GEOLOGY
The rocks underlying the two woodlands date from the Carboniferous period of geological history and belong mainly to the Middle Coal Measures.

The majority of Scholes Coppice is underlain by a fine-grained sandstone known as the Parkgate Rock. Outcropping to the south-west of the wood and then swinging northwards very close to its south-western and north-western edges, is the Fenton seam, which consists of several thin layers of coal and ironstone interspersed with shales. It was this coal seam that was exploited by opencast mining in the 1940s, resulting in the temporary destruction of half of the contemporary area of Scholes Coppice as well as the creation of what is now Keppel's Field.

Evidence of earlier mining can be clearly seen in Bray Plantation in the form of a large number of mounds with central depressions. These mark the locations of former bell pits in which a shallow shaft was sunk and coal or ironstone extracted immediately around it. The mineral would have been brought to the surface using a windlass or horse gin. Bell pits were sunk in the local area over a long period, from very early times right through to the middle of the nineteenth century.

LANDSCAPE
Scholes Coppice and Bray Plantation lie on the edge of a plateau. The former is bounded by Keppel's Field, which occupies higher ground to the west of the wood.

The highest point in Scholes Coppice is at its south-west corner where it reaches 130 metres above sea level. From here, the ground slopes gently to the north-east before reaching an altitude of 76 metres above sea level at the north-east corner, close to the wetland area.

Bray Plantation is flatter than Scholes Coppice, although it does slope slightly to the south and east. The woodland lies between 130 and 140 metres above sea level, making it just a little higher in altitude than Scholes Coppice.

Scholes Coppice has two seasonally flowing streams. One of these runs in a shallow but steep-sided valley along the northern boundary of the wood and is fed by water from Keppel's Field. The other, which is fed by natural springs, runs northwards close to the eastern edge of the woodland Both streams feed a small wetland area in the north-eastern corner of the wood, which sometimes has a 'pond' of standing water; before continuing through Greasbrough to join the River Don.

SOILS
The soils underlying the two woodlands are leached brown earths with a pH of around 4.5, meaning that they are of relatively high acidity.

Keppel's Field, which lies between the two woodlands, provides excellent views towards the Wentworth area.

VIEWPOINTS
A good view over the western edge of Scholes Coppice can be obtained from upper parts of Keppel's Field, adjacent to Scholes Coppice.

Although the density of much of Scholes Coppice does not allow views out of the woodland, the western edge of the woodland does give views of Keppel's Column.

During the winter, the high ground in the south-west of the wood also offers a view north-eastwards into the Wentworth estate with its monuments which include Hoober Stand and the mausoleum of the Fitzwilliam family. Clear views of this area can also be obtained from upper parts of Keppel's Field.