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Withybed Wood is a small, yet important patch of woodland located in the lee of Warren Hill, part of Hengistbury Head, Dorset. It is not to be confused with an area of the Wyre Forest in Shropshire, which also has the same name.
Despite its relatively small size; Withybed is of historic and natural interest; it is the only woodland area shown on an 1811 Ordnance Survey map of the Bournemouth/Christchurch region (the wildlife community also suggests that the woodland could be classified as "ancient semi-natural"), and because of its unique location, lying at the landfall and departure point for birds and other flying animals using the important Cherbourg - Avon valley migration route. Bournemouth Council Hengistbury Head Management plan, 2011(draft)
The trees at Withybed support various invertebrates, most visibly the butterflies, like the purple and green hairstreak or the Pararge aegeria.
A recent bird census showed that the tawny owl, green woodpecker and sparrowhawk breed here either regularly or occasionally. Withybed is also home to, or visited by, the goldcrest Website of the Christchurch Harbour Ornithological Group the chiffchaff and blackcap amongst others.
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