Where once the park was managed for game and commercial forestry (the pine and larch trees having been planted for pit props), it is now managed by Wakefield Council's Countryside and Conservation Service for the benefit of wildlife and visitors.

There are three woods in the Park - Long Plantation, Kings Wood and Bushcliffe Wood.   The woods are a mixture of larch, pine, oak, sycamore, beech and birch.  Most of these were planted in the 1950s to be used as pit props during the 1980s.  The larch and pine are now being felled to allow the mixed deciduous woodland to mature as this is more valuable for wildlife and of greater landscape value.

The roots of mature beech trees lie exposed near the lakeside footpath. The Pilkington family planted these together with rhododendron, the latter to provide cover for game birds.  Today, the rhododendrons are gradually being removed from the woodland to allow native wild flowers like wood anenome and bluebells to bloom.

In the woodlands look out for grey  squirrels, rabbits and foxes.  Bird life is rich here too with tree creepers, long-tailed tits and sparrowhawks. The lake's reeds, rushes and sedges provide shelter, feeding and nesting areas for swans, mallard, great crested grebe and tufted ducks. Herons can regularly be spotted feeding in the shallow water. Look out for the pink flowers of amphibious bistort which float on the lake's surface in summer.

The Country Park is designated as a Site of Scientific Interest (SSI) and Local Nature Reserve (LNR)