OLD JACK THE TRAMP OF DAWES-HEATH WOODS Traditional Cache

Thanks to the Essex Wildlife Trust for their permission for this cache to be placed.

This was the domain of Jack the Tramp real name Kenneth Donnelly a true man of the woods. He lived in the SW corner of Wyburn Wood in an old makeshift shelter from 1962 until his death in 1994. He would often be seen pushing an old pram around Starvelarks ,Wyburn and Tile Woods, the pram having a good stock of sterilised milk which he drank all the time. Sadly in the winter of 1994 he died but his body was not found until some months later. When his shelter was cleared away, hundreds of shoes and cycle wheels were found also a watertight tin that contained many aircraft recognition books. His legacy to the world, just an early spring ring of golden daffodils all around the perimeter of the site of his old abode.

They do say in the Autumn twilight when the leaves have fallen you can hear the squeak of a pram being pushed and the clink of many milk bottles. Nothing to worry about but make sure your shoes have double knots and your bike wheels are on tight. I lived nearby and spent my childhood in this wood and also saw Jack daily and was intrigued by his way of life.

You can park at the end of Thorington Avenue N51.34.183 E000.36.608 which is just 300 feet from the wood entrance. Please DON'T park in Little Havens Childrens Hospice car park which is in the adjoining wood.

This can be the start of a favourite there and back five mile woodland walk of mine that joins all the Dawes Heath woodlands together. This is a beautiful walk at any time of the year but in the Autumn the colours and smells are something else. Start in Starvelarks Wood then into Wyburn and Tile Woods. Cross St. Michael's road and enter Pound Wood. Leave this wood into Bramble Road and walk east to a reservoir then skirt the eastern side to enter Belfairs Great Wood. If you walk through to the far eastern end to the Belfairs Golf Club there are toilets and cafe.

Please also visit my ten Scarecrow Rog Ring Of Fire caches around Hadleigh Castle, Thundersley Church Micro and five caches in the beautiful Southwold area of Suffolk. Plus my wife Polly Styrene has The Most Remote Cache In Essex, a wonderful wildlife walk along the seawall of the River Crouch. I also now have a shared CO with Frenchboy at Walberswick Church and Theberton Church both fantastic Suffolk Churches.