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On this page are details of some (but by no means all) of the amenities and services available in the villages of Birch, Layer Breton, Layer Marney and Layer de la Haye. Use the links in the Index table below to go directly to the required sections of the page.
Your help would be appreciated in keeping information up to date. Please contact me with details of changes, errors or dead links to external sites. Suggestions for additions will also be welcome.
Please note all information and details given here are covered by my website Disclaimer.
Local information can also be found on the following websites:
www.bretonheath.me.uk: Village Diaries Local History Pages Layer Breton Heath
Birch Parish Council: www.birchpc.org.uk
Layer de la Haye Parish Council: www.essexinfo.net/layerdelahayepc
The above links to external websites will open a new window in your browser. Close the newly-opened window to return to this page.
The Hare and Hounds (see below)
The Heath, Layer Breton, Colchester CO2 0PN.
Telephone: 01206-330459.
Rye Farm, run by Mrs Virginia Bunting
Rye Farm, Rye Lane, Layer de la Haye, Colchester CO2 0JL
Telephone: 01206-734350. Website: www.ryefarm.org.uk
Bed and breakfast in a 17th century moated farmhouse in a quiet location, adjacent to Abberton Reservoir, one of the most important wildfowl havens in Europe. Rye Farm also offers some excellent self-catering accommodation - details on the Rye Farm website.
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Birch is home to a very talented and versatile watercolour artist, John Harrison. John has painted some superb pictures of local scenes as well as many other subjects. A selection of these are available as high quality prints, either framed or unframed. If you haven't already done so, why not visit his attractive new art gallery and tea room in Birch Street? For opening times, more information and to see some of his work, visit his website at www.birchgallery.co.uk
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Bowtle & Lynch is one of the main building firms in the villages.
Hollybrooke House, The Street, Birch, CO2 0ND. Telephone: 01206-330388 (Birch) or 01206-734631 (Layer de la Haye).
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Hedingham Omnibuses Ltd operate services through the villages of Birch (Service 92) and Layer de la Haye (Service 50). Their local office is at Dugard House, Peartree Road, Stanway, Colchester, CO3 0UL. Telephone: 01206-769778. Bus times are shown on their website at www.hedingham.co.uk.
The only alternative bus service for Birch residents involves a walk to the Maldon road to catch one of the buses on the Colchester - Maldon route, operated by First (Tel: 0845-602-0121).
Birch Shop and Leisure Bus — Service SB31
This service operates every Wednesday (except Bank Holidays) between Layer Breton - Birch - Hardy's Green - Easthorpe - Tollgate, Sainsburys - Colchester, Head Street - Colchester, High Street - Colchester Leisure Centre. A timetable and further details are available on the Birch Parish Council website at www.birchpc.org.uk/#shopbus
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A cash dispenser for Alliance & Leicester, LINK network, and other card holders is available in Birch Minimarket during shop hours.
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In Birch, between Luard Way and Greenfield Houses, is a large children's play area which features an excellent selection of high quality play equipment. Following the opening of the latest phase of Birch Parish Council's 'Play Area Project' in June 2011, all age groups, from tots to teenagers, are now catered for. The play facilities match those found only in larger centres in the Colchester area.
Play Area and Equipment as at 2011 (Photo © Chris Harvey 2011)
The Parish Council hopes to add further sport equipment during the next phase of development, to complement the existing basketball and football facilities.
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The Church of England parishes of Layer Breton with Birch, Layer Marney, and Layer de la Haye are all within one united benefice. For times of services, contacts, history and locations of churches together with details of forthcoming events visit the United Parishes Website.
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The Borough Councillors for Birch, Layer Breton, Layer Marney, Layer de la Haye, Great & Little Wigborough, Salcott cum Virley, Messing cum Inworth and Grove Road Estate in Tiptree, are:
Councillor Kevin Bentley
Willoughby End, 32 Willoughby Avenue, West Mersea, Colchester CO5 8AU
Telephone: 01206-382405
FAX: 01206-548200
Email: cllr.kevin.bentley@colchester.gov.uk.
Councillor Andrew Ellis
Ransomes, Wigborough Road, Peldon, Colchester CO5 7RA.
Telephone: 01206-735166
Mobile: 07768 986 611
Email: cllr.andrew.ellis@colchester.gov.uk.
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Birch Doctor's Surgery is in Birch Street, opposite the end of Mill Lane and the bus shelter. The practice doctors are Drs A O Obisesan, J Renju and S Rassell.
Telephone number: 01206-330222 (during surgery hours only)
The Emergency Number - at all times - is 01206-572372 which is the number of Stanway Surgery. When Stanway Surgery is closed you will hear a message advising you to telephone 0845-602-5215 (the out-of-hours service).
Website: www.stanwaysurgery.co.uk
Opening Hours at Birch (as at July 2011)
Monday to Friday: 9-00am to 1-00pm and 2-30pm to 6-00pm
Doctors' surgeries are usually held on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings and on Friday afternoons. Nurses' surgeries are usually held on Monday and Tuesday mornings. These arrangements are subject to change.
Check the Surgery's website (see link above) for any changes.
If you are feeling unwell and are unsure what to do, you can seek nurse advice from NHS Direct on 0845-4647. This is a 24 hour confidential telephone service.
There is also the Colchester NHS Walk-In Centre. This has moved to the North Colchester Healthcare Centre, based at the Primary Care Centre on Turner Road, CO4 5JR (there is a map on their website - address below). You can walk in at any time between 7-00am and 10-00pm, seven days a week, to see a GP or Nurse. No appointment is necessary. The service provides treatment for minor injuries and illnesses that patients cannot manage themselves.
Telephone: 01206 - 314015
Website: www.northcolchesterhealthcarecentre.co.uk
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McCreadies, Smythes Green, Layer Marney, Colchester CO5 9XG (just north of Tiptree on the B1022 Colchester-Maldon road). Telephone: 01206-331460. Petrol, diesel, paraffin, Calor Gas, BBQ fuel, phone top-ups, etc. Also has shop and sells used light vans.
Open Monday to Friday 7am to 6-30pm, Saturday 8am to 5pm, closed Sundays and Bank Holidays.
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Lawes Garage, Birch (just south of Heckfordbridge on the B1022 Colchester-Maldon road). Accident & breakdown recovery service, servicing, repairs and MOTs. Telephone: 01206-330227. Mobile: 07850-665769
G K Howlett Engineering - Motor & General Engineer, Layer Marney, run by Graham Howlett. You can contact Graham on 01206-330096.
BRB Auto Services, Little Winters, Layer Marney CO5 9UR, run by Bill Benham. For all servicing, repairs, tyres and air conditioning. MOTs arranged and submitted. Courtesy cars available. Major credit and debit cards accepted. Contact Bill Benham on 01206-331432.
In nearby Tiptree the franchised FORD agents are Youngs, 59 Maldon Road. Tel: 01621-814100, and the VAUXHALL agents are Underwoods, 5 Church Road. Tel: 01621-817781.
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Essex County Council's Library Service operates a mobile library which visits Birch once a fortnight. The library visits on alternate Tuesdays, in Luard Way from 10-30am to 10-55am and then on the road outside Birch Primary School from 11-00am to 11-45am. From 3rd January 2012 the times of visits will change as follows: Luard Way from 10-00am to 10-30am, then outside Birch Primary School from 10-35am to 11-20am. For more information ask at any library or telephone Answers Direct on 0845 603 7628.
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A milk delivery service is provided in the area by Dairy Crest Ltd. Their Freephone number is 0800-615-715.
Dairy Crest will also deliver a range of grocery, household, garden and pet items with your milk. Orders for these can be placed through their milk&more website at www.milkandmore.co.uk. To use this service you will be required to set up a direct debit from your bank account or a recurring payment from your debit or credit card - see the website for details.
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Birch - Mr Rob Farmer, Tel 01206-331119.
Layer Breton - Mrs Sylvia Bagley, Tel 01206-330145.
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The Gazette, formerly the Evening Gazette, is the main local daily newspaper in the Colchester area. The main weekly newspaper is the Essex County Standard which is published on Fridays.
A more substantial paper, covering East Anglia, is the East Anglian Daily Times which has good coverage of Suffolk and Norfolk news as well as some national issues.
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Birch Parish Council
Chair: Mrs Elaine Bowtle; Telephone: 01206-330388.
Clerk: Mr Alan Condron; Telephone: 01206-734400; Email: birchparishclerk@aol.com.
55 Malting Green Road, Layer de la Haye, Colchester CO2 0JJ.
Website: www.birchpc.org.uk carries detailed information about the work and responsibilities of the Council; Minutes of Parish Council meetings; information on local policing and the activities of the Three Villages Community Association.
Layer Breton Parish Meeting
Chair: Mr Phil Gladwin.
Clerk: Mr Christopher Beesley. Telephone: 01206-332904. Use this link to email the Clerk.
Layer Marney Parish Meeting
Chair: Mrs Caroline Compton; Telephone: 01206-330076. Use this link to email the Chair.
Clerk: Karen Thompstone-Perry. Telephone: 07803-047884. Use this link to email the Clerk.
Tree Warden: Jane Fairweather.
Footpath Officer: Dawn Cave.
Layer de la Haye Parish Council
Chairman: Mr Mark Jones; Telephone: 01206-734258.
Vice Chairman: Mr Peter Bunting; Telephone: 01206-734350.
Clerk: Mrs Sarah Hughes; Telephone: 01206-738056. Use this link to email the Parish Clerk.
Website: www.essexinfo.net/layerdelahayepc carries extensive information about local amenities, contacts and events in Layer de la Haye.
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Dates of meetings of Birch Parish Council and of Layer Breton and Layer Marney Parish Meetings, and other village events, are usually posted on the Village Diaries page at www.bretonheath.me.uk/diary.htm.
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Parish News is a monthly newsletter delivered free to every household in the villages of Birch, Layer Breton and Layer Marney. Contributions of articles and information are always welcome. Parish News is an invaluable source of local information and a useful advertising medium for local businesses.
Editor: Mr Geoff Russell Grant; Telephone: 01206-330235.
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A Neighbourhood Policing team is responsible for policing in Birch and the Layer villages.
The Essex Police non-emergency telephone number is 0300-333-4444. This number is a 24 hour, 7 days a week service which connects callers to the centralised switchboard at Essex Police. Calls are then directed to the most appropriate person, department or station.
To speak to a member of your local Neighbourhood Policing team you can telephone 07966-197404. This is a mobile 'phone which is carried by officers when they are on duty. If the call is not answered straightaway, please leave a short message and someone will get back to you. The mobile number should only be used to discuss local issues, to pass on information or to obtain advice. To report a crime please use the non-emergency number: 0300-333-4444.
The '999' number should only be used to request assistance in cases of genuine emergency requiring an immediate police response.
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A twice-weekly Post Office outreach service is available at the Hare & Hounds pub, Layer Breton,
- on Tuesday mornings from 9-00am to 1-00pm and on Thursday afternoons from 12-30pm to 4-30pm.
In addition to the usual postal services, Road Fund tax discs can be purchased here.
One suspects that the Outreach service may be a case of 'use it or lose it' so one hopes it is well used as the nearest alternatives are hardly local or convenient.
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Layer Breton / Birch: The Hare and Hounds (pictured right) overlooks Layer Breton Heath, on the road from Layer Breton to Layer de la Haye. It is now run by Mark and Kerry King who took over in July 2011. In addition to the bar, the Hare and Hounds has a restaurant and bed & breakfast lodges - see the website for details.
Tel: 01206-330459.
Email: thehareandhound@live.co.uk
Website: www.thehareandhound.co.uk
Heckfordbridge: The Angel is on the B1022 Colchester - Maldon Road, near a section well known for speed traps. The Angel is run by Pierre, Anne and Cliff. Lunches, snacks, evening meals, and Sunday Roasts are on offer as well as liquid refreshment. Telephone 01206-330225.
Layer de la Haye: The Layer Fox is nearest the centre of the village, at the crossroads by the War Memorial Cross. Run by Zoe and Jinjer, the Fox offers a variety of services to the local community. In addition to beers, wines and spirits, there is a restaurant serving home-cooked food prepared on the premises using local ingredients; also freshly ground coffee and home-made cakes. Other facilities include:
Opening Hours: 9-00am to 11-30pm Monday to Thursday; 9-00am to midnight Friday and Saturday; 9-00am to 10-30pm Sundays.
Telephone 01206-738723.
Website: www.thelayerfox.co.uk
Layer de la Haye: The Donkey & Buskins is at the Colchester end of the High Road. As well as the bar, The Donkey also does meals. In case you are wondering, buskins are coverings for the foot and leg, reaching the calf and usually laced - useful kit for working with a recalcitrant donkey!
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Domestic refuse, including gardening waste, can be disposed of (free of charge) at Shrub End Tip which is on your left just as you approach the first roundabout on the way into Colchester from the Zoo. The tip is open every day, including Sundays, from 8.00am to 5.00pm except from November 1st to January 31st when it closes at 4.00pm. Colchester Borough Council has a very active recycling policy. Special skips and bins are provided at Shrub End and other locations for recyclable items such as paper, card, glass, metal, textiles, plastic bottles, garden waste, and oil. The Council also operates an Attended Refuse Freighter Scheme under which refuse 'freighters' visit each village from time to time - look out for dates and times on local notices.
Refuse Freighter Visits to Birch and Layer Breton are scheduled for the Saturdays 12th May, 7th July and 1st September 2012.
- Luard Way, Birch: 9-30am to 10-45am.
- St Mary's Church car park, Layer Breton: 11-00am to 12 noon.
The service is provided for small loads from domestic properties, so that you can dispose of bulky items not normally collected with household waste. Green garden waste should be brought separately (to be composted). No fridges or freezers, commercial refuse or hazardous waste such as asbestos, batteries, liquids, gas bottles
For more information, telephone 01206-282700.
In Birch 'dustbin day' is normally Tuesday. On 'dustbin day' there are also collections for recyclable materials. For details see our Recycling Calendar page or phone Colchester Borough Council's Recycling Hotline on 01206 - 282735.
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Birch Church of England Aided Primary School is opposite St Peter's Church and was built originally by Charles Gray Round in 1844. In its early days it provided education up to school leaving age and serving a very rural area even included practical horticulture in the curriculum.
These days the school is well equipped to prepare young people for the 21st century. It is a small friendly school where each child's individual personality and needs can be recognised and nurtured. The Headteacher is the Revd Kate Moore. For more information go to the school's website at www.birch.essex.sch.uk. The School's telephone number is 01206-330224.
Layer de la Haye Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School (Headteacher: Trish Wilkie) is situated in the High Road next to the Queen Elizabeth II Hall and the recreation field. The school's telephone number is 01206-734249.
The main Secondary Schools serving the area are:
Stanway School: Headteacher: Mr Jonathan Tippett. Tel: 01206-575488. Website www.stanway.essex.sch.uk
Thurstable School, Tiptree: Headteacher: Mr M A S Bacon. Tel: 01621-816526. Website www.thurstable.essex.sch.uk
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Birch Minimarket (Tel: 01206-330215) is owned by Dave and Chris Chew. It stocks groceries including bread and milk, magazines, newspapers, confectionery, greetings cards, wines and spirits.
OPENING TIMES: Monday to Friday: 8-00am. Saturday and Sunday: 9-00am.
CLOSING TIMES: Lunchtime - from 1-00pm to 2-00pm. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 7-00pm. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday: 7-30pm; Sunday: 1-00pm.
BANK HOLIDAYS: normally open from 9-00am to 6-00pm.
The Village Shop, Layer de la Haye, (Tel: 01206-734425) is in Malting Green Road. It too offers groceries, newspapers, etc. Opening times are Monday to Saturday, 6-30am to 8-00pm, Sunday 7-00am to 7-00pm.
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WOW Cabs
Church View, School Hill, Birch, Colchester CO2 0NA. Telephone: 01206-331000
A well-established family business offering a local taxi service for shopping trips, hospital appointments, train stations or days and nights out. WOW Cabs also specialise in door-to-door airport and sea port (cruise terminal) transfers. Its fleet comprises saloon cars and minibuses able to accommodate up to 8 passengers. Chauffeur driven luxury Mercedes E250 cars are available for weddings, business or special occasions. More details on the firm's website at www.wowcabs.co.uk where you can book on-line if you wish.
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Birch Memorial Hall is available for village events and private functions. Details of the facilities available, hire charges and booking conditions can be viewed at www.birchpc.org.uk/hall.htm. Enquiries should be addressed to the Bookings Secretary: Mrs Elaine Bowtle (330388).
Layer de la Haye has two Halls side by side, the newer being the Queen Elizabeth II Hall. It is an attractive, modern and well used building. A large tapestry made by several local residents to mark the Millennium is displayed on one of its walls. Superb work, well worthing seeing. Village Hall bookings are through Mrs Sue Priestland on 01206-734708.
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Page updated: 13 MAR 2012