The Cowdray Heritage Trust

Analysis

The Cowdray Heritage Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Midhurst. It was registered in August 1998, 28 years ago. Its declared purposes cover environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under environment and conservation. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 03472093). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The Cowdray Heritage Trust reported income of £1.2m and spending of £273k, leaving 76% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £81k to £1.2m (+1326%), an average of +94% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2025, when income rose by 1531%. Over the whole period it spent 44% of the income it received.

Among 4,574 England and Wales charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, The Cowdray Heritage Trust sits at the 94th percentile: it is larger than about 94% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 94th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Aberglasney Restoration Trust (£1.1m), The Ovo Charitable Foundation (£1.2m) and Railway Paths Limited (£1.1m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 95%, investments 3.3% and charitable activities 1.8%. Charitable activities took 94% of spending and raising funds 2.7%. Reserves of £886k would cover about 38 months of spending at that rate. It employed 6 people.