These woodlands lie within the immediate hinterland of Beauchief Abbey, founded in the 1170s. They occupy steeply wooded slopes and cover a large area of parkland, now largely used as golf courses but previously forming functional parkland attached to the Abbey and after dissolution, ornamental parkland around Beauchief Hall. Ladies Spring, High Wood, Old Park Wood, Parkbank Wood and Gulleys Wood are all probable ancient managed woodlands. The ancient sections of these woodlands are typically on steep slopes, whilst wooded areas within this polygon on more gentle terrain, such as the section between Twentywell Lane and Old Park Road and the stretch along Abbey Lane represent more recent ornamental plantation. Legibility of previous character types is uncertain as we have no evidence as yet for earlier landscapes.