Trees charity achieve healthy growth

RE-STRUCTURING of the senior management team at Trees for Life helped the charity’s income increase by 20 per cent last year — and could be a sign of positive things to come.

A head of income generation and head of operations were appointments which contributed to the improved financial performance, according to Alan Watson Featherstone, founder and executive director at the Findhorn-based charity, which has aims of regeneration and restoration of the Highlands’ native Caledonian Forest.

He believes the proposed installation of wind farms on sites within its project area — including one adjacent to Dundreggan Estate in Glen Moriston, where it planted the majority of its 99,897 trees in 2012/13 — will provide some opportunities to obtain new sources of funding and implement aspects of restoration.

Such chances can be made the most of thanks to the skill and expertise of the new management team, according to Mr Watson Featherstone.

"They will help to provide a solid platform for growth and development of the charity’s operations in the years ahead," he states in a report of the trustees, accompanying the charity’s latest financial statements lodged with Companies House.

Accounts to year ending 31st January 2013 showed despite a slight rise in expenditure, the income spike helped secure a net surplus which was more than 12 times higher than the previous year.

A 57 per cent rise in voluntary income, from £194,699 to £304,931 contributed to the overall £729,898 income, which was £607,806 in the previous 12 months.

Expenditure rose 3 per cent from £599,045 to £616,802, including the costs of generating voluntary income more than doubling from £10,848 to £24,679.

The figures meant a net surplus of £113,096 — a huge increase on the previous year’s net surplus of £8,761.

Of that surplus, £68,347 consisted of restricted funds for projects to be implemented during the current financial year. The other £44,779 is unrestricted, going to replenish the charity’s financial reserves.

"The year covered by this report saw the charity return to a healthy financial position, after the difficulties caused by the global economic downturn in the previous year," Mr Watson Featherstone states.

Donations from individuals and companies, plus grants from government agencies such as the Scottish Natural Heritage and Forestry Commission, as well as other trusts and foundations, in addition to membership fees and Gift Aid were all important sources of income.

"The charity is operated on the principle of maintaining a diversity of funding sources, so that it does not become over-reliant on a single source, which would put it at risk if that source were to limit its funding at any time," Mr Watson Featherstone adds.

The charity planted its millionth tree in May last year, after 21 years of work, and plans to complete planting a million more trees by 2017.