Friends of Tiptree 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.
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.