"Greno Wood and Hall Wood have been largely coniferised, and this process has destroyed their ground flora and impoverished them as wildlife habitats" (Jones 1989, 3) however the area of the woodland (including its scattered internal clearings) has been little changed since at least 1851. The earliest known direct reference to the wood is in a document dating to the period 1590-1616 (ibid, 14) although the presence of many surrounding place names referring either to nearby woods or clearings dating to the medieval period, as well as the steep topography and high elevation of much of the area also supports an interpretation of this area as anciently wooded land. Jones has also noted the relationship between this area and the other wooded areas within the medieval parish of Ecclesfield to the edges of the parish boundaries on the least cultivatable lands (1989, 55) Within the area of the woodlands are a number of recorded finds including the scheduled 'Handlands - Romano British Settlement Enclosure' (see also SMR PRN 819), an undated but probable medieval homestead (PRN 151); Mesolithic flint scatters; and a supposed medieval holy well. Large areas of clearance shown on early 20th century mapping probably relate to present areas of plantation of non native species. Significant legibility of both ancient woodland boundary and Romano British settlement site.