South West Environmental Parks Limited
Analysis
South West Environmental Parks Limited is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Devon. It was registered in April 1964, 62 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, animals, environment/conservation/heritage and recreation, which this site groups under animals. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 00792877). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space, provides advocacy/advice/information and sponsors or undertakes research.
In the financial year ending March 2025, South West Environmental Parks Limited reported income of £10.9m and spending of £19.2m, spending 176% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from October 2020 to March 2025, income grew from £9.1m to £10.9m (+20%), an average of +4.6% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2025, when income rose by 32%. Over the whole period it spent 129% of the income it received.
Among 2,161 England and Wales charities whose main cause is animals and that reported income, South West Environmental Parks Limited sits at the 99th percentile: it is larger than about 99% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Sheldrick Wildlife Trust UK (£10.4m), World Horse Welfare (£11.1m) and Hertfordshire Zoo (£10.1m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 81%, donations and legacies 11% and investments 6.7%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £637k. Charitable activities took 100% of spending and raising funds 0.0%. It employed 201 people.
Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 5.6%
- Legacies 5.8%
- Charitable activities 81%
- Trading 0.2%
- Investments 6.7%
- Other 0.5%
In the charity's own words
The charity's activities are to advance scientific knowledge of plants, animals and the natural world; to advance education on the conservation of the physical and natural world and the promotion of biodiversity; to promote the conservation of the physical and the natural environment and the maintenance of the physical and natural environment and the maintenance of biological diversity.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Sheldrick Wildlife Trust UK | West Sussex | £10.4m |
| World Horse Welfare | Norwich | £11.1m |
| Hertfordshire Zoo | Broxbourne | £10.1m |
| Marwell Wildlife | Winchester | £12.5m |