Friends of Tiptree Heath
The Cows are currently back at the graziers, at New Barn Farm.
About Us
Where we are
Tiptree Heath is on the south west of Tiptree, which is roughly 14km south-west of Colchester, Essex. The two car parks are accessed from the B1022 (Maldon Road)
The car parks are in need of repair, while temporary repairs have been made, before permanent repairs are made. Meanwhile, please drive in & out slowly to avoid creating potholes.
Who we are
The Friends of Tiptree Heath, a group of volunteers who are a registered charity, work to restore the heathland. The management committee, with partner groups, draw up an annual work programme. The work is carried out by volunteers, who clear ponds, and invasive scrub & trees.
Additional policies are:
Many people help support the Heath, enabling us to undertake work and activities on the heath to keep it a dynamic asset in the village.
You can also help by Joining the Friends of Tiptree Heath, which helps us continue with this valuable work.
Click here to download the subscription form.
We also use the Gift Aid scheme, as it increases your subscription by 28p in the £1.00.
However, if we are to benefit from this, subscriptions must be received by the end of March.
After that the Gift Aid repayment is set to drop to an as yet undisclosed lower figure.
We thank everyone who helps in whatever way on the Heath.
The Heath
Tiptree Heath is 61 acres (24.57 hectares) of registered common land - it was created as a public common in November 1947.
The site boasts many features including magnificent heathers, two ponds and open spaces. It produces a different range of heathers - the crossed leafed as well as the bell and the ling - which all grow together. Without management of the area - by scrub clearance, tree felling and mowing, the heathland would slowly disappear and be replaced by trees.
It is the largest surviving fragment of heathland in the County of Essex and supports a number of plants rare in Essex.
The Heath is an SSSI - a Site of Special Scientific Interest under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. The open heathland is mainly pure heather or a heather/bent grass mosaic.
During the last century it was the haunt of vagrants, footpads and ne'er do wells. It was also (allegedly) where contraband goods were hidden away!
See here for more on the history of Tiptree Heath.
Dotted around the Heath, there are a sculptures and tree carvings, created by Jeff Higley and his team.
The Heath Areas
Wet Heathland
In the middle is the "wet heath", so called because it is usually damp, but this is misnamed as it is rush-pasture. True wet heath can be found in the Heather Zone.
Keyes Triangle
A grassland area with gorse and some hawthorn, blackthorn and ash near the north west of the heath. The 1 metre track is used by walkers and horse-riders.
Secondary Woodland
The "Race-Around" Pond is in this bracken-dominated area, with oak / birch woodland at the western side. The woodland has a non-intervention management policy with only dangerous trees and branches removed. During the October 1987 storms this area was severely damaged.
More on the Pond, its history and current work can be found here.
Open Space
The largest open area is a combination of acid grassland and dry heath and dense gorse scrub.
Central Area
This is bisected by Stone Street Stream (fed by Birkin's Pond), which becomes nitrate enriched as it passes through arable land to the north of the heath. Mature birch woodland with bracken covers much of this area.
Heather Area
Covering much of the eastern side of the Heath and includes the "football pitch". Both dry and wet heaths are found here, alongside scrub and secondary woodland. A programme of felling of secondary woodland and soil scraping, has helped to re-establish the wet heath.
Some recreational activity has damaged some of the heather regrowth.
Woodland
There are trees across the site, with the denser cover on the southern and eastern boundaries. There is a variety of tree species, with mature birch and oaks being the most prolific.
About Us
Where we are
Tiptree Heath is on the south west of Tiptree, which is roughly 14km south-west of Colchester, Essex. The two car parks are accessed from the B1022 (Maldon Road)
The car parks are in need of repair, while temporary repairs have been made, before permanent repairs are made. Meanwhile, please drive in & out slowly to avoid creating potholes.
Who we are
The Friends of Tiptree Heath, a group of volunteers who are a registered charity, work to restore the heathland. The management committee, with partner groups, draw up an annual work programme. The work is carried out by volunteers, who clear ponds, and invasive scrub & trees.
Additional policies are:
- Maintain the amenity aspects of the Heath
- Preserve the fabric of the existing lowland heath
- Return the area of heather to the extent of cover at 1960
- Manage the site for the benefit of lowland heath wildlife
- Further biodiversity management
- Comply with all legal and other obligations
Many people help support the Heath, enabling us to undertake work and activities on the heath to keep it a dynamic asset in the village.
You can also help by Joining the Friends of Tiptree Heath, which helps us continue with this valuable work.
Click here to download the subscription form.
We also use the Gift Aid scheme, as it increases your subscription by 28p in the £1.00.
However, if we are to benefit from this, subscriptions must be received by the end of March.
After that the Gift Aid repayment is set to drop to an as yet undisclosed lower figure.
We thank everyone who helps in whatever way on the Heath.
The Heath
Tiptree Heath is 61 acres (24.57 hectares) of registered common land - it was created as a public common in November 1947.
The site boasts many features including magnificent heathers, two ponds and open spaces. It produces a different range of heathers - the crossed leafed as well as the bell and the ling - which all grow together. Without management of the area - by scrub clearance, tree felling and mowing, the heathland would slowly disappear and be replaced by trees.
It is the largest surviving fragment of heathland in the County of Essex and supports a number of plants rare in Essex.
The Heath is an SSSI - a Site of Special Scientific Interest under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. The open heathland is mainly pure heather or a heather/bent grass mosaic.
During the last century it was the haunt of vagrants, footpads and ne'er do wells. It was also (allegedly) where contraband goods were hidden away!
See here for more on the history of Tiptree Heath.
Dotted around the Heath, there are a sculptures and tree carvings, created by Jeff Higley and his team.
The Heath Areas
Wet Heathland
In the middle is the "wet heath", so called because it is usually damp, but this is misnamed as it is rush-pasture. True wet heath can be found in the Heather Zone.
Keyes Triangle
A grassland area with gorse and some hawthorn, blackthorn and ash near the north west of the heath. The 1 metre track is used by walkers and horse-riders.
Secondary Woodland
The "Race-Around" Pond is in this bracken-dominated area, with oak / birch woodland at the western side. The woodland has a non-intervention management policy with only dangerous trees and branches removed. During the October 1987 storms this area was severely damaged.
More on the Pond, its history and current work can be found here.
Open Space
The largest open area is a combination of acid grassland and dry heath and dense gorse scrub.
Central Area
This is bisected by Stone Street Stream (fed by Birkin's Pond), which becomes nitrate enriched as it passes through arable land to the north of the heath. Mature birch woodland with bracken covers much of this area.
Heather Area
Covering much of the eastern side of the Heath and includes the "football pitch". Both dry and wet heaths are found here, alongside scrub and secondary woodland. A programme of felling of secondary woodland and soil scraping, has helped to re-establish the wet heath.
Some recreational activity has damaged some of the heather regrowth.
Woodland
There are trees across the site, with the denser cover on the southern and eastern boundaries. There is a variety of tree species, with mature birch and oaks being the most prolific.