The Merlin Trust
Analysis
The Merlin Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Cambridge. It was registered in May 1990, 36 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under environment and conservation. Legally it is a charitable trust. It says it makes grants to individuals and makes grants to organisations.
In the financial year ending April 2026, The Merlin Trust reported income of £24k and spending of £47k, spending 195% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from April 2022 to April 2026, income fell from £28k to £24k (-15%), an average of -3.9% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to April 2024, when income dropped by 21%. Over the whole period it spent 126% of the income it received.
Among 4,574 England and Wales charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, The Merlin Trust sits at the 62nd percentile: it is larger than about 62% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 48th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Fawside (£24k), Burston Strike School (£24k) and Dudley Canal Trust (Trips) Limited (£24k).
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
- Other 100%
In the charity's own words
The aim of the Trust is to give financial assistance to keen young horticulturists, and those new to horticulture, enabling them to further their knowledge of plants in the wild, or in gardens. This study could take any of the following forms - photography, painting, written observations, seed collecting or help with conservation projects, especially involving garden plants.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Fawside | Hexham | £24k |
| Burston Strike School | Norwich | £24k |
| Dudley Canal Trust (Trips) Limited | Dudley | £24k |
| Royal Air Force Historical Society | London | £24k |