Company number: 01019263 (England and Wales) Charity number: 501 D38 Durham Wlldllfe Trust (A Company Umlted by Guarantee) Report and Nnanclal Slatements For the Year Ended 31 March 2024
Durham Wildllfv Trust (A Company Llmited by Guaranlee) CONTENTS Pago Report of.the Trustees 1-13 Independent Audltors, Report 14-16 Consolldate(I Slalement of Financlal Aclivltles 17 Consolldated Balance Sheel 18 Charltable Company Balance Sheet 19 Consolldated Cash Flow Statement 20 Notes to the Flnanclal Statements 21-39
Durham Wildlife Trust (A,Company Limited by Guarantee) REPORT OF THETRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 ndm Durham Wildlrfe Trust is a charftzble company limit8d by guarantee that was first Incorporated on the 30th of July 1971 and does not have share cap_llal. The Members of the company are the Trustees who served durlng the year arid are named above."In the event oflhe charlly belng woun up, te Ifablli In respe of each mern er to£1. Durham Wildllfe Trust Umlted 15 g(wemed by its Memorandum and Articles of A5soclallon, whlch have been reviewed and amended slnce incorporation to ensure that they remaln fit for purpose. Those doGumpnt5 are supported by pollae5 and procedures that are deslgnad to ensure effective govemance of the charity's activlties and management, Anyune oan become a member of the charity by paylng a subscriplion and ellgiblé members can then Seek lo become 8 tru5te8. fT The charlty Is managed by a Board of Truslees who are Dlrectorg of the charitablé company, as well as Its Trustees. for the purpose of chariiy law. Throughout thls report they are feferred lo as Trustees. The officers of the Trust comprfse a Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. As setiout In the Artldes of Assoclatlon, all members aged 16 and over are ellglble to Joln lh8 Board of Twst88S, provlded they are not legally dlsquallfted from dolng so. The Board con51sts of not less than 10 and not more Ihan 15 elected members. The Trust's membershlp is notified of th8 Opportunity to seek election to the Board prior to the Annual General Meetlng (AGM). A Trustee recruilrnenl procedure Is In place and the Board conducts an annual audll of Trustees to Identlfy knowledge and skills gaps that the recrultmenl process can help to addres5. Follong a nomlnallon process, new Trusiees are appolnted at the AGM by a vote of the Trust members In attendance. Truslees elected In thls way Must retlre at Ihe fourth AGM follomfjng thelr election, although they are ellglble for re-decllon to serve a second 4-year tern. After thelr second 4-year.term Trustees musl Stand down for a mlnlmum of 12 months before they can seek re•election. The exceptlons to Ihls rule are the Chalr, can seNe for up to slx years, arKI the Treasurer, tho Is dected annually with no stipulation 0 the maxlmum perlod of office. Th8 Board may al80 Co-opt addillonal Trustees at any time and Trustees appointed by Ih15 rnelhod must retlre from office at the next Annual General Meeting.
Duiham Wlldllfe Trust (A Company Llmlted by Guarantee) REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 tion and Tralnin New Trustees Undertake an induction process set out In a written Inductlon procedure. Thls process provldes Infomiatlon on their legal obligations under charlty and cornpany18w and ihe management and operatlon of the charlty. An Induction pack Is provided and Indudes Items such as the governlng document, Board minules and audlted accounts. New Trustees also meet key &nployees of the charity and have the opporlunlty lo vislt Its nature reserve8 and current project sites. The charlty encourages further ongolng iralnlng for Trusiees, elther in-hou88 or through external provlders, to help them lo undertake their role. The Trustees 2dmlnlster the charily, sltting as memb8r5 of the Board. The Board rneels at least four times each year and a130 appolnls advlsary committees to provide speclalist conslderation and support. A Dlrector Is appolnted by the Trustees to manage the day to day operatlons of the charSly. Advlsory commlttees, which are usually comprised of several member5 of the Board, the Dkector and other sejnlor rnembers of staff rep.ort dlrecuy to the Board. St Remunorallon for all staff is based on comparison agalnsl simllar leS In Ihe'charlty Seclor. lrfatlon awards are applled equally to all eligible members of staff and the level of adrd Is declded by Trustee5 and Is only awarded If onsldered affordable. Trustees made a 5% Inflation award In April 2024. The total salary blll for the year ended 31st March 2024 for the Trust Dlreclor and 4 other members of the management team was £208,367 including employer penslon contributlons. During the year the hlghe515alary In the Trust was 2.79 times larger than the lowest salary. elated P I The charily delfvers many of Its cbJectlves through partnership )rkIng wlth olh8r voluntary groups, local authorltle8 and govemment agencles. There Is no formal repfesentallon of these partners on the charity's Board, Durlng the yegr no truslees clairned travelllng expenses {2023 - £nll> whlle engaged on Trust buslness and vdunteering. Thg charlty Is a member of the Roy81 Society of Wlldlrfe Trusts (Rs - charity number 207238>, vthlch aols as an umbrella body carrying out lobbylng. national campaigning and other functions on behalf of all Wlldllfe Trusts. Member charllles have the use of the Wlldlrfe Twsts logo and benefit frcfn the resources, best practlce and experlence of other member Trusts. .Membershlp gives Durham Wildlife TrLtst a natlonal vdce and profile, as well as respectability by assoclation for those unfamiliar wilh Ils work. However, each Member of the RSWT remains an entlrdy separate ¢harfty and ts Independent In ten5 of governance.
Durham Wlldllfe Trust (A Company Limtted by Guarantee) REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (Conllnued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 The Trustees regularly Identwy and revlaw the major r15ks the charity may face. Th55 infonnation Is used lo develop R18k Reglster, whlch records the systems and procedures which the charlly wlll implemenl to mitlgate the risks that h8ve been identified. The Finance, Audit and Flsk COTnmittee reviews the Rlsk Register at 6ach of its four meetlngs '8'year.- Attention Is alwdys pald to rfsks relatlng to Health and Safety and Safeguarding given the charity'5 work on practlcal land management and the engagement and educatlon of Children and adults. Health and Safety and Safeguarding are Items on'the agenda at every Board meetlng. Governance processes and Twst pollcles and procedures are revlewed on an annual basls to ensure they are fit for purpose and reflect current best praclice. Durham Wlldlrfe Trust began implementation of a new stralegy from 1st April 2023 - 2030 From Tees to Tyne. whlch will guide delivery by the charity In the Gomlng years. Th& strategy wfjll Insplre and encourage our staff, supporters r and partners to take the action needed to bring nature back between the Tees and the Tyne. Tha strategy aligns with intemallonal, UK 8nd Royal Soclely of Wlldllfe Trusts (RSWT) goals to deliver 30Y• of land and 88a protected for nature by 2030 (30 by 30). Thls global ambitlon will only be reallsed through effective local actlon by communities aGross the world. Durham Wlldllfe Trust's 2030 Strategy sets out our route map for how rking In.partnershlp wllh the people live and vK>rk between the Tees and the Tyne wlll dellver 30 by 30. The strategy Is a Ilvlng document that wryll b8 revlewed and updated throughout It5 Ilfe. Indlvldual actlons and Inltlatlves will change In the Ilghl of better Ideas, Inslghls and in response to fundlng opportunlties and operatlonal con5tralnts. Durham Wildlife Trust'5 2020 strategy has been created through the passion, Gornfflltment, expertlse and energy of our Trustees, ernployees and volunt88rs. For It to be effectlve It needs the support of everyone across our reglon - bFp'" the people, communities, businesses and institutions that rely on our reglon's natural environment for their ovm health Q" and,pro8perlty. Executlve summary The key aspects of the strategy are Bet out below. They refiect.the 3, key goals of the Sirategy: l. Nature In Rqcovgry (30 % of land and sea by 2030) 40,OOOha of additsonal land Improved for nature and the restoration of nalural processes. 1 OOOha of thls to be addittonal larKI managed by Durham Wild1rf8 Trust. Robust local metrics and data gathering to monllor proesS. Exemplary land management of our own estate. 2. Meanlngful Actlon (I In 4 pqople Involved) Adopting the 'Team Wilderf spproach and a sub-reglon operatlonal modd based on local communltles, Embraclng supporters of all klnds and dlversFfylng our audlences. Provlolng improved visitor destinations. Growng our public profile, operatlonal partnershlps and Infiuence to brlng about real change. 3. Naiurewba59d Solutlons {nature centrnl to solvlng local and global problems) Durham Wlldlrfe Trust Is the local leader In Blodlverslty Net Galn and other natural capltal solutlons. There w711 be an evldenced-based vRII-being focus across our activitieB. 'We will have a strategic approach to projects Kfjth nature-basèd beneflls to hlghllght natural fiood management, carbon sequestration, eco-tourlsm. water qualty benefits (e.g. as realised by the Great North Fen).
Durham Wildlsle Trust , (A Company Limited by Guarantee) REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (Contlnu•d) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 To dellver our Goals the Trust has Identled 3 Serateglc Transfomiations :: 1 Cornmunlty Organising. 2 Embraclng Dlgital. 3 Step Change In Fundlng. Llnked to these are 3 Enabling Prforitles for the Trust: 1 Getting our own house In order. 2 Improvlng data and evldence base. 3 Investlng In our people. The stralegy lead510 several Impllcations for the Trust and Its OP8ratlons'. Flnance - transfomlng to an organisation that cons18tently generates annual Income of moro than £6 million, Governance - dellverfnty greater connecllon th local communitles and Increased truste8 Partlclpatlon. arandlng - ensurlng branding matches local dellvery needs. RepuiatSon - ensuring new EyS of generating Income do not compromlse our values and culture. Slaff recrultment and retention - grng staff numbers to facllltate the delivery of the Strategy. Supporter5 and partnershlps - new thlnklng to be embedded across the organlsatlon. Skllls and knowledge - Improvlng our sklll and knedge base to allow us to dellver our ambltlons. Perfomi The Durham Wildlrfe Trust 2030 Stralegy has set bold new targety for land acqulsltion. Th15 wlll sea the doubliny of the total area of land managed by Durharn Wlldlrfe Twust. Taklng the Trust fron 1000ha In 2023 to 2000ha by 2030. The Trust continued to wrrk wlth Natural England to acqulre land for the purpose of nutrient managemenl In the Tees caichment. Thls work was part of the Nutrient Neutrallty measures put In place by Natural England to prevent further degradatlon of deslgnated habltats at Ihe Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast SPA. One stte vras acqulred durlng the yearvla Ihls relationshlp. Eldon Moor, acquired for £2.$ million,18 88.36 hectares (218.34 acres) of Improved Grade 3 agrlcultural land, of whlch a tenth Is pemanent pasture, ponds and woodland, In South Tyneslde, Ihe Trust entered Into 8 one year lease to Manage Boldon Flats. Boldon Flals Is a 24 hectsre (59.3 acre) wetland and grassland slte. It is locally slgnlflcant for Its welland blrd Interest and Includes an area of lOand calcareous grassland destgnated a3 a Slte of Speclal Sdenlific Interest. The Trust hopes to devdop a longer- tern man8gement agreement for this important slte. In January 2024 the Trust signed a long-tem) lease for Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve and VFsltors Centre from Sunderland Clty Councll. Thls now provldes seGurity of tenure until the end of 2073. The lease has Incorporated addltional land into the Ralnton Meadows Nature Reserve, Increasing the 5Sze of the sllè by 13 hectares (32.12 acres). The new land, whlch Is currently improved pasture, will be managed to Improve floral diverslty to deliver Biodlversity Nel Galn and li Is one of Ihe first areas to be managed by the Trust for this purpose. At 31st March 2024, the Trust had a 3ulte of 53 smes under its management, covering 1334 hectares of land, Of Ihese, three sltes have been acquired to deliver Nutrient Neutrallty - Eldon Moor, Mordon North and Horse Close Lane. As fomier agrfcullural land, theSr currenl ecdogical interest is lower than other Trust nature reseNes. As a result, these sit85 wll be the focus for dellvery of Biodlversity Nel Gain, as they provlde Ideal locatlons to create and re51ore habltats lo increa8e bl<)diverslty and offset losses elsewhere. The Nutrlent N8ulrallty sites wfjll be managed to deliver specffic outcomes under contractual obllgations. with the work carried out by contraciors. Thls means access will be limited in Comparison to the charity's nature reserves, wth fflembers being able to visit the sltes as part of gulded tours and publlc access by formal ftghts of VRY only.
urham Wildlife Trust (A Company Llmited, by Guaranlee) REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (Contlnuad) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARGH 2024 There w8r8 various changes lo reserves Staff during the year. In March 2024 Andrewwadds was appointed Reserves Manager to overspe the management of Trust land and lead the team of three Reserles Officers. Volunteer support for natur8 conseNation activities CtinUed to grow Supported by the Trust's Volunteer Support Asslst8nt;.Calllln.Elwtn, Thls.posltion.has.been.funded through.th&New.t0.Natur&programmLNelo.NalUra alms lo provlde lrfe<hanolng experlences for people tho might not normally have access to a career In the envlronmenlal seclor. It Is funded by Ihe National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the celebratlong to mark the late Queerls Platinum Jubilee and the Kj'ng's Coronation. New to Nature has also funded an additional post of ConseNation Assistant and Frazer Terry was appolnled to the role. Thls post focusses on daveloplng the Trust's mapping and recordlng capacity as part of the Embraclng Dlgital Strategic Transfomiallon set out In 2030 From Tees to Tyne. Wark8 required under DEFRA Stev*Erdship 8greemenls across the Trust's land holding conunued to be delivered as requlred, and where appllcable agreements were extended for a further 5 years Vth an optlon to transfer to a new 8greemenl when approprlate. Stevrardship schemes and Foresty Commlsslon grants conllnue to provlde a valuable sourGe of income, Volunteer support for nature conservation activities, severely impacted by Covld 19 the pr8vIous year, returned to pr8-covld levels. A new cloud-based volunteer management system was Implemented durlng the year to improve the onboardlng of new volunteers and provide better recordlng and recognltlon of the volunteer contrlbullon to the Trust. The system provldes a self-service platfo for volunteers lo vlew and manage thelr daia, vi8W their volunteer, hours and register for opportunities, all functlons. that w2ren't avallable the prevlous system. The cloud-b8sed system also offers volunteer managers better access to reports, INe updates on volunteer acllvlty and easler acce85 to emergency contact informalion when out In the field. The new system has streamlined volunteer admlnlstration lor new and current volunteers and allowed the Trust to manage an Increase'ln new volunteer enquiries. Vlsltor numbers,to Trust sltes have remalned hlgh, continulng the trend establlsh8d during the Covld pandemlG when more people made use of thelr local Durham Wildlrfe Trusi nalure reserve and enjoyed the benefits that nature can 'brlng. The support of volunteer site Wardens remained vital In enSUng that the nature reserves remalned safe and welcomlng places to vlsSL The Trust has seen a growth In volunteer slte wardenlng thanks to the work of the Conservatlon Volunteer Coordinator, a role supported by fundlng from the Zephyr Trust, vthlGh vras orlginally occupied by Ruby Merrlman and Ihen Mary-Anne Riley. The Coordinator has Increased the range of volunteer warden acllvllles, creallng the role of Volunteer Reserve Ranger. A new app-based reportlng system has been developed to allow Volunteer Reserve Rangers to qulckly make reports on the condltion of sltes 50 that slaff can acllon Insp8Ctlons or repalr5 when needed. Thls w)rk Is a further example of the EmbraGlng Digltal Straleglc Transformatlon. Thanks to the Zepher Tw5t and ALA Green Trust funding of the Trusfs long running and hlghly successful Conservation Tralneeship programme has contlnued. Four Iralnees funded by each organ15ation) completed ', the Iralneeship during the year, wllh all four securing work in the nature consepiation sector. A further four tralnees i have been recruited and wll recefve tralnlng during 2024 -25 and gain vKrk experience wElh the Trust's Reserves, Team. Follong the acqulsltion of Cuthbert's Moor In 2022. the Trust vrds successful In securing funding to help gather data on this moorfand SSSI and to 8ngage the public in the monltoring and management of the site. This rk, known as "' the Managlng Moors Project, ran throughout 202&24 and the basellne data on habltats and spec188 that was gathered allowed a detalled manag8ment plan to be developed. A tEam of knedgeable and skllled vdunteers was also created who are well placed to 5UPPOrt the ongolng management of th8 51te.
Durham WildllfE Trust (A Company Llmited by Guarantee) REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (Contlnued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 The National Lottery Heritage Fund supported Llnk Together project development phase completed durlng the year, which Included a change of name to Llnks with Nature follothrfng consultation with communllles In thè Sundwland Coalfidd area. Thanks to addltlonal support from Sunderland City Council, Anne Giadwin, Link Together Project Manager, contlnued In post until March 2024 to recelve Ihe news that the delivery stage of the projecl had successfully se¢ured funding from the Heritage Fund. Link Together dellvery commences in May 2024 and run for 2 years. focussing on sites across the Sunderland Coal!Idd area, in partlcular the catchment of the Lumley Park Burn. Thls proJect Is a flrst for Durham Wlldlife Trust as It viill rnake use of soclal prescrSblng via the Sunderland G.P. Alllance and Llnks for Llfe Sunderland to engage volunteers. Sunderland City Councll ar8 jolnt lead on the project, which focus on habitat and access Improvements on Council ownad sltes. . Seascapes Is a National Lottery Heritage Fund supported partnership project led by Durham Heritage Coast, wth Durham Wlldlrfe Trust dellvedng the Intertldal Inleractive programrne, lch encourages people and groups of all ages to enjoy ccaslal and marine wlldlkfe. Hlghlights have induded volunteer monitorlng programmes for shore blrds and cetaceans, beach-based school acllvities and snorkelling experlences for school aged children. In addltlon, Seascapes funds Ilttle tern Gonser4atlon efforts along Ihe Durham AfKI Hafuepool coasts dellvered by the TrusL In 2023, the lerns nested and bred at Seaton Carew and over 125 chlcks fledged. Thal ds a slgnmcant improvement on prevlous years and a welcome success when considered agalnst the backdrop of avian influenza that Impacl8d blrd breedlng colonie5 elsevthere on the North Sea coast. A second marlne project, Stronger Shores commenced In 2023. Led by South Tyneslde Councll, the project aims to Increase the resillence of the North Eastern coastllne, and coastal communities, to Iloodlng, eroslon and the Impacts of dlmate Bhange. The project explores how to restore marine habllats and 5pecles and create more su8talnable coastal communltles. The project Is funded by Defra as part of the Flood and Coastal Reslllence InnovatlorT Programme, whlch Is managed by the Envkonment Agency. Through Stronger Shores, a nelwork of experts will test new approaches to restorlng oyster, kelp and 8eagra5S habllats along the North East coast. These habllats can benefit Gommunltles in the North East in a number of ways. Once re•eslablished they can Improve water quallly, reduce eroslon by stabilislng 8horelines and reducing vrave Impacts, and Smprove fisherlas. As part of Ihls programme, the Trust are hosllng Iwo offlcers on behalf of the wider North Sea Wildlife Trusts. Blalr Walson ts the Stronger Sho're5 Engagement Officer responsible for communlcatlng the Importance of these often hldden marlne habllats to people and communlues along the North East coast. Martlna Bri5tow was recruited as the Seaweed and Seagrass Officer, employed to lest and trlal seagrass and kelp restoratlon technlques. Delivery of the Naturally Nallve w4ter vole conseNatlon proJect contlnued throughout 2023 up until the project's completion In December of that year. Delivered In partnershlp Northumberland and Tees Valley Wildllfe Trusts, naturally Natlve addressed the tM> m05t signlficant causes of water vole dedin&; predatlon by Amerlcan mink and habltat loss. The projecl was an example of how collaboratlon between Wlldlrfe Trusts and landowners c8n support nature's recovery at a regional scale. Interim funding has been secured to contlnue mlnk control whilst a 'Naturally Natlve 2, project can be developed. It is hoped that the follow-on project can deliver water vo18 restoralion across a larger North reglon. , The Dlscover 8rightvraler Landscape Partnershlp contlnued throughout 2023-24. Due to delays resultlng from Covld and the complexity of plannlng wetland restoratlon projects, a decision was taken during the year to apply for a project extenslon arKI the programme will now run to December 2024. Plannlng pernlsslons for VlIad projects at Bishop's Fen. to the south of Blshop Mlddleham and Rlcknall Carrs, Jusl to the east of NeOn Aycliffe, V•Ere secured in December 2023, with the work dellvered in the surnmer of 2024. The orfglnal budgets for the projects were set In 2017 and unsurprisingly additlonal funding was required to deliver the wetland creation schemes as orlglnally envlsaged. Additional fundlng wes secured In 23-24 financlal year from the Envlronment Agency, Veolia Envlronmental Trust, LNER and Swlre Charftable Trust to enable the full scheme to be ddivered. These funds are additional to the £3.2 mi115on Brightwater had already secured, including £2.8 million from the Natlonal Lottery Heritage Fund. Brighater is by the far the Trust's largest ever proJect and as Uld be expected th an Inltiative of this size and complexlty Ihere have been challenges lo be overcorne. However, an outstandlng body of WDrk continued to be dellvered by the project partners throughout the year.
Durham Wlldllffr Trust (A Company Limlled by Guarantee) REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (Contlnued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 In the summer of 2023, Discover Brightwater and the River Skeme were the subjects Df one of Northumbrian Waterfs Innovation Festival 'sprlnts'. Thls 4-day serles of workshops attended by key experts in the water and environmental sectors focussed on the legacy elements of Discover 8rfghldter, including the launch of the Trust's exciting Great North Fen initiative and subsequent plans to continue environmental Improvements across the Skerne catchment. As a.result-, it16 hoped.that.the p05ilive impact of Brightsydter will Gontinue.for many..years.to com8, In summary, throughout 2023 - 24 the Gharlty mantalned hlgh standards of nature reseNe rnanagemenl and conservation project delivery. Durham Wildlrfe Trust continued to make a s5gnificant contribution to nature's recovery from Tees to Tyne and dellvery agalnst largels In the 2030 Strategy lo Increase wrldlife dNerslty and abundance gol off to a successful start. IA I nd Communlcations During 23-24 the Trust appointed Emlly Routledge to the post of Head of Developmenl and Communlcatlon8, after 7 years In membershlp and supporter development rdes wlthln the organlsatlon. Membership performance In 23124 as Impacted by outside factors, Prlnclpally Ihe cost of Ilvlng crlsls. Rellectlng a longer term trend, the overall number of memberships reduced by 10h on the prevlous year but the average membershlp glft Increased by 1%. Trust mernbershlp recrultment lds 10% hlgher Ihan the previous flnancial year and rnembershlp lapses Increased by only 4%. Membershlp retentlon remalns Strong at 92% and rèflects the supporter led approach to Involvement In Trust actNitles. Volunteerlng remalns a key area of development for the Trust. The appolntment of a Volunteer Support Assisiant has enabled the Trust to Improve the volunteer Joumey, enabled more people from a variety of backgrounds to support Trust acllvllles, In 23124 volunteer5 gave more than 27,000 hours to the Trust and the number of acllve volunteers (each month) grew from 125 to 157. In 23124 retall Income d8 £39,589, this Is a small decrease on the prevlous year. The Gift Shop at Ralnton Meadows, relall space at Low Barns and the sale of goods al external evenls and onllne have all contributed lo the SUGGe55ful relail offering and would not have been possible wlhout the contribution of volunteers, for whlch the Trust Is extremely thankful, Donations incame increased, with general donations up by 160/0 to £59,408 and room hire contributed £7,815 of addltlonal funds, 21 % more than the previous year. In addition, legacy income provided £134,554 of additional fundlng to support the Tru5fs Promotlon of gifts In wlls is a key area ol vKrk for the Development team. Buslnesses conlributed to the Tnjsts work in 23124 vla buslness membership contribullons and pald for volunteerlng thrcugh the 'Wlld Work Day, scheme, generatlng £3,100 and supportlng management ot nature resefves. Interest in Wild Work Days Is growlng and buslness volunteerlng Is an area targeted for further develop.ment. Project davelopment and grants fundralsing remalns a core acllvity for the Trust. In financlal year 23124, over £500,000 of project funds were secured through applicatlons to various funders. In addition, Trust Officer5 supported a number of community groups, Indudlng local church organisation5 in their own efforts tQ 5ecur8 grants to support nature recovery proJecls. Durlng the 23124 financlal year, the Trust reached 1,271,122 people onllne, an Inase of almost 25Yo On the previous year. This was achieved via soGlal media (Facebook, Twitter, In51agram, Unkedln) and the website. Thls success Is a result of careful planning to ensure that online content appea15 tD different audiences and makes good use of both 5ti11 image5 and videos. The Trust's supporters have been instrumental in providing this material and Idllfe images hgve been consistently some of the most popular posts over the course of the year. Top content pages for vlsits on the webslte conllnue to be the onllne shop and the Rainton Meadows and Low Barns pages. Over the past year the Klttlwake Cam page al80 proved to be popular, desplte operatlng for the March-Sept8mber perlod Only. Round-up emails were issued to the full email database every month featurlng the latest news, blogs, events, dys to get Involved and upcomlng events. In addltion, throughout the year the Trust's communicailons team delivered emall campalgns lo encourage speclfic actlon by supporters - for exarnple to encourage non-members to Joln. The emall Ilst has more than 13,000 subscrlbers. Over the course of the year the Trust receNed at least 40 pleces of media coverage, across all channels.
Durharn Wildlife Trust (A Company Llmited by Guarantee) REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (Gontlnuad) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 To further boost the Trust's dlgltal profile arKI supporter development online. a Development Officer - Data & Marketing was recrulted during Ihe year and Katie Armstrong 5 appointed to the role. This new post replaced the role of Supporter Development Manager, which Emily Routledge vacated when appolnted as Head of Development and Communlcations. This small restructure enabled the Tnjst to more closely focus on areas of gr0h in digital eng2geTnent and Increase onllne membership recrultment by 170/• as a result of improved soclal medla marketlng and dlgltal rnembershlp campaigns distributed to local audiences. A total of 2,954 people atlended Durham Wllollfe Trust events, an Increase of 3VA on the prevlous y8ar. Thls Ilgure excludes drop-ln attendees at events out51de of Ihe Eventbrile system, for example those vlslung the communlty falrs organlsed as part of D15cover Bghtd1er. Educallonal vislis (non-prolect funded) were on par wlth th8 prevlous financial year, wilh 25 school vlsils to reseNes or Trust actlv5tles vlthln school grounds. Feedback suggests that the rislng cost of transport is a signrficant Issue for many schotsls and as a result Ihere has beon an Increase In Trust se5slons held at the school premlses, rather than schools corning to reserves. Externally funded education sesslons have seen a marked Increase on the prevlous flnanclal year. These Indude sessions for Seascapes, Lfvlng Uplands and North Pennlnes Natlonal Landscape. Other engagement wtlh young people Induded monthly Conservatlon Rangers sessions at Low Barns 8nd Ralnton Meadow8, Wlldllfe Watch at Ralnton Meadows and Low Barns, and Beach Rangers sesslon5 delivered through Seascapes. Hollday Fun wilh Food programrnes Pre also run across all school holldays al bath Ralnton Meadows and Low Barns. The Nextdoor Nature projeot conllnued throughout the year, en(x)uraglng people to take actlon for nature In ihelr local area. Cenlred cm a cornmunlty organislng approach, each of the 46 local Wlldllfe Trusts have employed a Nextdoor Natur8 Communlty Organ15er funded by the Nallonal Lottery HerStage Fund. The proJecl has developed strong communlty links In all of Ils prescribed areas (Sunderland, Soulh Tyneslde, Easinglon and Darllnglon). Hlghllghls to dat9 have Induded work wllh resldents In Herbdon (Hendon Growfng Garden), Washlngton eaShingtOn Mlnd> and Dawdon (Dawdon Dene). Towards the end of 2023 - 24, the Trust secured 8 grant to dellver the Natlanal Cltlzen Servlca (NCS) Enrfchmènl Pllot Project to 10 Sunderland and South Tyneslde secondary schools. The pilot project 411 see an Enrichment Manager employed by the Trust develop enrlchmenl opportunllies for young people atlendlng the schoo15 involved In the pllot. The project allgns wth the Trusl strategy and sees the Trust move from deliverlng actlvitles to becomlng a locpj Influencer and enabler. Dorinda Kealoha wa5 appolnted ai Ihe Enrlchmenl Manager for the projecl, returnlng lo Ihe Trust after working for South Tyneslde Councll In a project development role. rnance and A Operations Durham Wildlife Trust recognlses that to dellver nature's recovery both the ecologlcal and dimate crfses must be addressed. There are ongoing efforts lo reduce the Trust's dmnate ImpaGt whilst at the same tlme increasing our conseniauon and engagement work. mlnlstratio Work to measure carbon emlsslons and sequestratlon follows methoddogles tssed across the Wlldllfe Trust movement and Ihose methodologles are being revised lo improve accuracy, particularly wryth reference to sequestration. That means figures on emlsslons and sequestratK)n Ifuring 2023-24 are not currently available, but the Tfusl hopes to be In a posltlon to make data avalable during 2024-25. Throughout the year the Trust conlinued to focus not only on carbon emlssions but its wider environmental perfonnance. Thls work wa5 rewarded wth continued Investors In Ihe Environment Sifver accreditatlon. To malntain the level of accreditation requlres improved perfonan, demonstraling Ihe Ttusl's commltment lo lead by example In relatlon to envlronmental issues.
Durham Wlldllfe Trust (A Company Llmited by Guarantee) REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (Contlnued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Durlng the year there was continued investment in the maintenance of vlsltor facllities and it Is recognlsed that as vlsltors cenlres age and the number of slta8 Increases Ihefe will be a need to increase malntenance and repalr budg8ts. Currently 8 deslgnated fund is in place lo fund malntenance and repairs, with a propDrtion of any annual surplus'gen8rat8d'being designated'eaGh'yearforthis purpose. In Ilne with the Trust's stated strategy, a review of working affangements was conducted during the year to se8 if a seven day working model could be adopted. The Intentlon Is to be able lo engag8 a greater range and number of people In the Trust's work by providing eekend events and volunteering. The review concluded that seven day workln9 was nol vlable glven the relatively small number of staff ernployed, but a Saturday vnrking model was vlable. As a result Saturdgy events and volunteerlng wlll be implemented from April 2024, wlth a revl8w after 6 months to monltor effectiveness. Staff recruilrnent remained challenglng during the year, although ther8 yre slgns of greater availablllty of potential employees, partlcularfy for less 8peclalist roles. The Trusl 111 continue to revlew Its employment offar to attract and relaln hlgh quallty staff and hybrld worklng arrangements are anticlpated to remaln In place acrDSS the Trust durlng 2024-25. From 1 Aprll 2008. sectlon 4 of Ihe Charlties Act 20a6 requlres all charities to meel the legal requlrement that its aims aye for Ihe publlc benefit. Tho Trustees conflm thal th8y have complled wlth the duty to have due regard to th8 Charlty Comm15slon's general guldance on publlc beneflt. The Charlty CommSsslon slates Ihat there are prlnclples to be met In order to show that an organlsation's alms are for Ihe publlG benefit: firstly, there must be an Identlfiable benefit or benefrts and secondly that the benefit must be to Ihe publlq or,a secllon of the publlc. The Trustees are satlsfled Ihat the aims and objectives of the chadty, and the activities reporled on above, meet Ihese prindples. In the year to 31 st MarGh 2024 Group Income vrds £5,288,186 (2023: £6,819,979). Half of thls Income (£2,638k) came from Nalur81 England supporting the Group purchase Eldon Moor under the Nutrient Neutrality provisions. The land agreement with Natural England place5 a 125-year obligation on the Group to manage Eldon Moor In such a vray as to mlllgale nutrlenl production and discharge. During this tim8 the Group Is also restrlcled from disposlng of, or charglng the land. Expendllura during the year wa5 £2,271.897 (2023: £2,594,060). As a result, there Yfds a surplus of £2,994,289, The unrestrlcted surplus vras £68,998 hovVer £187,079 of fund5 have been transferred out (malnly relatlng to the designation of land as noted below) leading to,a dUCtiOn of unrestricted funds of £118,091. The restricted surplus was £2,965,168 however as noted above £2,638k of this results from the Natural England grant received to buy Eldon Moor. The surplus has In effect been defrayed on an asset which th8 Trust Is obllg8d to hold for the long tern. £279,348 has been transferred out of re5trlcted and this manly relales to further land purchase5 Ihat have been designated. There vR5 a deficit on deslgnaled funds of £39,867 howaver £486,427 vras transferred In,In respect of land holdings. A key element of the Group's strategy is the acqulsition of land to allow nature to be restDred on an increaslng proportlon of the area In which the Group operates. Dudng the year and in prevlous year5 we have been successful In achievlng thls vla income from Natural England (In relation to Nutrsent Neulrality undertaking5) and via donatlons. Due to the long-tern restrictions placed on land acqulred with the support of Natural England the fund balances assoclated V¥ith this land have been Induded In restricled funds.
Durham Wlldllfe Trust (A Company Llmlted by Guarantee) REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (Contlnu8d) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Where land has been acquired the help of donations th& associated fund balanGe has been transferred to designated funds. Trustees contlnue to take the view that placlng neY acquired land in a designated fund provides more meanlnoful presentation of the charity's unrestricted fund position, Other deslgnated funds are to support volunteerlng activity, management of Rainton Meadow5 and the repalr, maintenance (Snduding replacement) of land. bulldings, equlpment and other assets. Ownlng landls a fundamental part of the Group's strategy of delfvering nature ¢onseNatlon and restoratlon. The Group expec15 to hold Ihls land In perpelulty and the fur balances assoclated Viith land should therefor8 be exduded when considering the finances of the Group. A summary of the funds Is provlded betow: Unre5trlcted 701,061 Deslgnated 2,997,139 Restrlcted 6,457,115 Total Fund balance at 31 March 2024 Fund balances in relatlon to land & propety held for conservatlon Fund balances net of land & property holdlngs 2,652 2,802,370 5,844,033 698,409 194.789 613,082 Thg balance on group unrestricted funds (excludlng designated funds), fell In the year to 31st March 2024 to £701,801 largely due to the transfer of larbd holdlngs to deslgnaled funds The pollcy of the Trust remalns to earn surpluses on unrestrlcted fund5 acllvltles to further strenglhen the finandal p0511lon to enable us to G(Inlinue io Inve8l In dellverlng the charity's aims. Ildlrfe Services L Durham Wlldlrfe Servlces Is a prlvale company Ilmlted by share5 and Is a wholly owned tradlng subsidlary of Durham Wildllfe Trust. It was incorporated on 9th Aprll 1991 as an Environmental Consullancy and alms lo make a profit each year, whlch, subjecl to commgrdal financlng needs, Is Glft Aided lo Durham Wlldlrfe Trust. Durham Wlldllfe SeNlces Ltd prfmarily dellvers ecologlcal con8ultancy serykes, indudlng Specles and habltat s(Kveys and the producllon of land managemeni and habllal creallon plans. All surpluses from Ihis acllvlty are glft alded to the Trust. The year to Ihe 31st March 2024 saw a turnover of £236,696 comparad to the previous year of £179,312. The net Surplus was £26,095 and a donation of £17,125 was pald over to the Trust. Durharn Wlldlife Servt8s proposes to y £26,095 to Durham Wlldllfe Trust during 2024-25 from its proflts. Investfflent Power d Poll The Trustees, having regard to the liquidlty requirement5 of the charlty's project programme, some of vthlch recelve paymént In arrears from grant funders, and to the finanGial reserves policy, wlll, where relevant, <)perate a policy of keeping avallable funds In an Interesl-bearlng deposit account or a low rtsk shared deposSt fund managed by an Investment Manager. with competitlve levels of Inl8rest, and ryth an ethical Investment polky. 10
Durham Wlldllfe Trust (A Company Llmited by Guarantee) REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (Contlnued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 The Trustees have updated the resepies policy such thai the targel for unre5tricteil net current asset funds equates to six months unrestricted expendlture. The policy uses nel current asset funds due to the relativdy hlgh value of fixed assets the GTaup maintains which are not available to fund the Group's operatlons. The relatively prudent slx months Co£r of expendSlure ha5'b-een 8dopted.to mlllgate the'rlsk from'the hlgh"levpJ'otrestricted project5 the Group undertakes many of whlch are funded In arrears. Current net asset fund5 at 31 st March 2024 are £606,187 (see Note 23) and unreslricted expenditure for the year was £959,013 givlng cover of 7.6 months.'At the year end funds therefore exceed the target, and this has provided headroom to Inve8l in the Tfust's operations and IT. 251 n8ted F nd Poll Trustees have set a deslgnated fund policy to make provislon for the repair, malntenance (Including replacement) of land, buildings, equlpment and other assets. It has been delermined that 10V. of unrestricted surplus wlll be de31gnated for thls purpose annually, with Trustees havlng rfiscretlon to vary the amount to rellecl the charity's need and clrcum5tance8 pertalnlng at the tlme. V luatlon of Fre hold Pro Durlng the 2021-22 flnanclal year Trustees comm158ion8d a v8Juatlon of the charlty's freehold property. The purpose of the valuatlon was to ascertaln current markel value as land values on the asset reglster refiecl purchase cost, not,, current valuation. As well as provlding trustees wllh a greater understandin9 of assel values Ihis infornation allowed the potentlal Impalrment of the value of land assets lo b8 revlewed. There was no ImpalmienL Trustees have detemilned to periodlcally carry out a freehold land valuatlon (approxlmalely every 5 years) and to present infomiatlon on the value of land assels In the annual report based on Ihe addlllonal freehold land aoaulred that year. Infomauon Is presented In the table below. Number of sltes Area (ha) (£) Note NBV in Flnancial statements in £1516 849 Freehold land at 31 $1 March 2022 25 477.6 3,767.819 Freehold land ac uired 2022-23 Freehold land ac uired 2023-24 Total 290.9 4,094.662 102.5 2,954,508 10 816 989 31 871.0 The charity continues to Instlgale fund ralsing campalgns In order to increase ils income generdtlon, particularly In respect of unrestdcled funds. It contlnues lo bear dow) on costs where possible. The current Ilnancial pollcy 18 to mainlain the financiat strength of the Trust, whll8 at the $8me lime uslng avallable funds to strengthen tho Trusvs efforts in the fields of conservation and education in a measured Y within the limits of the re50urGe5 available. 14
Durham Wlldllfe Trust (A Company Llmlted by Guarantee) REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (Contlnued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Charlty number: Company number". Reglstered office: 501038 01019263 Ralnton Meadows, Chllton Moor, Houghton4e-Spring, Co Durham, DH4 6PU Advl8or3 Auditors Bankgrs CLA Evelyn Partn8rs Lld 17 Queens Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE11 RN Bardays Bank PIC Market Place, Durham, DH13ND DlrectOY8 and Trustees The Dlrectors of Durham Wlldllfe Trust are Ihe Trustees for the purpose of charlty law. The Trustees and officers servlng during the year and slnce the year end were as follows: Truslees.. S Lister P Bell F Buller M Coates C Gorman V Kenl A Pensom P Davldson N Bell K Crozler H Neve S Wllson-Lalng (Reslgned 20 May 2024) (Chalr) Company Secretary: F Butler Management Team: Chlef Executive Head of Flnance Head of Developrnent and CommunlcatlonB Head of Conservalion arlghtwater Project Manager J Cokill M. Porton E Routledge M Dinnlng P 81ack 12
Durham Wildllfe Trust (A Company Llmited by Guarantee) REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (Conflnued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED,31 MARCH 2024 nt of Tru os Res on The Truslees (who are also directors of Durham Wlldllfe Trust for the PLtrposes of company law) are responslble for preparing the Trustees, Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Klngdorn Accounting Standards (Unlted Klngdom Generally Accepted Accounung PractiGe). Induding FRS 102 The Flnancial Reportlng Standard AppllcablE"in"the UK7nd RepUblIolrand. Company law require5 the Trustee5 to prepare flnanclal stat8m8nt5 for each financial year, vthlch glve a true and fair vSew of the state of affalr5 Of Ihe charltable company and of the Incomlng resources and application of resources, Includlng the Income and expendlture, of the charitable cornpany for the perlod. In preparing those financlal statements, the Trustees are requlred to: o select sultable accounting pollcles and Ihen apply them conslstently; o observe the methods and princlples In the Charities SORP: make Judgements and estlmates Ihat are reasonable and prudent; prepare the finanGlal statements on the going concern basls unless It Is Inappropriate to presume Ihat the charitable company w?11 contlnue In bu51ness. The Trustees are responslble for keeplng proper arxounting records whlch disdose with reasonable accuracy at any time thg financial positlon of the charltable company and to enable them to ensure that the financlal slatemenls comply with the Companles Act 2006. They are also responslble for safeguardlng the assets of the charllable company and hen for tsklng reasonable sleps for the preventlon and detectlon of fraud and other Irragularlties. In so far as the Trustees are avrdre: o there is no relevant audlt infomiaiion of wthich lh8 charitable cornpany's audltors are unwdre; and o the Trustees have taken ell steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves awdre of any relevant audlt Informatlon and to establlsh that the audltors are aware of that Informat]on. In accordance with the Companles Act 2006 a resolutlon proposlng the appolntm8rit of Robson Laldler Accountants Llmlted as audilorfor the year ending 31 March 2025 will be put lo the mémber5. Sarah Llster Chair q, 4IL(knWs &IK 13
Durham Wlldlife Tyust (A Company LlmEted by Guarante8) INDEPENDENT AUDITORS, REPORTTOTHE PdlEM8ERS OF DURHAM WILDLIFETRUST FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Oplnlon We have audlted Ihe flnandal statements of Durham Wlldlrfe Trust (the 'charltable company,) and Its subsidiary {Ihe 'group') for the year end6d 31 March 2024 whlch comprise the Consolidated Statement of Flnancial Activities, Consolldated Balance Sheet, Charitable Company BalarKe Sheet, the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement and notes to the finandal statements, Includlng a summary of signlficant aLrountlng poliaes. The financial reportlng fraMOrk that has b68n applied In iheir preparauon is appllcable law and Uniled Klngdom Accountlng Slandards, Induding Flnanclal Reportlng Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standwd applicable in the UK and Republlc of Ireland (Unlled Klngdom Generally Accepted knounung Practlce), In our opinlon the finandal staiements: groe a true and fair vlew of the state of the group's and charitabl8 company's affalfs as at 31 March 2024, and of the group's Incornlng resources and appllcatlon of resources, Ktcludlng il8 Income and expendlture, for tha year then ended., have been properly prepared In acrordance wlth Unmed Kingdom Generally Accepted Accountlng Practlce; and have begn prepared In accordance th the requirements of Ihe Companl8s Act 2006. Ba818 for oplnlon Wg conducted our audit In accordance wth Intematlonal Slandards on Auditlng (UK) (ISAS (UK)) and appllcable law. Our responslbllltie8 under those standards are further described In the Audltofs responslbllities for the audit of tha financlal sialements section of our report. We are Independent of the group and charllable company In accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the flnanclal statements in the UK includlng the FRC'S Ethlcal Slandard, and we have fulfilled cur other ethlcal responslbllities In accordance th these requlremenls. We belleve that the audlt evldence we have obtalned is suffident and approprlate to provide a bagls for our op5nlon, Concluslons relatlng to golng concern In audlung the ftnanclal slatements, we have conduded that the truslees, use of Ihe golng concem basls ol accounling In the preparallon of the financlal stalemenls Is approprlate. Based on the work VIE have perfomled, wa hav8 not IdentifRd Ény materlal uncertdntles relatlng to events or condlllons that. Indivldually or collectively, may cast slgnlficant doubt on the charitable company's abllity to contlnu as a golng Concern for a period Df at leasl twelve months from then Ihe financlal slatement6 a authortsed for Issue. Our responslbllitles and Ihe respon31bllli ieB of the truslees respect to golng concern are descrlb&d In thg relevant Sectlons of this report. Other Infomiallon The Iruslees are responslbla for the other Infomation. The other Infomiation comprises the Inforniauon Induded In the trustees, annual report, other than the financlal statements and our auditorfs report thereon. Our opinlon on the flnanaal statements does not cover the other Infomiatlon and, except to the extent olheThvise expllcilly stated in our report, we do not express any foNn of assurance concluslon Ihereon. 14
Durham Wildllfe Trust (A Company Limited by Guarantee) INDEPENDENT AUDITORS, REPORTTO THE MEMBERS OF DURHAM WILDLIFE TRUST (Contlnued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 In connectlon vAth our audit of the flnancial statements, our respon31bility Is to read the other information and, in dolng so, conslder whether the other infornnation Is materlaEly Incon5i5lent th the financial statements or our knoedge oblalned In the audil or othervlise appears lo be malerially misstated. If we identify such material Inconslstendes or, apparenLmatedal .mlSstatements,..e .are requiied_to.. detemilna.-whether there is .a. materjal m15Staternent In the financlal slatemenls or a malerial misstalement of the other irtformatlon. If. based on the work we have perfomied, we conclude that there Is a material misstalement of this other Infomiallon, we are required to report that facL We have nothlng to report In this regard. Oplnlons on other matters prescrfbqd by tha Compan103 Act 2006 In our oplnlon, based on the Y4f)rk undertaken In the cwr8e of the audlt.. the information given in the trustees, port (IncoOr3t[ng the strateglc report and the directors, report) for th8 financlal year for wh5ch the financial statement5 are prepared Is conslstenl with the flnanclal statemen15; and the strateglc report and the directors, report have been prepared In accordance th appllcable legal requirements. Matters on whlch we are requlred to report by exception In the Ilght of our knoedge and understandlng ol the group and parent charltable company and It5 envlronrnenl obtained In the course of the audit, we have nol Identified materfal misstatements in the dlrectors, report. We have nothlng to report In respect of the followfjng matters In relatlon lo whlch the Companles Acl 2006 requlres US to report lo you if, in our oplnlon., qdequate accountlng records have not been kept by the parent charitable company. or returns adequate for our ' audil have not been recelved from branches not vlslted by us; or the financlal statements are nol In agreement with the accountlng records and returns; or certain disc105ures of direGtors' remuneration specified by law are not made; or 'we have not recelved all the infom8llon and explanallons we requlre for our audlt., or The trustees were not entltled to lake advanlage of the srnall cornpanles exemptlon from the requlrernent to prepare a Strategic Report or In preparlng the Report the Trustees. Re5ponslbllltles of trustees A5 explained more fully in the trustees, responsibilitles statement set oul on page 13, the trustees (who are al80 the dlrectors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responslble for the preparatlon of the flnanclal 5talement5 and for belng satlsfied that they &ive a true and fair vlew, and for such intemal contrd as the trustees determlne Is necessary to enable Ihe preparalion of finandal slatements that are free from tnaterial mlsslalement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparlng thé financlal statements, the trustees are responsible for asse551ng the group'5 and parent charitable company's abllity to continue as a going concern, disclosing. as appllcable, matters related to going concern and uslng Ihe golng concern basis of accounting Unless the trustees either Intend to liquidate the charilable company or lo cease operalions, or have no reallslSG altern8tiv8 but lo do so. Audltor's respon8lbllltles for the audit of the flnanelal statoments Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about vA)ether the ftnancial 5talemenls as a vthole are free from material mlsstatemenl, whelher due to fraud or error. arKI lo Issue a Report of the Independent Auditor5 that includ88 our oplnlon. Rea30nabl8 assurance is a high levd of assurance but Is not a guarantee thal an audit conducted In accordance w5th ISAS (UK) will alvrays detect a material ml55tatement when it exlsts. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered materfal If. Indivldua]ly or laken together, they could reasonably be expected to InffuenGe the econornic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial staternents.
Durham Wbldlife Trusl (A Company Llmited by Guaranlee) INDEPENDENT AUDITORS, REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF DURHAM WILDLIFE TRUST (Contlnued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Irregularilles, Including fraud, are Instances of non-compliance wth laws and regulatlons, We deslgn procedures In line th our responsibllltles, oulllned above, to detecl materlal misstalements In respecl of irregularltles, Indudlng fraud. The extent to wh5ch our procedures are capable of delactlng irregularities. Including fraud, is detalled below. We obtalnéd an underslandlng of the legal and regulatory frameth applicable to both Ihe company Itself and the Industry In whlch it operates. We Identified areas of laws and regulations that coukl reasonably be expected to have a malerlal effect on the financlal slatements from our sector expertence and through dIS¢SSIon vAth the dlrectors and other managemenl. The most slgnlficant Vre Identified as the Companles Act 2006, UK GAAP (FRS102) and relevant tax legislatlon. We consldBred the extent of compliance 1th those law3 and reoulatlons as part of our procedures on the related financlal statements. Our audit procedures Induded: confirmlng With the directors and management whether they have any knowledge or suspiclon of fraud; obtalnlng an understanding of the Internal contrds establlshed to mitigate risks related to fraud or non- ompllance th la and regulatlons; and, assesslng the risk of management oVeIde Indudlng Identlfying and testlng a sample of Journal entrles. Our audlt dld not Id8ntrfy any key audlt matters relatlng to the deiection of Irregularities Indudlng fraud. However, desplle the audit belng planned and conducted In accordance with ISAS (UK) there remalns an urVOidabI8 rlsk that malerlal mlsstalements in the flnancial statements may not be detected 0ing to Inherent Ilmilations of the audll, and Ihat by thelr very nature, any such Instance5 of fraud or Irregularlty Ilkdy lrniolve colluslon, forgery, Inlentional mlsrepresenlations, or the overrlde of Iniernal Gonlrols. A further descrlptlon of our responsibillties Is avallable on the Financial Reporting Council's website at.. htlps'.IIv4W.frc.org.uk/audltorsrgsponsibtlllles. Thls descrfpuon fomis part of our audit report. Use of our report Thls report is made solely to the charltable company's members, as a body, In accordance 1th Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2Q06. Our audlt work has been undertaken so that we mlght state lo the charilable company'3 members Ihose matters we are required to state to them in an auditorfs report and for no other purposè. To the fullest eKtent pemiStted by law, we do nol accept or assume responslblllty to anyone other than the charitable company and the charltable company's members as a body. for our audit Irk, for thls report, or for the oplnlon8 we have formed. cw_ Cralg Henderson (Senlor Statutory Audltvr) for and on behalf of CLA Evelyn Partners Ltd Statutory Audltor 17 Queens Lane Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1RN 16
Durham Wlldllfe Trust (A Company Limited by Guarantee) CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTMTIES (Includlng consolldated Income and oxpondlture account) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Unra8trlcted Restricted Designatad funds funds funds Total 2Q24 Total 2023 Notes Incomo from: DonatSons and leoacles 490,540 2,093 492,633 1,247,405 Charitable aclivlues Conservatlon aclivitles Conservatlon prolecls Education projects Vlsitor centre Natural England Funded Land other tradlng actwltie Inveslment Income 195,297 1,426,551 8,000 144,122 5,49D 1,627,338 871,989 8,000 1,140,943 151,142 85,975 80,641 72,184 2,638,339 3,205,694 251,108 194,804 16,985 985 7,020 80,641 2,638,339 13,590 237,518 16,985 Total Income 1,028,001 4.232,695 5,490 5,266.186 6,819,979 Expgndlture on: Costs of raislng funds Donatlons and legacles other tradlng aclivitles Charitable acllvlties Conservatlon projects - ReseNe projects Education projects Publlcations & affillatlons - Msltor centre 97,763 253,631 97,763 253,631 91,256 186,667 442,309 36,551 18,721 35,337 76,701 925,062 178,260 164,205 45,357 1,412,728 2,027,927 214,811 108,702 180,926 93,279 35,337 31,142 76,701 57,087 Total axpendltur• 959.013 1,267,527 45,357 2,271,897 2,594,080 N¢t movement before transfers 68,988 2,965,168 (39,867) 2,994,289 4,225,919 Transfers between funds 22 { 187,079) { 279,348) 486,427 Net movement in funds (118,091 ) 2.685,820 426,560 2,994,289 4,225,919 Reconclllatlon of funds Total funds brought forward 819,152 3,771,295 2,570,579 7,161,026 2,935,107 Total funds carrled forward 701.061 6.457.115 2,997,139 10,155,315 7,161.026 All Income and expenditure derbve from contlnulng activities. The Statement of Flnancial Activities Indudes all galns and Ii)sses recognised in the year. 17
Durham Wildlife Trust (A Company Limiled by Guarantee) CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET ASA T31 MARCH2024 2024 2023 Notes Flxed assets Tangible assets 16 8,741,276 5,823,464 Current assets Stock Debtors CÉsh at bank and In hand 18 19 8.797 360,790 1,258,261 10,031 483,505 1.707,159 1,627,848 2,200,695 Credltors: amounts falllng du? wlthln one year 20 (213,809) (863,133 > Net current as8•ts 1.414,039 1,337,562 N?1 assets 10,155,315 7,161,026 Fund8 Unreslrlcted funds Deslgnated funds Restrlcted funds Other Natural England Funded Land 701,061 2,997,139 819,152 2,570,579 613,082 5,844,033 565,601 3,205,694 10,155,315 7,161,026 Natural England Funded Land Is subject to 125-year restrlctlons preventing It belng sold or charged and requlrlng no nulrlenl Inputs on the land. For further detalls see page 37. The noles on pages 21 to 39 fomi part of these finandal 5latements, These flnanclal statements have been prepared In accordance with thB special provlsions of Part 15 of the Companles Act 2006 relatlng to small charitable cijmpanies. The financlal statements were approved by the Truslees on .. by.. ..&p*a4I2O24 and slgned on their behalf S Lisler Trustee Company Number.. 01019263
Durham Wlldllfe Trust (A Company Limlted by Guaranlee) CHARITABLE COMPANY BALANCE SHEET ASAT 31 MARCH 2024 2024 2023 .. Notas Flxed assBts Tangible assets Invesimenls 16 17 8,741,276 12 5,823,464 12 8,741,288 5,823,476 Currgnt assels Stocks Debtor5 Cash al bank and In hand 18 19 8,797 314,481 1,230,660 10,031 467,792 1,657,213 1,553,938 2,135,036 Credltor8: amounts falllng due wlthln one year 20 (199.900) { 848.505) Net current a8s•ts 1,354,038 1,286,531 Net a886ts 10.095,326 7,110,007 Fund8 Unrestricted funds Designated funds Restricted funds other NaturÉl Enoland Funded Land 641,072 2,997,139 768,133 2,570,579 613,082 5,844,033 565,601 3,205,694 10,095,326 7,110,007 Natural England Funded Land Is subject to 125-year restrictEons preventing11 beSng sold or charged and requlrlng no nutrient Inputs on th8 larKI. For further details see page 37. The notes on pag83 21 to 39 fomi part of Ih&8e financlal statements. These financlal slatement5 have been prepared in accordance the special provlslons of Part 15 of the Companles Act 2006 relating to small charitable companles. Th8 financial statements were approved by the Trustees on .. by: 2024 and slgned on their behalf S Llster Trustee Company Number 01019263 4a
Durham WlldllfÉ TnASt (A Company Llmlted by Guarantee) CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWSTATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 2024 2023 Nole Net cash flow from operating actlvltles: Net cash provided by operatlng actlvllles 26 2,484,342 4,800,007 Cash flows from Inve8tlng actlvlties Interest recelved D15posal of tangible assets Purchase of tangible assets 16,985 14,020 { 2,964,245) { 4,195,668) 985 Net cash Ilow from Inve5tlng actlvltles (2,933,240) (4.194,681) Net Increase In cash and ca8h equlvalents (448,898) 605,326 Cash and cash equlvalents at the be&innlng of the year 1,707,159 1,101,833 Cash and cash equlvalents at the ond of Ihe year 1,258,261 1,707,159 Ca8h and cash equlvalents con818t OP Cash al bank and In hand 1,258,261 1,707,159
Durham Wlldllfe Tru3t (A Company Llmited by Guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YÈAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Accounting policles Durham Wlldlrfe Trust Is a company Ilmlted by guaranleB, registered in Èngland and Wales, (number 01019263) and not having a share capital. In the event of the company being wound u the Ilability in respeGt of the guarantee Is Ilmlted to £1 per rnember of the charity. 1.1 Basls of preparatlon ol flnanclal 8tstem•nts The financlal slatements have been prepared In accordance with Accountlng and Reporting by Charities; statement of Recommended Practlce applicable to charlties preparing theTr accounts In accordance wrlh the Flnanclal Reportlng Standard appllcable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (8ffective January 2019), the Financial Reporting Slandard appllcable In the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), th8 Charitles Acl 2011. the Companles Act 2006 and UK Generally Accepled Praclce. Durham Wlldllfe Trust meets the definltlon of a publlc benefit entity under FRS 102. The financlal statements are prepared under Ihe historical cost convention or tr8ris8ctlon value unl8SS olherwise stated In the relevant accountlng F)ollcy note{s). The flnandal stalernents are prepared I Sterling which is the functlonal currency of the charity and rounded to the nearest £ The slgnlficAnt accounting policles applled In the preparatlon of these financial statem8nts are set out below. These polldes have been CAMslstently applled to all years presenled unlesg otheIse stated. 1.2 8a818 of consolldatlon The fin8nc181 statements cor15011date the resulls of Durham Wlldlrfe Trust and its wholly owned subsldlary Durh8rn Wlldlrfe Servlces Llmlted on a Ilne-by4ine basis. A separate Statement of Flnanclal Activitles and Income and Expendlture Ac£ount for the charity has nol been presented because Durham Wlldllle SeNlces has taken advantage of the exempllon afforded by sectlon 408 of the Companles Act 2006. 1.3 Golng concern The flnanclal statements have'been prepared on a go1 concern basls as the Trustees belleve Ihal no materlal uncertalntles exlst. The Trustees have ¢onsldered the level of funds and forecast inGOtne and exp&ndllure for a perlod of 12 month5 after thp date of approval of these financlal statements. The budgeted Income and expenditure is sufflGient considering the level of reserve8 for tho charity to be able to continue as a golng concern. 1.4. Funds Unrestricted funds are available far use at the dlscretlon of the Trustees In fijrthetance of the, general objectsv8s of the charlty and which have nol been designated for other purposes. Deslgnaled funds comprlse, unre8trlcted funds that have been 58t asSde by the Truste8s for particular purposes. The alm and use of each deslgnated furKI Is set out in the notes to the finanual statements. Restricted funds are funds whlch are lo be used In accordance with specific restrlcllons Imposed by donors which have been ralsed by the charity for a partlcular purposes. The cost of raislng and administering such funds are charged agalnst the speGifiG fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the finandal statements. 21
Durham Wildlife TruBI (A Company Limited by Guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Contlnued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 1.5 Income All Sncomlng resources are Induded In the Slatement of Financlal ActNllles when the charlty ha5 entiuement to the funds, any perfomiance condltions have been met, the arnount can be measured reliably and St Is probable that the Income 111 be received. Vdunlary income Is received by way of grants, donations and g1ft5 are included In full In the Statement of Flnancial Actlvllles Ktyhen the trust becoffles enlitled. Grants, where entitlement 15 not .condStlonal on the delivery of a specific performance by the charity, are recognlsed when the charily becornes unconditionally enlltled to the grant. Membershlp subscrlptions from both Indivldual and )rpOrate bodles are recognised when the funds ere rec8ived. Donated services and facilltles are Induded at the vaue to Ihe charlty vthere Ihls can be quantlfied. The value of services provided by vdunleers has not been Included In these accounts. Assets donaled are recognl8ed in full as donatlons and fixed assets. Irwestment Income is induded when recelvable. Incoming resources from charitable trading activitles are accounted for vknen earneil. Grants and fe8s rerAlved for current year expenditure and grants for purchase of fixed assets are recognlsed In full in Ihe Staternent of Financlal Acuvltles In the perlod in whlch they are recelved, provlded Ihat the conditlons for recelpt have been complled th. Income Is deferred only where the criterla for recognitlon as Incomlng resources In the Statemenl of Flnanclal Acllvltles does not exlst at Ihe balance sh8et date, All legacles are credlted to Income In the year In [ch the Trust become5 entllled to the fijnds. Income from commercial tradSng act5vltles 13 recognlsed as earned (as ihe related serrflces are provided) No arnount Is Induded YAthSn the finandal slalement8 for volunteer ilme In Ilne th the SORP (FRS 102). Further detall Is given in the Trustees Report. 1.6 Expendllurn and Ifrecoverable VAT All expenditure Ss accounted for on an accwals basls and ts recognlsed vthere Ihere Is a legal or conslructlve obllgatlon to make payments to thlrd partles, It is probabte that the settlement wtll be requSred and the amount of the obligatlon can be measured rellably. It Is categorlsed under the follong headings.. Costs of generatlng funds comprls8 the costs assoclated wlth attractlng voluntary Income and the costs of trading for fundralsing purposes Including the charity's visitor cenlres and from the commercial Iradlng acllvltles of the company's subsidiary. Charitsble expendllure comprises those cosls Incurred by the charity In Ihe delery of Its activities and servlces for Its beneficlaries. It Indudes bolh costs that can be allocaled directly to such activitles and those costs of an Indlrect nature nec&ssary to support them. Governance costs Include those costs associated with meetlng the constitutlonal and statutory requlrements of Ihe charity and indude the audit fees and costs linked to the straleglc rnanagemenl of the charlty. All costs are allocated belween the expendlture categories of Ihe SOFA on a basls designed lo reflect the use of the resource. Costs relatlng to a partlcular activlty are allocated dlrectly,. others are apportioned on the basis of time spent. Irrecoverable VAT Is charged as a cost against the expenditure when Incurred.
Durham Wlldllfe Trust (A Company Llmited by Guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Contlnued) FOR THÉ YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 1.7 Tangible fixed assets Indlvldual fixed a&4etS CO8tlng over £500 are ¢apitallsed at cost and are depreciated over their expected useful economlc lives as follows:. Depreciation on motor vehides, computer equipment, fixtures and otherequlpment Is calculated,at 259h on a straight-line tyasis 50 as to Vrlte off their cosl over Ihelr estimated lives of 4 years A5 part of its core activieS the Charity undertakes projects, whlch often have a length of less than one year. Whllst these projects produce signfficant beneflis In lerms of conservation the economlc benefit to the charfty Is limlted. It Is therefore the pollcy of th8 charity lo charge a rate of 1000/0 depreclatlon In the year of purchase on any fixed assets that are purchased In respect of such:, projects. Depreclatlon on freehold property has been charged at Ooh, apart from certain Improvements to the propertles, whSch are subject to a charge of 100/0 on a stralght Ilne basls. The cost of property Includes Ihe cost of freehold land, which15 nol a depredallng asset, and the Execuuve Cornrnlttee 18 of the vlew that expenditure on malntenance of the bulldlngs Is such as to malntaln the values of the Trust's property al18a3l equal to cost. Improvements to leasehold property are Vritten off In the year In whlch the expenditure Is Incurred. No depreGlation Is charged on nature reserves, whlch are Induded In both freehold and leasehold land and bulldlngs. 1..8 Investments Inveslmenls In subsidiary undertaklngs 8re held at cost less lfflpaimient: 1.9 stock Stock Is valued al.the lower of cost and net realisable value, after maklng due allowance for obsolete and slow movlng items. 1.10 Debtors Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any tradfj discount offered. Prepaymenl5 are valued at the amount prepald net of any trade (Jlscounts due. 1.11 Cash at bank and In hand Cash at bank and cash In hand Indudes cash and short tem hlghly Ilquld Investrn8nts wilh a short maturity of three months or1&ss from the dale of acqulsltlon or openlng of the deposit or similar account. 1.12 Credltorn and provlglons Credltor8 and provisions are recognlsed where the charlty has a present obligatlon resulting from'a past event that will probably result In the transfer ol funds to a thlrd party and the amount due to settle the obllgauon can be measured or estlmated reliably. Credltors and provlslons are recognised at Ihelr settlement after allowing for any trade dlscounts du8. 1.13 Penslons The charlty operates a rnoney purchase pension scheme. Amounts payable are included In tha-, statement of Financial Acllvltle8 vthen the related salary is paid. Unremilted amount8 are Included In credltors.
Durham Wildlile Tt (A Company Llled by Guaranlee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Contlnued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 1.14 Flnanclal InstrumBnts The charlty only has financlal assets and financlal Ilabilltle5 of a k]nd that qua14fy as baslc financial inslrumenls. BaslG finanGlal Instrument5 are Inltlally recogn15ed at transacllon value and Subsequently measured al their seltlement value voith the exceptlon of bank loans whfch are subsequently measured at amortlsed cost using the effectNe interest method. 1.15 Taxatlon The charlty Is exempi from corporatlon tax on Its charitable activitles. l Judgements and key sources of estlmallon uncortalnty In Ihe appllcatlon of ihe charitable company's accnuntlng pollcies, the Trustees ar8 required to make Judgements, estimates and assumptlons aboul the Carrylng amount of assets and liabllllles Ihat are not readily apparent from other sources. The estlmaies and assoclated assumpllons are based on hlstorical experlence and other factors that are con51dered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these esllmate5. The estlmates and underlylng assumpllons are revIeEd on an ongolng basls. Revlslons to accountlng est5mates are recognlsed In the period In whlch the estlmal8 Is revised where the revision affects only that perlod, or In the period of the revlsion and fulure pefiods where the revlslon affects both current and future perlods. There are no slgnificant aGcount]ng estlmates whlch are con51dered to materfally Impact the finandal statements.
Durham Wlldllfe Trust (A Company Limited by Guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Contlnuad) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Statement of financlal actlvltles from Ihe prlor year as restated As restated Total 2022 Unrestrlcted Deslg.nated Rostricted funds funds fvnds Total 2023 Notes Income from.. Donations and legacles 397,40S 850,000 1,247,405 347,979 Charitable aclivlties - Coriser4atlon activitles ConseNatlon projects Education proJects Vlsltor centie Other tradlng acttvltles Investment Income 7,236 91,732 12,106 72.184 194,804 985 r O• 4,070,447 4,077,683 2,247,997 1,049,211 1,140,943 50,130 73,869 85,975 71,945 72,184 49,234 194,804 324,641 ,985 Total Income 776,452 6,043,527 6,819,979 3,091,926 Expandlture on: Costs of ralsing funds Donatlons and legacles Other tradlng actlvltles Charitable aclivlties - Conservatlon projects - Reserve projects - Education projects Publlcations & affiliatlons - Vlsltor centr8 91,256 186,667 91,256 186,667 92,535 313,319 368,579 10,891 1,639,307 2,027,927 1,670,044 56,534 106,702 60,530 87,298 93,279 57,436 31,142 40,127 , 57,087 53.792 15,131 ,57,087 Total expendlture 800,030 10,891 1,783.139 2,594,060 2,287,783 Net movament before transfers (23.578 ). (10,891) 4,260.388 4,225,919 804,143 Transfers belween fiJn(Js 22 73,679 891,940 { g65,619) Net movem8rt1 In funds 50,101 881,049 3,294,769 4,225,919 804,143 Reconclllatlon of funds Total,fund8 brought forward 769,051 1.689,530 476,526 2,935,107 2,130,964 . Total funds carrlad faThId 819,152 2,570,579 3.771.295 7,161,026 2,935,107 25
Durham Mldllfe Trust (A Company Llmlled by Guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Contlnued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Donatlons and legacles 2024 2023 Subscrlptlons Donatlons Legacle5 290,931 67,148 134,554 229.129 1,018,276 492,633 1,247,405 Incomè from rharltable actlvltles 2024 2023 Gr8flt5 Natural England Land Purchase Other grants Events Income Conservatlon Income Reservatlon Income Educatlonal vlslts Other Income 2,638,339 1,557,172 7,816 194,723 3,000 7.020 97,390 3,205,694 2,043,713 6,551 9,902 19,377 16,049 75,499 4,505,460 5.376,785 Summary of grants Nalur81 England Durham County Councll The National Lotiery Heritage Fund The Envlronment Agency Northurnbrian Water Galeshead Councll Groundwork North East County Durham Communlty Foundatlon Sunderland Clty Councll RSWT ALA Green Charitable Trust Belleve Houslng Danlel Trust Hoare Twstees Zephyr Charitable Foundaiion Scottish Power The Llnder Foundatlon Darlinglon Building Soclety Other Banister Charllable Trust DEFRA South Tyneslde Councll The Swire Charitable Trust Hartlepool Borough Council Slr James Knott Trust The Natlonal Cltizen Service Trust The Curtin PARP fund 2,650,000 77.274 479,353 48,609 128,642 10,500 7,607 3,408,144 135,053 873,015 100,000 89,945 181,472 11,200 68,668 24,707 24,000 4,600 4,000 25,000 65,200 90,831 10,000 7,500 16,219 95,688 32,948 19,200 68,085 18,619 293,500 58,094 59,219 75,000 12,880 10,777 42,517 7,000
Durham Wildllfe Trust IA Cornpany Llmited by Guarante8) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Contlnu8d) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 The Garfidd Weston Foundation The Scotto Trust 25,000 12,500 4,195,511 5,177,054 The Natural England Land grant recelved specifically to f8alltate purcha¥e Eldon Moor Fam. The agreement with Natural England places a 125-year no nutrient Inputs obllgatlon on the Group so thal Ihe land is managed In such a bvay as to mltigale nulrlent Inputs elsewhere In the Tees calchrnenL During thls time th8 Group18 also r8Strlcted from disposing of or charging Ihe land. Other tradlng actlvltles 2024 2023 Other trading income Income from tradlng subsldlary 14,480 236,628 15,492 179,312 251,108 194,804 ,Investm•nt Ineomè 2024 2023 Bank Interest 16,985 ,9851 Ralslng funds 2024 2023 Ral8lng donatlons and legacles Staff costs Fundralslng expenses 81,279 16,466 74,064 17,192 97,763 91,256 Other tradlng actlvltleB Purchases Promotlonal expenses Tradlng expenditure from sub51dlary p. 24,713 18,316 210,601 18,525 5,955 162,187 351,394 277,923
Durham Wildllfe Tru8t (A Company Llmiled by Guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Contlnued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Charftable activitles expenditure Actlvltles undertaken dlrectly Support costs Total 2024 Total 2023 Notes Conservatlon Project8 Reserve Projects Educatlon projects Publlcations and Afflllatlons Visllor Centre 1.358,276 214,811 180,926 12,742 64.193 54,452 1,412.728 2.027,927 214,811 106,702 180,926 93,279 35,337 31,142 76,701 57,087 22,595 12,508 Total ExpBndlture 1,830,948 89,555 1,920,503 2,316,137 10. Support costs Pdlanagoment Governance ¢ost8 Total 2024 2023 Conservatlon projects Publicallons and affillatlons Visjlors ¢entres 26,334 15,042 8,327 28,118 7,553 4,181 54.452 22,595 12,508 54,962 30,925 44,511 49,703 39,852 89,555 130,398 11. Governance costs 2024 2023 Audltors fees RWST Membershlp DWT Magazine & Marketlng 10,000 12,742 17,110 9,000 12.371 18,554 39,852 39,925 28
Durham Wildllfe Trust (A Company Limited by Guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Contlnued) FOR THE YEAR EPIDED 31 MARCH 2024 12. Net Income for the y•ar Net income Is ststed after charglng; 2024 2023 Depreclatlon 45,321 29,353 13. AudltOT5,remuneratlon Audlt of the88 financlal statements Audit of the.subsldlary financlal statemenl5 7,000 3,000 6,000 3,000 10,000 9,000 Non-Audlt fees j. 1,200 7,900 11,200 18,goD 14. 'Flnanclal performance of the Gharftable company The Consolldaled Statem8nl of Flnandal Actlvlties Includes the results of the tholly owned sub51di3ry. Tho summary financl81 perfomiance of the charlty alone Is; 2023 Income Expendlture 5,046,615 6,662,778 (2,061,295) { 2,431,873), Not Income 2,985,320 4,230,905
Durham Wlldllfe Trust (A Company Llmited by Guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Contlnued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 15. Analy51s of staff costs, Trustee remuneratlon and expenses, and the cost of key management personnel The total staff costs and employees benefits were a8 follo. 2024 2023 Wages and salaries Social security cosls Other pension costs 890,163 76,091 37,563 749,384 63,388 29,977 1,003,817 842,749 The average number of employee3 durln9 the year was as fd1s. 2024 Number 2023 Number Costs of generatlng fund3 Charitable actlvities Management and admlnlstratlon 33 35 39 41 The number of employees whose annual remuneratlon was £60,000 or more vRre'. 2024 2023 £80,000 to £70,000 The Trustees ¥•4Ere not pald or recefved any oiher benefiis from employment In the year (2023 - £nll). No Trustee recelved payment for professlonal or other s8rvlces supplled to the charily (2023 - £nll). There were no expenses pald to trustees during the year (2023 - nll). The key management personnel of the charlty compri3e the Trustee5 and Management Team Idenufled on page 10, The total employee benefits of the Management Team of the charity wete £208,367 (2023 £280,022). 30
Durham Wlldllfe Trust (A Company Llmited by Guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Conllnu•d) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 16. Tanglble flxed assets Group and charSty Equlpment. fixtures & .fittlngg- Fraehold "property"" Long .l•asehold Motor .vehlcles. Total Cost At 1 Aprn 2023 Addltlon5 Disposal8 6,145,120 2,954,508 127,667 1,071,461 9,737 (19,547) 113,834 7,457,982 2,964,245 (19,547) Al 31 March 2024 9,099,628 127,567 1,061,651 113,834 10,402,680 Depreclatlon At 1 April 2023 Charge for the year Dlsposals 532,T17 833 44,532 962,885 36,971 (18,435) 94,324 1,634,518 7,517 45,321 (18.435) At 31 March 2024 533,810 44,532 981,421 101,841 1,661,404 Net book value At 31 March 2024 8,566,018 83,035 80,230 11,993 8,741,276 At 31 March 2023 5,612,343 83,035 108.576 19,510 5,823,464 Included wlthln freehold property and long leasehold are nature reserves with a total cost of £8,509,971 ' and £83,035, respectlvely. No depreclalion has been charged on th858 amounts. 31
Duiham Wlldllfe TnA8t (A Company Limtted by Guaranlee) NOTes TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMEMfs (contInu) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 17. Investments Group . 2023 Charity 2024 2024 2023 Shares lrt subsldlary undertaklng 12 12 Percentage Shareholdlng 1000 Company Country Durham Wildlffe Serv5 Llmlted England and Wales Descrfptlon Ordinary Durham Wildlrfe Serrflces Llrnited whose prfnclple actlvlty Is the provlsbn of ecologlcal con8ullancy servlces. The results and summary of assets and liabllities of the company are as follows: . 2024 2023 Turnover Cost of sales AdmInIstrat8 expenses 236,696 179,312 (195,446) (159,030) { 15,155) 13,157) Profit for the year 26,095 17,125 Dlstrlbullon to Durham Wildlffe Trust 17,125 22,111 2024 2023 Total 858els Total liabilities 75,890 (15,886) 67,099 (16,065) Shareholders, fund8 60,004 51,034
Durham Wildlffe Trust {A Company Llmited by Guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Contlnued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 18. Stocks Group 2023 Charlty 2024 2024 2023 Stock8 .797 10.031 8,797 10,031 19. Debtors Group 2023 Charlty 2023 k,. 2024 2024 Trade d8btors Prepayments AccNed Sncoma 193,400 204,053 7,265 272,187 ,147,091 188,340 7,265 272,187 167,390 167,390 360,790 483,505 314,481 467,792; 20. Cr•dltor8: amounts falllng due wlthln one year Group 2023 Charftyl- 2023 2024 2024 Tradè credllors Scclal Secudty and other taxes Accruals Other credltors VAT 135,399 19,325 27,488 15,470 16,127 131,019 24,876 63,331 11,540 632,367 137,376 19,325 27,488 5,707 10,004 131,765, 14,410¥ 1 63,331 6,632 632,367 213,809 863,133 199,900 848,505 33
Durham Wildllfe Trust (A Company Lirnited by Guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS {C(lInued} FQR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 An8lysls of fund5 nded 31 M 24 Brought Forward CarrSèd Forwanl Income Expendllure Trdnsfers Unrestrlcted Funds General fund 819,152 1,028,002 (959,013 } (187,080) 701,081 Deslgnated funds Land Volunteers Repalrs and Maintenance Ralnton Meadows Catchment management 2,335,942 43,979 33,022 132,636 25,000 466,428 2,802,370 34,732 28,971 131,066 (9,246) (4,051) (7,060) (25,000) 5,490 ' Total unrnstrlctsd funds 3,389,731 1,033,492 (1,004,370) 279,348 3,698,200 Restrlctad Fund Natural England Funded Land Dlscover Brlght Water Heart of Durharn Land of Oak and Iron Nalurally Nallve Low Berns Consprvation Projects EdLJcatlon Projec18 Livlng Landscapes Projects HealSng Nature Great North Fen Seascapes Llnks with nature 3,205,694 2,838,339 (28,511) 320,856 18,368 51,394 10,959 2,310 11,404 339,958 23,088 190,603 6,870 (4.354) (5,094) 5,844.033 102,223 15,836 10,959 { 190,123) (53,926) 200,469 (199,738) (3,041) 11,404 390,726 11,491 48,718 472,642 144,122 17,890 { 427.484) (164,205) (178,260) 5,610 8,486 18,484. (6,870) (302,018) 295,588 71,394 20,000 10,783 { 64,575) 1,725 20,000 Total rnstrlGtBd funds 3.771.295 4,232,694 { 1,267,526) { 279,348) 6,457,115 Total fund8 7,161.026 5,266,186 .(2,271,897) 1.: 10,155,315
Durham Wildlrfe Trust (A Company Limited by Guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEmErs (ConVnu•d) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 22.Analysls of fund5 (Contlnuadj Brought Forward ca led Forward Income Expondltura Trdngfers Unrestrf¢tad Funds General fund 769,051 776,452 (800,030) 73,679 819,152 De81gnated funds Vdunteers Repalrs and Malnlenance Rainton Meadows Catchment management Land 49,920 60,000 132,636 (5,941) (4,950) 43,979 33,022 132,636 25,000 2,335,942 { 22,028) 25,000 888,968 1,446,974 Total unrestrlGted funds 2,458,581 776,452 { 810,921) 965,619 3,389,731 Restrfcted Funds Natural England Funded Land D18cover Brlght Waler Heart of Durham Land of Oak and Iron Naturally Natlve Low Barns CanseNallon Projects Educatlon Projects Llvlng Landscapes Projects Heallng Nature Great North Fen Se85capes 3,205,694 56,077 3,205,694 {28,511) 18,368 10,959 2,310 11,404 339,958 23,088 190,603 6,870 (4,354) (5,094) (3,870) 16,424 10,959 50,544 11,665 140.740 57,067 100,095 39,334 54,380 735,51)0 45,486 (816,218) (43,542) 104,224 (144,762) (261) (470,116) 1(3,216,052) (87,298) (20,550) (56,273) ( g02,430) (91,042> (7,896) 3,885,386 73,869 1,049,211 58,578 21,928 69,345 (80,662) (73,627) Total restrlcted funds 476,526 6.043,527 (1,783,139) (965,619) 3,771,29S Total fvnds 2,935,107 6,819,979 { 2,594,060) 7,161,026 Transfers are made beten funds when a fund has closed from restrlcted Into unrestrlcted funds. 35
Durham Wildlrfe Trust. (A CoTnpany Lirnited by Guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IGontlnue(iJ FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 22. Analysls of funds (Contlnued) DESIGNATED FUNDS: Volunteers Funds designated to support all aspects of volunleering and trainee positions at Durham Wildlrfe Trust. Repalrs and Malntenance Funds designated to make provlslon for the repalr. rnalntenance {Includin9 replacement) of land, bulldings, equipment and other assets. Ralnton Meadow8. Funds deslgnaled to manage the Trust's Ralnlon Meadow Nalure Reserve. Catchmont Managemeni Support for the Tiust's work provlded by the Garfield Weston Foundation that the Twst has deslgnated to support partnership work th the Rlvers Trusls and Northumbrian Water across the calchmenis of the rivers Skerne and Browney. Land Speclfio fund created for the unreslricted land held by the charlty. RESTRICTED FUNDS: D18cover Brlght Water A National Lottery Herltage Fund Landscape Partnership scheme led by DWT that alms to deliver slgnlllcant conservation work across the CAl¢hment of the Rlver Skerne. Heart of Durham A landscape scale project deliverlng habitat and specle6 conserdatlon across northern and central County Durham thal Is supported by Northumbrlan Water. Land of Oak and Iron A Nallonal Lottery Heritage Fund Landscape Partnership scheme in the Dewwent Valley to dellver educatlon and conservation projects. Naturally Natlve A project funded by Ihe National Loltery Herftage Fund that focuses on conservation of Ihe vraler volè. Thls prolect Is dellvered In partnershlp th Tees Valley and Northumberland Wildllfe Trusts. Low Barns Improvements Fundlrtg r8celved from Durham County Council Weardale AAP and North Pennlnes and Dales Leader to furbish and Improve Ihe Visitors Cenlre at Low Barns Nature Re88rve.
Durham Wjldlife Trust (A CDmpany Limiled by Guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS {Contlnued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 22. Analys18 of fund8 (C¢mtlnued) Con8ervatlon Projects A fund created during 2020-2110 consolldate smaller o)nservalion projects into a single Department In order lo slmpljfy financlal managemenl and reporting. Indivldual prolects are Identtfiable by Project Codes. Educatlon Projects A fund created during 2021-22 to consolldale smaller educatlon proJ8Cts into a slngle Departrnent In order to slmplify flnancla management and reportlng. IrKlivldual projects are Identifiable by Prolect Codes, Llvlng Landscapes North Projocts A,fund created durlng 2021-22 to ¢onsolldate projects delivered across the Trusl's livSng landscapes nature reserve5 Into a single Depart[net In order to slmpllfy financial management and reporting, Indivldual projects are Identifiable by Project Codes. Natural England Funded Land Over recent years the Charity has entered Into agreemenls with Natural England to facilltate the purchase of several areas of land. These agreements place a 125-year no nutrlent Inputs obllgation on the Charity so that the land is managed In such a way a5 to mltlgate nulrient Inputs elsewhere In the Tees catchment. During thls tlme the Charlty is also restricted from disposing of or charglng Ihe land. It Is therefore dassified 25 a restrlcted fund. Great North Fan A long-18rn prolecl to dellver large scale habital resloratlon au08S the Durham Cairs and wrfder catchment of the Rlver Skerne. Heallng Nature A project funded by the Natlonal Lottery Herltage Fund that focuses on habltat restoratlon across thei Sunderland Coalfield area and assoclated heallh and well-belng benefits Seascapes A Natlonal Lottery Herltage Fund Landscape Partnershlp led by Durham County Council that d81ivers a varfety of projects along the coast and Goaslal ater5 from the Tyne to the Tees. Durham Wildlrfe Trust dellvers a number of the projects. Llnks wllh Nature A National Lottery Herftage funded project ddivered In partnership with Sunderland Clly Council covering thlrteell sites in the Sunderland Coalfldd area (concentraled on the ¢xkhment of the Lumley Park Burn.) The projecl foGu588 on habitat and access Improvements to Council ovjned sites and vdll make UBe of socSall!- prescrlblng via the Sunderland G.P. Allance and Links for Llfe Sunderland to engage vdunteers. 37
Durham Wlldllfe Trust (A Company Limited by Guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Contlnued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARGH 2024 23, Analysls of net assets baiween funds Unrestrictsd Funds De8lgnated Fund8 Restrlcted Fund8 Total Tangible assets 94,873 Current assets 819,997 Credllors amounts due withln one year (213,809) 2,802,370 194.769 5,844,033 613,082 8,741,276 1,627,848 (213,809) 701,061 2,997,139 6,457,115 10,155,315 ended 31 023. Unrestrfctad Funds Designated Funds Ro8trlctsd Funds Total Tanglble assets 281,828 Current assets 1.400,457 Credllors amounis due thIn one year (863,133) 2,335,942 234,637 3,205,694 565,601 5,823,484 2,200,695 (863,133) 819,152 2,570,579 3,771,295 7,161,028 24. Related Party Tran8actlons There have been no relaled party Iransactlons durlng the year (2023 - none). 25. Penslon Commlknents The charity operates a money purchase penslon scheme. The penslon scheme Cost charge of £37,563 (2023 £29,977) represent amounts payable by the charity. unmItted .amounts of £5,707 (2023 £5,744}, represenling one month's deductlons18 i[uded In credltors.
Durham Wlldllfe Trust (A Company Llmited by Guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMEKfs (Contlnuedj FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 26. Reconclllatlon of net Income to net cash flow frpm operallng actlvltles 2024 2023 .N8t-Income,for. Ih8.y8ar. Adlustmenls for: Interest'recelved Depreciation on tangible as5els Profivloss from dSsposal of assets Decrease In stock in CY Decrease In debtors (Decr8ase)Ilncrea8e In credltors .2,994,294,22S,919 (16,985) 45,321 (12,908) 1,234 122,714 (649,324) (985) 29,353 3,107 100,827 441,786 Net cash Ilow from operating actNitles 2,498,342 4,800,007 27. Analy816 of net debt, There,charitable Gompany had no debt during the year. 39