This area of former fields was purchased by the Woodland Trust in 2000 and planted with over 15,000 trees as a new woodland in 2001. "The long-term intention is to develop and maintain a diverse, secondary predominately broadleaved native high forest" (Woodland Trust 2004, 7). The area is shown on historic OS maps as enclosed land. No legibility of earlier types. nb.. The 'Wantley Dragon' has its origins in a local folk ballad thought to be an allegorical satire telling the tale of a dispute between Sir Francis Wortley and 'More of More Hall' who appears in the ballad. It appears in Thomas Percy's 1767 'Reliques of Ancient Poetry'.