Sustainable
Biodiversity

1. Name / Domicile The name of the organisation shall be Exmoor Ponies in Conservation (EPIC) The Domicile shall be: The Barn, Moss Lane, Silverdale, Lancashire, LA5 OSS.
2. Aim The purpose of the organisation is to improve biodiversity by means of grazing with Exmoor (or other native) ponies in such a way as to safeguard the welfare of the animals used in the projection of the environment.
3. Means In order to achieve the afore-mentioned aim the organisation shall undertake the following activities, which are only indicative.
   1. To promote good animal husbandry and proper veterinary supervision of native ponies used in conservation grazing.
   2. To ensure native pony conservation grazing schemes make a positive contribution to biodiversity and protect the environment.
   3. To educate, advise and provide practical assistance with the setting up and maintenance of conservation grazing projects while ensuring that the welfare of the native ponies is safeguarded.
   4. To provide a conservation grazing management communication network and data base for grazers using native ponies on environmentally sensitive sites; this to be done through a newsletter and on a dedicated internet web site giving access to expertise on handling and health.
   5. To involve schools and colleges in the operation of conservation grazing projects in their vicinity.
   6. To collect appropriate data, with regard to effects of conservation grazing on a variety of habitats and to encourage academic and research organisation to study conservation grazing projects.
   7. To create a Conservation Grazing Information CD, containing the latest information available based on the above and available on line 24 hours a day by means of a dedicated web site.
   8. To encourage the use of endemic native breeds in conservation grazing projects in order to minimise environmental and nutritional stress.
   9. To support more specialised species-specific groups and publications such as the already established EPIC newsletter Epicentre.
   10. To implement any other means that would further the aims of the Organisation.
4. Administration The organisation shall be administered as a non-profit making partnership consisting of:-
   1. Executive partners, named below, responsible for the day to day management and funds.
   2. Associate partners, named annually, who contribute to the achievement of the organisational aim by giving material and technical assistance, by donating money or by giving any other legal means of assistance.
   3. All partners undertake the obligation to contribute through their personal effort to the achievement of the organisation's aim as well as promoting in any possible way, the fulfilment of the aim.
   4. For assistance provided, all parties are entitled to receive reasonable expenses and they may receive further payment for their personal work.
5. Funds The organisation's Authorised Capital consists of the contributions of the Executive partners of the sum of £1000 sterling each. Aside from the contributions of the Executive partners for the formation of the Authorised capital, the organisations funds may consist of the following:-
   1. Donations by friends and supporters.
   2. Proceeds from various organised events and from offering services to third parties.
   3. From its rights and receipts derived from the achievement of the organisation's aim.
   4. From legacies and inheritance.
   5. From subsidies and grants from Government of UK or abroad, from European Union grants and from any International organisation what so ever or any individual or legal entity.
   6. All funds shall be held in a Treasurer's account in a British bank. The Executive partners, being the signatories and responsible for an annual Treasurer's report and balance sheet.
   7. On dissolution or liquidation of the organisation, the Executive partners will pay off the creditors, refund to themselves their contribution to the authorised capital interest free and draw up a final balance sheet. The net capital remaining will be donated to legal entities that have a similar aim to the organisation.
   8. The financial year shall be January 1 to December 31.
6. Rules
7. From time to time rules may be formulated to promote better management of the organisation. Such rules should be regarded as internal regulations of the Organisation having the same validity as the articles of the constitution and should be based on the same principles.
8. However such rules or internal regulations cannot annul any principle, operation or paragraph stipulated in this constitution.

   Executive Partners	Margaret Mackintosh
   	Tim Mackintosh
   Associate Partners	Amy Burrow BSc (Hons Environmental Biology)
   	A.N.Copland BSc (Hons Anat) MSc BVM&S MRCVS
   	K.Green BSc (Hons) BVM&S MRCVS
   	N.Vesligaj MA (Archeology)
   	M.L.Pollock BSc (Hons Ecology)

    

   Tim Mackintosh(©)