Rodbed Wood facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Rodbed Wood

Site of Special Scientific Interest
Area of Search	Buckinghamshire
Interest	Biological
Area	2.2 hectares
Notification	1984
Location map	Magic Map

Rodbed Wood is a special natural area located in Medmenham, Buckinghamshire. It covers about 2.2 hectares, which is roughly the size of five football fields. This woodland is officially recognized as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of its unique plants and animals.

Rodbed Wood is also part of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This means it's a beautiful landscape that is protected for its natural importance.

What Makes Rodbed Wood Special?

Rodbed Wood is a type of woodland that loves water! It's a "wet woodland" filled with willow and alder trees. These trees thrive in damp conditions.

A Home for Many Species

The wood gets its water from a ditch that flows from nearby water meadows. This constant supply of water helps many different plants and animals to live here.

Plants and Trees You Might See

Below the tall willow and alder trees, you'll find a layer of smaller plants and shrubs. This is called the understorey. Here, you can spot plants like blackthorn, hawthorn, and guelder rose.

Rodbed Wood is also home to a wide variety of other plants, known as a diverse flora. One very special plant found here is the summer snowflake. This flower is quite rare across the country!

Amazing Animals and Insects

This woodland is a busy place for birds, with many different kinds making their homes here. It also has a rich population of invertebrates. Invertebrates are animals without backbones, like insects, spiders, and worms. They play a super important role in the woodland's ecosystem.

Visiting Rodbed Wood

While Rodbed Wood is private land, there's a public footpath that crosses through it. This path connects the A4155 road to the River Thames. It allows people to enjoy a walk through this beautiful and important natural area.