This woodland is first depicted on the 1980 OS map. It is planted on the site of the 'Intake Clay Pits'. The clay pits are marked on the 1st Edition OS map of 1855. Associated with the clay pits, presumably for bricks, are slag heaps and earthworks-remains of the tramway are uncertain. Prior to this, area was probably open moorland. Legibility of the previous extractive landscape is partial due to the earthworks and slag heap. The origin of the moorland landscape is uncertain though this area is likely to be moorland by the Roman period (see Bevan 2003 for discussion of environmental evidence).