesley Wrthl was di5appolntrnent, our voice was heard and our case was clear, shovlng the 5tren8th and professlonallsm of wr advttacy effort5. Page I Worce5ter5hlre Wldlife Trust rf gf Ihe TrusLee5 for the Year Ended 31 March 2ff25 L￿thIng ahead, we are Fweparlng to Increase ￿gnifica[￿tLY reach with young rRople, more than d(NJbling the number of school children ￿gage ¥vlth each year. Thls Is Important in building a future in véhich nature has a stronger voice. Ffnanclally, the Trust remains secure. We havecNtimed to diversify inc(Kre, welctrning 5UPP(rt from the Nati￿aL Loitery Heritage Fund, charitable trust5, corporate partners. and genercxjs donws. Our tradln8 subsld5ary, Worcestershire Wildlife C￿Su11anCY J provide5 exFertecoiogical advice and generales valuable Incorne. We are also committed to achlthng carbon neutrallty by 1030 8nd arè maklng 5011d progre55 throuth mrmitoring, tree planfin8 and emi551£KIs reduction. We are Immensely gra￿fuL to evewe who makes our work p0$5ible'. wr suff, volunteer5, tnernbe￿, funders. donors, and partner5. YtyJ¥ SUPFMJrt allows us to protect ¥*ildlTfe. restc*e habltats and Insplre act11￿ thank you for b￿nI part of this vital movement at a tlme when nature needs us more than ever. Wlth your help, we vrill continue to act, speak up and lead nature's recovery for a ￿lder Worces¢er5hire. Chrt5tianne Ipplng Chalr of the Councll of Tru5tee5 Page 2 Worcestershire Wildlife Trust ori of rhÈ Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March ZOZ5 OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Airn5 and objectives Worcestershire Wildlife Tru5t'5 Charitable Objects a5 stated in our Melnorandum and Articles of Association are: To advance, pr￿DÈe and further the conservatlon and proiection of naiure reserve5 %thich shall be owned, rnaintained or managed by the Trust. To restore, create, 5ludy and fuTther the tonsetwation of places of zoological. botanical. mycological, ecological, qeDlogical or gpneral x1en¢lfic interesr. To prornote, encwrJge and larry out 5fu(ty and research for the advancement of knowledge In the natural stiences, to make grant5 or thnatlQn5 for such Purpo￿ and th encourage and suppxt the recording and wblicaliffl of the Useful results thereof. To advance the èdutation of the wblic in the ￿ncIpleS and pract1￿$ of blodlver51ty con5Eryollon and sustainable development ¥thich meets the need5 of the present wthwt comprc¥nlslng the ability of future ge￿TationS to meet thelr own needs. The Trust 15 one of 46 Indepen¢Jent l(Kal char1t1￿ that co-(4)erate across the whole of the UK and are known as The Wlldllfe Trusts. ThÈWlldlifeTrusts have agreed a shared DeVelO￿ent Strate8yfor2022.2030 which idenlifitt the collective purpose, m15sion and key ￿OritieS, from vthich the Trust h35 developed Its strateglc plan. Worces￿r$hire WildlTfe Trust's visl(fft and mission are set aut in it5 Strategy to 2030, A Wilder Worcestershire. Our vision ?5"A wlder Worcestershire - more nature every￿ere, for everyone. Our mlsslon Is To lead natures recovery throuth community actic￿. These will be dellverÈd throuEh the follthing three prtonty goals and 10 priorities.. Goal 1.. Nature in recovery - 30% of land in rec(rrfery fLY nature by 2030 o Prlorlty 1.. Ensure our naiure reserves are places where wildlife ihrtv o Priorlty 2.. Bulld b1gger, wlld@r connected landscapes and townscapes for wildlife and frA people o Priority 3.. Demonstrate how rest￿Ing nature can deliver broader environrrEntal and other benefit5 Goal 2.. Actlon for naiure - One In four people taklng action nawre by 2030 o Priorlty 4.. Connect people vArh nature o Priority 5.. Engage and sUPPOrt diverse IKal comtnunities lo lead actlon for nature o Piiority 6: Develop comrnunication5 to be bolder and mwe transformaiional o Priority 7.. Influence deCI￿on making to prioritise nature Goal 3.. Sustalnlng our future More dlver51ty, more fundlnq, carbon neutral by 2030 o Priority 8.. Cmtinue to grow and diversify funding streams and other resources for our work o Priority 9.. Ensure we are a value5.led inclusive organisation where all achieve their potential o Priority 10.. Develop clear and ccnsisteni ewdence-based ry)licies To meet IhÈ Trust'> IMg-tÈrm objectlves, annual management plans are prepared. These are approved by the trustees togeiher ￿1th the annual budgetary rev1ew. Shorter-term projects are also developed.. the necessary reswrce5 are Identified, costs budgeted and titne5cale5 a55essed. Wnere relevant, profe55i0nal adwce ￿11 be 50ught. Examples of s￿h project5 include rnajor ￿serve aEqU151tI(￿S, reserve tnanagement, membershlp ￿CruItment campalsrs and temporary staff recruitment. All Trusi programmes and projects have defir￿d success criteria these are regularly monltored, Initially by key operations staff as partof worklng assessment and then by the trustees a5 part of the management reportlng pr(rff5. The Trust's principal activitie5 are: The acquisiLiDn and tnanagement of nature reserv The provision of land management and other 5peciali5t ad￿ce to land manager5. publlc bl￿les, cM)panles and other Stakeholders The prThnotlon of wlldllfe consetvatlon through education and communiiy programmes The principal activity of the Trust'5 5ub5idiary W.N.c.r. Enterprises Ltd is the Pro￿570￿ of ecological C￿SUIta￿(Y seryice5. Page 3 WorcestEfshlre Wildlife Trust rt of the TrustEe5 for the Year Ended 31 Nlarch 2025 OBJ£cfivEs AND A￿1VITIEs Public benefit The TrusteÈs tonlirrn that they have complled with thÈ duly in Section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 to have due regard i¢ ihe Charity Comm1$51on'5 general guldance on publlc benefil, fharltles and Fljblic Benefll.. The main benefits to the general public of the Charlty are.. Caring for over 75 nature reserve5 Iwood5. heath5. p(M￿s. marstrts and meado¥* of national and internatlonal importance Protecting endangered specles such a5 Otter5, dottnlce and bulterflies. Restor1ng and recreallng Mldllfe habitats ￿ derelict and agricultural land. Campaigning to prevent darnaBing developments. Helplng local auth(Kitie5, organisatlons and indi￿d￿aL5 to protect and create places for the coun¢y'5 I￿1￿11[e. Inspiring thousand5 of chlldren through our work wth schools and other organlsations. Working local cunmunities to encourage apweciation ènd enjoyFnent of our natural environment. Encouraging and 5uppofLin8 over 5CbJ volunteers involved in all aspects of our work The T￿St￿ are of oplnion that tke preservation of naiural Ilfe and the wornotim of the Study of natural life are intended to benefit the publii generally and tnany of the Nature Reserves managed by the Charity are open 10 ihe publlc to Vlslt fr* of charge. In assesslns rhe public ￿nefIt the Trustees do not believe that any detrltnent N harm is caused by either the a1m5 or the actions of the Chanry. Voluntee The Trust relies on dedicated volunteers acros5 the organisarion vrithout whom the Trust would not be able to functlon. We are now 5upwrted by around 500 volunieer5. Sotne volunteer occasionally. some evèry week. 80% of Oltr volunteers are involved In practlcal ¢￿serVatIon WLYk on nature reserves. The Twsi beneflt5 from volunteer work parr1es for spedflc reserve5 and tearn5 01 rovinE volunteers who deploy acros5 the Cc￿nty to reserves where work15 required. vol￿nteerS a150 run ￿Jr IC￿al groups. organisinR walk5, talk5 aTrd event5. and ra151ng funds for the Trust. We receive help, too, from office-based volunteers includlng those who staff our reception area and other5 who assist with Sch￿)1 v151ts, assemblles and public events. The Trus¢ also beneflts fiotn having voluThteers who suprxrt fuFidrai5ing and plannlng tasks a5 well as those who work remotely, including designers and photographers. Page 4 Worcestershire Wildlife Trust ort of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORhi4NCE Chadtable actlvltlès Below 15 a surnrnary of the Trust's achievements and performance vAthin the finanaal yeaT under each of the three maln goals of the Tru5l. Goal 1: Nature In recovery- 30% of land In recovèry for nature by 2030 Key achlevetncnt5 during the yeai Included.. Managed c3,250 acres11,315 hectare5 of land for nature acr055 75+ r￿er4e5 thr￿gh the collÈttfve efforts tsf our reserves team and hundred5 of conseryation volunteer5. Thi5 area e(wates lo around 0.7% of the land in WorcEster5hlre. Planted over 5,WO tree5 at Gfeen Farm to e¥tend and protect ourmonkwood nature reserve just north of wor￿51￿. Thi5 included restoring an area of orchard, planting area5 of w(Y)d pasture la habitat that was hlstor1cally extenslve In the areal, relntroduc1n8 h&dgerO￿ lawng existlns hedges alongside areas of woodland plaThtlng and natural re4enera11on. This has Ctsntri￿ted towards an intrease In the thndance of bird species inclLtding stonechaL, chiffchaff, common wthitethroat. goldfinch song thrush. Led the Severn and Wye Nature coliaboratiot? that includes all the Wldllfe Trusts operating In the 21,000 square kilometre Severn catchment al(￿g$ide a range of other nature conservation Drgani5ations. Our work ILKu5ed on large-5cale work5 around natural floLKJ Monogement and tree pl)ntlng. At the end of the year we passed the bat lo our friends at Shrop5hire Wildlife Trust Ytho will lead the next Fthase of 5evern and Wye Nature. Contlnued our iong-term hearhland re5toratlon plan at DroKplng Well Farm near Klddemilnster, the largesi a￿3 of heathland restoration In WDrcestershire at 40 hectares. This IncLudes managing the area of Dropping Well Farm, The Devil's Spittleful and Black5tone Farm Field5 nature r￿erVeS a5 a combined block and WOrl￿n9 exlensively with colleagues at WyTe Forest D15tdct Councll, who own and manage adjolnln8 area5 Includlng The Rifle Range, Burt15h Top and Burllsh Meadow5 nature re*rv￿, to form a comblned area of over Z50 hectare5 managed as nature re5eive5. Ralsed funds to purchase 18 hectares of land to èxtend and prolÈct Hanley Dlngle nature reseNe near Tenbury WelL%. Hanley Dlngle and nelthbourfjTr8 dlngle5 are Worce5tershlfe'5 ralnfore5t5. The extended Hanley Dln4ie nature reserve 11 be renamed as Hanley Dingle, Thè Colin Raven Naiure Reserve to recognlse Colln Ravens immense contribution to the Trust5 work over the past 38 years. Agreed to purchase land to extend and protect Hill Ccurt Farm and The Blacklands, the Andrew Fr35er Nature Reserve, on Longdon Marsh, and land adjacent to our TrerKh Wcod nature reserv?, subject to fundraising. Recorded species highlight5 at the Trusts nature reserves that included spoonbill and glo55y ibis at Hill Court Farm and The Blackland5, BechstEin'5 bat and purpleernperor recorded at Monkw￿d for the first tirne, g05hawk5 recordEd ar Ttust reserves and le55er spoi￿d wwdpecker5 recorded ar two Trnst reserves including The Knapp and Papem)ill. Secured the exlension of the Natural Networks prDJ￿t, a partneT5hip bEtween the Trust and Worce51er5hire Cwnty Councll, that has supported over 270 projects since belng formed. It has pr￿fjded advic¢ acr055 3,C(Q h¢ctare5 Of land and has dlrettly created or enhanced 164 hectares Df habitat. This Includes plantins 31,OW trees and shrubs, planting 120,000 bulbs and plug plant5 and crÈaring or improvlng 67 ponds. Conlinued to dellyer Severn Treescapes in partnership with Gloucestershlre and Hereford5hlre WlldlifeTvu5ts, whlch hai a plpellne of 360 acre5 of tree plantini. Completed ihe final year of the Wildlife Tru5t'5 tnulti-year partnership with Severn Trent to dellvery catthrnent- based land managetnent athfj￿ across c40,000 hectares. Delivered adwce to land managers responsible for c23% of the land area of Wercesterthire to help make irnproveTDent5 for nature. Contlnued 10 influence the production and e￿dence fer Worcestershlre's Local Nawre Recovery Strategy led by worcestershi￿ County Councll that should be in place by early 2016. Continued to improve the accessibility of Monkwood through a resurfaced car park, repairs to areas of the bridleway. neW￿51t0r infomialion and dedicated disabled parknng. In addition, we have updated the wsitor inf0mlati(￿ at btsth the Christopher Cadbury Weiland Resetve at Upton Warren and The Knapp and Pape￿111 nature reserve. Page 5 Worce51ershlre Wildlife Twst ri ol Ihe Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2￿25 Oversaw the growth of the Trusfs Wildlife Sightings Inltiatlve, now havlng recelved over 2.000 speclès retord5. With i¥Jr volunteer team. This evidence, largely fr￿n gardens, is providing increaslngly influential biological recordlng éata that helps ￿tter understand changes to species range and disiribution over titne. Continued to work exlensively ￿1th farmers and landowners io help make improvements for nature thelr land through Inltlatives like the Natural England supported FacTrlitation F￿d grwp In the east Df cwnty that is now worklng thth around 1DO farms and land holdlng5 that cover thousands of hectare5 of land. Worcestershire Wildlile C0fi5ultancy has continued ro provlde highquallty eco10￿cal ad￿ce to cllents throughout the year. Goal 2: Actlon for nature- one in four people taklng actlon for naturè by 2030 Key achleveThenrs Withln the year Included.. Supported by afound 500 volunteer5 across all area5 of our work who conLribute around 45,0(X) volunteer hours a year, whlch Is valuEd at an e5tirnated £900,000. Our volunteers suppori our practical c0Tr5ervation work, wr local groups, our Lower &rite Farm office. our education pro£rammeg and much else. Began theexpansion of theTrust'swork with primary 5choolsWith the aim of more than doublingour reach to school- age children each year Ircm 3,Lkn) to 8,000 over Lhe next three years. Launched the Trust'5 Wlder Worcestershire - Neighbourk>oods Nurturing Naiuie project, helping ccmrnunities acr055 Droitwch and Worcester, from the Rivey Salwarpe to the Rlver Severn, to engage ￿th nature and dellver improvements for nature where they live, work and study. C￿l)nued to stand up for nature by Influencing the pLannlng protrss through reviewing 240 planning application5 durfng the year with the aim of both proiecting sen51tive areas and inflLwcing the besi ￿ssIble outcome for nature. Mobilised wr membÈrs and supporters to campaign to defend Tiddesley Wood from the threat of develoEM))ent adja￿￿¢ to it. This Involved revlew1Dg exteDs1ve planni[￿ documents, gathering evidence Incluthng independent ecological gutveys and taknni expert legal and planning advice and att￿dIng a Public Inquiry. unf￿tunately) despite the Trust's best efforts and those of our supporters the develot¥nent was apwoved at plannin¢ appeal in January. CampalgnÈd for nature during the general electi￿ by eng38lng candidates across Worcestethire. Continued to engage with comrnunity group5, schools, colleaguEs and ywth organisatlL¥IS In the wonder5 of heathland5 ihrough our sa￿n8 Worcestershire'5 Heathland5 project In and around Klddertnin5ter, 8ewdley and Stourport. WorkeLI ￿th a range of 5choo15, unifumed group5 other youth organisaticffis to help deliver variw5 aspects of our project including tree plantln8 at Green Farm natwe reserve adlaceni to Monkw(KKJ nature reserve to Ihe north of Worcester. (Joal 3: Su5tainlng our future . rnore dlyerslty. more fundlng, carbon neutral by 2030 Key achie¥ement5 during the year Intluded.. Continued to support our trainee tÈam to develop skills and experience for a career In conservatlrm, with plans to extend the trainee team Irixn April 2025. Tracked and mL￿lt0red our carbon etnf55ions the aim of bein8 carbon neutral by 2030. Thls Included carbon tralnlng for staff and tru5tee5 and progressing with projects to enhance the 5equestratlon ol Carb￿ on our nature re5erve5. Continued efforts to reduce wr emisslons, whlch has included seeknng opportunltle5 to plant trees where the Tru5l can"seque5ter carbon while providing great opportunitie5 to enhance biodiversity. Continued to seek funding and tst￿r support fLY our work from a range of sources to dlversify (￿r lunding and strengthen the Trust's work. Thi5 year the Trust welcomed supyjrt from the Naiional Lottery Heritage Fund, charitable trusts and foundatlons. legacies, major donors and corporate suppwters. Continued todellvtr the Equality, Divèrsity and Inclusi￿ plan, whiEh has 5upporied variw5 acti￿5 acr055 the Trust. We have iEgun to work on the third Iteration of tur pLan. Thank you to all our staff, volunteers. members, dotkor5b partr￿rs, yjpporters and funders who make the work of the Trust P05siiIe. Page 6 W¢yce5ter5hire Wlldllfe Trust ort of the Tru5tee5 for the Year Ended 31 ￿rch 2025 ACHIEVEIAENT AND PERFORMANCE Investment performance The perforrnance of the inve5ttnent porlfdio 15 rneasured by referÈncE to several rèlevant indices, including Balanced, SE 1DJ, ￿SE All World and the ARC Charlty Benthrnark. During the year incLKDe amwnted to £108,783 Q024,. £103,140). The total portfollo value at the belnnlng of thè yèar was £3,382,939, 12024.. E3,268,6581. Net losses at 31st March 2025 were £129,19812024.' net gain C125,8191. The total pcrflfolio value at the year-end Wds 13.214,82512024.. E3.382,9391. Investment powers and pollcy Under the Memorandum and Art1cle5 of A5S0ciatl￿, the Charity has rhe power to make any investment, which the twstees see fit, subject to Ihe Truste Att 20￿. The oblettives of the Trusts Investment Pollty are". to ensure the creatlon of sufficient Inc(￿e and capltal growih. to enable the charlty lo carry out it5 pUrp￿e cons15tently year-by-year, with due and proper C4}n￿deratI¢￿ for future needs, and the malntenantr and, 1f p)sslble, ert)ancemeni of the value of the Invested funds. The Investment Ccmmirtee meel quarterly to recelve rep)rts from our stocki*okers and to revlew Ferfom1a￿e. Thelr reports and any recornrnendaticffjs for changes in policy are presented to the Council of trustees. The current policy is reasonably defensive, wlth equal capltal and Incure growth oblectlves. All Invesiments are made on the advice of our stttkbrokers. The appolntment of the Trust's St￿kbrokers is re￿e¥%￿d every three years. The trustees follow Charity Ccmmisslon guldance on Investment, Incluthng thai on ethlcal and responslble Investmeni. Paffe 7 Worcestershfi￿ Wlldllfe Trust rt of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 FINANCIAL REVIEW FlnaThclal p051tlon Review of thè fI￿nd)I posltfon at year end At the year end tot31 funds amounted to 117,166,988 12024.. 117,757,604). Of thi5 balan￿ restslcted funds atnounted to 18,147,823 12024: £8,152,800). At the year end C3,638,77812024: E4,193,9361 of reserves were held In the deslgnated fund. The purrose of these fund5 Is for LP5e on conservation and development projects as parr of the Trust's 5tra¢egic plan. Included on the balance sheèt at year pnd ar￿ ta￿s￿ble fixed a55ets of £13.862,24112024.. 113,848,367) and investments of C3,214,8Z512024.. £3,382,939>. Free reserves at the year end, being total re5etve5 less any rertricted and designated fund and fixed and investment asset held, amwnted to £584,165 delfjcit 12024.. £503,525 deflclll. A further £694,04012024.. £546,197) was held in current asseLS wlthln designated funds ai the year end. Flnanclal effect of 5iqnificant events Re￿Ipt of legacy income in the year cont1nued to be affected by ongoing delay5 kn the probate syst￿. Alrhough inflation rates came down during the year, the costs of procured go(Mls and serrices continue to remain nesatfvely irnpacted by the prewously hlgh rates. Fartors Ilkely to affert future financial performance or posltlon During the year ended 31 Marth 2022, the Iru5tee5 of the charity were made aware of a potentlal 155ue relating to the deflned beneflt sectlon ol the Wlldllfe Trusi Pension Scheme. A detall@d Invesiigatith ha5 now established that there is an additi￿al financial liability to employ&is who participated in that section, and that Worce5ter5hire Wildlife Trusi's sharè of the Scheme deftit as a result of the additiLN)al Ilablllty15 E498,601. It ha5 been agreed the PeD￿th Trusree that thls Ilablllty Mll be paid off over a slx-year period. The thaTrging nature of land management payrnent5 ¥￿11 rnean curreni grants will contlnue to ¢Jecline. Membership inc￿ne has grown modestly in the year. We have a target to wbstantlally increase this over the next five year5. which w111 depend upw the overall economic situatiun and our ablllty ta recrulL actively. The Trust Is planning for 3 period of two to three years when net deficits wll be accrued on general Operati￿al costs in order to retain the capaclty and capability of the core staff upon whlch turrent delivery and future growth will depend. The frust has a pollcy of retalnlng net cash reserves at a minlmLnn level c>f six months operating costs vthid) is of the order of c811).￿0. Cwrently the actual net figure is significantly higher. This doe5 not take account of any future legacy Incure which ha5 bee￿ in the range of £1(￿),lI)0 w £5(X),O(X) per annurn oyer the Last flve years. Taklnq these factors into account the level of dsk to theTrust as a going concern 15 low but rigorous planning and monitoring 11 still be rewired. P8gÈ 8 Woic&terthlre Wildllfe Tru Re ort of the Trusiees for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 FINANaAL REVIEW Pmnclpal fundln4 sovrces Year-to-year, Twsi Income frrm membershlp, the Income recelved monthly or annually from wr members, rernaln5 cur m05t important source of income that suppons the revenue costs of the Trust enabiinq It to dellver Irs core funct1￿5. The Tru5f benefit5 frorn Glft Aid, on membership incorrE and other donation5, vthTch a150 Pla￿ a vital role in Sup￿1n% the Trust's activities. The Trust 15 greatly helped by glfts left in wi115. These legacies ar? added to our Conservation Dvrfelopment Fund which Is not Used for day-to-day expenditure and 15 ring-fenced for special projects as agreed by our Council of Trustees. These Include land atqulsltions and Ma)￿ capifal expendlture, such a5 re5toratl(n and malntenance le.g. replacement fenclngl on naiure ieserves. The Trust receives some publlt Income f￿ our land holdfng5 though the Baslc Payment5 Stherne and CLWntryslde 5teward5hlp Inc￿ne for 5pecitic work we are uTrdertaklng on a range of nature reserves. We receive doTrati(K15. large and small. thrwghout the year. These include in memoriam donations, 5UPPOrt from our local groups, corporate donatlons other wpport. These dwations support the revenue ¢￿t$ of the Nganisation and asslstour general work unle55 spec1fied for a PUTrMise. Charirable Trust5 and Foundation5 5UPPLrt our work in vawng ways. SL¥De provide an annual grant fw general use, others provide funding for specific purpo*s. ThèTrusi has contlnued to beneflt frown Landflll C0￿MunItIeS Fund operators. These organi5atlU15 have yJpported land acquisitims and ongoing reserve management. The Trust has received Income from the Nat1enal Lottery Herirage Fund, whfch contIn￿5 fo be an I[Dp￿tallt funder., they have funded fflany of the Trust's land aCqU151tioTr and a550clated comrnunlty engagement projects. We run an Im￿tant project worklng a range Df land managers. The Natural England Facllltatlon Fund Suppo￿ thls vital work ¥￿th landowners beyond wr nature reserves. We recewed income again from Sevem Trent Water to wort( with landowners In thelr prlorfty calchrnent to imprDve water quality, a5 well as working in partnership wth Worcestershire Caunty c￿n(lI to deliver the Natural Network5 project and with ow colleagues in both GI￿￿Stershlre and HerefLYdshire Wildlife Trusts to dellver the Severn Treexape5 project. The Trust benefits Irom trading income, particularly through our tradlng subsldlary, WNCT Entprwi5e5 Ltd where revenve 15 generaled fr￿￿ ecologlcal conwltancy, comrnerclal rom hire and the sale of various goods. The Trust also derfves inc(xne from sch￿1 vlslts ia sub51dlsed charge), talks and events. Inve5trnent pollcy and oblectlve5 Under the Memorandum and Artlcles of Ass¢datlon, the Charlty has the power to make any Investment that the trus see fit. Flnanclal Reseryes wlley The trustees regularly review the level of reserves available Iboth unrestrlcted and restricted) and havè can5idered the balance between the need to Use scffle reserves to take advantap of key opportunitles to advance the work and development of the organi5aticm and to ensure thai a secure finarK1al base is malntalned. 'Free reserves. stwd at a deficit of £584,165 12024.. £503,525 deficit) at the year end. However, a fUrttr￿r £694,040 12024". £546,197) was held In de5iwated current a55et5 and £3,Z14,825 12024- 13,382,939) was held In 1nve5trrEnt5 withln unrestricted and des1gnated funds. Of th15 additlonal Sum, the twstee5 have agreed a policy that a rninirnum of six month5 expEnditure of the charity wll be retained Lo provide a ￿ffer against unexpectedly dffficult operatlng condlllons. FUTURE PLANS A Wilder Worce5ter5hlre, the Trust's DeveloFxnent stra￿qY covering the period 2023 to 2030, based ijn a development SErate4y lor The Wldlife Tru5t5 a5 a whole, has been in place for around two year5. Priority action5 will be ￿e￿eWed and amended11f necessary) from 2026. Page 9 Worcestershire Wildlife Trust Report of the Tru5tee5 for ihe Year ETr￿d 31 l•arch 2025 STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT rx)Yervin8 docurnent The Tru51 15 cmstiwted as a c(¥npany Itfflited by guarantee and is rheref(Ke governed by a Memorandum and Arricle5 01 Assotlatlon. Recrultrnent and appolntment of new trustee5 The trusiees are elected by the members at the knnual General Vttting. Additirmal trusteès rnay be co.opted by the?xistrng Council Df Tru51ee5 until the next AGM, iaklng Into account the way in which their sknlls vnll completnent and enhance rhose alieady available to the board. Or8ax15ational structurÈ The trusie&> meet regularly to adtninister the Charity and have delegated It5 day-i(pday management to a Chlef Executive. who is supporred by a teatn of paid Staff wrmking with reams ol volunteer5. IndUc￿On and trainlng of new trustees All new trustee5 receive IndKtiffl training. FLrther tralning for tru5tee51s Identlfled and programrned annublly. Key management remuneration The trustees revlew the pay and remuneratlon of key managemeni stsff annually and normally Increase pay levels in accordance inflatlon. In view of the nature of the Chartty. the trustees benchmark against pay levels in other Wildlife Trusts of a ￿MIlar slze. Related partles The Trust 15 affiliated to The Royal Seclety of Wlldlife Trust5 IR5￿1, a registered Chatfjty that aets as an LThbrelia gr￿JP for county Wildllfe Trust5 and wowdes co.ordinaticn of activities and t3mpaignlng at a UK level. South West Wlldlife Fundraising Ltd ISWWFLI 15 a trad7r￿ company, jolnrly owned by eight Wildllle TNst5 including Worcestrrthlre Wildlife Trust. SWFLS focus is on fate-to-lace lundrai5ing, specifically to recruit new merntrers to wpport the Charity. Further details of related party transactions a￿ included within the note5 to the financial staiements. Pa8e10 Worcesrershire Wildlife Trust t of the Tru5tee5 for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 STRUCTURE. GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Risk management The trustees review annually the Charitls principal area5 of operations covering Governance and Management, Operati(n5. Financial, Environmenral and Exiernal Factor5, and Cempllance ILaw and Regulat1onl, and cc4)slder the major rfskg arlslng in each of these areas. In addition, regular rerfew5 of all Trust policie5 have COn￿nued dudng the year to ensure that the Charlty rnalntalns good governance. A Bu5fjne￿ Conunulty Plan wa5 Lpdated In 2022 and wlll be revlewed In 2025. Overall, the level af risk to the Charity 15 considered reSatively low. The area5 that were identified to be of highest potentlal consequence Included= IT system5 fallure.. 1￿ch of the CharlW5 work depEnd5 upon IT in Some forrn. In 2024 a review of IT 5yStem5 and needs w7S undertaken, which has resulied In a gubstantial upgrade to hardware due tD the rnove from Wlndows 10 to 11. Thi5 fdlows updates to 50ftware and 5ysiems including cyber security protectio), all of which 5hwld reduEe risk in thi5 area. Rlsk to land-based payments.. Durire Q4 of 202415 flnanclal year the Governtnent closed the 5u5talnable Farrnlng Incentlve new appllcat1on5 and announced a review of payments, which wll reprrt back ln summer 2025. Thls may lead to a reducticn in income through caprEd fundlng, targeted funding or natifflally capped or reduced ￿lIget5. Reduted profltablllty of tradlnq subsldlary.. As retailing and serwce pro¥Asion both beccme more competltfve, proflt marEins are becoming squeezed. A new strucwre In Worcestershire Wildlife C￿SU1tanCY wa5 agreed in 2024 and was being recruited fc￿ at year end. Dèpendency on Income source5'. Key swrce5 are rewewed at least annually. This includes membership recruitment. land managetnent and project grant5, events, work schools, envIr￿Mental consultancy and commerclal lettlThgs. Contingency arrangements to deal with the* impacrs have been Implemented to fflitigate ihe financTral impacls wherever posslble. Employment Issues.. W1th Increa51ng nurDber5 of staff, the Charity15 rnLYe exposed to potential di5PUte5 and the challwges of recruiting and retaining staff. To mltigate these ri5k5, professional HR ad￿SOr5 are employed to provide support in this area and the tenll5 and c￿dItIonS Df staff arE rEwiewEd on a regular b4515. All staff are able w benefit frlvn a hybrid working regime. Volunteering.. Volunteers are ￿tal to every aspect of the Chariws work. Our need5 for volunteeT5 grow at a time when fewer people are ￿tIrIng earller. The Trtsst aspires Lo expand our volunteer base whlch Includes IdeDtlfylnE and provlthng opportunities for younger volunteer5. Changes to government polfcy.. S?vÈral relevant a￿a5 of 8overnrnent PDlicy relevant to theTru5t'5workare b¢lng revi¢wed orchanged. This include5 the Planning and Infrasrructure Blll which has potentlally sedtyJs Impllcatltfis on key environmental protections. Compllance wlth changlng leglslatlon.. Thls particularly applles to health and safety, safeguarding, employment leOsLatlms and rcgulation5 and General Data Protecticn Regulation. Policie5 and protttols are subject to regular revfew. Subsldlary Undertakln8 The Charlty wholly owns W.N.C.T. Enterprlse5 Llm1ted, a company IncL*porated In England and Wale5. W.N.C.T. Enterprises Lirnited perfom15 wldlife crmsultancy services, arranges the hiring of r(M)ms at Lower Smitè Fartn atbd 5e115 goLNJs includiTr8 Chrlstma5 card5 and calendar5. Durlng the year the company made a wofit of £15,L))0 12024.. C50,8831, of whlch £13,949 IZ023.. £49,5421 was 21ven by way of a deed of coveoant to the Charity. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRAnvE OETAILS Reg15tered Company number 00929644 (England and Wales) Page 11 Worcestershire Wlldlif2 Tnjst orr of the Trustee5 for the Year Ended 31 ￿rch 2025 Reglst¢red Charlty number 256618 Re815tered offfce Lower Smlte Fan Smlte Hill Hindlip Worcester WR3 85Z Trustees Mrs C Tippin8 Chair Mr T Meikle- Vice Chair Mr R Gillmor- Secretary Mr J Blakiston Treasurer Mr G H Green MBE - President Mr5 C Pawiey. HQ￿. Olficer lor Resources Mr C Greensmith - H￿. Offfcer ConservaUon Dr P Holmes Mr5 M P Gildea Mr A Mulr Mr A Forecast MrRCory Mrs J Tullett - Co-opted October 2024 Mr J L Br3t@well - Co-opted October 2024 Mrs G Devrte5 - co.opted Octoter 2D24 Mi55 S Locke- Co-Lyted October 2024 Mlss S Young- Reslgned Octcber 2024 Mr Peter Scriven - Resigned October 2024 Mr Dawd Mortiboys- Resigned (ktober 2024 The directors of the charttabie cotnpany (the Charilyl are its Trustees for the purposes of chadiy law and throughout thls rem are collectively referred io as the trUS￿e5. The Charity is limited.by guaTaTrtee and does not have any issued share Cap[￿1. There Is therefLYe no beneficial interesi io dlsclose for the above dlrectors. Chief Executlve Mlke Perry Company Secretary Mr R J Glllmor Audltor3 Thorne Widgery Accountancy Ltd Chartered Accountant5 Statutcry Auditors 2 Wyevale &Jsiness Park Kitbg5 Acre Hereford HÈreford5hl HR4 7BS Page 12 Worcesterthire Wildlife Trust Rellprt of ihe Ttuster5 for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 REFERENCE AND ADMINISTrATIVE DETAILS Sollcltors Hallmark Whatley Hulme Solldtor5 3-5 5an$cme Place WorcEsler WR1 1UQ Bankers Lloyds Bank 112 Hlgh Street Bromsqrove B618EZ Stockbrokers Rathbcne5 Greenbank 10 Qu￿Tr Square Btrfjstol BS1 4NT CCLA 1 Angel Ln Lthdon EC4R 3AB AUDITORS The audltor5, Thome Wldgery Accountancy Ltd, ￿11 be proptssed for re-appolntment at the f(1t￿￿TrIng Annual G￿er31 Mèetlng. pproved by order of the tr*Jard of trU5lee5 on ............................................. and sloned on lts behalf by.. Mrs C Tipp usiee Page13 Worcestershire Wlldlife Trust StaLement of Trusiees. Res for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 The ttustees (who are a150 the directcfs of Worcestershlre Wlldllfe Trust for the pwp05es of c(mpany lawl ale resp￿￿ble for preparing th¢ Reporr of the Tru5tee5 and the financial statements In accordaThce with applicable law and United Kingdom Accountlng 5tandèrds Iunlted Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practicel. CLamp3ny law reqjires trustee5 to prepare financial statements for eath financlal year vA)lth glve a true and fair view of the state of affalr5 of the char1table tornpÈny and of the incoming resources and appllcation of resource5, Including the Inc(Nne and expenditure, of the char1table c(Thpany fly that period. In weparing those financial 51atetnent5, the trUS￿e$ are regjired to select suitable accountlng policies and then apply them C￿515tentIy', observe the methods and principl￿ in the Charity SORP., make judgemènts and e5titnate5 that are reasonable and prudent. prepare the financial st3tement5 on the going coicern basls unle55 il 75 inapwopriate 10 presume that the charltabie company VAII cwttnue busine5S. The trustee5 are rewn51ble for keepinE w0peracc(￿ntfj￿g records which disclDse wth re&onable accuracy at any titne the finanoal p051tion of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the flnanclal statements comply wlth the Companies Act 2(K)6. They are also fesronsible for safequardlng the a55ets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable $￿p$ for the preven￿0￿ and detectirm of fraud and other Irrewladlles. In so far a5 the trustees are aware.. there is no relevtyni audit information of which rhe tharitabie cornpanl5 auditors are unaware., and the trustees have taken all Steps that they cught to have taken ro make thernselves aware of any relevant audlt informaticn and to establlsh that the audltvs are aware of that Information. Page 14 rt of the Inde ndeni AudIt￿5 to the Members of worC￿ter￿lre Wildllfe Trust Oplnlon We have auithted the financlal statemen15 of Worcestershlre Wlld11fe Trust (the 'parent cornpany'l for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprisÈ the Con5011dated Statement of Flnancial Acti￿tIes, the cM501ida￿d Balance Sheet, Charity Balance Sheet, the Con501idated Cash Flow Statement and notes to the c(nsolidated financial statement5, including summary of ￿gnificant accwntlng policie5. The financial rerM)rting frarnework that ha5 been applled in their preparation Is appllcable law and United Kingdcfft Acccuntlng Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practlctl. In our oplnlcn the financial statÈment5'. give a truÈ and fair view of the state of the grwp and charitable companys affalrs as at 31 March 2025 and of Its inccmlng ie50wces and appllcaiion of ￿￿OurCeS, including Tts income and expendlture, for the year then tnded,. have been prrwly prepared In accordance ¥vith Unired Klngdom Generally Accepted Accountlr4 Practice. and have been prepared in accordance wth the reqLrirernents o( the c￿1panI* Act 2006. Ba515 for oplnion We conducted our audlt in accordance with Internatlonal Standards ffl Auditlng IUKI IISA5 IUKII and appllcable law. Our re5ponsib111tles under those 5tandard5 are further described In the Auditors. responslbllltles lor the audit of the flnanclal Slaternent5 section of report. We are independent of the group and charitable ccmpany in accordance wfth the ethlcal requiremtnts that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements In the UK, Including the FRC'5 Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled rmjr other ethlcal responslbilltles in accordance wth these requlrements. We belleve that the audlt evldence we have obiained 15 suffidenr and approprfjate to prwde a basls for our opinion. Conclu5ion5 relatln8 to goln8 concern In avthting the financial statemènts, we have corKluded rhat the Irustees. use of the 8￿￿8 concern ba515 of account1ng In the preparation of the financial statement5 15 approwiate. Based on the work we have Ferformed, we have not lr conthtions that, Inthvidually or toilettively, rnay cast significant d(xJbt the group and charltable company'5 ability to c￿tInUe as a going concern for a period of at least twelve mwth5 from when the financlal 5tatetDents are authorised for Issue. Our rewnslb111tie5 and the respmsibllltles of Ihe trustees with respect to going concem are descrlw In the relevant Sectic￿5 of thls report. Other Inforrnation The trustee5 are re5ponslbLe for other inf¢)rMa￿0n. The other Infortnatlon comprises the Infonnatlon Included in the knnual Report, other than the flnanclal statements and our Report of the Inde￿ndent Aud1for5 thereon. Our op1n1￿ on the finandal 5tateTnents not cover Ihe othEf 1nfor1natl￿ and, ex￿p1 w the extert other*ise expllcitly Stated In report, we do not exwess any fomi of a55urance conclusi(x) thereon. In cmnettlon with tyJr audit of financial statements, our responglblllty is to read the other Infomiatlm and, in doing so. conslder whether the other informatlon 15 matedally inconsisient hthth the financial Stat￿entS or our knowledge obtained In the audit or OihervA5e appears to be matenally tnisstated. If we identify Such rnaterial incmsistencles or apparent MaTr￿al mi55tatements, we are required to determine whether th1$ 8lve5 rise to a rnaterial mlss¢atement In the flnancial Statements t￿MSeLves. If, based on the wort( we have performed, we cMcLude that there 15 a material missiaiement of thls other information, we are required to report thar fact. We have nothing to rewrt in this regard. Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companle5 knt 2006 In our oplnlon, based on th@ work undertaken in the course of the audit.. the informatiffi given in the Report of the Trustees for the financial year fu whlch the f￿ancIal statements are prepared Is con51Stent ¥￿th the flnanclal statements., and Ihe Report of the Trustees has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements. Page 15 ort of the IndeLEndent Audltors to the Members of Worce5terthire Wildlife Tru5L Matters on which we are required to report by exceptlon In the light of the knowledge and understanth'n8 of the group and charitable cwipany and fits en￿rL￿rnen( obtained in the course of the audlt, we have not i￿ntIfIed material mlsstatements In the Report of the Trustees. We have nothing to report in respect of the f¢llowng matters ¥sthere the C(mpanies Aci 2006 requi￿ us to repori ¢0 you If, In wr opinion.. adequate account1n2 records have not been kept N retum5 adequate for our audlt have not been recelved from branches not Yisited by u5- or the flnanclal 5tateTnents are not in agreemeni the accounting records and retums,. or certain disclosures of trustees, remuneratlon specified by law are not tnade.. or wè have not received all the information and explanatlOll5 we ¥equlre for our audit,. or the tru5tee5 were not entitled ¢0 take advantage Df the Small cotnpanie5 exemption from the re(Nirement to prepare a siraiegic Rerx)rt or in preparing the Report of the Trustees. Responsfbl1ltJe5 of trustees As explalned More fully In the Statement of TrUs￿e5. Responsibilities, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable compaw for the purposes of company lawl are ￿SponSible for the p￿paratIon of the flnandal statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and falr vlew, and lor such intemal control as rhe trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statement5 that are free tnaterial mls5tatement, whether due lo fraud or eryof. In preparing the financial stat￿entS, the trustee5 are responsible for asse55iThg group and charitable companys ability to continu? as a golng concem, discloslng, as applicable, matter5 related to going concern and using the going [￿cern basis of accounting unless trustÈes either int￿d to liquidate the group and charitable cotnpany or to cease operations, or have no realistic aliemative but to do 50. Pa2e16 ori of ihe Inde ndenl Auditurs ro the Members ol WDrcestershire Wildlife Trust Our responslbllllles fDr the audlt of the flnanclal statements Our oblectlves are to obtaln reascnable assurance about whefher the financial 5taleYnents as a vthole are free fr￿ materlal mi5Statement, whether due to fraud or error, and to fi￿e a Reporr Df the Inwendent Audltor5 that Includes our opinion. Rea5Dnable a55urance is a high level of assuran￿, but is not a guarantee thar an audlt tonducted in accordance with 15A5 IUKI vlll alway5 detect a tnaterial rnisstaternent when it exists. Misstaternents can arise from fraud errrK and are considered Mate￿aL If, Inth¥idually or In the aggregate. Lhey CDuld reasonably be expected to influence the ecmixnic declslons of user5 taken ori the basis of the* financial statement5. The extent to which our procedure5 are capable of detecting irregularitles, includlng fraud Is detailed below: Fraud and breaches Df law5 and regulations- ability to detect Identlfylng and responding to risks of matertal rn155tatement due to fraud To identify risks of material mfsstatement due tD fraud I"fraud ri5k5"1 we a55e55ed event5 or conditllX15 that could indicate an Incentlve or pre55ure to comrnit fraud OK wovide an opportwity to cornmlt fraud. Our risk assessment prc(edures Included.. o Enquiriiig of trustee5, the flnance committee anij inspectlon of pollcy documentati￿ as to the Cha￿[￿5 hlgh-level po15cle5 and procedures to prevent and detect fraud as well as wheiher they have knowlèdge of any actual, wspected oy alleged fraud. o Reading Trustee5' meetings and finance committee miThJtes. o Con51dedng perforrnance targets for management. We communicated identified fraud rlsks throughout the au(lit tearn and rvnained alert to anyindications Df fraud thrwghout Lhe audit. As required by auditlng standards, and taking into account OUT overall knowledge of the control enVirC￿rnent, we perfum procedur￿ to addre5S the risk of rnanasement overrlde of contro15, In partlcular the rlsk that managemenr may be ln a position to makÈ Inapprop￿ate accountlng entH*. (kn th15 audlt we do not believe there is a fraud risk related to revenue recognition because the revenue is non-judgemental and straightforward, ￿th Iltnited opportunity for manipulation. We did not Identify any additional fraud ris￿. We performed procedures inclutthng identifying journal enrries to test based on risk crlteria and coxnparing the identified entrie5 to supporting documentation. These included those posted bi finance managementl those posted and approved by the same user/ those posted to unusual accounts. Identlfylng and rè5pondln4 to r15ks of material mi55taternent due to non-compliance with law5 and regulations We identified are35 of law5 and Tegulaticffts that could ￿aSOnablY be expected to have a rnaterial effect on the flnancfal statements from our general comm¢rclal and 5erlor experlence, and through dlscu55i(fft wilh managernent las requlred by udir1ng standardsi and dlscus*d management the pollcies and procedures regariling cunpliance with laws and rewlaiity)5. We communicared Idenrified laws and reswlations rhr¢yJghou¢ our team and rernained alert to any inth'caticns of non- compliance throughout the auth'l. The potenual effect of these laws and regulation5 on the flnancial statements varies conslderably. Flrstly, the group and Charfty is subject fo laws and rewlatlons that directly affect the financial statements includlng rinanoal reporting legl51atfj￿, taxatlon legislation and the Charitie5Act legislatim and we assessed extent of compllance th these law* )nd regulatlon5 as part cf wr w4Kedure5 on the related financial statement item5. Secondly. the group an(J Charity 15 Subject to Many other laws and regulations where the C￿seQuenceS of nc*)compllance could have a material effect ￿ amwnt5 or dlsc105ure5 In the flnarK1al state￿EntS, for instance through the imposition of fines or 17tigatlon or the loss of ihè Charitys litènse to operate. We idenlified the follovring areas a5 th￿e most Ilkely to have such an effect.. health aThd 5afetyy antl-iKibery, employtnent law, data protectlon, antI-m￿eY laundering and SFecific areas of other legislation recognising the nature of thÈ Charltls actlwtles. Page 17 ort of the Inde denl Auditgrs to the Members of Worcesiersh1re Wildlife Trust Auditing Standards limit the reqLrired audit procedure5 to identify n￿-cOmpli3nce with these laws and regulati(ns to enquiry of management, Inspectlon of regulatc*y and legal corre5po>Ddence, If any. Therefore, If a breach of ¢)peratl(knal reEuLatI￿5 is not disclosed to U5 or evidenr from relevant correspondence, an autht Mll not detect thaL breach. Context of the abillty of the audlt to detect fraud OT breache5 of law or regulation Owlng to ihe Inherent Iltnitations of an audlt, there is an unavoidable risk that we tnay not have detected some materfal tnls5tatetnents In the financial statements, even though we have properly planned and performed our audit In accordance wlth audltlng standards. For example, th& further rÈmoved non-c￿p173￿ce wth laws and resulation5 is frotn the events and transactions reflected the financial statetnents. Lhe le55 likely the inherently limited pr(Éethre5 required by audiilng standards would Identify It. In addition, a5 with any audil, there remained a higher risk of ncn-detectlon of fraud, as these May Involve collus1￿, forgery, Intentlonal otnls51on5, rnlsrepresentations, or the overrldè of intemal controls. Our audlt prttedures are deslgned to deteci materlal [ni55tatetn￿t. We a¥e not responsible fw preventing non-t￿Mpliance or fraud and cannot be expEcted to detect nDnunt due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued ai the arno￿1 wepaid ner of any trade dlscounts due. Cash at bank and in hand Cash at bank and cash In hand includes cash and short term hlghly Ilquid inveStm￿t$ with a short maturtty of three months or less fron the date of acquI￿tIOTr or opening of the deposlt or similèr accowt. Credltor5 and proTrA5i0n5 CrÈthtors and prowyons are reco8nised voere the charity has a present obligarion resultlng from a past event that vrill probably result in the Iran5fer of fund5 to a third party and the am(wnt due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Credltors and provlslons are normally recog)isÈd at thelr settl£Ynent atnount after allowlng any trade discounts due. Hire purchase and leaslng ccffimltrnents Rentals paid under operating lease5 ère charged to the proflt and 1055 account a5 irKurred. Taxatlon No Corporation Tax is charged in the accounts of Worcesiershlre Wlldlife Trusi due to the charitable statu5 of the Cotnpany. In addition there 15 a deed of covenant in place. which enable5 W.N.C.T Enterprises Limited to covenant its taxable profits to tkt Charily. Fund accountlng Unresrricted funds can be used In accwdance ￿th the charftable L*sjecrlves at the dlscretion of the trustee5. Restrlcted funds can only be used for pariicular restricted purposes within the object5 of the charity. Restritfions arfse vthen specified by the don(x or wh£Y (￿dS are raised for particular restricted purposes. FuTther explanatlw of the nature and purpose of each lund 15 included In the notes to the flnarrlal statanents. Pension c05t5 and other F4)5t.retlrernent beneflls The Charity operates a defined beneflt t*n$1￿ scheme, vthich is part of a rnulii.employer 5cherTre and the assets are held separately frtsn those of the charity in separate trustee administered fwds. Pensi(x) scheme assets are tnea5ured al fair value and liabilities are measured on an actuarial ba515 using th& projected unit credlt method and dlscounted al a rate eowvalent ro the currenl rate of retum on a high quality corporaLe bond of equivalent temi and currency to the 11abllltles. The amounts charged ro Dperating surplus are the current service tosts and the cost5 of scheme inlroductions, benefii thanges, seltlements and currailments. They are Included a5 part of staff costs a5 Incurred. Nel interest on the net defined benefit liabilityla5set 15 also recognised In the Statement of Flnanclal ActI￿tieS and c￿p￿se$ the intere5f cosi OD rhe dellned beneflt ob11gata￿ and interest Inccrne on the scheme a5set5, calculated by multiplying the fair Val￿ of the scheme assets ar the beglnning of the wiod by the rate used to di5CQUnt the benefit obligations. The differentr between the interest inctsme on the scheme assets and the actual retum on the 5cherne a55etS 15 recogn15ed in other recowised gains and losses. Actuarial 8ain5 and losses are recogni5ed irnmediately in other recogn15ed galns and losse5. Further detsils are Included in the not￿ to the financial staternents. No new ernpioyee5 are eligible to joln ihe defined benefiL scheme. Page 26 continued. Worcestershire Wildlife Trust Notes to the Flnancial Statements- contlnued for the Year Ended 31 Niirch 2025 OONATIONS AND LEGAaES 31.3.25 Total funds 31.3.24 Total funds Unrestricted funds Restyicted funds Membership glvlng Gift aid Other Donations Received Legacies Received Gr￿ts 743,277 190,503 235,183 241,427 7,034 743,277 190,503 3n,182 241,427 246,648 717,360 164,307 74,890 354,468 48.118 136,999 239,614 1.417,424 376,613 1.794,037 1 359,143 Grant5 re￿fjved, included in the atrAwe, are as follow5.. 31.03.25 31.03.24 Restrlcted Fund National Herlt8gE Envlronmeni Agency - National Envlronment Inve5trnrTrl REadlne55 Fund HDH Willls - Protectlng Wort&terthire's Hidden Rainfcre5t5 National Lottery Heritage Fund - Neigthbourh(K)ds Nurturing Nature Naiional Lottery Heritage Fund- Green Farrn Reaching Out to Ancient Wojdland Enwronment Agency - Severn Wye Natu National Lottery Heritage Fund - Saving Worcestershire's Heathlands Worce5ter5hlre Ccwnty Councll - Nel&fibourhofyJs Nurtwlng Narure Other Mlsc 48,118 78.195 30,(KO 67,120 15,468 10,Tr10 16,258 9,720 239 614 Deslgnate Under< Ik Worcestershire Cwnty Councll - Natural Networks Knapp & Papermlll Enhancernent5 Unre5trlcted Fund Under< 1k 250 250 Total grant income 246.648 48.f18 Page 27 contlnued... worceS￿rShlrÈ Wlldllfe Trust Note5 to the FInar￿{aL Statements - contlnued fcf the Year Ended 31 ltsrch 2￿￿5 OTHER TKADING rnifiES 31.3.25 rotal funds 31.3.24 Total fund5 Unrestricted fund5 Restdcted funds W.N.C.T Enterprise5 Ltd Tirnber Sales gjndry Inccffie 171,364 171,364 7,447 5,373 179,919 34,014 5.373 184,184 184,184 223,288 INVESTWENT INCOME 31.3.25 Total funds 31.3.24 Total funds Unrestrlcted funds Restrfcted funds Ir￿Orne fr￿￿ Stock Exchange Investments- UK 108783 103 140 INCOWE FROM.CHARITA8LE ACTIVrnES 31.3.25 31.3.24 Artlvlty Land Managernent Grant C¢￿M￿nicatI￿5 and Engagement Wider Countryside Land mana8Jn￿t Grant5 Educatlon der CrAmtryslde fjncc￿e 316,336 29,130 265 471 368,799 79,173 372 592 610 937 OThER INCOME 31.3.Z5 Total funds 31.3.24 Total funds Unrestrtcied funds Re5trlct¢d fund5 Galn on sale of tanglble fixed assets Rent Recefved sundry Sale5 & Other Income 678 9,610 678 9,610 54.980 13,456 Page 28 continued... Worcestershire Wildlife Trust Noies lo the Flnancial Statement5 - contlnued for the Year Ended 31 htsrch 2025 CHARITABLE A￿VITIEs cosrs Support costs (see note 81 Dlrect Costs TotaLs CommunlcatlDn5 and Engagernent Wider CoLmtryside RÈseNc5 Pensiors adjustrnent 446,358 503,918 934,274 571.968 3,533 449,891 503,918 982,148 571,968 47,874 2,456 518 2 507.925 ANALYSIS OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE Audltors rern￿. eration Other costs Staff cost5 Depn 31.3.25 Ralslng fuTh15 Investment manageynent C05t5 W.N.C.T. Enrrewi5e5 Ltd Charftable activiti 190,454 18.779 424,568 10,315 633.B01 10,315 96.365 1,iYY3,237 1.173 1,708 6,888 57.022 1,397,485 1S6,268 2,497,610 1,380.056 19.95Z 8,596 1,889.390 3,297,994 SUPPORT COSTS Raising Funds Charitable Actlyltles Governance Costs 31.3.25 31.3.24 Administration staff wages General office expense5 21,202 60,804 45,937 131 742 3,533 70,672 202,680 64,692 201,361 82,Cl)6 177,679 273 352 266,053 5uppN)rt ¢￿ts are allocated on a percentage baslg between the actimties of the charity.and this methodology 15 rewewed annually to ￿SUre its C[￿LinUed appropriatene5S. INCOPAEIIEXPENDITUREI Net incomellexpendlturel Is stated after chargingllcredltlngl.. 31.3.25 31.3.14 Auditors. remuneratlon Depreciation - owned asset5 Surplu5 on disposal of fixed assets Operatlng leases 9,924 19,952 16781 4.3 8,216 13,096 4,39) Excludlng the acti￿tIeS of the subsidiary, W.N.C.T. Enterprfses Limited, The Chadty has a deficit In funds for the year before ga1n511os5e5 ￿ Investmwts of £389,19712024'. £7,286 deflcltl. Page 29 continued... WorCesterthi￿ Wildlife TN$t Notes to the Flnancial Statements- contlnued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 10. TRUSTEES, REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS There Kere no truslees, rernuneraticn or other benefit5 for the year ended 31 March 2025 ncr for the year ended 31 March 2024. Tntstees. expenses ENpenses of 115012024: CI,7111 were pald to 1 12024- 31 Trustees. These expenses are In relatton to mlleage and reirnbjrsements. 11. STAFF COSTS CHARITY 31.3.25 31.3.24 Wage5 and salaries s￿aL securfly Costs Ixher pewlon costs 1,¢)40,B35 93.816 149,040 9TL,228 86,221 139,783 1 283 691 1 198 232 GROUP 31.3.25 31.3.24 WaEe5 and 5alarles Social securfty eosts Other pension cost5 1,12Q,848 101,092 158 116 1,042,753 92,369 145,966 1 281 088 The above stated pens11￿ costs Include pen￿￿ defldt pawrents of £53,10812024.' E51,559I. The average fflonthly number of employee5 durlnq the year was as folioh5: 31.3.25 41 31.3.24 36 Charlty Average I￿adcol￿t Group Average ￿ad￿JTht 44 39 The nthnber of employees employee ￿nefIts.[exclUdITrS employer Fen51cffl cost51 exceeded £60,LM)O was.. 31.3.25 31.3.24 £60,￿1 . É70,¢￿0 The key rnan4gem¢nt personnel, CO￿lst of the Chlef Executfve, recelved employee beneflts of £81,53912024: £79.4961. Page 30 contlnued... Worce5ter5hire Wlldlife Trust Note5 to Ihe Financial Statements - contlnupd fDT the Yeav Ended 31 March 2025 12. COMPARAnVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANaAL AcTIV￿lEs Unrestricted fund Deslgnated fund Restricted fund5 Total funds INCOME AND EMDOWMENTS FROAI Donation5 and legacles 943.459 364,306 51.378 1,359,143 Charftable activities Land Manasemenl Grant Communlcaf1on5 and Engagement Wider CountryS7de 270,646 15,468 37,482 98.153 63,705 327.658 368,799 79,173 3n,592 7,452 Other trad1ng actfvlties Inyestment income Other income 220,642 103,140 38,868 2.646 Z23,288 103,140 44,219 1.351 Total 1.629.705 378,404 542.245 2,550,354 EXPENDMJRE ON Ra151ng fund5 593,013 62,ffj3 62,492 717,558 Charllable actlwties Communicalions and Engagement Wléer Countryside Resetves 125,565 188,071 837,342 105.301 6.106 31,899 135.546 207.129 201,783 366,412 401,306 1,071,024 Total 1,743,991 205,359 606 950 Net gain5 on inve5trnent5 125 819 125 819 NET INCOMEIIEXPENDITUREI 298,864 164,7051 123.2971 119,873 Transfers bètween funds 23,297 Net movement In funds IW,9891 298,864 188.CQ21 119.873 RECONCIUATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 5,501,857 3,895,on 8,240,802 17.637,731 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 5,410,868 4,193,936 8,152,800 17,757,604 Page 31 continued... Worce51er5hlre Wildllfe Tnjst Noies 10 the Financial Statements - contlnued for the Year ETrded 31 March 2025 TANGIBLE FIXED ASs￿s CHARITY Narure & freehrAd property Leasehold property Solar panels COST At 1 April 2024 Addltions sposals 13,782,551 45,aLKI 9,637 At 31 March ZOZ5 13,7B2.551 45,0(X) 9,637 DEPRECIAIION At 1 April 2024 Charge fly year Ellminated on disposal 4,960 496 ,673 964 At 31 March 2025 5,456 9,637 NET BOOK VALUE At 31 March 2025 13,782.551 39.544 At 31 March 2024 13,782,551 964 Offlce equlpment and flttkngs Motor vehlcles Ccthwter equipment Totals COST At 1 April 2024 Addltlons Di5posa15 218.766 68.183 12,048 18,0281 106,342 19.554 132.6631 14,230,479 31,￿2 19,8791 At 31 March 2025 208,887 93,233 DEPRECIATION At l Aprll 2024 Charge for year Eilminated on thswsal 2(kn,751 3,758 19,8421 68,183 3,012 18.0281 95,499 10,549 132,6631 334.066 18,779 50.5331 Al 31 I￿r£h 2025 200,667 63,167 73,385 352,312 NET BOOK VALUE At 31 March 2025 8,2ZO 9,036 13 859,199 At 31 March 2024 12,015 10,843 13.846,413 At 31 March 2021. an Informal desktop valuation was pèrfom)ed In hausè on the nature resetves to review the value for irnpaimient, the value calculated was £12.9m therefore the trustees beliEYe there 15 no impairment. Page 32 continued... W￿ceSter￿￿re Wildllfe Trusr Note5 to the FIDanclal sfaternent5 coiillnued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 TANGIBLE NXED A$S￿5- contlnued GROUP Nature re5erve5 freehold Properly Leasehold property Solar panels COST At 1 *pril 2024 Additions DIsp￿al$ 13,782,551 45,( 9,637 Al 31 March 2025 13,782,551 45,C 9,637 DEPRECIATION At 1 Aprll 2024 Charge for year Eliminated on disposal 4.960 496 8,673 964 At 31 March 2025 NET BOOK VALUE At 31 March 2025 13,782,551 At 31 Kirch ZOZ4 13,782,551 40,040 964 Office equipment and Motc vehlcle5 Computer equlpment Tota15 COST Af 1 Aprll 2024 Additions SP05a15 226,887 82,698 12.048 18,0281 108,263 21,815 132,6631 14,255,036 33,863 150,5701 19,8791 AL 31 March 2025 86,718 97.415 14.238.329 DEPRECIATION Af 1 Aprll 2024 Charge for year Ellmlnated on d1sposal 214,357 3,887 19,8421 82,698 3,012 18,0281 95,981 11,593 32.6631 406,669 19,952 150.5331 At 31 March 2025 208,402 77,68Z 74.911 376.088 BOOK VALUE Al 31 March 2025 8.606 9.036 22, 13,862.241 At 31 March 2024 12,530 13,848,367 At 31 March 2021, an infomial desktop valuadon was perf¢¥7ned In house or the natwe reseryes to revlew the value for impaimient, value calculated was £12.9m therefore the rrustees believe there is no impalrment. Page 33 contlrnued... Worcestershlre ￿[dITfe Tru Notr•t to Ihe Finat).rlal SratetYEnts- cwtlTrued for ihe Year Ended 31 March 2025 14. FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS Cash and settlements pending Llsted investments Totals IAIRKET VALUE At 1 Aprtl 2024 Additions DistK)5als Revaluatlcns Movemeni In cash 3.290.385 844,216 1826,8641 1129.1981 92,554 3,382,939 844,216 1826,8641 1129.1981 56 2681 56 2681 At 31 March 2025 3,178,539 36,286 3,214,825 NET bOOK VALUE At 31 March 2025 3,178,539 36,286 3,214,825 At 31 hiarch 2024 3,29),385 3,382.939 The at￿e Market Value ol listed investments tan be analysed as follow5.. 31.3.25 Asia Bond5 33.014 393,723 171,330 105,058 229,600 55,191 436.607 203,683 1,550,323 36,286 10.L¥)O European Global Japan North knerica UK Stock COIF Ethical Investmetbt fwid Cash Accournt WNCT 3,224,825 Due to a change In the Rathbones portfolio this Is the new split of analysis for the MV of Ilsied Snve$tsnent5. Comparat1ve and CY to be shown year ended 31.3.26. Flxed asset investrnents are held pr5marfly to prowde an Investm￿[ return and ale a551gned to the Conservatlon Development Deslgnated Fund. The Investment figure in the Compony BaLince Sheet also Include5 £10,WO 12024.. E10.CrfJOI whlch Is rhe nominal value of the share5 held in its wholly owned 5ub51diary W.N.C.T. Enterprlse5 Llmlted Ico No 019915321. Thls Is ellminated on consolidation and, hence, is not included in the Group Balance Sheet. There are no fixed a55et investment held within WNCT Entertlises Ltd balance sheet. Cosi or Valuat1L￿ at 31 M)rch 2025 Is rewesented by.. Cash and settlements pending Llsted Investments Tota15 Valuation in 2025 Cost 3,176,539 3,178,539 36,286 3,178,539 36,286 3.214,825 Page 34 coTrtiTrued... WL>rce5ter5hlre Wlldlife Trust Notes to the Flnancial Staternent5- continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 14. FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS- ¢ontlnued The ccmpanys inve5trnents al the balance sheet da￿ In the share capltal of companle5 Include the fcAlovAng'. W.N.C.T. Enterprises Ltd Reg15tered office.. Nature of business: Envlrormental Cc￿Su1tancY Class of share= Ordinary holding 100 31.3.25 31.3.24 Aggregate capital and re5erve5 Profil for the year 14,902 1,147 13,755 1,341 The Charity has a vtholly owned tradlng subsidlary, whlch 15 incorporated in the Unlted Kingdcm. The prlnclpal actlvity of W.N.C.T. Enterprtse5 Limited is that of enVIr￿Mental consultancy work. The Company covenant5 It5 taxable prof115 to Worcestershire Wildlife Trust. A SLrnrnary of trading results is shovm belDW. Audlted accwnt5 are flled rhe Registrar of Companles. This summary include5 tran5aitionswith Worcestershlre WlldllfeTw5t whlch have been eliminated on consclidaticffj. 31.3.25 31.3.24 Turnover 171,364 192,551 C05t of Sale5 32 8871 Gr055 Profit 136,492 159,664 Administrative expenses General adrninistralive expenses DeprÈElati 1120,2221 1108,1291 108,7811 Net prolft for the year 15,096 50,883 Retalned11055llproflt In Subsidlary bmwd Covenanted to WorEe5ter5hire Wlldllfe Trust 13,9491 49,5421 Rets1ned Ilo55l/proflt In Subsidiary 1,341 Net a55ets heid In Subsldlary Page 35 conlinued... Wcfcertershlre Wildllfe Trust Notes to the Flnanclal Staternent5- COThtlnued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 15. DEBTORS: AK)UNTS FALLING DIE WITHIN ONE VEAR CHARrrY 31.3.25 31.3.24 Trade debtors W.N.C.T. Enter￿Se$ Llmlted othw debtors VAT Accrued Income Prepayments 39,n8 33,890 573 34,866 274,105 73,632 80,986 2,002 21,(*5 307,229 65,458 453.834 550.372 GROUP 31.3.25 31.3.24 Trade debtors Other dEbtor$ VAT Accwed Income Prepayments 58,319 688 28.379 274,105 83.982 ILK$2 17,621 307.229 65.458 432.163 476 292 16. cRED￿OR5. AMOUNTS FALLI￿ DUE WITHIN ONE YLIR CHARITY 31.3.25 31.3.24 Trade credl¢ors Soclal secutfjty other Laxes Qther cred5tors AccnA expense5 111,837 380 144,979 20,641 26,786 128 522 216,569 GROUP 31.3.25 31.3.24 Trade credltors Soclal securfty and other taxes Other credltors AccrLEd expenses 112,927 146.798 20,641 50.n2 149.421 242,324 17. LEASING AGftEE￿ENTS Mfnlmum lease pawnents under ncfi."cancellable operatlng leases fall due as follows: 31.3.25 31.3.24 thln one year Between one and five year5 1..829 4,3 1,829 Page 36 contlnued... Worcesterthlre Wlldllfe Trust Noie5 lo the Flnanclal Statement5- COTrtlnued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 18. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETrIEEN FUNDS 31.3.25 Total funds 31.3.24 Total funds Unrestricted lund De5i8nated fund Restricted fund5 Fixed a55ets Investment5 Curreyt a55ets Current Ilabllltles Penslcn liablllty 5,928,266 36,186 1434,7441 1149,4211 264,800 3,178,539 694,040 7,669,175 13,862,241 3,214,825 737.944 1149,4111 1498,6011 13.848,367 3,382,939 768,6Z2 1242,3241 478,648 1498,6011 5,380,387 3.638,778 8,147,823 17,166,988 17,757.ÉU4 19. mo1￿1•ENT IN FUNDS Net movement In funds Transfers between funds At 31.3.25 At 1.4.24 Unrestricted fund5 General fund Designated fund 5.410,868 4.193.936 170,7901 1547,5341 40,309 17,6241 5,380.387 3,638.778 9,604,804 1618,3241 32,685 9,019,165 Re5tMct*d funds Re5trTCted fund5 8,152,BC 27.708 132,665 8.147,823 TOTAL FUNDS 17,757,￿4 1590,6161 17 166 988 Net moverrent in funds. included In the above are as follows.. Incomlng resources Resourc expendÈd Gains and 1055e5 Movement in lund5 Unrestricted fund5 General fund Designated fund 1,757,852 355 514 11,828,642 847.21 170,7901 547,5341 55 8311 2,113,366 12,529,1251 155,8311 1618,3241 Re5trfcted fund5 Restricted funds 649.843 1622,135 27,708 TOTAL FUNDS 2,763,209 3,297,994) 55 8311 590,6161 Page 37 continued... w￿Ces[er￿1re Wildlife Trust Notes to the Flnancial Statemenrs - contlnued lor the Year Ended 31 March 2025 19. MOVEKNT IN FUNDS- céntlnued Comparatlve5 for rnovement in funds Transfers between funds tnovernent in [￿d5 At 31.3.24 At 1.4.23 Unrestricted funds General fund Designated fund 5,501,857 3,895.072 1114.2861 298,864 23.297 5,410,868 4.193,936 9,396,929 184,578 23,297 9,604,804 Restrlcted funds Re5trlcted funds 8,240,802 164.7051 123,2971 8,152.800 TOTAL FUNDS 17,637 731 119,873 17,757,604 Cc¥nparatlve net movement in funds, kncluded In at#y4e are as follows.. IrKoming resources Resources expended Galns and losses MoverrEnt in fund5 Unrestrlcted fund5 General fund De51gnated fund 1,629,705 37B,404 11,743,991 205 3591 1114.2861 29E,864 125 819 2,(K18,109 11.949,3501 125,819 184,578 Restrl¢ted lund5 Restrfcted funds S42,245 1606,9501 164,7051 TOTAL FUNDS 2,550,354 2.556 3DJI 125,819 119 873 Deslgnated Fund The funds of the Chadty tnclude5 the thignated fund, *thid) have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the Trustees for skEcific purposes. Thè d&5ignaied fund ha5 been sel aside for the purFx)se of C(￿$eryatI0n and develryneni projects. The truttees have reviewed the reserves above and rnade aFVTt¥)riate tran5fer5 to reflect the true posltlffi. Page 38 continued... Worce5ter5hire Wlldlife Tnjst Note5 to the Financlal Starements - contlnLEd for ihe Year Ended 31 March 2025 MOVEMENT IN FUNDS- contlnued Restricted Funds The fund5 of the Charity are restrlcted funds tomprising the followlng'.- Openlng balance Incowing Resources Resources Expended Transfers Between Funds Closing balance Ffxed A55ets: Gwen Finch Hunt House Wood Penorchard Hlll Court Farm Lower smite Fami San4J5 Lane Meadows Baynhall Meadow Boynes Meadows Hollybed Fami Blackhouse Wwd Graftoll WOLVJ Marrley HoOl￿de W(M)d Sevem Waste Vehicle Grant Merrie5 Farm Helen Matkane55 Re5eNe Hard%*ick Green Nash'5 Meadows Tor Copplte @ Knapp & Papermill R05ebank Coppice Mob Squinton Wood Rawling5 Meadow Dropping Well farm Green Farm @ m￿k￿￿j Romsley IAanor Farm Meadow 214,860 252,210 230.248 1,637,855 1.660,215 110,245 21,120 157.689 394,661 436,779 237,063 37,8 214,860 252,210 230,248 1,637,855 1,660,215 110,245 21,120 157,689 394,661 436.779 237.063 37,8(K) 17,553 23.408 367,998 234,880 60.000 17,553 23,408 367,998 234,880 60,(MM) 3,5CI) 30.(MKJ 28.2￿) 897,902 416,658 198,310 3,50) 30,(KJO 28,200 897,902 416,658 198,330 7.669 175 7,669,175 Net Current Assets.. Woodland5 Fund / Mr & Mr5 Clark Sevem Trenr Catchmeni Partnershlp Agrtcultural Advice Savlng Worcestershlre's HÈathland5 Pound Green Ccmmon Re5toratlon Green Farn) - Reaching Out lo Ancient W(M)dland Rotnsley Manor Farn7 Meadows Nextdoor Nature Sevem Tree￿apeS Natural Networks v2 NeighbourhoDds Nurturlng Nature 10,955 10,955 124.489 1124,4891 Z96,490 21,176 150,7741 266,892 2,051 14,340 110,9251 5,466 47.766 21,404 146,2321 22,938 36,643 14,5151 32,128 2,739 14.222 40,156 74,402 76,840 113,6431 140,1561 174,4031 1116,5321 14851 140,1771 Page 39 contlnued... Worcestershire Wildllfe Trusi Notes to the Financial Statements- continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 19. IOVEW£Nf IN FUNDS - contlnued Opening balance Incoming Resources Resources Expenthd Transfers Between Funds Closing balance LSF Visitor Facilities ImproveYnent5 Up￿n Warren DEFRA Specles Recovery 5evem Wye Nature Partnershlp Protectlng Wor￿stershI￿e's Hidden Rainforests Forest of FeckeTrham I Trenth W(x)d expwsion 13421 231 15251 5,620 16,9281 11,8331 58,332 88,195 1112,9821 33,545 14501 168,999 113,7831 154,766 17501 (7,(X141 17,7541 452,424 649.843 ￿62? 135 478 648 rotal Re5trirted Fund5 of Char5ty .121,599 649,843 1622.1351 11,4841 8,147.823 E11rnina￿d on c￿s011￿all0n 31,201 31 2011 Total Consolldated Re5trlcted Funds 8,152 800 622 135 649843 8147823 Various reserves- either gifted to the trust with resirtctfi￿s attached ￿ bcdjght from donations and funds raised for a r￿trIcted purpose. Ail acquired in line wth the Trust's objectives, to advance, proxnote and furlher the con*rvation and protection of Nature Reserves which Shall be owned, rnaintained or managed by the Trust., to study and further the conservation, rèstoration and ueatlon of places of natural beauty. zoological, totanical, ecological. geological, or general scientlflc interest, and to protnote, encourage and carry OUL study and r￿earch for the advancement of knowledge the natural sclences. Transfers between fund5 Transfers between fund5 have been made In tIE yearfor 5kEcial projects Supported by the conservation development fund and unrestricted funds. Page 40 contlnLEd... Wrycesterthire Wildlife Trust Note5 to the Financlal Staièm@ntS- ¢￿tInUed for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 zo. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS The followin8 ernployers are the sponsoring employer5 of a defined benefit Fen5ion liabilities held in the Scheme In the UK, hvhich provide5 retlremenr benefits based on members, salaries when they left employment. Further Employers may have defined cmrrlbutlon benefits held within the Scheme. but these Employers are not shown here. Bedfordshire. Cambr7dgesh1re, Northamptan5hire Wildlife Trust Derbyshire Wlldlife Tru5l E55ex Wildlife Trust Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust Lanca5hlre Wlldlife Trust Leicestershire and Rutland Wfldllfe Trust Leice5Lershire Wlldlife ISale51 Ltd Lincolnshlre Wlldllfe Trust Nott1nghamshire Wildlile Trust Scottish Wildlife Trust Sheffield and RothErham Wlldlffe Trukt The G￿en Egtate Ltd Sussex Wildllfe Trust Rsv￿ Wildlife Trust Worcesterthire Wildllfe Trust WCT Enterprfses Ltd The assets of the Scheme are held in a separately admln15tered fund and the Scheme Is adtnln15tered by the Trn5tees Ilndependent of the Etnployersl who are responsible for Ènsurlng that the Scheme Is sufficiently funded to me@t current and futu￿ obllgarion5. However, the assels and liabilities are not segrègated between the ErnplDyers. The IlablLltle5 Set out Tn thls note have been calculated based on the preliminary result5 af the full Scheme Fundlng Asse55ment a5 al 1 April 2022, updated to 31 March 2Q25. The pr￿eTrt Yalue of the defined benefit obligation was tneasured using the projecied unii credli meiho(S. The Ewnployers have agreed a fund1ng pian ￿th the TnJ5tees. ￿erebY c￿￿tributiOnS are made into the Scheme In order to remove the funding deflcii based on each Etnployer's share of the totsl Scheme 11abilltles, calculated by Ihe kherne Actuary as at the most recent SCh&￿e FunLfinE Assessrnent Icurrently, 1 AWIL 20221. The dixloyJres set out below ar? based on calculalion5 carried a5 at 31 March 2025 by an Inthpendeni quallfled actuary. The am￿Trts reco8ni5ed in the StatemenL of FIna￿la[ Activltles are as follows: Defined benefit pen5i(n plans 31.3.25 31.3.24 Current se￿Ce c05t Net Interest fr￿n net defined beneflt as5etlliability Past semce c05t 13,0291 599,108 12,noi 596,D79 Actual retum m plan a55ets 29 3251 Page 41 continued... Worcesrer5hlre Wlldlife Trust Note5 ¢0 the Financlal Staternents - contlnued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 20. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT OBLIGAnONS. contlnued Changes in the p￿sent value of the deflned benefit obll8ation are a5 lollow5: Defined be￿fiL nsi(m plans 31.3.24 31.3.25 Opening defined benellt obligation Past ser￿￿ c05t Interest cost Actuarial Ios5e51lgaln51 Benefits paid 891,103 599,108 39,8LKJ 889,845 38,431 7,763 40 3511 1,344,139 891,103 Changes in the fair value of 5therne a55et& aTe as follaws.. Deflned t*neflt pension plans 31.3.25 31.3.24 Openlng falr value of scheme assets ConlributlOn5 by employer Expected retum Actuarial gainslllossesl 8enefits paid Admini5tratfffi expenses 891,103 55,056 42.829 172,1541 140.3511 889,845 53,450 120,8081 144,9361 891 103 The amount5 recogn15ed in other recognised gain5 and losses are as follow5: Defined beneflt pens1￿ plans 31.3.25 31.3.24 Actuarial gainslllossesl 73,367 The major calegories of scheme assets as a pprcenta8e of total scheme assets are a5 follows.. Deflned bèneflt pens7￿ plans 31.3.15 21% 11% 31.3.24 25% Overseas Eouitle5 Diver51fled Growth Funds UK Government Fixed Inierest B UK G(Nernment Index Linked Bon UK Ci*parate Bonds 9% 34% 1B% 3% 10% 43% 14% 1% Cash Alternative5 100% io(yx The pen5iM scheme not Invèsted in any of worceSte￿hire Wildlife Trust & WNCT Enterprises Ltd5 own financlal Instruments, nor in proFerties or Dther a55et5 Used by Worcestershire Wildlife Trust & WNCT Enierwises Ltd. The assets are all quoted In actlve tTharket5. Page 42 coniinued... Worcwtershlre Wlldlife Trust Not@s iti tlie Finai)cial 5tatements- cwtinued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 20. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS. contTnued Principal actuarlal a55ufflpIicx)5 at the ￿lance Sheet date lexpressed as welghted average51.' 31.3.25 5.80% 3.30% 2.75% 31.3.24 4.85% 3.40% 2.75% Dfjscount raie RPI inflation CPI inflation Llfe expectancy of a tnale aied 65 at the Balance Y)eet Date Life expectancy of a male aged 65 In ZO year5 from the Balance Sheet date Life expectancy of a fernale a£ed 65 at the Balance Sheet Date Life expectancy of a female agÈd 65 in 20 years frtyr the Balance Sh￿t Date 31.03.25 31.03.24 22.3 22.3 23.6 23.6 Z4.8 24.8 Z6.2 26.2 31.3.25 Rate of increase to pensi￿$ In payment=Flxed 5% paRPI max 5% pa Mortality Itefore and after reifjrernenti 31.3.24 4.85%3.40% 4.85%3.40% 96% S3PMI 195% $3PFACMI 96% 53PIM 195% 53PFACMJ 2023 MIFI1.Z5%1 lyobl, 2022 MIF{1.25%1 lyobl, withA- 0.5%,S - 7.0,w2Q2a - wthA= 0.5%,5- 7.0,w2010 O%,w2021 = 0%,w2022= O%,w2021- O%,w2022 - 15%w2023- 15% 25% 21. RELATED PARTY DISCL05URES The Trust Is aff>liared to The Royal Scclety of Wildllle Trusts IRS￿1, a registered Charfty that acts as an urnbrelLq group fDr couniy wildllfe trusts, and prjvides assistance apd co-DrdinatÈon of activities camp3igninq ai a UK Itvel. An annual cmtribulTOn is payable lo RS￿, Included wlthin Charitable Exp¢nthture. amounting io (48,870 12024.. £48.8701. The Trusi 3150 purchased publicati1￿S and other sundnes froM Ihe Rswf amounting to 122,679 12024.. £18,7601. The Trust also tnade Sales to Rswf of Cnll12024.. £4,4771. Al the year end there was a balance of E314 12024: E5311 due to RSW. South West Wlldllfe Fundralslng Ltd ISWWFLI, a company whlch the Trust has Invested Tn to boost meFnbershlp recrultrnent and ha5 an tynployee on the Board, M Perry. The Trust pald C195.63012024.. £131,697) to SWWFL for services in the year and there wa5 a balance due to SWWFL of 15,638 12024.. £8,357) at the year end. The Worcester Biological Record5 Centre IWBRCI is a *parate legal entlty opÈraithg on the Trust's sile. A Muir Trustees of the Trust, are al50 irustees of WBRC. Durfng the year, WBRC paid ￿ rent of C1,3(M) 12024.. C1,(QOI and paid WBRC £10,5C¥I 12024.. £10.5Tr)I the majority of whlch wa5 for an SLA. At the year end, INII 12024: £2501 was due to the Tru&t. All cwnecied transact10115 occurred ot arm's length. Page 43