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1 January 2010
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Nature

The heath features seven art works

Tiptree Heath

Maintaining heathland requires a great deal of management, and at Tiptree a huge amount of restoration work has gone on over the past couple of years.

About Tiptree Heath

Tiptree Heath is 61 acres (24 hectares) of common land

It is a registered common and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

It was once used by the military in 1780

During the 15th century, the heath embraced 16 parishes and spread over more than 1,000 acres

Tiptree Heath is home to many locally important plants and invertebrates

Tiptree Heath is 61 acres of 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.

The Essex Wildlife Trust has been working very hard to restore the heath. In the middle is the "wet heath", so called because it is usually damp. 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 healthland would slowly disappear and be replaced by trees. Special and unique species would disappear.

BBC Essex's Renee Hockley-Byam went along to meet Joan Pinch from Essex Wildlife Trust, who is the Tiptree Heath Grant Officer.

Find out more about Tiptree Heath >
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last updated: 29/12/06