Downlands Trust

Analysis

Downlands Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Surrey. It was registered in November 2008, 18 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, environment/conservation/heritage and economic/community development/employment, which this site groups under environment and conservation. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 06661092). It says it makes grants to organisations and provides services.

In the financial year ending July 2026, Downlands Trust reported income of £557k and spending of £86k, leaving 85% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from July 2022 to July 2026, income grew from £58k to £557k (+859%), an average of +76% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to July 2025, when income rose by 1925%. Over the whole period it spent 15% of the income it received.

Among 4,574 England and Wales charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, Downlands Trust sits at the 91st percentile: it is larger than about 91% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 91st percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Dartmoor Preservation Association (£556k), Action for the River Kennet (£559k) and Energy Sparks (£552k).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 90% and investments 9.3%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £450k. Charitable activities took 96% of spending and raising funds 4.2%. Reserves of £1.6m would cover about 345 months of spending at that rate.