Friends Of Sheldon Country Park

Charity 1179557

Overview

Summary

Sources:Civic AtlasAI-assisted

Friends Of Sheldon Country Park appears to be a place-based stewardship organisation rather than a general environmental charity. Its role combines practical care of a country park with fundraising for Old Rectory Farm, linking conservation, animal care, recreation and public amenity. The organisation seems to create value through sustained small-scale improvements—maintenance, clearances, litter picks and farm projects—while serving a notably broad public constituency.

See observations

Operational geography

Sources:ONSCivic AtlasAI-assisted

Coverage: Neighbourhood

Operational areas:

Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Sheldon

Confidence: high

The charity's stated activities are all directed at Sheldon Country Park and Old Rectory Farm, and Birmingham City Council identifies the park as being in Sheldon and lists the Friends group as its park friends group.

  • Charity Commission Register of Charities, Friends of Sheldon Country Park (charity number 1179557)
    The charity says it promotes and preserves Sheldon Country Park; fundraises for projects at the farm; and carries out brook clearances and litter picks in the country park. Its objects concern the improvement of Sheldon Country Park and Old Rectory Farm.
  • Birmingham City Council, Sheldon Country Park
    The Council identifies Sheldon Country Park as being in Sheldon, identifies Old Rectory Farm as being within the park, and names Friends of Sheldon Country Park as the park's friends group.
  • Birmingham City Council, Sheldon Ward Action Plan 2022-2026
    The action plan identifies the 300-acre Sheldon Country Park as being within the Sheldon area.
Remaining uncertainties
  • The evidence supports activity at Sheldon Country Park and Old Rectory Farm, but does not show that the charity independently delivers services elsewhere in Birmingham.
  • Birmingham City Council states that park rangers run the Demonstration Farm on the Council's behalf. The available evidence does not establish that the Friends group operates the farm or holds any operational responsibility for it.
  • The park has entrances and routes near Birmingham's boundary, but the evidence does not justify recording a further Birmingham ward as an operational area for the charity.
  • The available sources show a close relationship between the Friends group and the Council-managed park, but do not document a formal partnership agreement or its scope.
Additional evidence needed
  • A current annual report, trustees' report, or official Friends group activity programme identifying the locations of recent events, clean-ups, fundraising projects, and volunteer activity.
  • An official agreement or current Council statement clarifying the Friends group's role in relation to Birmingham City Council, park rangers, and Old Rectory Farm.
  • Evidence of any activity delivered away from Sheldon Country Park, if the organisation considers fundraising, education, or outreach beyond the park to be part of its operations.

Areas of work

Source:Charity Commission
  • Animals
  • Disability
  • Education/training
  • Environment/conservation/heritage
  • Recreation

Who they help

Source:Charity Commission
  • Children/young People
  • Elderly/old People
  • People With Disabilities
  • The General Public/mankind

How they help

Source:Charity Commission
  • Other Charitable Activities
  • Provides Advocacy/advice/information
  • Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space

Discoveries involving this organisation

The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.

Observations

Sources:Civic AtlasAI-assisted

  • A practical steward of shared local assets

    The available evidence suggests the organisation’s operating model is rooted in maintaining and improving specific physical places, rather than primarily delivering time-limited services or campaigns.

    Why it matters

    This helps explain its likely importance as a long-term custodian of everyday civic infrastructure: the park and farm may depend on repeated, visible acts of care that larger institutions do not routinely provide.

    Show evidence

    • “The charity exists to preserve, promote, support, assist and improve Sheldon Country Park and Old Rectory Farm.”

      Source:Charity Commission

    • “The organisation carries out brook clearances and litter picks in the Country Park.”

      Source:Organisation

  • The farm appears to be a focal point for fundraising

    Fundraising seems connected to tangible projects at Old Rectory Farm, including animals, accommodation and maintenance, suggesting the farm may be a key mechanism through which supporters see the results of their contributions.

    Why it matters

    This distinguishes the organisation from a park friends group focused only on environmental upkeep: animal care and farm facilities may widen its appeal and create additional opportunities for public engagement.

    Show evidence

    • “Fundraising supports projects on the farm, including new animals, new accommodation quarters and site maintenance.”

      Source:Organisation

    • “The charity’s purposes include improving Old Rectory Farm.”

      Source:Charity Commission

  • Its intended public is unusually broad

    The organisation appears to frame the park and farm as inclusive civic resources for the general public as well as children, older people and people with disabilities.

    Why it matters

    This raises a useful question about accessibility: the organisation may have a wider social role than environmental maintenance alone, but the evidence does not show how inclusion is currently designed or delivered.

    Show evidence

    • “The charity helps children and young people, elderly people, people with disabilities and the general public.”

      Source:Charity Commission

    • “The charity provides buildings, facilities and open space.”

      Source:Charity Commission

    Remaining uncertainties

  • Whether the organisation owns, manages or supports assets controlled by another body.
  • How volunteers, local residents, schools or other organisations contribute to its work.
  • Whether its broad beneficiary remit is reflected in targeted activities or accessible facilities.

    Additional evidence needed

  • Information on governance, land-management responsibilities, volunteers and partnerships.
  • Recent project reports, fundraising outcomes and evidence of visitor or beneficiary involvement.
  • Details of educational, disability-access and community engagement activities.
Charity Commission profile
Source:Charity Commission

Activities

We help promote and preserve Sheldon Country Park, carrying out fundraising activities throughout the year to raise money for projects we would like to carry out on the farm. These can include purchasing new animals, new accommodation quarters and site maintenance. We also carry out brook clearances and litter picks in the Country Park.

Charity objects

TO PROVIDE OR ASSIST IN THE PROVISION OF FACILITIES FOR RECREATION AND OTHER LEISURE TIME OCCUPATION IN THE INTERESTS OF SOCIAL WELFARE WITH THE OBJECT OF IMPROVING THE CONDITIONS OF LIFE OF THE PUBLIC IN BIRMINGHAM BY THE PRESERVATION, PROMOTION, SUPPORT, ASSISTANCE AND IMPROVEMENT OF SHELDON COUNTRY PARK AND OLD RECTORY FARM.