The highly irregular shape of the three woodlands results in a long woodland edge relative to their area and this enhances their value for wildlife; edge habitats frequently being richer and more diverse in both plants and animals than the communities they lie between. The juxtaposition of woodland edge and open pasture enables birds and mammals to exploit the food resources of the grasslands, while retaining the protection of the woodland, and also enables plants to benefit from increased light.

INVERTEBRATES
As is the case with most woodlands of ancient origin, the three woodlands support a good range of invertebrates. In particular, Sweet Chestnut, though not a native tree species, supports a wide range of insects.

Upper parts of Prior Royd are popular with Willow Warblers during the summer, and with Siskins, Redpolls, Bullfinches, Goldcrests and Long-tailed Tits in the winter.

BIRDS
The three woodlands provide a home for a wide variety of birds. Two birds-of-prey; Kestrel and Sparrowhawk, nest regularly within the woods. Woodcocks are found in the wetter areas of Prior Royd and can be seen performing their display flight, known as roding, over upper parts of Wheata Wood in the early summer.

The more mature trees of Wheata Wood provide feeding and nesting sites for Tawny Owl, Green Woodpecker, Greater-spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Jay, Blue Tit and Great Tit. The mature Sweet Chestnut trees found in the eastern part of Wheata Wood often have bosses, crevices and dead wood which provide valuable nesting sites for birds. Willow Warblers are abundant in the immature Birches of upper Prior Royd during the summer. In the winter, Siskins, Redpolls, Bullfinches, Goldcrests and Long-tailed Tits are to be found here. Chaffinches and Bramblings can be seen around the field access track and car park in Wheata Wood where they find food, particularly in the winter.

MAMMALS
The three woodlands are home to several species of mammal. Foxes are frequent and Badgers from surrounding areas regularly forage in all three woods, although there are no known setts within the woodlands. As in most woodlands, Grey Squirrel are ubiquitous, and evidence of Hedgehog, Mole, Stoat and Shrew has also been noted. Bats have been observed but the species have not been identified.

Red Deer have occasionally been known to use Prior Royd and Wheata Woods, these being the remnants of a herd originally established in Wharncliffe Chase and released in the 1940s.

Rabbits are most common on the slopes of Prior Royd and Hares have been sighted in adjacent fields, their tracks being frequently found within the woods.

More general information on the birds and animals of the Heritage Woodlands is available elsewhere on this website.