Shut Heath Wood Nature Reserve

Shut Heath Wood Bluebells
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Stefan Johansson

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - Stefan Johansson

This peaceful woodland is a true wonder in spring when you can walk through the carpet of bluebells

Location

Off of Tiptree Road
Great Totham
Essex
CM8 3ED

OS Map Reference

TL 853 133
A static map of Shut Heath Wood Nature Reserve

Know before you go

Size
23 hectares
P

Parking information

Park along track

Walking trails

Unmade woodland trails

Access

Accessible at all times

Dogs

Under effective control

Please keep dogs on a lead to avoid disturbance to ground flora and fauna

When to visit

Opening times

Accessible at all times

Best time to visit

April to July

About the reserve

Located just below the crest of the Great Totham Ridge this woodland consists of a wide variety of tree species. The Trust coppices certain parts to create open areas that help rejuvenate the wood and encourage flower and butterfly species to thrive.

The standing dead wood makes it an excellent reserve for invertebrates, including many wood ants which you can hear eating away at the wood! In the glade during summer you can see Dragonflies and Damselflies zooming around while at night the forest will glow as there is a good number of Glow-worms in these woods.

It’s not just the carpet of bluebells that fill these woods with colour, but in spring and summer look out for the displays of other beautiful flowers such as Bugle, Cuckooflower, Wood Anemone and Dog Violet.

Environmental designation

Local Wildlife Site (LWS)