Burnham Beeches

{{about|the nature reserve in Buckinghamshire|the house built by Alfred Nicholas near Melbourne|Burnham Beeches (Australia)}}

{{Infobox SSSI

|image=Middle Pond - geograph.org.uk - 600952.jpg

|image_caption=Middle Pond

|name= Burnham Beeches

|aos= Buckinghamshire

|interest= Biological

|gridref={{gbmappingsmall| SU950857 }}

|area= 374.6 hectares (926 acres)

|notifydate=1985

|map=[http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271000513%27 Magic Map]

}}

Burnham Beeches is a {{convert|374.6|hectare|acre|adj=on}} biological Site of Special Scientific Interest situated west of Farnham Common in the village of Burnham, Buckinghamshire. The southern half is owned by the Corporation of London and is open to the public.{{cite web|url=http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1000513.pdf |title=Burnham Beeches citation |series=Sites of Special Scientific Interest |publisher=Natural England |access-date=13 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124163406/http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1000513.pdf |archive-date=24 January 2016 }}{{cite web|url= http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271000513%27|title=Map of Burnham Beeches|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date= 13 October 2015}} It is also a National Nature Reserve and a Special Area of Conservation.{{cite web|url=http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/burnham-beeches-and-stoke-common/Pages/default.aspx|title=Burnham Beeches and Stoke Common|publisher=City of London|access-date= 13 October 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/buckinghamshires-national-nature-reserves/burnham-beeches-national-nature-reserve|title=Buckinghamshire's National Nature Reserve: Burnham Beeches|publisher=Natural England|access-date= 13 October 2015}}

Burnham Beeches came into ownership of the City of London Corporation after the land came up for auction in 1879. The auction followed the death of the land owner who had permitted public access. Its special status was recognised and discussed in the House of Commons. The land failed to sell at the auction. Subsequently Sir Henry Peek purchased the land at the reserve price £12,000. Sir Henry Peek sold {{convert|374|acre|hectare}} to the City of London Corporation (£6,000), retaining the "enclosed" portion of the land of {{convert|175|acre|hectare}}. Purchase was funded from duties levied on grain landed at the Port of London. Money was also spent on roads to improve access (estimated cost £500), one of these is named after Sir Henry. At this time local authorities were encouraged to provide open spaces with public access to provide some relief from polluted towns and cities. (Summarised from Hansard and various contemporary newspaper reports.)

Preservation

Image:Druids Oak Burnham Beeches.JPG, the oldest tree in Burnham Beeches]]

The largely beech woodland has been regularly pollarded, with many trees now several hundred years old. Their age, and the amount of deadwood in and around them, means that the woodland is rich in wildlife. More than sixty of the species of plants and animals here are either rare or under threat nationally. The area is protected as a National Nature Reserve, Site of Special Scientific Interest and a candidate Special Area of Conservation.

Archaeology

Seven Ways Plain hill fort is located in the south west part of Burnham Beeches. It is a rare example of a single rampart earthwork used either as a stock enclosures or possibly places of refuge. It comprises a range of earthworks which have been dated to the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age.{{cite web|url=https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/0579B61A-0927-401E-A9CA-FDBB7C55D0DF/0/OS_BB_manage9905.pdf|format=PDF|title=Burnham Beeches Management Plan|access-date=23 April 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613025526/https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/0579B61A-0927-401E-A9CA-FDBB7C55D0DF/0/OS_BB_manage9905.pdf|archive-date=13 June 2011}} It is a Scheduled Monument.{{NHLE|num=1013958|desc=Slight univallate hillfort at Seven Ways Plain, Burnham Beeches|access-date=8 January 2016}}

Filming

The close proximity of Pinewood, Shepperton and Bray Studios and the outstanding natural beauty of the Beeches have made it a desirable filming location. Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, The Crying Game, First Knight, Goldfinger, The Princess Bride, the 1952 Disney film The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, Horrible Histories: The Movie, and the Doctor Who story State of Decay are some of the films and TV productions that have been shot at Burnham Beeches.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/search/title?locations=Burnham+Beeches,+Buckinghamshire,+England,+UK|title=IMDb: Most Popular Titles With Location Matching "Burnham Beeches, Buckinghamshire, England, UK"|work=IMDb}}{{cite web |title=Dr Who: State of Decay: locations |url=https://www.doctorwholocations.net/stories/stateofdecay |website=www.doctorwholocations.net |access-date=27 December 2020}}

Filming is tightly controlled in recognition of the Beeches' international importance for wildlife. Filming is restricted to no more than twenty days per year and to certain times of year. Filming in environmentally sensitive areas has also been banned. Revenue from filming goes directly to fund the upkeep and management of the Beeches.

Affiliates

Burnham, New Zealand, was named after the village of Burnham.{{cite book | first=A. W. | last=Reed | title=The Reed Dictionary of New Zealand Place Names | publisher=Reed Books | location=Auckland | year=2002 | isbn=0-7900-0761-4}}

Burnham Beeches F.C. are an amateur football team who currently compete in the East Berkshire Football League.{{cite web |url=https://burnhambeechesfc.wordpress.com/league/ |title=Our League |publisher=Burnham Beeches F.C. |access-date=10 December 2019}}

References

External links

[https://www.imdb.com/search/title?locations=Burnham+Beeches,+Buckinghamshire,+England,+UK IMDb list of film and television productions which have used Burnham Beeches]

{{coord| 51.562629| -0.63018|type:landmark_region:GB-BNE|display=title}}

Category:Burnham, Buckinghamshire

Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Buckinghamshire

Category:Hill forts in Buckinghamshire

Category:Parks and open spaces of the City of London Corporation

Category:Forests and woodlands of Buckinghamshire

Category:National nature reserves in England

Category:Special Areas of Conservation in England