Withybeds

An island of wet willow woodland alongside the River Lugg.

Location

Off Mill Lane (by foot)
Off B4355 (by car)
Presteigne
Powys
LD8 2ES

OS Map Reference

SO 311 648
A static map of Withybeds

Know before you go

Size
1 hectare
P

Parking information

Small car park

Grazing animals

No

Walking trails

A circular boardwalk suitable for wheelchairs.

Ash dieback is having an impact here, please click on this link to find out more.

Access

By foot from Presteigne town centre, go down Pound Lane off the High Street, turn left onto Mill Lane and follow public footpath directly towards reserve.

By car from Presteigne, take the B4355 towards Knighton. After 400m turn into a small car park on the right.  Walk through the meadow along the Old Leat to reach the reserve.

Dogs

On a lead

When to visit

Opening times

All year round.

Best time to visit

April to June

About the reserve

There's a fine show of spring flowers including marsh marigold and wood anemone.  Along the river, grey wagtail and dipper search for insects and a high pitched 'peeping' sound may reveal a streak of turquoise as a kingfisher flies past.

In late spring and early summer, the wood is full of bird song as spotted flycatcher, redstart, willow tit, bullfinch, blackcap and other birds come here to breed.  Nuthatch, treecreeper and woodpeckers can be seen and heard all year.

If you wait quietly by the riverside you can see wild brown trout in the shallows.  On sunnier days, dragonflies and damselflies will be marking out their territories. 

Contact us

Radnorshire Wildlife Trust
Contact number: 01597 823298
Contact email: info@rwtwales.org

Environmental designation

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)