However by the 16th century Beeley Wood had become a coppice wood in which the pasturing of animals was discouraged.
The open area is then colonised by many animals such as Nightingale, European Nightjar and fritillary butterflies.
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Much of this was established as plantations in the 19th century for hop-pole production (hop-poles are used to support the hop plant while growing hops) and is nowadays cut on a 12 to 18 year cycle for splitting and binding into cleft chestnut paling fence, or on a 20- to 35-year cycle for cleft post-and-rail fencing, or for sawing into small lengths to be finger-jointed for architectural use.
It contains many small glades, characterised by alders and birch coppice, as well as wood sorrel and moss.
Conservation measures to prevent the Marsh from drying out includes coppicing of the Alder in the central area and the removal of Bracken.
Of particular rarity in the county are the areas of English oak (Quercus robur) and Cornish oak (Quercus petraea) with small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata) coppice.