Burnham Beeches

Burnham Beeches is a forested nature reserve in Buckinghamshire that covers 374 hectares and contains hundreds of ancient beech trees along with several shallow ponds. A network of paths crosses the site and passes through open clearings, dense undergrowth, and areas with moss-covered tree trunks.

The City of London Corporation purchased the woodland in 1879 through Sir Henry Peek to preserve it as a public recreation area. Before that, landowners had used the beech wood for fuel and the acorns as feed for pigs.

The old beech trees have been pollarded for centuries, with branches cut several meters above the ground. This traditional management created trees with thick, gnarled trunks and wide, flat crowns that now define the look of this forest and give it an unusual character.

The forest opens at 8 AM and closes at dusk, with marked car parks at several entrances. The main paths are wide enough for wheelchairs and pushchairs, while narrower trails run through uneven ground with exposed roots.

The hill called Seven Ways Plain holds Bronze Age earthwork ramparts that were likely used to enclose livestock. The ramparts still form a visible pattern of raised lines and shallow ditches among the trees.

Location: Burnham

Operator: City of London Corporation

GPS coordinates: 51.55832,-0.63060

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:27