The common plays host to a series of fun public events throughout the year, including scrub bashing and countryside walks.

The 212.5 acres (86.0 ha) site occupies the west flanks of a low hill on the southern slope of the Cannock Chase upland plateau.

Similar flora is found in the English Midlands, however what makes Gentleshaw Common unique is a combination of low altitude and a sunny southern aspect which enables a floristic overlap with heaths typical of the warmer western lowlands of Britain.

In the southern part of the site soil drainage is impeded which has caused a significant area of mixed humid heath and acidic grassland to thrive.

A shallow valley draining into Redmoor Brook in the southeast area of the site has peat soils, which support rare wet heathland species.