GEOLOGY
The rocks underlying the woodlands of the Gleadless Valley belong to the Coal Measures and were formed between 325 and 280 million years ago, during the Carboniferous period of geological time.

The rocks consist of alternating bands of shale and sandstone, with shales generally dominating.

LANDSCAPE
The majority of Hang Bank Wood lies on a steep slope and this gives rise to its name, 'hang' being an Old Norse word meaning steep bank.

A small tributary of the Meers Brook runs just within the western boundary of the wood. The north-eastern limb of the woodland occupies a small, narrow, dry valley.

SOILS
Three main soil types underlie the woodlands of the Gleadless Valley: acidic soils, neutral soils and waterlogged soils. The first of these is the most widespread in Hang Bank Wood. Although much drier than the other woodlands in the valley, even Hang Bank Wood has some waterlogged soils which are associated with small areas of wet, nutrient rich ground known as flushes.

Thin dry 'acidic soils' occur over sandstone, particularly on higher ground, as well as over shales on steep slopes. The depth and acidity of the soils is strongly affected by slope, with the thinnest and most acid soils being found on steeply sloping sites. Deeper and less acidic soils occur on flatter ground, even over sandstone.

Neutral soils are mainly found on flat to moderately sloping ground over shales. They vary in depth and clay content and also from dry to seasonally wet, the wettest areas being on stream banks, in valley bottoms and by springs and wet nutrient rich areas known as flushes.

Waterlogged soils are found in association with streams, springs and flushes. They occur mainly over shale, particularly where this meets sandstone strata. These conditions occur on the valley slopes as well as in the valley bottoms and by streams. Some of the springs are wet all year round but the flushes are more seasonal.

VIEWPOINTS
Parts of the upper edge of Hang Bank Wood offer extensive views across Sheffield towards the Peak District moorlands.