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Burnham Beeches

Burnham, BuckinghamshireForests and woodlands of BuckinghamshireHill forts in BuckinghamshireNational nature reserves in EnglandParks and open spaces of the City of London Corporation
Sites of Special Scientific Interest in BuckinghamshireSpecial Areas of Conservation in England
Middle Pond geograph.org.uk 600952
Middle Pond geograph.org.uk 600952

Burnham Beeches is a 374.6-hectare (926-acre) 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. It is also a National Nature Reserve and a Special Area of Conservation.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 374 acres (151 hectares) to the City of London Corporation (£6,000), retaining the "enclosed" portion of the land of 175 acres (71 hectares). 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.)

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Burnham Beeches (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Burnham Beeches
McAuliffe Drive,

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Wikipedia: Burnham BeechesContinue reading on Wikipedia

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Latitude Longitude
N 51.562629 ° E -0.63018 °
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McAuliffe Drive

McAuliffe Drive
SL1 8PN , Burnham (Beeches Community Board)
England, United Kingdom
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Middle Pond geograph.org.uk 600952
Middle Pond geograph.org.uk 600952
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