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Burnham Beeches

Hawthorn Lane, Lord Mayors Drive, Slough, SL2 3TE

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About this venue

Burnham Beeches is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The Beeches is also a National Nature Reserve (NNR) and European Special Area of Conservation (SAC). SSSIs and NNRs are protected under British law and SACs are also protected under the European Community's Habitats Directive. The Beeches, covering 220 hectares, is primarily noted for its ancient beech and oak pollards and the range of flora and fauna associated with old trees and decaying wood. Other notable features include; wood pasture, valley mire, heathland, beech woodland, coppice woodland, three ponds, three stream systems, a large open grassland recreation area and three Scheduled Ancient Monuments.

Access Guide

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Introduction

  • Services / facilities within the grounds include an information centre, Beeches Eco Café, accessible woodland trail, sensory trail, a car free zone and a toilet block.

Opening Times

  • The venue is open 24hrs.
  • Comments View
    • The car parks are open from 8am to dusk throughout the year.

Location

  • There is not a bus stop within 150m (164yds) of the venue.
  • The nearest National Rail station is Burnham.

Parking (Lord Mayors Drive and Overflow Car Park)

  • The venue does have its own car park.
  • Venue Car Park View
    • Parking is not free for all users.
    • Parking is free for Blue Badge holders.
    • The car park is located in Lord Mayors Drive.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • There is/are 10+ Blue Badge parking bay(s) within the car park.
    • The dimensions of the Blue Badge parking bay(s) are 350cm x 480cm (11ft 6in x 15ft 9in).
    • The nearest Blue Badge bay is 4m (4yd 1ft) from the information centre, café and toilets.
    • The furthest Blue Badge bay is 230m (251yd 1ft) from the information centre, café and toilets.
    • The route from the car park to the entrance is accessible to a wheelchair user with assistance.
    • Assistance may be required because there is/are uneven surfaces.
    • The car park surface is tarmac.
    • There is not a road to cross between the car park and the entrance.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point.
  • Comments View

Access Point (Lord Mayors Drive / Bedford Drive)

  • Access Point View
    • This information is for the access point located at the junction of Lord Mayors Drive and Bedford Drive.
    • There is an information board/map at this access point.
    • There is step-free access at this access point.
    • There is no gate at this access point.
    • There are footpaths either side of the drive.
      The footpaths vary in width from 90-110cm.
      The footpaths end approximately 50m beyond the access point where pedestrians will then share the road.

Parking (Sir Henry Peakes Drive / Lord Mayors Drive)

  • The venue does have its own car park.
  • Venue Car Park View
    • Parking is not free for all users.
    • Parking is free for Blue Badge holders.
    • The car park is located past the café and information centre on the right.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • There is/are 2 Blue Badge parking bay(s) within the car park.
    • The dimensions of the Blue Badge parking bay(s) are 350cm x 490cm (11ft 6in x 16ft 1in).
    • The nearest Blue Badge bay is 160m (174yd 2ft) from the entrance to the café and information centre.
    • The furthest Blue Badge bay is 170m (185yd 2ft) from the entrance to the café and information centre.
    • The route from the car park to the entrance is accessible to a wheelchair user with assistance.
    • Assistance may be required because there is/are uneven surfaces.
    • The car park surface is tarmac.
    • There is not a road to cross between the car park and the entrance.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point.
  • Comments View
    • This car park is located at the end of Sir Henry Peakes Drive; however, it is accessed from Lord Mayors Drive.
    • Each car park is pay and display.
    • Conditions of parking are displayed clearly at the entrance of the car park.
    • For further information on parking please click here .

Parking (Hawthorne Lane - Stag Car Park)

  • The venue does have its own car park.
  • Venue Car Park View
    • Parking is not free for all users.
    • Parking is free for Blue Badge holders.
    • The car park is located off Hawthorne Lane, at the southern end of the reserve.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • There is/are 2 Blue Badge parking bay(s) within the car park.
    • The dimensions of the Blue Badge parking bay(s) are 350cm x 440cm (11ft 6in x 14ft 5in).
    • The nearest Blue Badge bay is 15m (16yd 1ft) from the Hawthorne Lane access point.
    • The furthest Blue Badge bay is 18m (19yd 2ft) from the Hawthorne Lane access point.
    • The route from the car park to the entrance is accessible to a wheelchair user with assistance.
    • Assistance may be required because there is/are uneven surfaces.
    • The car park surface is tarmac.
    • There is not a road to cross between the car park and the entrance.
    • The car park does have a height restriction barrier.
    • The maximum height is 210cm (6ft 11in).
  • Comments View

Access Point (Hawthorn Lane - Stag Car Park)

  • Access Point View
    • This information is for the access point located at the rear of the car park.
    • There is not an information board/map at this access point.
    • There is step-free access at this access point.
    • There is a gate which opens away from you (push).
    • The gate is easy to open.
    • The gate has a latch lock.
    • The width of the gap is 100cm.
  • Comments View
    • Photograph 2 shows one of the access points without a gate that are located around the edge of woods.

Parking (Hawthorne Lane - Dell Car Park)

  • The venue does have its own car park.
  • Venue Car Park View
    • Parking is not free for all users.
    • Parking is free for Blue Badge holders.
    • The car park is located off Hawthorn Lane, between Grove Road and Crow Piece Lane.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • There is/are 0 Blue Badge parking bay(s) within the car park.
    • The route from the car park to the entrance is accessible to a wheelchair user with assistance.
    • Assistance may be required because there is/are uneven surfaces.
    • The car park surface is tarmac.
    • There is a road to cross between the car park and the entrance.
    • The road is generally quiet.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
  • Public Car Parks View
    • There is not a/are not Blue Badge parking bay(s) available within the car park.
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point.
  • Comments View

Access Point (Hawthorne Lane - Dell Car Park)

  • Access Point View
    • This information is for the access point located across the road from the car park.
    • There is not an information board/map at this access point.
    • There is step-free access at this access point.
    • There is no gate at this access point.
  • Comments View
    • The access path has a surface of grass and gravel.

Rangers Office

  • The address of the rangers office is;
  • Hawthorn Lane, Farnham Common, Buckinghamshire, SL2 3TE
  • Email Address: [email protected]
  • There is an intercom at the right of the gate at a height of 104cm.
  • The office is located beyond the gate and to the left.
  • There is a permanent steep ramp to the left of the entrance with handrails on both sides.
  • There is a level landing with an unobstructed turning square of 150cm x 150cm at the top of the ramp.
  • There are 2 steps in front of the entrance which are medium in depth (17cm).
  • There are handrails on both sides of the steps.
  • The steps are not clearly marked.
  • The steps do not have tactile markings.
  • The ramp overcomes the steps.
  • The heavy double doors open towards you (pull) and have a width of 156cm.
  • The reception desk is on the right just beyond the entrance.
  • The height of the desk is 80cm.
  • There is no hearing loop in the reception area.
  • The lighting levels within the reception area are bright.

Information Centre

  • The information centre is located at the far end of Lord Mayors Drive on the left.
  • There is a gate that gives access to the information centre and the toilets as shown in photograph 1.
  • The heavy gate opens away from you (push) and opens to width of 100cm.
  • The entrance for the information centre is on the left of the building as shown in photograph 2.
  • The door is held open during opening hours.
  • The width of the door is 82cm.
  • There is a similar entrance as shown in photographs 3 and 4.
  • There is level access at the entrance and inside the information centre.
  • There is no hearing loop within this building.
  • Lighting levels inside the building are low.
  • There are 2 Blue Badge bays located near the information centre as shown in photograph 7.

Burnham Beeches Tramper

  • Venturing deeper into the Beeches has been made much easier for less mobile visitors with an all-terrain electric buggy called the Tramper.
  • There is a weight limit of 24 stone/152.407 kg for the Tramper.
  • Anyone who is disabled, elderly or just less mobile, can borrow the Tramper and use it to explore any number of different paths through the 540 acres of the reserve – all for free.
  • The Tramper is available for hire Monday to Friday between 10:00 and 16:00.
  • For use of the Tramper you will need to book a minimum of 24 hours in advance and will be asked to leave a refundable deposit of £25 at the office.
  • For more information, please call 01753 647 358.

Parks and Gardens

  • The park or garden does have footpaths.
  • The path(s) has a / have compact earth, tarmac, concrete, gravel and muddy surface(s).
  • The majority of the path(s) is / are wide enough for wheelchair users.
  • There are slight and steep slopes on the paths.
  • There are bench seats situated along the paths for people to rest.
  • Comments View
    • Car Free Zone
    • Some of the closed internal roads are accessible to Blue Badge holders. This is known as the Car Free Zone and is open weekdays between 10:00 and 16:00. Access is free.
    • For further information please call or email the venue.

Sculpture and Sensory Trail

  • This trail takes visitors on a sensory stroll along the Easy Access Path.
  • The trail, which also has improved seating, is approximately 1 mile long and incorporates five tactile and acoustic sculptures for visitors to touch, listen to and sit on.
  • Most of the paths are approximately 180cm in width.
  • The paths have a gravel surface.
  • Some sections of the path are sloped which may require assistance for some users to access.

Eating and Drinking (The Beeches Eco Café)

  • The following information is for the café.
  • Full table service is not available.
  • Food or drinks are ordered from the service counter.
  • Food or drinks can be brought to the table.
  • There is not a lowered section at the counter.
  • No tables are permanently fixed.
  • Some chairs are permanently fixed.
  • Some chairs have armrests.
  • The nearest table is approximately 4m (4yd 1ft) from the front of the café.
  • The distance between the floor and the lowest table is 70cm (2ft 4in).
  • The distance between the floor and the highest table is 76cm (2ft 6in).
  • There is ample room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
  • Plastic / takeaway cups are available.
  • Plastic / takeaway cutlery is available.
  • Drinking straws are available.
  • Menus are wall only.
  • Menus are not available in Braille.
  • Menus are not available in large print.
  • Picture menus are not available.
  • Menus are not clearly written.
  • Menus are presented in contrasting colours.
  • The type of food served here is hot and cold meals and snacks.
  • Comments View
    • The café is open between 10:00 and 18:00 Monday to Sunday.
    • These hours may extend during busy weekend periods.

Accessible Toilet

  • Accessible toilet facilities are available.
  • Location and Access View
    • There is written text and pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • This accessible toilet is approximately 23m (25yd 6in) from the information centre.
    • This accessible toilet is located to the right of the information centre.
    • There is level access to this accessible toilet.
  • Features and Dimensions View
    • This is a shared toilet.
    • A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
    • The door opens outwards.
    • The door is locked by a locking handle.
    • The width of the accessible toilet door is 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The door is light.
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 178cm x 213cm (5ft 10in x 6ft 12in).
    • There is sufficient turning space in the cubicle for a wheelchair user.
    • There is a lateral transfer space.
    • As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the left.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • There is a flush, however it is not on the transfer side.
    • The tap type is lever.
    • There is a mixer tap.
    • There is an emergency alarm.
    • The emergency pull cord alarm is fully functional.
    • Disposal facilities are available in the cubicle.
    • There is a/are waste paper pedal bin and sanitary disposal units.
    • There is not a/are not coat hook(s).
  • Position of Fixtures View
    • Wall mounted grab rails are available for the toilet.
    • As you face the toilet the wall-mounted grab rails are on both sides.
    • There is not a shelf within the accessible toilet.
    • There is not a mirror.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 46cm (1ft 6in).
    • There is a hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The hand dryer is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the hand dryer is 115cm (3ft 9in).
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a toilet roll holder.
    • The toilet roll holder can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the toilet roll holder is 115cm (3ft 9in).
    • There is a wash basin.
    • The wash basin cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is not placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
  • Colour Contrast and Lighting View
    • The contrast between the external door and wall is good.
    • There is a high colour contrast between the internal door and wall.
    • The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is poor.
    • There is a poor colour contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is good.
    • The lighting levels are medium.
  • Baby Change Facilities View
    • Baby change facilities are located within the venue.
    • Baby change facilities are located within the accessible toilet with the transfer space on the right.
    • The height of the baby change table once extended is 75cm (2ft 6in).
  • Comments View
    • There are 2 accessible toilets located opposite each other.
    • Photographs 6-8 show the second toilet with the right hand transfer space.

Standard Toilet(s)

Additional Info

  • Documents are not available in Braille.
  • Documents are not available in large print.
  • A bowl of water can be provided for an assistance dog.
  • An assistance dog toilet area can be provided onsite.
  • The assistance dog toilet area is located anywhere within the woodland.
  • A member of staff trained in BSL skills is not normally on duty.