vivod

Vivod Plots report by John White Dendrologist 30/3/98 (amended 01/03/1990)

updated with additional information from 1990s Management Plan and annual site visits 1993-95 plus GMH data Oct 2025 to April 2026

Report on the plots by John White Dendrologist 30/3/98 amended 01/03/1990.

NB. White’s original text is in italics, with updates of new information from the Vivod Forest Plots Management Plan circa 1991/2 and site visit reports 1993-1995 (MP). GMH updates in plain text.

Vivod# is the numbering system used on the Vivod estate plan and the Management Plan.

JW# is the numbering system used by John White

Vivod#

JW#

Species

Comments

Sequoia sempervirens

JW. p55. A very good plot indeed, with continued thinning and pruning this will make a fine feature being adjacent to, and above, the forest road

MP. Recent thinning helped but wind snow and wind have taken their toll.

GMH. 25m high at age 70. Stocking density is 1556/ha There are plenty of good straight living stems which appeared to be very healthy. There are some small trees which were dead or dying. Still a very good plot. MAI 24

Cryptomeria japonica

JW. p55. Mostly poor, many basal, bowed or bent, frequent gaps. Hidden from the road below by narrow belt of Tsuga (p57).

MP. Severe damage from wet snow Dec 1989.

GMH 19m high at age 70. Stocking density 919/ha. Obviously recovered since the 1987 survey. The trees all appeared to be healthy and slightly larger diameter than the sempervirens but lower in height & numbers. MAI 12

Sequoiadendron giganteum

JW. p60. Nice looking plot but very slow, 6m in 27 years.

MP. Not at all impressive.

GMH. 28m high at age 65. They have shot up since the 1988 survey. Stocking density 2161/ha. A surprising number of trees survive within the plot and are quite large. The basal area is 16% greater than the sempervirens, they are taller and 5 years younger. A truly impressive plot and perhaps the most productive in any Forest Garden. MAI 34

Abies koreana

JW. p61. Small, as expected, but of particular amenity interest.

GMH. Stocking density is 2614/ha. 9m high, and MAI 2. Most of the original trees are surviving but have small crowns even on the open ride side.

Abies sachalinensis

JW. p68. Not on JW 1988 list.

GMH. Stocking density 780/ha and 22m high. The plot is split by a track. Good trees but quite a lot have fallen when the Larch to the west was removed. MAI 5

Picea rubens

JW. p68. Not on JW 1988 list

GMH. 16m high at age 57. Stocking density 2158/ha. Good straight healthy trees. Now quite exposed due to felling of Larch to the west. Quite a good plot. MAI 8

Abies homolepis

JW. p61.Very poor, plot mostly Lawson’s cypress.

GMH. Small defoliated trees which appear to be Lawson with some larger Sitka towering above. One tree with distinctive bark could be homolepis, but too difficult to see any foliage. Not measured.

Abies amabilis

JW. p60.Only a few of the intended species getting through the thick Lawson’s cypress re-plant

MP. Partially crown thinned. 1993, Lawson has been removed.

GMH. 24m high. Stocking density 1144/ha. Good straight trees which have overcome the Lawson competition mentioned in 1988. They have suffered from windblow but still a good crop. Nice looking stand worth clearing away the fallen trees. Risk of Lawson coming in again. MAI 18 plus (windblow)

Abies concolor v lowiana

JW. p55.A mixed crop as would be expected with this variety. An “amenity” thinning would be an improvement. Many good trees present.

MP. Some crown thinning. Winter 89/90 damage causing large gap.

GMH. 29m high. Stocking density 832/ha There are some good large diameter trees remaining. MAI 16 plus (thinned/snapped)

Abies concolor

JW. p55. Dying as elsewhere. This is a short lived species in Britain.

GMH Now scrub land in the main

Abies veitchii

JW. p53. An outstanding plot, seldom seen as a plantation.

MP. Further thinning will aid specimen tree development in the plot.

GMH. Trees damaged by windblow with some snapped. Two fallen trees at side of plot measured at 23m high and both 33cm dbh. Good straight trees and would have been a very nice plot before the wind. Stocking density 939/ha, and 25m tallest tree in sample plot. MAI 6 for veitchii, plus 2.5 for Lawson plus windblow. So could well have been 12 or more.

Abies nordmanniana

JW. p53.Variable crop spoiled in parts by Scots pine.

GMH. 29m high, Stocking density 799/ha. The plot has been thinned and the Scots Pine from the 1988 survey has gone. Now a much better crop with good straight healthy trees in cone. A nice plot. MAI 14 plus (thinned).

Cedrus atlantica

JW. p53.Occasional specimen trees may develop from this plot.

GMH. A line of 7 trees still survives on the eastern edge which are 22 m tall and appear to be in good health and producing cones

Acer macrophyllum

JW. p53. Plot not seen

GMH. Two large acers are visible from the track below.

Tsuga heterophylla

JW. p57. Very small planting in a corner

GMH. A few good looking trees measured at 26m

Cupressus macrocarpa

JW. p56.Only a few good specimens as there is some suppression from the other species in the plot (as above) (G8/#18)

GMH. Plot lost to Sitka and Larch

Acer saccharum

JW. p64.See row E (plot #17)

GMH. Plot lost to Sitka and Larch

Acer saccharum

JW. p57.Occasional specimen trees may result from this and the adjacent plot in row F (plot #16)

GMH. Plot lost to Sitka and Larch

Chamaecyparis pisifera

JW. p53 (Listed wrongly). Good specimen trees will come from this plot. Some Lawson cypress and larch need removing.

GMH. Plot lost to Sitka and Larch

Picea omorika

JW. Ex Wareham. A good small plot until recently when mostly blown down.

GMH. Plot lost to Sitka and Larch, marker plaque still in situ.

Picea abies x omorika

JW. p53.An interesting example of this unusual hybrid.

GMH. Plot lost to Sitka and Larch and this tree not seen

Abies alba

JW. p55.Reasonable, but does not compare with other fast silver firs on this site. Requires thinning.

GMH. 26m high. Stocking density 736/ha. The plot has been thinned, but an understorey of Lawson is developing. Good straight healthy trees. MAI 11 (thinned)

Abies grandis

JW. p54.Very tall thin trees suffering from a lack of thinning. Stems are likely to snap if opened up too rapidly now.

MP. Severe winter damage1989/90

GMH. 40m high, tallest of any plot. Stocking density 569/ha. The plot appears to have been thinned successfully. Magnificent trees. MAI 26 (thinned)

Abies alba

JW. p53. A superb plot. Requires thinning. Has signs of aphid attack but these are not yet serious.

MP. Will continue to be thinned. 1994, snap, windthrow and aphid infection.

GMH. 30m high. Stocking density 676/ha. Some have blown down in the lower part of the plot. Lawson understorey. Good straight trees. MAI 13 (thinned)

Betula japonica, now Betula platyphylla var Japonica

JW. p55. A good plot but only about 9 m top height.

MP Fully stocked, suffered severe snowbreak in Dec 1989.

GMH. These broadleaves have survived quite well with a stocking density of 1517/ha and 18m high. However, they are slim trees and slow-growing at MAI 4

[lower end of #29] Not a plot in its own right.

Picea smithiana

JW. Plot gone. Now larch over Lawson’s cypress.

GMH. plot gone, mainly Lawson

Abies spectabilis

JW. p66. Patchy, a much smaller plot than indicated on the plan. Morphologically not at all like the outstanding tree of this species in the arboretum.

GMH A lot of windblow but still a few left. Fallen trees have been identified recently by a dendrologist as A. forrestii. which might explain JW’s comments. Identity needs checking.

Picea koyamae

JW. p61. A mixed lot.

GMH. Stocking density 515/ha and 23m high. There are quite a few fallen trees in the plot due to the removal of Larch to the west and there are some Sitka on the edges. Plenty of fresh and older cones on the ground. MAI 7 but would have been larger before the windblow.

Picea jezoensis v hondoensis

JW. Plot gone. Now mostly Lawson’s cypress.

GMH. Lost to a mass of thin small trees which are mostly Lawsons.

Abies pinsapo

JW. p60. A mixed plot but containing some very nice specimens particularly lower down. The top of the plot partly defoliated – thought to be mostly climate damage.

MP. Very few trees true hedgehog firs. Rest hybrids or A. alba.

GMH. 1160 stems/ha in sampling plot area. Plot still has some good trees which were measured at 18m but split into two sections by a ride. Coned recently. MAI 11

Abies magnifica

JW. p55. Outstanding.

MP Some reasonable and some show signs of crown disorder.

GMH a very small plot with 1 living and 1 dead tree. The living one is 24m high and impressive.

Tsuga heterophylla

JW. p57. Good trees, but a very small plot.

GMH. Only 3 seen from the track above. Not measured but about 15 to 20m high.

Tsuga mertensiana

JW. p61. Very poor but better than the same species at Brechfa. Would be worth opening up to the best few specimens. Windthrow risk is minimal.

GMH. Stocking density 1506/ha 20m high. Only a small plot left in the SE corner with windblow elsewhere due to the removal of Larch to the west. MAI 11

Picea mariana

JW. p60. Very bad, but must be retained on rarity grounds.

GMH. Taken over by Larch.

Abies delavayi

JW. p59. A poor mixed lot.

GMH Most gone and now Lawson, but remaining trees are coning. One measured at 15m high & 32cm dbh

Picea rubens

JW. p53. A good plot but showing signs of needle cast.

GMH. Good healthy straight trees 19m high. 1438 stems/ha. MAI 8

Picea orientalis

JW. p53. An outstanding plot. Needs some thinning.

GMH. 18m high. Now a mixed stand. P. orientalis stocking density 1098/ha, Lawson 732/ha. Good healthy trees both 18m. No windblow and only a few dead. MAI 10 (total both species)

Picea glauca

JW. p53. (listed as P canadensis). A very poor plot further spoiled by Scots pine mixture.

GMH. Still a poor plot with only a few trees remaining among Scots pine.

Picea pungens

JW. p53. One or two good trees (for Pungens). Largely spoiled by suppression from Lawson’s cypress and Scots pine interplanting.

GMH. Lost to Lawson.

Chamaecyparis obtusa/Picea glauca

[JW. Co] p56. A good plot;

[Pg] p56. Picea glauca listed as P. Alba. A good but very small plot

GMH. Chamaecyparis obtusa: stocking density 813/ha and 22m high. Small sample plot due to windblow. Trees look healthy. MAI 11.

Picea glauca: At the bottom of the plot there are 1 good, 1 small and several dead trees. Cones on the ground.

Pinus wallichiana

JW. p54, rp59. Listed P excelsa. A very good plot in parts

GMH A few left and enough for a 5.65m sample plot. Stocking density 362/ha, 26m high. MAI 3. Partly in Lawson but some with no understorey. Visible above the Lawson.

Pinus monticola

JW. p53. A very good plot but some trees dying. Thin heavily to try to save a few good specimens. Herbarium material collected.

MP. White pine blister rust[WPBR] but impressive trees. Being thinned to help aeration.

GMH. Quite a few left but all have WPBR around the lower trunk. 25m high and out-topping the Lawson. Stocking 839/ha. MAI 10 (thinned)

Pinus ponderosa

JW. P59. Thin to specimen trees.

GMH. 20m high and 680/ha. Good height but sparse crowns. MAI 6 (thinned). Plot surrounded by Lawson and reduced in size.

Pinus jeffreyi

JW. p59. A reasonable plot, specimen trees could be isolated and some rubbish cleaned out.

GMH. Jefferyi stocking 304/ha 16m high MAI 1. Lawson stocking 1115/ha, 15m high. MAI 8. Only a few Jefferyi left alive. There are a lot of dead pine stems on the ground and also some standing dead. Had the Lawson been removed in 1988 it would probably have been quite a nice plot of Jefferyi.

Pinus densiflora

JW. p58. Only two trees left and a stray natural regeneration pine. (NB. Vivod map says Fraxinus excelsior)

MP. P90 ash in short tree shelters.

GMH. Lots of Lawson with young ash in clearings, some in tubes. The ash not doing well.

Pinus pungens

JW. p60. Very few left but of special interest

GMH. No signs of any pines left in this plot only JW. Rowan.

Pinus nigra

JW. p56. Very few remain, looking sick

GMH. Plot long lost

Pinus banksiana

JW. p55. Good plot, but this species of little forestry value. Very worthwhile here though as a demonstration of this fact.

GMH. About 20 remaining in a tangle of windblow. Those left 16m high.

Pinus mugo

JW. p54. (Listed as P montana) as above.

[above is E2 #63 GMH]

GMH. Not measured, very few left and similar to the Pinus uncinata above this plot.

Picea sitchensis

JW. p64. Thin as required.

GMH. Stocking density 1751/ha, 27m high. Good healthy straight trees. MAI 24

Nothofagus obliqua

JW. p56. / X Cupressocyparis leylandii. p63. A most unfortunate mixture that is rapidly becoming straight leylandii. Individual Nothofagus could still be saved, if it is thought worthwhile.

GMH. About 14 trees left scattered around the plot in a lot of windblow. Measured dbh of what we could get to. 23m high.

Nothofagus procera

JW. p56. In very bad shape. A lot of dead wood seen, said to be due in part to repeated frosting in the past. Worth keeping to demonstrate the natural limits of this species.

GMH. Some of the plot still remaining at 27m high and 884 stems/ha. MAI 18 (thinned). Lawson has taken over some of the plot.

Picea asperata

JW. p53. Dubious seed origin presumed. A very poor lot indeed, hardly worth keeping.

GMH. Could not find these. Shown as a very small plot in the lower corner. Lots of Lawson about.

Picea jezoensis

JW. p53. A good plot.

GMH. A good plot still with plenty of trees. 1787/ha. 20m high. MAI 8

Picea likiangensis

JW. p53. Occasional good trees, inter-planted with Lawson’s cypress.

GMH. Mixture with Lawson but still some good trees 21m high. 305/ha. One of the plot plans has this changed to asperata so needs to be confirmed. Lawson 19m high, 458/ha MAI 7 (total both species)

Abies Procera

[Recorded as this on all plot plans though JW has Picea abies]

JW. p54. In spite of having thin foliage this plot is as good as seen at Vivod. Most impressive.

MP. Thinned at least twice.

GMH. 33m high. The plot has suffered from windblow following Storm Arwen in 2021. Still some good impressive trees standing. 980 stems/ha. MAI 20 (thinned)

Picea glauca v albertiana

JW. p55. Not on map. One tree only.

GMH could not find any trace of this tree only Lawson and Larch.

Picea engelmannii

JW. p60. A good plot in a very high position has been thinned but requires more. Some rogue Norway Spruce should be phased out.

GMH. Plot now a thicket of undergrowth. There are a few trees left which may be engelmannii. Needs further work.

Abies lasiocarpa

JW. p60. Very impressive plot at such high elevation. Appearance would be improved by brashing and light thinning.

MP. 1994 Severe damage

GMH. Could not find any Abies in the area. Lots of trees around a clearing but these are Lawson and Scots pine.

Abies balsamea

JW. p60. Mostly gone. SP/LC/Birch have taken over.

GMH. Could not find any Abies in the area. Lots of trees around a clearing but these are Lawson and Scots pine.

Picea glauca

JW. p60. An outstanding plot, the best examples of this species seen at Vivod. A good example of what the tree can do at high elevation.

MP. Has had a light thinning, gaps from wet snow damage Dec 1989.

GMH. Glauca 19m high. Stocking 1019/ha. Lawson 18m high, 306/ha. Not doing well, with some windblow and being taken over by Lawson. MAI glauca 5 & Lawson 4

Picea omorika

JW. p60. Overtopped in places by Sitka spruce which should all be removed as soon as possible.

GMH. About 10 trees remaining at the bottom of the plot which seems to have been cleared of the Sitka. 25m high, some quite big trees.

Picea sitchensis

JW. (not as listed P. omorika).

MP .Mostly Sitka.

GMH. Now 2 plots, upper part Lawson is 23m high with a stocking density of 1456/ha. MAI 15 plus.

Lower part: (62A) Sitka is 28m high with a stocking density of 1394/ha. Good impressive trees. MAI 17 plus.

The omorika listing for this plot was RP60. Not known when the Sitka or Lawson were planted so have used a p60 date but planting likely to be later, so MAIs could be larger.

Pinus uncinata

JW. p57. (Listed as P montana erecta). A good example of a species with little forestry value.

GMH. Stocking density 1755/ha and 14m high. Plot edge overshadowed by Lawson reducing the number of living trees in the plot. Trees mostly poor MAI 2.

Pinus muricata

JW. p60. The small coned green form. In very poor condition, should now be reduced to the best trees

MP. Good individuals. 1993, now identified as blue form.

GMH. Good big trees with lots of cones. Stocking density 676/ha at 27m. A few windblown. MAI 21. Lots of Lawson understorey. 20m high, stocking 208/ha. MAI 3

Pinus pinaster

JW. Plot gone. Wild Lodgepole pine and Douglas fir present

GMH Plot long lost

Pinus attenuata

JW. p60. Not P pungens as listed, only 5% surviving but worth keeping

GMH. Plot long lost. One plan has P. attenuata crossed out and replaced with P nigra RP64.

Pinus nigra.

JW. plot gone

GMH. Plot now seems to be Lawson and Larch which are growing well.

Pinus peuce

JW. p60. A very even, fine branched crop, needs thinning and, if to look its best, brashing.

MP Thinned by contractor, wind has loosened many remaining trees.

GMH. Plot mostly blown over in Storm Arwen 2021. Small number of trees left in NE corner which were shielded by Lawson. Two fallen trees measured at 20 & 23m. Good stocking density estimated at 1200/ha. Had the plot survived it would probably have a MAI of 16.

Pinus nigra

JW. p60. Ailing specimens should be removed for the sake of the good health of other pines in the collection.

GMH. Some good trees but a lot lost and encroached on by Lawson and Rowan. Nigra stocking 619/ha and 16m high. MAI 4. Rowan 16m high, 929/ha MAI 1.

X Cupressocyparis leylandii

JW. p60. An outstanding plot considering the very high elevation. Most plants have survived but basal sweep is frequent. Thinning to the best specimens would improve the plot, but the lack of useful interim produce must be noted to prevent large scale hill planting of this genus.

GMH. Mostly blown over in Storm Arwen 2021. Small section in NE corner still standing. Tree height taken from fallen tree on west side 19m high. Estimated stocking at 1200/ha would give MAI of 9.

Pinus sylvestris

JW. p55. From special provenances. There are good trees present. These should be favoured in any treatment in the future – little is needed yet.

GMH. Rannoch plot is a mixture with Lodgepole and Lawson. SP height 16m. Total 1793 stems/ha MAI 9.(total 3 species)

Achnashellach plot is a mixture with Lawson. SP height 19m. Total 2412 stems/ha total. MAI 11 (total both species)

Araucaria araucana

JW. p53.A most valuable, albeit slow plot. The decision to remove the Lawson’s cypress shelter from around these plots should be re-considered here. Some control of the Calluna may speed up tree growth.

MP. 1994 Lawson has been removed.

GMH A small plot with healthy trees which are self thinning slowly. 2364 stems/ha, 13m high. MAI 4

Cedrus Libani

JW. Plot gone

GMH Plot lost to Sitka and Larch.

Picea glauca

JW. p56. (Listed as P Alba). A good but very small plot.

GMH See G4(#39). At the bottom of the plot there is 1 good, 1 small and several dead Abies glauca. Cones on the ground.

G10

Picea jezoensis v hondoensis

JW. p53. Origin similar to the specimens in the arboretum. A very small plot likely to fall or blow down to the adjacent road.

GMH plot long gone

Picea asperata

JW. p56. Very few remain in this small plot. Poor growth in spite of the open roadside position.

GMH between #38 and # 20. One large spruce tree in the area but too difficult to get to any foliage. Cones on ground about 100mm long 30mm diameter.

Thuja occidentalis

JW. p55. Awful trees, but must be retained as true examples of this species are so rare now.

GMH. Now appear only to be Lawson in this plot.

Tsuga heterophylla

JW. P57. Similar to J(4) Good trees, but a very small plot.

GMH. 3 of this species remain, seen from the track above.

G.M.Hamilton 27/06/2026

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