Previous Heath News
FoTH awarded the Essex Biodiversity Project’s Quality of Life Award
On Friday July 3 Mrs Sue More, chairman, together with trustee colleagues of The Friends of Tiptree Heath (FoTH), attended the Essex Biodiversity Project Celebration meeting 2009 in Chelmsford Record Office where Sue, on behalf of FoTH, was presented with the Essex Biodiversity Project’s Quality of Life Award.
This prestigious accolade, consisting of a £500 cheque, a framed certificate, and a turned yew platter to be retained for one year. This was awarded in recognition of conservation and team work on Tiptree Heath during the past year, harnessing the help of various agencies in progressing Heath conservation management, and the provision of a wide range of community-based activities on the Heath.
In particular, the work of Mrs Joan Pinch, Tiptree Heath Community Warden, and the support of Mr Peter Wilkin, owner of Tiptree Heath, were highlighted.
In the picture from the left is Sue More, Mark Iley from the Essex Biodiversity Project, Steve Plumb, the Master of Ceremony) and Essex County Councillor Tracey Chapman, who made the presentation.
The Heath has another calf
On Wednesday morning (July 1st) at 5am we found a newborn calf to Macadamia lying very weak in the undergrowth on the heath. The calf was unable to move at first and later did not have the strength to stand on her own, so Trevor, the grazier, took Macadamia and the calf back to the farm, where she was fed on bottled milk by Trevor and his wife, Pauline.
The good news is that by Sunday Hazel the calf was able to stand and take milk from her mother.
She is a beautiful black calf.
Thanks go to John Firman and Sue More for helping out with massaging and warming the calf during her first few hours to help her survive what was a cold morning.
More Cows on the Heath
At the beginning of June the numbers of cows on the heath increased to 6. The original two, Jenny (brown with a black face) and Macadamia (black) were joined by Rosie, the mother of our calf Heather born last year, Parsley, Stella and Medlar. The cows have all settled together very quickly and are eating a wide variety of greenery including our main target of birch saplings. We may introduce two further cows, but will review the situation in early July.
The Cows are Back!
Two of the Dexter cows returned on Wednesday 6th May.
The numbers are low to start with due to the slow growth of the grass. Grass is important for them to eat to digest the rougher scrub that they munch. As the growth rate takes off, more cows will be brought from their smallholding at West Hanningfield. They will then stay on the heath, spending a short time in one compartment, then moving to the other, then back again and so on until the end of summer. There will be 8 cows altogether and at present it is hoped that two calves will accompany them. Last year's four cows will probably return and the calves will belong to Parsley and Sage.
We will learn the names of the other cows in due course.
Toddler Walks
There will be three "Toddler Walks" on the Heath during the summer. The first will be on Wednesday 13th May, starting at 10.30am - the same time as the weekly Heath Walk, but on a different route.
FoTH awarded the Essex Biodiversity Project’s Quality of Life Award
On Friday July 3 Mrs Sue More, chairman, together with trustee colleagues of The Friends of Tiptree Heath (FoTH), attended the Essex Biodiversity Project Celebration meeting 2009 in Chelmsford Record Office where Sue, on behalf of FoTH, was presented with the Essex Biodiversity Project’s Quality of Life Award.
This prestigious accolade, consisting of a £500 cheque, a framed certificate, and a turned yew platter to be retained for one year. This was awarded in recognition of conservation and team work on Tiptree Heath during the past year, harnessing the help of various agencies in progressing Heath conservation management, and the provision of a wide range of community-based activities on the Heath.
In particular, the work of Mrs Joan Pinch, Tiptree Heath Community Warden, and the support of Mr Peter Wilkin, owner of Tiptree Heath, were highlighted.
In the picture from the left is Sue More, Mark Iley from the Essex Biodiversity Project, Steve Plumb, the Master of Ceremony) and Essex County Councillor Tracey Chapman, who made the presentation.
The Heath has another calf
On Wednesday morning (July 1st) at 5am we found a newborn calf to Macadamia lying very weak in the undergrowth on the heath. The calf was unable to move at first and later did not have the strength to stand on her own, so Trevor, the grazier, took Macadamia and the calf back to the farm, where she was fed on bottled milk by Trevor and his wife, Pauline.
The good news is that by Sunday Hazel the calf was able to stand and take milk from her mother.
She is a beautiful black calf.
Thanks go to John Firman and Sue More for helping out with massaging and warming the calf during her first few hours to help her survive what was a cold morning.
More Cows on the Heath
At the beginning of June the numbers of cows on the heath increased to 6. The original two, Jenny (brown with a black face) and Macadamia (black) were joined by Rosie, the mother of our calf Heather born last year, Parsley, Stella and Medlar. The cows have all settled together very quickly and are eating a wide variety of greenery including our main target of birch saplings. We may introduce two further cows, but will review the situation in early July.
The Cows are Back!
Two of the Dexter cows returned on Wednesday 6th May.
The numbers are low to start with due to the slow growth of the grass. Grass is important for them to eat to digest the rougher scrub that they munch. As the growth rate takes off, more cows will be brought from their smallholding at West Hanningfield. They will then stay on the heath, spending a short time in one compartment, then moving to the other, then back again and so on until the end of summer. There will be 8 cows altogether and at present it is hoped that two calves will accompany them. Last year's four cows will probably return and the calves will belong to Parsley and Sage.
We will learn the names of the other cows in due course.
Toddler Walks
There will be three "Toddler Walks" on the Heath during the summer. The first will be on Wednesday 13th May, starting at 10.30am - the same time as the weekly Heath Walk, but on a different route.