Helping to conserve the Flitch Way and countryside for the community
Helping to conserve the Flitch Way and countryside for the community
Welcome
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The Flitch Way is a Country Park around part of the disused railway line between Braintree and Bishops Stortford which is managed by Essex Country Parks. We are the volunteers who work to help to maintain and improve the environment for the benefit of the community, working closely with Essex Country Parks and the Rights of Way teams we also help conserve other woods, paths and country parks in north Essex.
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Wildlife of the month
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Common Spotted Orchid
The Common Spotted Orchid gets its name from its leaves which are green with purplish oval spots. The flowers range from white and pale pink through to purple, but have distinctive darker pink spots and stripes on their three-lobed lips. The flowers are densely packed in short, cone-shaped clusters.
The Common Spotted Orchid is the most common of all UK orchids and the one you are most likely to see. It grows in many different habitats including woodland, roadside verges, hedgerows, old quarries, sand dunes and marshes; sometimes so many flowers appear together that they carpet an area with their delicate, pale pink spikes. It is in bloom between June and August. Discover more on our Wildlife page.
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Why not explore some of the places we work...?
More information is available on our Explore page or click one of the links below to the most popular places.
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Carriage Museum Rayne
A great place for all the family. Enjoy tea and cake from the Booking Hall cafe and then visit the carriage to see the model train set and learn about the history of the old railway in the carriage museum. Open 11 am until 3 pm weekends and some school holidays subject to volunteer steward availability. |
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Flitch Way
Stretching for nearly 15 miles between Braintree and Bishops Stortford, the Flitch Way provides a safe traffic free environment for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. The Flitch Way forms part of National Cycle Network Route 16. Car parking at Braintree train station and Great Notley Country Park. |
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Great Notley Country Park
Voted Best "Fun for Free" Attraction for Families in Essex for 2018 by Primary Times it has over 100 acres of parkland and great play facilities from tots to teens. Accessible by walkers, cyclists and horse riders. There is also a large car park and a signed link path to join the Flitch Way at Rayne. |
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Blackwater Rail Trail
This is a beautiful walk along a disused railway line between Witham and Maldon in Essex, most parts of which are also accessible to cyclists and horse riders. |
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Footpath Work Group
There are many miles of footpaths, bridleways and byways in Essex. The group is on call to go out and clear these Public Rights of Way. This can include building new bridges, gates and steps. So next time you are out on footpaths, around Essex, have a look and see if you can find one of the Friends discs on items we have installed. |
Major projects we are trying to fund in the financial year 2017-18 include the following:
- Professionally waterproof the roof of the Carriage Museum. This will be completed with the help of £3,500 grant from the Essex Community Foundation (ECF). The grant was awarded from the Yellow Car Charitable Fund (£2,500), the Essex Life Charitable Fund (£722) and the Acorn Fund (£278) which are administered by ECF.
- Replace and extend the Dunmow boardwalk on the Flitch Way near Oak Spring at Great Dunmow. Status - Funding required.
- Provide a bridge over the river Blackwater in Witham on the Blackwater Rail Trail. Status - Funding required.
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You can help fund these projects by becoming a member and/or using our online donation service:
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If you notice any problems or issues with the areas managed by Essex Country Parks, please report them to the Park Rangers on 03330 132 900 or message the Rangers on their Facebook page.
- We have had a few incidents recently of motorbikes and vehicles using the Flitch Way. The only place motorised vehicles are permitted is along the Grange Lane Track which connects the Flitch Way at Little Dunmow to Chelmsford Road, Great Dunmow. If you see a vehicle using the Flitch Way, please report it to the police on 101 and let the Park Rangers know of the incident number.
- If you have an incident with a dog, please report it to the dog warden and police with a detailed description and let the Park Rangers know the incident number.