Dog Walking in Burnham Beeches

Burnham Beeches are located just north of Slough to the west of London and involve many acres of ancient woodland owned by the City of London. There are Nature Reserves, Open Spaces, Lakes, Many Easy Walks and even Free Roaming Animals within the enclosure. The woods have been used for filming locations for some 'Harry Potter' scenes and 'Robin, Prince of Theives'. The narrow roads throughout the woods used to be public roads but are now gated and safe places to walk. It has become one of our favorite dog walks. There is a Cafe and Toilet Block next to the Information Centre and the Car Parks. Free Maps are available which are useful to first time visitors.

The Old Beech Trees above have been Pollarded. 

Pollarding is a pruning system in which the upper branches of a tree are removed, promoting a dense head of foliage and branches. It has been common in Europe since medieval times and is practised today in urban areas worldwide, primarily to maintain trees at a predetermined height (Wikipedia)

It appears that each Lord Mayor of The City of London plants a tree here with its own commemorative plaque to identify it.

This plaque refers to Felix Mendelsosohn.

          The Burnham Beaches Cafe for a welcome post walk Coffee - In the special Dog Friendly area.

The Main Green for family days of fun and games, or even a picnic.

With the Green Goddess to the Kop Hill Climb today.

The Kop Hill Climb is one of those Early Car Racing events from the very early 1900. Cars first were included with the Motorcycles in 1911. Then following a non fatal accident with a spectator in 1925 the RAC stopped the event.

This current series of two day events re started in 2009. It popularity and size has grown rapidly into a brilliant event.

Here are my photos of the day which was sunny if a little cold.

For the first time we booked to park in the Club Area with the Morgan Group organised by the Cranmog Section of the Morgan Sports Car Club - Well Done to them.

In The MORGAN Paddock the Green Goddess is getting a critical 'once over'

Johns +4 forming the other 'Book End'

All around, Vehicles were moving to get in the queues formed for those going on the Run up Kop Hill. We were too young to be allowed, but I see that we may have been permitted to join as an 'Exotic' class as did a 2011 Morgan Three Wheeler.

At 12.30pm we were trated to a display by a Superbly Restored Supermarine Spitfire from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight based at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire

I made a small piece of video while having difficulty keeping the Spitfire in my viewfinder screen. You know what Spitfires are like. They come at you 'Out of the Sun', tak a tak a tak, and its all too late.

Another Feature at this year show is the Soap Box Challenge designed to encourage youngsters to design and build a Gravity Racing Car. Here are some of their fantastic vehicle images.

The rest of the paddock area was all about the Classic & Vintage Cars and Motorcycles that were going to be running up Kop Hill during the day. Here are a selection that I photographed.

The 1932 Morgan Aero Trike Number 332 waiting for its run up the hill. Cars were listed by year and parked in sequence as they booked their places which is the sequence they took their go at the hill climb. They are followed by a 1924 Trojan Utility

Activity in the Motorcycle Paddock ahead of their run up the hill.

A 1932 MG J4 Replica - how can we tell?

1934 Riley 12/4 Sprite Special 

1934 Riley Ulster Imp

Automotive Artist Martin Squires drawing the Delage above.

http://martinsquiresautomotiveillustration.blogspot.co.uk/

1935 4.5ltr Bentley Petersen

1939 SS 100 (Swallow Sidecars) = Jaguar

Rare 1938 Fiat New Balilla

1936 Riley TT Sprite

1936 Aston Martin 2 Litre Speed

1936 Wolsley Hornet Special

1933 Aston Martin Le Mans

1934 Aston Martin MK11 Drop Head

Mmmm?

1951 Jaguar XK120

Lamborghini Cheetah Jeep on  their stand.

Returning from the Hill Climb - taking everyone ages due to traffic jams in Princes Risborough.

The Brooklands Trust Bentley Exhibit

The Berkeley Enthusiasts Club and an ad for next years Ley Hill Village Car Show

The Royal Enfield Stand

Ann with one of her Favorite Porche models

Not Quite F1 but nearly!

Hill Climb Observation Posts

'Haurel & Lardy' and their Golf Challenge - Just one of their many Pranks

A Pair of 'Spinone's at the show.

When the show ended we were one of the last to leave the Paddock. This was perfect timing as 'Kop Hill' was now open to public traffic again so we were able to make our 'Run' after all, on our way back across country, to Beaconsfield.