Throughout the woods there are mature groups of beech trees thought to have been planted by the Penglais Estate. Sessile oak, sycamore, sweet chestnut, cherry, ash and scots pine are some of the other tree species to be found, with holly providing a good understorey. Trees on the quarry edge of the woods are affected by the high winds blowing in from the sea and the exposed conditions have shaped their growth. The woods are well known for a fine showing of bluebells in the Spring, along with species such as stitchwort, herb Robert, red campion, lesser celandine and hawkweed. Autumn sees a crop of toadstools on the rotting logs, especially oyster mushrooms.
Nest boxes attract blue tits.
Blackcaps and jays can sometimes be heard singing and redwings visit in winter. The old quarry, with its exposed sloped cliff faces and sheltered hollows provides different habitats for plants and animals. The first plants to colonise the area after the quarry closed were probably mosses and grasses. Plants adapted to the harsh environment such as English stonecrop, wood sage, sea campion and sheep's sorrel followed and increased the nutrient value of the scree to allow gorse, broom and blackthorn to develop. Oak and sycamore scrub is now encroaching into the quarry from the woodland.