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2021-12-31-accounts

Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists’ Society

Founded 1869

Registered charity 291604

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE PERIOD 01 JANUARY 2021 TO 31 DECEMBER 2021

CONTENTS

CONTENTS
Charity Information 2
Trustees’Report 2
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Introduction		 2
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Organisation		 3
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Trustee names and responsibilities		 3
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Objectives and public beneft		 4
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Achievements and activities		 4-7
Financial review 7
Statement of Financial Ac�vi�es 8
Declara�on 8

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CHARITY INFORMATION

Founded: The Society was founded in 1869 and registered as a charity in 1985. Charity number: 291604

Governing document: Constitution adopted on 4 March 1983 as amended on 22 March 1985, 16 March, 1999, 21 March 2006, 10 March 2015, 12 March 2019, 10 March 2020 and 23 March 2021.

How the charity is constituted: Unincorporated charitable association

Registered address : (Honorary Secretary) James Emerson, 108 Sleaford Green, Norwich, NR3 3JT

Independent Examiner: Martyn Benstead, Stephenson Smart, Fakenham

Bankers: Barclays Bank PLC, St Stephen’s Street, 5-7 Red Lion Street, Norwich, NR1 3QH Website: www.nnns.org.uk

Email: membership@nnns.org.uk

Social media:

https://www.facebook.com/NorfolkNats and https://twitter.com/NorfolkNats

TRUSTEES’ REPORT

This report will be published on the Charity Commission’s website, where reports from previous years may also be found.

Introduction

The Council of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists’Society has pleasure in presenting this Annual Report and Financial Statement for the year ending December 31[st] 2021. Despite restrictions on public meetings due to the pandemic, membership of NNNS has risen steadily throughout the year to 675 members (653 at the end of 2020). Other activities have continued and the Society’s research efforts have expanded significantly, whilst the Membership & Events Committee is in the process of recruiting members to develop a more focused educational role.

In 2021 several trustees came to the end of their term in office or have stood down as members of Council and I thank them wholeheartedly for their service; Tony Irwin (Research Committee Chairman), Tim Hodge (Assistant Treasurer), Will Fitch (Council member) and Mary Goddard (Council member). We were delighted that Tony Irwin agreed to continue his association with the Society by becoming a Vice President, which was duly approved by the membership. Sincere thanks are also due to Carl Chapman, who stepped down as Society Chairman after four years in the role at the 2021 AGM, but continues on Council as Chairman of the Liaison Committee.

I remain very grateful for the support and dedication shown by all members of the NNNS Council and, on our members’behalf, thank them.

Tony Leech (NNNS Chairman) January 2022

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Organisation

The key management personnel of the charity are the Trustees, and the Society has no staff. The Society relies heavily on the voluntary work of the Trustees and many other volunteers, who make a vital contribution to the Society and for which the NNNS Council is very grateful.

Trustees are elected by the membership at the AGM either annually (Officers) or for three-year terms (members with no specific office). Trustees are aided on Council by Vice Presidents. These are members who have made major contributions to the study of natural history and have previously given long service on Council. They are elected for life by the membership and give advice, however they are not Trustees and do not vote at meetings.

Vice Presidents: R.E. Baker, A.L. Bull, R. Hancy, A.G.Irwin (from 23/03/21), P.W. Lambley, D.I. Richmond.

The Society President is nominated by Council to serve for one year and is a person who has made a significant contribution to the understanding of natural history. President until 23/03/21: Dr Jeff Price President from 23/03/21: Nick Acheson

Trustee names and responsibilities

The following individuals have held the position of Trustee during 2021.

Name Addi�onal role (if any), with dates in brackets
if the role changed during 2021
 Date served as Trustee
(if not whole year)
Tony Leech Chair (from 23/03/21)
Publica�ons Commi�ee Chair
James Emerson Secretary
Francis Farrow Assistant Secretary
Jim Froud Treasurer
Finance Commi�ee Chair
Membership & Events Secretary
Tim Hodge Assistant Treasurer
Finance Commi�ee Secretary		 Un�l 23/03/21
Tania Evanns Assistant Treasurer
Finance Commi�ee Secretary
 From 23/03/21
Carl Chapman Chair (un�l 23/03/21)
Liaison Commi�ee Chair
Tony Irwin
 Research Commi�ee Chair
 Un�l 23/03/21
Nicholas Mark Collins
Research Commi�ee Secretary (un�l 23/03/21)
Research Commi�ee Chair (from 23/03/21)
Danielle Engelbrecht Membership & Events Chair
Jo Parmenter Publica�ons Commi�ee Secretary
Liaison Commi�ee Secretary
Janet Higgins
 Research Commi�ee Secretary (from
23/03/21)
Will Fitch Un�l 23/03/21
Mary Goddard
 Un�l 23/03/21
Debbie Ashton
Tim Kemp
Trevor Williams
Alice Liddle
Sam Neal From 23/03/21

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Objec�ves and public beneft

The objec�ves of the Society are:

“ To promote, organise, carry on and encourage educa�on of the public and study and research for the advancement of knowledge in natural sciences and to protect endangered species ”

To furtherance of the above objects but not further or otherwise the Society may:

●Publish papers on the natural sciences, especially those rela�ng to Norfolk.

●Encourage the exchange of informa�on between naturalists by means of mee�ngs and excursions.

●Protect endangered species by the collec�on of informa�on, coopera�ve surveys, inves�ga�ons and the dissemina�on of the useful results of such inves�ga�ons.

●Do all such other lawful things as shall further the a�ainment of the above objects.

The Society was approved as a charity by the Charity Commission in 1985 in the category of “Environment/Conserva�on/Heritage”, and was deemed to benefit the general public as a Society that “ provides advocacy/advice/informa�on/sponsors or undertakes research ”

In carrying out our ac�vi�es this year the Trustees paid due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on providing public benefit.

Some of the key ac�vi�es rela�ng to these areas of public benefit in 2021 were:

Achievements and ac�vi�es

Events

The only field event to go ahead this year was a joint event in Norwich held in conjunc�on with the Friends of Earlham Cemetery, although a small group were able to meet at Whea�en in August to celebrate the opening of the new research library. We were however pleased to be able to put on a variety of online talks via Zoom, covering topics such as the rewilding project at Wild Ken Hill, ci�zen science, a biodiversity audit of the North Norfolk Coast and Ash dieback disease. Our thanks go to all of the excellent speakers who made these events work, including Carl Chapman, James Brown, Jeff Price, Rob Hawkes, James Gilroy and Daniel Salliss, Dominic Buscall, Sam Neal and Liam Smith,

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Jonah Tosney and Tom Russell Grant.

Educa�on of the public about the wildlife of Norfolk is a key aim of the Society and one that you will find running through the ac�vi�es described here. In addi�on to the talks, publica�ons, research and outreach carried out in 2021, “fungi for beginners” and “moths for beginners” workshops were well a�ended, whilst the Society had a stall at the popular Norwich Science Fes�val during their nature and environment day. Over the summer one of the Trustees also led several sessions introducing primary school children to the invertebrate life of Marston Marshes as part of an event organised by Eaton Vale Residents Associa�on.

We are looking forward to a return to face-to-face events as soon as possible in 2022.

Secretary – James Emerson

Publica�ons

The Society’s annual staples, the Norfolk Bird & Mammal Report and Transac�ons, were produced in 2021 although publica�on of the la�er has been delayed to the early part of 2022. The Norfolk Bird & Mammal Report, slightly larger than usual due to greater use of photographs, is selling well from the usual outlets, with a steadily increasing demand for direct online sales. Nick Owens is stepping down a�er edi�ng Transac�ons for six years; he has done a splendid job in maintaining the academic standards and interest levels in this publica�on which, as well as informing members, is placed in local and na�onal libraries.

Early in the year we published, as an Occasional Publica�on, Illustra�ons of Norfolk Plant Galls by Robert Maidstone, containing nearly 700 exquisite line drawings by the author. Emma Turner: a life looking at birds has proved to be popular and we are contempla�ng a reprint. Publica�ons on Norfolk whales and the Rev. Maurice Bird are in the pipeline.

Four issues of the Society’s quarterly bulle�n The Norfolk Na�erjack have con�nued to inform members about Norfolk’s wildlife and I am con�nually grateful to Francis Farrow for his efficient and competent editorship producing such an a�rac�ve and interes�ng publica�on.

Publica�ons Chair – Tony Leech

Research

The Research Commi�ee plans and implements the Society’s research programme. In February, Dr Tony Irwin stepped down as Chair a�er many years of service and was replaced by Dr Mark Collins. The Commi�ee supports members involved in the Society’s research projects, including the 40 County Recorders and dozen Specialist Groups. It fosters individual or joint inves�ga�ons, keeps records of work and releases results through the Society’s publica�ons.

In 2021 the Commi�ee closed the four-year project at Buckenham Carrs and the Chair

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prepared a full report for publica�on with inputs from County Recorders and Specialist Groups. Buckenham Carrs is an important element in the Broads Ramsar Wetland Site and the na�onal network of SSSIs. Its na�onally scarce vegeta�on types and ecological assemblages include many rare plants, birds and invertebrates. Based on thousands of hours of voluntary work, the study iden�fied a creditable 1600 species, but this may represent only a quarter of the total yet to be discovered at this important site. Thanks are due to Malcolm and Thomas Savory for allowing us to work at Buckenham Carrs.

The Commi�ee selected the newly designated Broadland Country Park for its next priority and entered into a three-year Memorandum of Agreement with Broadland District Council. Following the establishment of a Working Group to liaise with the Park Management, County Recorders, Special Interest Groups and other experts were invited to begin surveys. A topographic map of the Park’s 16 ecological compartments supported detailed studies of invertebrates, vascular and non-vascular plants, and mammals. Scarce species and new records have emerged and a detailed work programme is planned for 2022. The Society is grateful to the Park staff, Sarah Burston and Julia Kennelly, for their support, and to all members of the Research Commi�ee and Working Group for their guidance and advice.

NNNS member David Weaver was awarded the District Council’s 2021 Community at Heart Award for his dedicated work at the Country Park.

The Commi�ee par�cipated in the ground-breaking Barcoding the Broads project in partnership with the Earlham Ins�tute and DNA barcoding research will con�nue into 2022.

Research Commi�ee Chair – Nicholas Mark Collins MA PhD

Liaison Commi�ee

The func�on of the Liaison Commi�ee is to establish working rela�onships with other organisa�ons. The opera�ons of a commi�ee that is principally concerned with mee�ng people was once again curtailed by the pandemic. Mee�ngs where possible were conducted by Zoom and just when we thought things were ge�ng be�er the Omicron variant took hold. However, with the efforts of a dedicated commi�ee of Alice Liddle, Trevor Williams, Jo Parmenter and Bob Leaney many rela�onships and opportuni�es were developed during the course of the year.

The commi�ee sought out and put forward areas and projects for the Research Commi�ee to consider. Factual informa�on was presented on planning issues that protected wildlife within the county and funds were sought out for the development of projects that would revolu�onise bat and bird migra�on monitoring in the county.

Projects in 2022 that will be coming to the fore concern Roadside Nature Ru�onise bat and bird migra�on monitoring in the eserves and more monitoring and research possibili�es.

Liaison Commi�ee Chair - Carl Chapman

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Online presence

The Society’s website remains our ‘shop window’ to the world and is expertly maintained by Jim Froud. Amongst a wide range of content it includes links to our series of species guides and digitised volumes of our older publications – an exceptional amount of information made freely available. It also now features recordings of some of the online talks given by our guest speakers.

Social media has become an important way of connecting with both members and the wider public, allowing help with sighting identifications, sharing members’ wildlife sightings and the highlighting of interesting talks and ID resources from other likeminded organisations. The NNNS Twitter account had 916 followers at the end of 2021, whilst the Society Facebook page that functions mainly to promote our events was followed by 775 people. The Norfolk Wildlife Facebook page managed by Andy Musgrove on behalf of the Society now has an impressive 4440 members and is another important way of informing members and other wildlife enthusiasts about the work of the Society. A big thank you to Andy and his fellow Facebook group moderators.

Secretary – James Emerson

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Summary

Full details of the Society’s accounts can be found on pages 8 and 9. The total cash balance of the Society on 31st December 2021 was £127,223.

Reserves

Thanks to the receipt of various legacies in recent years, the Society’s finances are well above the amount required to cover the annual production costs of Transactions and the Norfolk Bird & Mammal Report , so that their publication is independent of the variability in cash flow from subscriptions and sales. Whilst the Society does not currently have a formal reserves policy, one will be proposed and adopted during 2022.

Risk Management

In recent years the Society’s main source of income has been via grants and legacies, followed by money from subscriptions. A decrease in membership would lower the amount of money being received, but would also result in savings on printing and postage of publications. The Treasurer, assisted by the Finance Committee, supplies Council with regular updates to allow the Trustees to make informed decisions about planned expenditure.

Plans for the Future Period

The Trustees are currently drawing up spending plans for both the short and medium term to ensure that the Society’s money is best used to address our aims. This has already begun with an increase in research spending during 2021 allowing a wide range of initiatives at Broadland Country Park.

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Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society Registered Charity 291604 1st January to 31st December 2021 RECEIPTS

1st January to 31st December 2021
Registered Charity 291604
RECEIPTS
RECEIPTS 2021 2020
Voluntary sources
Subscriptions - (Note 1)
Grants / legacies - (Note 2)
Donations -(Note 3)		 13,818
15,951
7,472		 13,141
14,329
1,505
Trading activities
Bird & Mammal Report sales
Sales of other publications
Other sales
Delivery and postage costs - (Note 4)
Workshopattendance fees -(Note 5)		 2,500
973
0
0
30		 2,593
1,524
1,232
0
90
Income from assets
Interest		 294 526
Total receipts 41,038 34,941
PAYMENTS
PAYMENTS 2021
Total		 2020
Total
Lectures & meetings
Room hire / speakers' expenses
Workshops - (Note 5)
Programme card printing
Exhibitions andpublicity		 414
0
0
84		 448
100
309
0
Publications - (Note 6)
The Transactions
The Bird & Mammal Report
Sales expenses, fees, postage
The Occasional Publications		 0
6,879
596
3,729		 7,542
6,497
45
7,520
Membership services - (Note 7)
Quarterly Natterjack - (inc. postage & stationery)
Postage to members and reminders
Paypal fees and welcoming new members - (Note 8)
Website		 2,904
88
168
103		 3,604
286
119
255
Research & education
Research
Education		 2,189
135		 349
0
Governance
AGM expenses: print+post
Public liability insurance
Consumables, envelopes, labels
(Note 9) - 2019 Committee for 150 year anniversary
Publication sales postage
Committee printing, stationery & postage
Sendingaccounts for examination		 112
655
85
2,591
598
0
11		 402
655
136
865
0
144
0
Totalpayments 21,342 29,276

Registered Charity 291604

Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society

1st January to 31st December 2021

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

2021 2020
Start of year balance
Movement in funds
Receipts
Payments		 107,527
41,038
21,342		 101,863
34,941
29,276
End of year balance
Assets at period end represented by:
Cash at Barclays
Paypal account unbanked
Teachers Saving A/c
Unbanked cheques
Less uncleared cheques		 127,223 107,527
28,743
166
98,314
0
0		 13,273
0
98,020
0
-3,766
End of year balance 127,223 107,527

Liabilities at period end:

Expenses incurred in 2021 but not claimed before the year ended, will be paid in 2022 Notes

J Froud - Treasurer 16/08/2022

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S UNQUALIFIED REPORT NORFOLK AND NORWICH NATURALISTS, SOCIETY REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 291604 Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists, Society I report to the trustees on my examinaiion of the accounts of Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists. So¢ieiy {'the chariiy.) for the year ended 31 December 2021 which comprise the summary of receipts and payments and the siaien]ent of assets and liabilities. This report is made solely to the charily's trustees. as a b(Kly, in a¢¢oTdance with Section 145 of the Charlties Act 2011. My work has been undertaken so ihai I might State to the charity's trustees those matters I am required to stale to (hem in this report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent ￿rmItted by law, I do not accepi or assume respon5ibilily to anyone other than the charity and the charily's trustees as a body. for my work. for thi5 report, or for the opinions I have fonned. Responsibilities and basi5 of report As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the account5 in accordance with the requlremenls of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act,). I report in respect of tny examination of the charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all Ihe applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5){b) of the Act. An independent examination does not involve gathering all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently does noi cover all the matter5 that an auditor considers in giving their opinion on the accounts. The planning 4ind conduct of an audit goes beyond the limited assurance that an independeni exaTninalion can provide. Consequently I express no audit opinion on the accoun1¥ and my report is limited io those specifjc matters set out in the independent examiner's staiement. Independent examiner's statement I have compleied my exatnination. I confirm thal no material matters have come to my attention in conneciion with ihe examination giving me cause lo believe that in any material respect: accounting records were nol kept in respeci of ihe charity as required by section 130 of Ihe Act. or

the accounts do not accord with those records. I have no concems Imd have come across no other mallers in connection with he examination to which attentlon should be drawn in ihis reFK)rt in order to enable a nderstanding of the accounts lo b¢ reached. Martyn Benstead FCCA FMAAT Stephenson Smart (East Anglia) Limited 10 Oak Street. Fakenham Norfolk NR219DY