The Foresty Plots at Vivod were established by Frank Best with the first plot planted around 1952.
Each of the plots measures about 30m x30m with about 400 trees each when they were first established.
Measurement work was undertaked by ourselves between Oct 2025 and April 2026 . All the plots were visited and investigated to establish if the original trees had survived and if there was enough trees left to measure, ideally a 8m radius sample plot, in order to establish the grown rates etc.
Photgraphs were also taken at the time of measurement.
Chris Reynolds from Forest Research also gave us a copy of John White's dendrologist reports from 1988.
We have transcribed John Whites notes and added our finding to each of the Species Plots. This should help with understanding what has happen to each of the plots over time.
The way in which the plots were numbered has changed over time and below is a brief explanation of this:
Re Numbering of the plots. John White wrote:
“Plot numbering in the past appears to have been vague. All plans at present available, however, show letters for rows of plots up & down the hill (B - N from east to west). Early plans show this system applied to the area above the road only and letters O – T applied to some rows of plots below. As the O – T designation is incomplete and does not appear on the most up to date maps, it is ignored here. Identification now is by species and row letter. Only in rows F & G is a species repeated.”
However the Forestry Commission around 1990 changed to a number based system with Plots numbered 1 to 72
The measurement work followed the guidance in the FC Mensuration Handbook using circular sample plots of 8m radius, but sometimes this was reduced to 5,6m radius whereever edge effects were a ploblem. Tree heights were estimated using a Suunto clinometer and distance measurements. Form tables were used from the handbook together with basal area to calcuate volume. Slopes were significant (12 to 23 degrees) and the slope angle was also measured to correct the plot area into a horizontal plain. For example a 25 degree slope will reduce the plot area by 10% when converted to a horizontal plain.