Facts About Tiptree

Nature reserves

Tiptree Heath lies to the south of Tiptree. The 25-hectare heath is the largest surviving fragment of heathland in Essex and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Historically the area was a focal point for smugglers, who used the secluded water inlets of Tollesbury, Salcott cum Virley and Mersea, and often hid their contraband within the overgrown heathland. Species found on the heath include Cross-leaved Heather (Erica tetralix), Bell Heather (Erica cinerea) and Ling or Common Heather (Calluna). To help maintain the heath, Dexter cattle are grazed there during the summer and a herd of 8 hardy Exmoor ponies throughout the year.

General

Tiptree is a village and civil parish in the English county of Essex, situated 10 miles south-west of Colchester and around 50 miles north-east of London. Surrounding villages include Messing, Tolleshunt Knights, Tolleshunt Major, Layer Marney, Inworth, Birch, Great Braxted, Great Totham and Little Totham. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 9,152.

The village has been expanding rapidly for several years with large numbers of new houses and estates being built, though it stills retains the title of being a village. The ‘village’ status was the subject of a local referendum in 1999 but residents and secondary school pupils rejected town status.