From the 18th – 20th centuries, records reveal that the woodland was a central element of the Wentworth estate economy, providing poles and brash when the trees were 'shredded' or managed as coppice, and being cyclically felled throughout the centuries. The culmination of this was the loss of almost the whole of Broom Royd Wood following the sale of the estate in 1948, after which time the area was subject to open-cast mining. Subsequently, several other woods were felled, in part or as a whole, some being partially replanted with commercial coniferous woodland.

During the first Phase of restoration (2004-07) 30,000 new trees were planted to re-establish Broom Royd and Ivas Woods.