PLANTNETWORK

Registered charity 1081747 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as PLANTNET, PLANTNETWORK: THE PLANT COLLECTIONS NETWORK OF

The charity organises training workshops for staff in public gardens; and promotes botanical collections in Britain and Ireland as a resource for research, conservation and education.

Objects

(1) TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC IN HORTICULTURE AND RELATED SUBJECTS WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE STUDY AND APPRECIATION OF PLANT COLLECTIONS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION (2) TO PROMOTE FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT THE GENERAL PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION OF PLANT COLLECTIONS OF IMPORTANCE BEAUTY OR HISTORICAL OR SCIENTIFIC INTEREST

Area of benefit: NOT DEFINED

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: Education/training · Environment/conservation/heritage · website · Get email alerts

Registered contact address: Oxford, South East, England (from the postcode on the register)

Latest income

£32k

Latest spending

£56k

Registered

2000

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that PlantNetwork generated an overall deficit of £23,751 for the year ended 31 March 2025, resulting in total funds carried forward of £61,751. The trustees report that these reserves remain above the range sought by the Board and are maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six months' expenditure. The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme and has no disclosed pension deficits or trading subsidiaries.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Largest income source: Charitable activities (57% of income)

“Income from subscription amounted to £16,758 with total unrestricted income from charitable activities (including conferences and job advertisements) and donations amounting to a total of £32,079.” — page 6

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Reserves policy: three and six month’s expenditure (held: £62k)

“It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six month’s expenditure.” — page 6

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Conflicting interests
Engaging external speakers at charity events policy and procedures
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Internal risk management policy and procedures
Paying staff
Risk management
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
Trustee expenses policy and procedures

Corporate structure

Registered company of the charity Companies House 03777793

Company officers (Companies House)

Current officers of the charity’s own company per the Companies House register, cross-checked against the Charity Commission trustee list by name. A director not on the trustee list is usually a timing or naming difference between the two registers — check both records before drawing conclusions.

HINCHLIFFE, William — director, appointed 23/04/2026on trustee list
BROCKINGTON, Samuel Fraser, Professor — director, appointed 23/04/2026on trustee list
SHERRATT, Glyn Frederick — director, appointed 23/04/2026on trustee list
LUSCOMBE, Daniel John — director, appointed 23/04/2026on trustee list
LYTE, Benedict Edwin Carey — director, appointed 24/04/2025not on trustee list
LANGLEY, Bryony Alexandra Anderson — director, appointed 25/04/2024on trustee list
MOSS, Suzanne Rachel, Dr — director, appointed 09/05/2022on trustee list
BRENT, Mark Scott — director, appointed 28/04/2022on trustee list
HORRY, Piers Thomas — director, appointed 22/04/2021on trustee list
ESSEEN, Philip John — director, appointed 22/04/2021on trustee list
CROOK, Alison Jane — director, appointed 22/04/2021on trustee list
STEELE, Margaret Ann — director, appointed 01/02/2020on trustee list
CHIVERS-CROSS, Natalie Jayne — director, appointed 18/04/2018on trustee list
MORRIS, Mercy Jane — secretary, appointed 31/01/2023

Official officers record.

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): instagram

Trustees · trustee networks

Alison Crookchair
Benedict Edwin Carey Lyte MSc
Bryony Alexandra Anderson Langley
Daniel Luscombe
Dr Suzanne Moss
Glyn Sherratt
Margaret Ann Steele
Mark Scott Brent
Natalie CHIVERS-CROSS
Philip John Esseen
Piers Horry
Samuel Brockington
William Hinchliffe

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Ireland · Northern Ireland · Scotland · Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/03/2025	£32k	£56k
31/03/2024	£46k	£64k
31/03/2023	£56k	£50k
31/03/2022	£69k	£36k
31/03/2021	£42k	£41k

Common questions

Is PLANTNETWORK financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that PlantNetwork generated an overall deficit of £23,751 for the year ended 31 March 2025, resulting in total funds carried forward of £61,751. The trustees report that these reserves remain above the range sought by the Board and are maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six months' expenditure. The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme and has no disclosed pension deficits or trading subsidiaries. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.