Public access to the wood was first allowed by the owners of the castle in the late 19th century.

[3][4] The 36.77-acre (14.88 ha) woods have the Eller Beck flowing through them, which connects to the River Aire and are accessible from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

A small four hectare area of the wood to the north-west has been replanted with a mix of oak, Scots pine, larch and Norway spruce.

The ground flora consists of dense carpets of wild garlic, bluebells and dog's mercury.

[7] Notable animal species in the wood include badgers, roe deer, kingfishers, spotted flycatchers, sparrowhawks, great spotted and green woodpeckers, as well as Natterer's, noctule, pipistrelle, brown long-eared and Daubenton's bats.