Annual Report 2020 -21
This report covers activities from 1[st] July 2020 to 30[th] June 2021
Introduction
Over this period most of our work has focussed on the continuing development and maintenance of Gorse Hill Nature Reserve and this report concentrates on our progress and the monitoring of our flora and fauna. The Management Committee met once a month during this reporting period and sub groups met regularly to progress Publicity and Project Development; the principal officers are the Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary.
Gorse Hill
All the work on the Reserve is carried out by volunteers; we have no paid staff. Volunteer work parties meet every Wednesday and Saturday. There is also a group of adults with learning difficulties that work on the Reserve on Fridays. Open Sundays are run on the first Sunday of the month from April - September with a cafe and guided walks. The Reserve provides a wide diversity of habitats from ponds and wetlands to meadows, woodland and heathland; encouraging small mammals, birds (both resident and migratory), insects and amphibians.
Covid 19
Our volunteer programme resumed on a restricted number basis from June 2020, following official guidelines and with a strict cleaning regime. There were numerous revisions of our risk assessments and further restrictions in October put us into tier 3 lockdown. The lockdown period brought a huge influx of visitors over the winter and spring but sadly brought much extra litter picking duties, particularly on the Outcrop area.
Woodland
Some thinning took place in Willow Bank and Bluebell Woods and our log storage bays filled with the addition of wind-blown trees. Six new log storage/drying bays were constructed. Hedges were flailed according to our three-year rotational programme before the February cut-off point for breeding birds. New woodlands were planted up in two corners of Triangle Wood Meadow and remaining trees lined out for future transplanting. The annual bird box maintenance took place, with 134 boxes completed by early January 2021.
A one-way route was maintained through Cabin Wood (apart from when the sheep were resident in November), snowdrops clumps were divided and bramble kept in check
Meadows
Haymaking took place in August and September, the timing dictated by the weather and technical issues. One of our tractors broke mid harvest with a broken hydraulic pump, leaving us to carry on with only one tractor – a much slower process. We relied upon a small army of 20 volunteers to load trailers in the fields and unload the bales and stack in the barn because the broken tractor had the loader and bale grab attached.
Over the winter one of the copses in the 5Acre was enlarged and sheep fencing extended round it. Covid restrictions meant we could not hold our normal National Garden Scheme event but visitors could follow a one-way route through
Cabin Wood and the 5Acre and were at least able to enjoy the spectacle of wildflowers at their best.
Polytunnel
We again enjoyed a selection of cucumbers, chillies, courgettes, tomatoes, leeks and potatoes and over the winter the beds were prepared for the 2021 crop to include kale, chard, beans and sprig onions. A small pond was created in a corner to encourage frogs that will act as biological controllers of pests. Three new storage bays were created using recycled concrete garage wall sections and for the bases we mixed our own concrete. The bays are now used for storage of woodchip, rubble and sand.
Orchards
The orchard team were well organised and maintained the trees with summer pruning, controlling grass growth under the trees and preventing lower branches rubbing on the sheep fencing round each tree in the 12Acre Field. Despite this work, the harvest was disappointing with some varieties not producing any apples for the first time and others being less prolific. Despite this we were able to make 600 bottles of apple juice and arrange a restricted apple day that proved to be the U.K.’s wettest day on record.
The kindling shed in the corner of the car park was moved into the Heritage Orchard, where it now serves as storage for our apple collecting trays.
Other Matters
Covid and the attendant restrictions led to reduces activity across all our work, particularly where close personal contact was required. Workshop activities were seriously curtailed, signage renovation, bird and insect box making and small machinery repairs all suffered whilst education and other group visits stopped.
Finance and Administration
Our main income streams have come from grants, hay and log sales, subscriptions and gift aid. More detailed finances can be found in the annual accounts for this period.
Conclusion
We are very grateful to the many volunteers who give up their free time to help with the work developing Gorse Hill Nature Reserve. We could not have achieved any of this without the dedication of our volunteers and supporters.
J.Atkins B.Sc. C.Biol. MSB Secretary to the Trust
INCOME EXPENDITURE REPORTJUL 20- JUN 2021 Currenl Account OnIng Balance Total Income Totsl Expendibjrn Closlng Balanc• 1•tJuly 2020 £24,467,80 £26.180.95 É19.850.OS £30.798.70 30th June 2021 Pelty Cash Opening Balance Drawn from Current Petty Cash Spent Closing BaJaneÈ 1stJuty2020 £199.48 £100.00 £101.60 £197.88 30th June 2021 Summary 012020-2021 Assets at 1st July 2020 Cash at Bank Petty Cash Totsl cash E30.798.70 £197.88 £30.996.58 Assets Changes In 202&X121 Total Income Totsl Expenditure (less petty cash drdTwn) Pety Cash st A56et Change in yoar £SO,648.75 19.750.05 4101.60 £30.797.10 Assèts at30th Jtsne 2021 Cash at Bank Petty Cash Total cash Nat Chang¢ In Assets £30.798.70 £197.88 £30,996.58 £30,797.10 THE ABOVE IS A FAIR AND TRUE RECORD OF THE STATE OF THE ACCOUNTS OF IIORYH IsT ECOLOGICAL TRUST FOR THE FINANCIAL PERIOD ENDING 30TH JUNE 2D21 Hon Tr*a$ur•r Kate Wildman Hon Audltor Dated lan Cul¥haw Trustees Datgd Der•k Atkins /0 2/L3 Jon an Atklns o- John Bery
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent ExamiT)er s Report Report to the truste members of j North Wèst EtxAogical Tnst On accounts for the year ended 3010812021 Charlty no (If any) 327788 I report to the tnjstees on my examination of the accourrts of the above chanty (Ihe Trusf) for the year ended 3010612020. As the chanty's trustees. you are responsible for the preparaion of the )unts in aLr0rdan with the requirements of the Charities Ad 2011 (Yhe Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trusfs accounts carried out under section 145 of Ihe 2011 Ad and in carrying out my examination, I have fdlowed 211 the applic2ble Oirections given by the Charity Commission under se(on 145{5)(b) of the Ac. Responsibilities and basis of report Independent examinerfs ststement I have ¢xwnplet8d my examinati(. I cx)nfimi that no material matters have come to my attention in conneclion wilh the examination which gives me cause to believe that in. any material respect.. the accounting rrdS were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Ad. or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or Ihe a)unIS did not comply with the applicable requirements cOnming the form arKI content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Rerxfyrts) ReguLgtions 2008 other than any requirement the ac(x>unts give a 'true and fairf view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the acwunts to be ached. Signed: 3rd January 2022 Name: lan Culshaw Relevant professional qualifKatlonls) or body (rf any): Address: 27 Westover Road. Maghull LiverFthI L317BT