Burnham Beeches

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For the house built by Alfred Nicholas near Melbourne, Australia, see Burnham Beeches (Australia)

Burnham Beeches is an area of 540 acres of ancient woodland, located close to Farnham Common, Burnham and Beaconsfield, approximately 20 miles (30 km) to the west of London, England. The 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.

The close proximity of Pinewood, Shepperton and Bray Studios and the outstanding natural beauty of the Beeches have made it a desirable filming location. The Crying Game, First Knight, Goldfinger, The Princess Bride, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and A Town Like Alice are just some of the many films and TV productions which have made use of the facilities on offer at the Beeches. (For a more comprehensive list, see [1].)

Filming is tightly controlled due to recognition of the Beeches' international importance for wildlife, restricting filming to no more than 20 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.

It was saved from development by the Kyrle Society and is now owned by the City of London Corporation (aka the Corporation of London).

Burnham, New Zealand was named after Burnham Beeches.