The wood was established as a nature reserve in 1983, in agreement with the owner, Mrs G. Hayes.[1] Its area is 3 hectares (7.4 acres) and it is part of the Churnet Valley Site of Special Scientific Interest.[2]
It is nearly a mile long, on a steep valley side between Shirley Brook (a tributary of the River Churnet) to the north, and the route of a former tramway, now a footpath, from where the entire length of the reserve can be seen. The tramway once carried limestone from quarries about 3 miles (4.8 km) to the east at Caldon Low near Cauldon, to the Caldon Canal at Froghall Wharf.[2]
Existing for over 400 years, the wood is ancient woodland. It was once coppiced to supply timber for charcoal making. There are mostly ash trees; other species include hazel and oak; also small-leaved lime, which, seldom producing viable seeds in Britain, is only found in long-established woods. In waterlogged places there are areas of alder carr.[2][1]
The wood is a habitat for woodpeckers, nuthatches and treecreepers. On the ground of the woodland there is wild garlic, yellow archangel and wood-sorrel. Twayblade and broadleaved helleborine can be seen next to the tramway.[2]
