Wildlife Trust For B'ham & The Black Cou - Charities report - 19.2

REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 01650938 (England and Wales)

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 513615

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED

31 MARCH 2019

FOR

THE WILDLIFE TRUST FOR BIRMINGHAM

& THE BLACK COUNTRY LTD

THE WILDLIFE TRUST FOR BIRMINGHAM

& THE BLACK COUNTRY LTD

CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

for the year ended 31 March 2019

Page

Chairman's Report

1

Report of the Trustees

2 to 17

Report of the Independent Auditors

18 to 20

Statement of Financial Activities

21

Balance Sheet

22

Cash Flow Statement

23

Notes to the Cash Flow Statement

24

Notes to the Financial Statements

25 to 36

THE WILDLIFE TRUST FOR BIRMINGHAM

& THE BLACK COUNTRY LTD

CHAIRMAN'S REPORT

for the year ended 31 March 2019

The last year has seen a change for the Trust, some of you will be aware that our CEO - Georgia Stokes left

us for pastures new - although staying with the wider Wildlife Trust movement - to take up post as CEO of

The Somerset Wildlife Trust, we all wish her the very best in her new role. In the mean time I and my fellow

trustees have been busy with the recruitment process, we have appointed a new CEO who should be in post

early November.

Over the last year the Trust has continued to foster partnerships with other environmental groups, aligning our

messages and speaking with a single voice for nature to cut across competing political agendas. Our work on

this is recognised and raises the profile of the environment and the Trust with key decision-makers.

Our team has continued to strengthen our relationship with you, our members, who are more committed than

ever to protecting local wildlife. We have loved hearing your stories, seeing your photos and meeting you at

events, please keep sharing experiences and pictures of your explorations of the natural green space around

our area.

We have sustained the strong relationships with our key funders, the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Heritage

Lottery Fund, People's Postcode Lottery and charitable trusts such as Saintbury, Roughley and Martann.

These funders not only support our work by recognising the importance of urban nature conservation in

helping reverse the decline in biodiversity; but also understand the vital role access to quality natural spaces

plays in the health and happiness of the population.

We are delighted to present to you our Annual Report for the financial year 2018 to 2019. We hope you enjoy

reading about the highlights and look forward to working with you as we continue to stand up for our local

wildlife together.

Simon Needle

Chair of Trustees

THE WILDLIFE TRUST FOR BIRMINGHAM

& THE BLACK COUNTRY LTD

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

for the year ended 31 March 2019

The Board have pleasure in presenting their report together with the audited accounts for the year ended 31st

March 2019. The Board have adopted the provisions of the Charities SORP (FRS102) - Accounting and

Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts

in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (effective 1

January 2015) in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity. The accounts have been

prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives and aims

The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country Limited is required by charity and company law to

act within the objects of its Memorandum of Association, which are as follows:

2.1 Objectives

The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country's objectives are:

1. For the benefit of the public, to advance, promote and further the conservation maintenance study

and protection of: (Strategic Goal 1: Space for nature is protected, restored, created and valued.)

i. wildlife and its habitats;

ii. places of natural beauty;

iii. places of zoological, botanical, geographical, archaeological or scientific interest;

iv. features of landscape with geological, physiographical, or amenity value; in particular, but not exclusively,

in ways that further biodiversity.

2. To advance the education of the public in: (Strategic Goal 2: Everyone is connected to nature):

v. the principles and practice of sustainable development;

vi. the principles and practice of biodiversity conservation; in particular, but not exclusively, in urban areas.

We launched our five year strategy for 2017 - 2022, A Greener Future, in November 2016.

Our Vision is for Birmingham and the Black Country to have more wildlife, more wild places and more people

with a strong connection to the natural world every year.

Our Strategic Goals are:

1. Space for nature is protected, restored, created and valued.

2. Everyone is connected to nature.

3. The natural environment is at the heart of planning, policy and decision-making.

4. We are an effective organisation.

Significant activities

The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country's activities, to meet these objectives are:

Conservation Activities:

1. To manage our portfolio of land holdings for the benefit of wildlife (Goal 1)

The Trust manages 7 nature reserves for the benefit of people and wildlife:

1. Moseley Bog and Joy's Wood, long-term lease with Birmingham City Council

2. Turner's Wood, owned by the Trust

3. Deer's Leap Wood, owned by the Trust

4. Park Hall, long-term lease with the Environment Agency, currently in possession of HS2 Ltd.

5. EcoPark, long-term lease with Birmingham City Council

6. Centre of the Earth, land on long-term lease with Birmingham City Council, building owned by the Trust

7. Portway Hill (part of the Rowley Hills), owned by the Trust.

We run regular volunteer days at each of these sites connecting people to their local environment, managing

and improving the habitat for wildlife and identifying ways to improve the biodiversity of these sites.

The Trust has a management agreement with Wolverhampton Council to work with the local community to

manage this site for nature. The Trust also works with the Friends of Hill Hook to manage their site to improve

biodiversity.

2. To deliver a Living Landscape that is connected and resilient where nature thrives (Goal 1)

The Trust is the lead partner of the Birmingham and Black Country Nature Improvement Area, and for the

past seven years has lead development of the ecological strategy and delivery of nature improvement works

across the area to achieve the strategy. Since 2012 we have improved and enhanced over 250 sites for

wildlife.

The Trust works with and advises landowners, private and public, to identify changes to management that will

improve biodiversity and provide habitat for wildlife that fits into existing management regimes and budgets.

The Ecological Strategy underpins all practical nature conservation work, identifying the sites that contribute

most to the ecological network and the actions that will achieve the greatest benefits for biodiversity.

3. To advocate on behalf of the natural environment protecting green and blue spaces and the

resilience of the ecological network through planning, policy and across all developments (Goal 3)

Working with and through well-established networks including (but not limited to) the Local Nature

Partnership, Nature Improvement Area partnership, Biodiversity and Geodiversity Action Partnerships,

Catchment Partnerships and Local Sites Partnership, the Trust works to influence planning and policy to

benefit the natural world.

EcoRecord, The Local Ecological Records Centre for Birmingham and the Black Country, collates, analyses

and communicates data and information about species and habitats across the Birmingham and Black

Country area. EcoRecord provides the scientific evidence behind the ecological strategy and informs how the

Trust's resources are used to achieve the greatest impact. EcoRecord has service level agreements with

Birmingham City Council, Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council,

Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council, Wolverhampton City Council, HS2 and the Environment Agency, and

is supported by a large network of volunteer recording groups and individual recorders.

People & Wildlife Activities

4. To engage with the population of Birmingham and the Black Country, enabling them to connect

with, value and choose to protect their local natural environment (Goal 2)

The Trust's education, community events and training programmes connect people to their local wildlife sites,

inspire people to take action to protect nature and empower communities with the skills and knowledge to

manage space for nature. The Trust believes our well-being depends on nature and that it is important for all

of our health and wellbeing to spend regular time in natural spaces.

Our education programme provides an opportunity for pupils of all ages to visit green spaces, learn about

wildlife,explore and take risks in a safe environment. Pupils develop skills and knowledge about nature, soft

skills such as communication, and team-working, build confidence and self-esteem while getting physical

exercise.

Our community events programme provides a range of activities for all ages and abilities including bug hunts,

phenology walks, Nature Tots, Wildlife Watch for children, bat walks, Fungi Forays and many more.

Our training programme provides adults with opportunities to develop practical nature conservation and

identification skills. We provide volunteering and work experience opportunities, run courses ranging from

green wood working to coppicing for individuals and community groups, and have developed an accredited

training programme.

Fundraising & Development Activities

5. To achieve greater impacts by increasing our unrestricted income to spend on charitable purposes

through membership, legacies and fundraising (Goal 4)

Our members are the life-blood of the Trust. They are the voice for nature in their communities, they are the

Trust's volunteers, campaigners and ambassadors. The membership income provides the Trust with vital

unrestricted income that enables us to deliver practical work to achieve our strategic goals. Membership fees

are used to protect nature through the planning system, to continually manage our sites for the benefit of

wildlife, to work with volunteers, to ensure our staff are safe and supported, and to ensure we can work in

diverse communities connecting people to their natural environment.

Our corporate, legacies and fundraising programmes are emerging to increase our unrestricted income and

achieve greater impacts

Resources Activities

6. To ensure we are financially sustainable, focused and effective, making the best use of all our

assets (Goal 4)

We seek value for money in everything we do, and work hard to diversify our income streams to achieve a

sustainable financial base for the Trust. We meet our Reserves Policy, set by Trustees, and have a plan for

all of our sites to generate income wherever appropriate.

7. To support all our people to achieve great outcomes for wildlife (staff, volunteers, partners,

members)

We invest time and resources into our staff, volunteers and the communities we work with to increase their

skills, ensure they feel valued, and are able to achieve their full potential to have a positive impact for wildlife.

Public benefit

The advancement of environmental protection and improvement is recognised as a charitable purpose and is

regarded universally as producing a public good. The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country

exists to promote the care and protection of the environment and therefore provides a clear public benefit.

The Wildlife Trust's philosophy is based on the belief that the natural world deserves conserving for its own

sake and, since this is widely perceived to be a worthy aim of public policy, it may fairly be regarded as a

benefit to the public at large. However, the public benefits provided by The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and

the Black Country go much further.

Firstly, our nature reserves are used by the public, and many have access on way-marked routes. At most

sites information and interpretation is provided to visitors. There are a few cases where there may be a

conflict between management requirements and unfettered access, but where this occurs we strive to keep

any restrictions to a minimum.

Secondly, our education programmes are aimed at schools, colleges, adult groups and the wider public.

Education is also, of course, recognised as a charitable activity in its own right.

Thirdly, our information gathering and provision of expert advice and opinion to local authorities and others

helps to ensure that planning decisions are made on a rational basis taking full account of the public benefit of

wildlife.

Fourthly, we can exert influence through our membership at local level, and nationally through our

membership of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts. It is also our belief that the involvement of many

volunteers in our work provides an outlet for altruistic endeavour, which is of special benefit to those involved

as well as delivering benefits to the wider public.

Promoting the enjoyment of the natural world is an important part of what we do: contact with the natural

world and the appreciation of wildlife and wild places provides great pleasure to many people and contributes

towards wellbeing and health. Our nature reserves and activities are available to all and we try to make

special provision for the disabled and disadvantaged wherever possible.

In shaping our objectives for the year and planning our activities, the trustees have considered the

Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit, including the guidance 'public benefit: running

a charity (PB2)

Volunteers

To achieve our goals we depend on the hard work and dedication of a large team of volunteers who work with

us at our nature reserves, respond to planning applications, attend events, manage our website and so much

more. Over the past 12 months the Trust has worked with 1,311 volunteers who between them have

contributed an amazing 9,667 hours. We couldn't do our work without these amazing people, thank you.

STRATEGIC REPORT

Achievement and performance

Charitable activities

Goal 1: Space for nature is protected, restored, created and valued.

Landscape-scale nature conservation

The Wildlife Trust works at a landscape-scale to maximise our impact by protecting, improving and creating

vibrant, wildlife-rich green spaces throughout the conurbation. We use data to provide us with a strong

evidence-base which enables us to target our work so as to maximise our ecological impact and work

towards creating a landscape rich in wildlife and wild spaces.

Since 2012, the Birmingham and Black Country Nature Improvement Area has been our main opportunity to

connect both wildlife and people to high quality natural areas; providing many benefits and contributing to

mitigating the effects of climate change. In 2018, The Wildlife Trusts movement launched proposals for a

Nature Recovery Network to put space for nature at the heart of our farming and planning systems, and to

bring nature into the places where most people live their daily lives. The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the

Black Country are building on the success of the Nature Improvement Area and working towards the creation

of a local Nature Recovery Map which will enable us and our partners to increase the extent and quality of

natural habitats, turning nature's recovery from an aspiration to a reality.

- Esmée Fairbairn Foundation-funded work to deliver new and enhanced wildlife-rich habitats in

areas of accessible greenspace

In 2018, we completed the three year Esmée Fairbairn Foundation-funded phase of the Nature Improvement

Area. With the Foundation's support we have been able to work with hundreds of volunteers on the

enhancement of key wildlife corridors by delivering practical projects focused in areas of public open space.

We were delighted that later in 2018, the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation confirmed a further five years of

funding which is supporting a wide range of our work including a volunteer coordinator post, our work leading

partnerships, communications and increased capacity to respond to planning applications and consultations -

as well as even more biodiversity improvement projects.

In 2018-19 we delivered 63 biodiversity improvement projects across Birmingham and the Black Country, with

a focus around the seven priority landscape corridors identified in our ecological strategy. Projects included

the restoration of a rare fen habitat, the creation of new meadows in Smestow Valley Local Nature Reserve,

the removal of a weir in the River Stour which was preventing fish movements, and the enhancement of a

number of young woodlands. A total of 431 individual volunteers donated 5,053 hours over 218 workdays to

make these projects happen.

- Salmon in the Stour

A key priority for ecological enhancement identified through the Wildlife Trust's ecological network mapping is

the catchment of the River Stour. In 2018-19 we continued our Salmon in the Stour project with partners the

Environment Agency, Worcestershire Wildlife Trust and Severn Rivers Trust. The project is working to

improve the River Stour and its tributaries for wildlife and people by removing barriers to fish, naturalising

modified channels, addressing pollution and enhancing bankside habitats. Not only do we want to see salmon

breeding in the catchment headwaters again, we want these vital wildlife corridors to be full of wildlife like

otters, kingfishers and water voles.

Wildlife Trust Nature Reserves

The Wildlife Trust's own nature reserves continue to be one of the main focuses of our work and allow us not

only to create important sites for wildlife and people, but also enable us to demonstrate best practice in urban

nature conservation. We manage 7 nature reserves in total, however, in April 2017 our Park Hall site in east

Birmingham was taken into the possession of High Speed Two (HS2) Limited under the powers given to it

under the HS2 Act 2017. In addition to our nature reserves we also manage the grounds of our Centre of the

Earth headquarters and EcoPark education centre to high standards for the benefit of wildlife.

We continue to run regular volunteer days at six of our nature reserves (Moseley Bog & Joy's Wood,

Peascroft Wood, Hill Hook, Deer's Leap Wood, Portway Hill and Turner's Wood), with our volunteers being

crucial to the continued good management of these sites. We also continue to bring new investment into our

nature reserves through securing grants for habitat enhancements, access improvements, and the support

and training of our volunteers.

- Peascroft Wood

Following on from the completion of the Heritage Lottery Fund project at Peascroft Wood we secured support

from the Big Lottery's Awards for All fund to continue our work with the Peascroft Wood volunteers. The

project enabled us to continue to run volunteer activity and training days, including practical conservation work

such as woodland management and meadow management, habitat surveying and monitoring, organising and

leading volunteer groups, health and safety, and first aid. We also worked with the volunteer group to help

them develop and support volunteer days themselves, attract new volunteers and promote the reserve to new

audiences.

- Portway Hill

Through the support of Tesco Bags of Help we were able to learn more about the wildlife of Portway Hill

through undertaking survey events open to the public. These included a bat night, moth surveys and mammal

surveys. We continue to manage the area of the hill we own to retain the flower-rich grassland on which so

many species of butterfly including marbled white and green-letter hairstreak depend.

- Moseley Bog & Joy's Wood

In 2017-18 Moseley Bog benefited from the restoration of the site's rare fen habitat and we have continued to

manage this through the annual cutting of the reeds and managing water levels. The meadows created in

previous years through the strewing of seed-rich green hay collected from species-rich ancient meadows

continue to improve, with species such as green-winged orchid, common spotted-orchid and yellow-rattle

becoming increasingly abundant during the summer of 2018.

- Turner's Wood

In 2018 the outdoor education area in Turner's Wood was completed and the adjoining St. Michaels Primary

School now regularly use the reserve to introduce a new generation of children to nature and wild spaces.

- Deer's Leap Wood

The Deer's Leap Wood volunteers have continued to grow in number and our weekly Friday volunteers

continue to work with the Friends of Deer's Leap Wood and the Deer's Leap Residents Association. Together

they carry out important work such as maintaining paths, weeding the newly planted hedgerows, cutting the

meadows and clearing rubbish from the Shireland Brook.

Goal 2: Everyone is connected to nature.

The Trust's education work has continued to grow with several new primary schools visiting our

Environmental Education Centres at EcoPark and Centre of the Earth for curriculum linked sessions, Forest

School activities and after-school clubs. Our Wild Schools Roadshow was launched successfully taking

outdoor learning directly into school playgrounds and our improved website has helped the Trust promote our

range of Wild School services. 3 Home School groups have also begun visiting our sites on a monthly basis.

The Centre of the Earth has received significant investment and enhancement over the year due to the

relocation to this site of our head office; a programme to similarly improve our facilities at EcoPark rests on

the completion of a Community Asset Transfer and fundraising effort to build a new Eco-classroom there.

The Natural Prospects project funded through the Heritage Lottery's Skills for the Future programme saw our

first cohort of 6 trainees beginning their placements with the Trust and our partners at Birmingham City

Council, Walsall Metropolitan City Council and Wolverhampton City Council. With a new dedicated

coordinator in post for 4 years, this project is helping to train the next generation of urban conservationists,

increase the diversity of our sector's workforce and enhance the Trust's own capacity to deliver accredited

training.

With support from funders including Children in Need, players of People's Postcode Lottery, Tesco Bags of

Help and the National Express Foundation, the Trust's community engagement programmes have continued

to grow and reach people across the conurbation. These have included family activities based from EcoPark

and Centre of the Earth, as well as the delivery of programmes with community partners - including running

John Muir Awards for groups of young people and supported volunteering for people with physical disabilities

and learning difficulties. The My Wild Future programme for 16-25 year olds also got underway with a range

of opportunities for volunteering, training and project co-design.

The Trust has extended the provision of our Nature Tots programmes enabling pre-school age children and

their parents to explore the wilder sides of sites including Cannon Hill Park and Woodgate Valley.

The Trust's Health and Well-being programmes have continued to grow with funding secured from Making

Connections Walsall to run courses supporting older isolated people including those with dementia from a

number of venues across the borough. These courses, based on the 5 Ways to Well-being, help participants

to explore and enjoy the wild spaces on their doorstep, enabling them to connect with their natural

environment and each other. Evaluated using the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale, these

courses help us to build an evidence based to ensure the health impacts of connecting with nature are fully

appreciated by policy makers.

Goal 3: The natural environment is at the heart of planning, policy and decision making.

Natural Capital Investment Plan

As Chair of the Natural Capital Roundtable, the Wildlife Trust have been working with our partners on building

the case for the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to produce a Natural Capital Investment Plan.

The Natural Capital Investment Plan development proposal seeks to create a tool kit approach to ensure

investment across the WMCA has the environment integrated within all decision-making; leading to better

housing, better transport, better health and wellbeing, better workforce performance and better quality of life -

attracting better investment.

Local Wildlife and Geological Sites

The Wildlife Trust works with local authorities and Government agencies to support the continued protection

of Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs) and Sites of Local Importance for Nature

Conservation (SLINCs). We are a key member of the Local Sites Partnership and during 2018-19 revised the

guidance document for their selection to ensure this was up-to-date and that their designation was defensible.

The Trust was commissioned by Dudley, Walsall and Wolverhampton councils to undertake Local Sites

ecological surveys and assessments of 31 existing and potential SINCs and SLINCs.

Planning applications

We continue to build our capacity to monitor and comment on planning applications which may impact upon

wildlife. In 2018-19 we responded to 85 planning applications, with 13 of these refused or improved for wildlife

in line with our advice and comments, meaning that over 70 hectares of land has been protected or enhanced

for wildlife.

Ecological Valuation of the Black Country Green Belt

Through the ongoing review of the Black Country Plan the four local authorities have commissioned the

Wildlife Trust to undertake an ecological review of the Black Country green belt. The review will assign

ecological value to individual land units and identify the component parts of the ecological network through

analysis and interpretation of available datasets. The review will aim to better define the ecological network at

a higher resolution (building on our Nature Improvement Area ecological network map), provide evidence for

land use change at both the site and landscape-scale, inform more effective nature conservation project

delivery, and enable direct engagement with planners, developers, businesses and communities.

Leading Partnerships

The Wildlife Trust chairs the HS2 Environmental and Landscape Board, the Birmingham and Black Country

Local Nature Partnership, the Birmingham and Black Country Nature Improvement Area and the Natural

Capital Roundtable. We are also the sub-host of the Tame, Anker and Mease Catchment Based Approach

Partnership, representing Birmingham and the Black Country.

Goal 4: We are an effective organisation

This year has seen the development of our Business Plan setting out how we will achieve our strategic goals.

The Business Plan demonstrates the Trust is capable of sustainable growth each year through gradually

increasing the services we offer, that support our charitable aims, and generate unrestricted income.

The Trust has now settled well at its new headquarters at the Centre of the Earth site. Previously an

environmental education centre that had not been in use for 5 years. The Trust has been able to promote its

activities in a better way by having its headquarters on one of its nature sites.

The Trust works tirelessly to keep costs down but to ensure a high quality service on direct project costs and

also its running costs where savings are made every year.

Membership

In 2018-2019 there has been an improved membership engagement process and a much easier online

membership form to ensure we secure new memberships. Further improvements to enable more new

memberships via the website are also planned for 2019-2020 which includes marketing through various

platforms.

Financial review

Financial position

Trust income is split between unrestricted and restricted funds. Unrestricted income represents money raised

or given to support the Trust's achievement of core charitable aims. Membership, donations, general

fundraising and some charitable trust donations were given as unrestricted income.

Restricted income is given for a specific purpose with clear outputs to be achieved. Restricted income for this

period includes National Prospects funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and EcoRecord Service Level

Agreements with local authorities. Restricted income is down against 2017/18 financial year due to Esmée

Fairbairn Foundation funding for the Nature Improvement Area being treated as Unrestricted Funding. This

funding has been secured for another five years.

Total income has increased from £977,720 in 2017/18 to £978,061 in 2018/19. The Trust has invested in

membership as an essential income stream that enables us to deliver core charitable aims that are not

always possible to fund through restricted income such as our work to protect nature through the planning

system.

Membership accounts for 24% of the Trust's income and the Business Plan sets out how this will grow over

three years. Unrestricted income (including membership) is 62% of total income. The Trust aims for this to be

70% to represent a sustainable financial position.

Principal funding sources

Income comprises of the following :-

Membership, donations, legacies - Contains income from our members, donations given at events and

through our presence in the community and legacies (we have had one legacy in 2017/18)

Charitable activities - Projects and services delivered in Birmingham & Black Country in line with the Trusts

aims and objectives

Trading & Other income - Includes Royalties received, interest income, hire income and rental income

One of the biggest challenges for the Trust over the next few years will be to diversify our unrestricted income

sources to provide resilience to the organisation. The other main focus will be to increase the donations and

legacies received by the Trust . Compared to other Wildlife Trusts nationally we achieve similar levels of

funding through grants but are not performing as well in encouraging corporate partners and legacy

donations. We will learn from our sister Trusts to improve our performance in these areas. We know we need

to do more to secure our membership which is explained below.

Expenditure

The Trust's expenditure increased from £796,075 to £878,519 in 2018/19, which can be broken down below.

Every penny we receive is spent on achieving our charitable aims. Overheads include rents for our sites,

running our office and insurance to ensure we are a responsible and sustainable organisation

Charitable Activity - This covers our staffing costs and direct project costs to deliver projects and services

so as to meet our charitable aims and objectives

Fundraising costs - Fees are paid to Wildlife Fundraising Central (WFC) for the recruitment of new

members as part of our Face to Face membership recruitment agreement. WFC are owned by the Wildlife

Trusts and work with six Trusts across the UK. WFC receive a commission on the annual membership fee

for all new memberships they recruit to the Trust. Other costs include recruitment through the Join Anywhere

process via other Wildlife Trusts, online membership recruitment as well as production of membership

magazines throughout the year. In 18-19 the Trust recruited a part-time Door to Door membership recruiter

to help diversify membership recruitment methods

Overheads - These are the running costs to maintain our sites and head-quarters covering areas such as

rent, rates, gas, electric, telephones and insurance.

Pensions: Royal London manage all pension funds on behalf of the staff members. The Trust contributes 7%

in addition to staff contributions.

Summary

The Trust's Unrestricted General Reserves stands at £278,256 as at the 31 March 2019. This has provided

the Trust several opportunities to develop work which will enhance the activities they currently do.

Trustees have decided to reinvest the following in 2019-2020 financial year:

- Re-invest £10,000 in one of our sites to continue to manage this vital site for people and wildlife

- Re-invest £10,000 in Education & Engagement to build on engaging communities and organisations

through activities

Reserves policy

Trustees keep the reserves of the Trust under regular review. The Trustees have set a reserves policy to

acquire sufficient free reserves equivalent to three month's core operating costs equating to approximately

£180,000. Such reserves would be held in case of any sudden decline in income or unexpected cost or risk

exposure, and to ensure that the commitments to meet contractual obligations to staff, premises and funding

partners can be met.

After designated funds of £159,759 and the revaluation reserve of £59,239, the Trustees have met this aim

with current unrestricted reserves standing at £278,256 at 31 March 2019, and instead, manage each

element of expenditure on a risk assessment process, not committing to expenditure unless income is

assured. The Trustees continue to be mindful of the requirement to operate within tight financial constraints.

Whilst there can be uncertainty in relation to the timing and amount of charitable grants and receipts, the

Trustee Directors believe that the Trust's record of obtaining further funding will continue, albeit, with

uncertainties as to when cash actually becomes available. The amount of restricted reserves at 31 March

2019 is £165,964.

Principal risks and uncertainties

The Trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the group and charity is exposed and to

ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.

Internal risks are minimised by the implementation of a Risk Register and Risk Management Policy, reviewed

annually by Trustees. Procedures are also in place to ensure compliance with health and safety legislation,

policies and procedures including frequent audit of health and safety protocol. We take every effort to

minimise our environmental impacts and intend to work towards full environmental impact assessments and

audits.

External risks are analysed and attempts made to mitigate or plan for them where possible. Currently

identified external risks include (in no particular order) the impact of public sector funding cuts, recent

negative fundraising media stories, climate change and globalisation, and the increasing pressures and

competing demands for land use for housing, transportation and economic regeneration purposes.

The Trustees have examined the principal areas of the charity's operations and considered the major risks

which may arise in each of these areas. In the opinion of the trustees the charity has established resources

and review systems which under normal conditions, should allow the risks identified by them to be mitigated

to an acceptable level in its day to day operations.

Future plans

Future plans are set out in the Trust's strategy for the next four years and the delivery is detailed in the

Business Plan.

As per the Trust's business plan there are plans to diversify and grow unrestricted income through services,

membership and fundraising initiatives. The Trust also plans to construct a new education centre at EcoPark

for which funding has been secured.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country is one of 46 independent charities, which form a

national partnership - The Wildlife Trusts through the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts. Collectively we manage

2,300 nature reserves covering 102,500 hectares of land for wildlife and for people, inspiring 13 million visits

to wildlife sites. Together we have 849,584 members. The Trust's family membership is also part of the

national environment club, Wildlife Watch, which provides projects for members and affiliated schools,

involving them directly with environmental Issues.

The Trust is a registered charity (No. 513615) and a company limited by guarantee (No. 1650938).

The Trust was established in 1980 to protect our local natural heritage and encourage people to engage,

enjoy and get involved with the natural environment. We are a membership organisation, governed by a

Memorandum and Articles of Association.

Work is carried out by a staff team total of 25 individuals (at 31 March 2019) 22.4 full time equivalent posts.

During the year the Trust had six trainees funded through Heritage Lottery Fund's Natural Prospects

programme who will complete their traineeship in August 2019. The Trust could not achieve the impacts we

do without the commitment and hard work of a large number of volunteers.

In the event of the company being wound up members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding

50p.

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

A Council of voluntary Trustees is responsible for the overall governance of the Trust. The Trust's Council is

elected from the membership in accordance with its governing documents at the Annual General Meeting:

Trustees are either co-opted during the year or elected at the Annual General Meeting. Co-opted Trustees

must stand for election at the Annual General Meeting immediately following their appointment. Council may

co-opt additional members from time to time as it sees fit. Trustees are also Directors of the Company limited

by guarantee.

Organisational structure

The overall responsibility for the charity lies with the Trustee Directors who have delegated the day to day

management of the charity to the Chief Executive. The Trustee Directors meet regularly to agree strategy,

review progress, review financial information, and discuss policy issues. To facilitate effective operation, the

Chief Executive has delegated authority within terms of reference approved by the Trustees for some

operational matters, including finance.

The Wildlife Trust is governed by an elected Council and is therefore directly accountable to the members of

the charity. The Memorandum and Articles of Association gives Council the powers to:

(i) Administer the affairs of the Charity

(ii) Exercise all the powers of the Charity

(iii) Determine the policy of the Charity

Council formally delegates certain functions and responsibilities to several committees which deal with

specific policy and organisational issues. The day to day management of the Charity's affairs is the

responsibility of the Chief Executive who is accountable exclusively to the Council for achieving, via the

Business Plan, the Wildlife Trust's aims and for complying with Council policies. A team of professionally

trained staff report to the Chief Executive.

.

Induction and training of new trustees

The Trustee is provided with copies of the charity's key documents, including its Memorandum and Articles,

Governance Handbook, latest Annual Report and Accounts, minutes of recent Council meetings, policy

documents and further information on the role and responsibilities of charity trustees. New Trustees are

required to confirm that they have studied these documents and raised any queries or obtained further

information which they may need.

Following election or co-option of a Trustee the Chair will introduce a new Trustee at their first meeting of

Council. They will also participate in a formal induction process to familiarise them with the extent and nature

of the Trust's operations. After election at the Annual General Meeting Trustees serve for a period of 3 years

and may be elected for a further period of 3 years.

Developments in Charity Law and Practice are monitored and important developments are brought to the

notice of Trustees by the Executive.

The relationship between staff and trustees is crucial to the Trust's continuing success. Trustees bring a

range of skills and experience to the responsibilities of the role which requires them to have an understanding

of all aspects of the Trust's work. Trustees meet eight times a year where they review strategy and

operational performance, set policies and agree budgets.

Key management remuneration

None of the Trustees receive remuneration or benefit for their work with the group and charity. Any

connection between Trustees and any company the Trust works with is disclosed to the board. Financial

details of which are disclosed in note 3 to the accounts.

Wider network

The Trust is affiliated to The Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT), a registered charity that acts as

an umbrella group for county wildlife trusts, and provides assistance and co-ordination of activities and

campaigning at a UK level.

Related parties

Wildlife Fundraising Central Limited is a company which was set up with 8 Wildlife Trusts. Part of the setting

up arrangement a loan of £10,000 was provided to the company (secured by a fixed & floating charge.

The Trust is affiliated to The Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT), a registered charity that acts as an

umbrella group for county Wildlife trusts and provides assistance and co-ordination of activities and

campaigning at a UK Level.

Risk management

The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure

appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.

Internal risks are minimised by the implementation of a Risk Register and Risk Management Policy, reviewed

annually by Trustees. Procedures are also in place to ensure compliance with health and safety legislation,

policies and procedures including frequent audit of health and safety protocol. We take every effort to

minimise our environmental impacts and intend to work towards full environmental impact assessments and

audits.

External risks are analysed and attempts made to mitigate or plan for them where possible. Currently

identified external risks include (in no particular order) the impact of public sector funding cuts, recent

negative fundraising media stories, climate change and globalisation, and the increasing pressures and

competing demands for land use for housing, transportation and economic regeneration purposes.

The Trustees have examined the principal areas of the charity's operations and considered the major risks

which may arise in each of these areas. In the opinion of the trustees the charity has established resources

and review systems which under normal conditions, should allow the risks identified by them to be mitigated

to an acceptable level in its day to day operations.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Company number

01650938 (England and Wales)

Registered Charity number

513615

Registered office

Centre Of The Earth

42 Norman Street

Winson Green

Birmingham

West Midlands

B18 7EP

Trustees

J Anandou

- resigned 26.6.18

N Crombie

Vice Chair

Ms M Knight

S J Needle

Chair

Dr J Orchard-Webb

- resigned 26.6.18

M C G Smith

Treasurer

A Taylor

I C Trueman

A J Wood

P W Beardmore

- appointed 1.12.18

Ms A Bright

- appointed 1.12.18

Mrs C M Spencer

- appointed 1.12.18

Company Secretary

Auditors

Luckmans Duckett Parker Limited

Chartered Accountants

Statutory Auditors

1110 Elliott Court

Herald Avenue

Coventry Business Park

Coventry

West Midlands

CV5 6UB

BANKERS

Nat West Plc

Chamber of Commerce House

36 Highfield Road, Edgbaston

Birmingham B15 3BJ

Key management personnel

Chief Executive

Georgia Stokes

Simon Atkinson

Gareth Morgan

Emma Thompson

Atul Thaker

AND FINALLY....

The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country is your organisation. Together we protect and

improve local wildlife and natural spaces. The Trust is the natural home for people with a passion for the

environment, nature conservation, wild places, Birmingham and the Black Country. Our work is more

important than ever as the space for nature decreases with mounting pressures for housing, transportation,

food and economic regeneration.

At the Trust we work hard for local wildlife and for local people. We know that the health of our natural

environment and our own health, well-being and even prosperity are closely linked. We couldn't do this work

without the support and commitment of you, our members or the dedication of our staff and inspirational

volunteers.

We would like to thank you all for supporting us during 2018 and 2019 and look forward to working with you in

the years to come. We know there are many challenges ahead but also opportunities. Together we can

achieve a truly sustainable future for Birmingham and the Black Country where nature flourishes along with

people.

Thank you

You are The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country. Our members make everything possible.

Thank you for all your support over the past twelve months. We look forward to working with you to ensure

that Birmingham and the Black Country is recognised for the quality and quantity of wildlife that can be found

here.

In approving the Trustees' Annual Report, we also approve the Strategic Report included therein, in our

capacity as company directors.

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES

The trustees (who are also the directors of The Wildlife Trust For Birmingham & The Black Country Ltd for the

purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the financial statements in accordance with

applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting

Practice).

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true

and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of

resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing

those financial statements, the trustees are required to

-

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

-

observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP;

-

make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

-

prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business.

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy

at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial

statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of

the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and

other irregularities.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information

included on the charitable company's website.

STATEMENT AS TO DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION TO AUDITORS

So far as the trustees are aware, there is no relevant information (as defined by Section 418 of the

Companies Act 2006) of which the charitable company`s auditors are unaware, and each trustee has taken

all the steps that they ought to have taken as a trustee in order to make them aware of any audit information

and to establish that the charitable company`s auditors are aware of that information.

AUDITORS

The auditors, Luckmans Duckett Parker Limited, will be proposed for re-appointment at the forthcoming

Annual General Meeting.

Report of the trustees, incorporating a strategic report, approved by order of the board of trustees, as the company directors, on 17 September 2019 and signed on the board's behalf by:

S J Needle - Trustee

REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE MEMBERS OF

THE WILDLIFE TRUST FOR BIRMINGHAM

& THE BLACK COUNTRY LTD

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of The Wildlife Trust For Birmingham & The Black Country Ltd (the 'charitable company') for the year ended 31 March 2019 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Cash Flow Statement and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

-

give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company's affairs as at 31 March 2019 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended;

-

have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and

-

have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and

applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors responsibilities

for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company

in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK,

including the FRC's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance

with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to

provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the ISAs (UK) require us to

report to you where:

-

the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is not appropriate; or

-

the trustees have not disclosed in the financial statements any identified material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt about the charitable company's ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting for a period of at least twelve months from the date when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Other information

The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information

included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our Report of the Independent Auditors

thereon.

Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent

otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and,

in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or

our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such

material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a

material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If,

based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other

information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

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

-

the information given in the Report of the Trustees for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

-

the Report of the Trustees has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the

course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Report of the Trustees.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to

report to you if, in our opinion:

-

adequate accounting records have not been kept or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or

-

the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

-

certain disclosures of trustees' remuneration specified by law are not made; or

-

we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or

-

the trustees were not entitled to take advantage of the small companies exemption from the requirement to prepare a Strategic Report or in preparing the Report of the Trustees.

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees Responsibilities, the trustees (who are also the directors

of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the

financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as

the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from

material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company's

ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using

the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or

to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free

from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue a Report of the Independent Auditors

that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an

audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists.

Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate,

they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these

financial statements.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial

Reporting Council's website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our

Report of the Independent Auditors.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of

Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the

charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditors' report and for

no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone

other than the charitable company and the charitable company's members as a body, for our audit work, for

this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Mark Spafford FCCA ACA (Senior Statutory Auditor)

for and on behalf of Luckmans Duckett Parker Limited

Chartered Accountants

Statutory Auditors

1110 Elliott Court

Herald Avenue

Coventry Business Park

Coventry

West Midlands

CV5 6UB

19 September 2019

Note:

The maintenance and integrity of the The Wildlife Trust For Birmingham & The Black Country Ltd website is

the responsibility of the trustees; the work carried out by the auditors does not involve consideration of these

matters and, accordingly, the auditors accept no responsibility for any changes that may have occurred to the

financial statements since they were initially presented on the website.

THE WILDLIFE TRUST FOR BIRMINGHAM

& THE BLACK COUNTRY LTD

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

(INCORPORATING AN INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT)

for the year ended 31 March 2019

2019

2018

Unrestricted funds

Restricted funds

Total funds

Total funds

Notes

£

£

£

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Donations and legacies

2

252,640

-

252,640

246,726

Charitable activities

3

Conservation, Engagement and Influence

342,430

373,951

716,381

713,625

Other income

9,040

-

9,040

17,369

Total

604,110

373,951

978,061

977,720

EXPENDITURE ON

Raising funds

4

40,142

-

40,142

53,374

Charitable activities

5

Conservation, Engagement and Influence

481,258

357,119

838,377

742,701

Total

521,400

357,119

878,519

796,075

NET INCOME

82,710

16,832

99,542

181,645

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

414,544

149,132

563,676

382,031

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

497,254

165,964

663,218

563,676