| Butterby Oxbow | |
| Map: | United Kingdom County Durham |
| Map Size: | 243 |
| Relief: | 1 |
| Location: | MAGiC MaP |
| Nearest City: | City of Durham |
| Coordinates: | 54.7456°N -1.5736°W |
| Area Ha: | 7.29 |
| Established: | 1957 |
| Website: | Butterby Oxbow SSSI |
Butterby Oxbow is a Site of Special Scientific Interest in the Durham City district of County Durham, England. It consists of a former meander of the River Wear which was isolated from the main river in 1811 when, to reduce flooding in the area, a new channel was constructed across the neck of the meander.[1] It is located about 3 km south of the centre of Durham and 1.2 km north of the nearest village, Croxdale.
The site is notable for the succession series of swamp, fen and fen-carr which has developed and which is rarely found as a complete sequence in the county. It is locally important as a roosting and wintering area for wildfowl.[2]