Get closer to nature in Westonbirt, the longest treetop walk in the UK
Innovative, exciting, breathtaking and awesome are just some of the words used to describe the sinuous new treetop walkway at the UK’s National Arboretum at Westonbirt, the longest treetop walk in the UK.
Clever use of topography makes this unique treetop trail accessible to everyone.
Built over the past three years, it starts and finishes at ground level, gradually rising on gentle inclines to 13 metres.
Good design — the walkway has been created by using ‘advanced computational parametric principles’ and using materials to complement its surroundings — means this 300m walkway is easily accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
A sensitive approach to both design and materials helps integrate the walkway into the surrounding environment.
The innovative and award winning Birmingham based Glenn Howells Architects, working with engineers Buro Happold, have created new and spectacular viewing spaces 42 feet above ground level.
Materials used were chosen to complement the leafy surroundings in as far as it is possible to do so.
The light and strong steel balustrade with broad timber banister minimises the amount of structure required; foundations are carefully located to avoid impacting on existing trees.
The distance between each of the 20 pairs of legs is the same to allow for a continuous visual flow and the supports, legs of Douglas Fir, will age naturally over time.
Bird’s eye views offer remarkable opportunities for people to enjoy and learn about trees.
At four key points the walkway bulges out to form hotspots where walkers can engage with their surroundings or just take in the natural views.
There is a crow’s nest which wraps around a 36m tall black pine tree, a rope bridge and a mesh floored section.
This is a stroll for all seasons in an arboretum laid out many years ago by wealthy Victorian landowners for aesthetic appeal rather than along scientific principles.
Located near Tetbury in Gloucestershire, the renowned Westonbirt Arboretum was created by three generations of the Holford family from the early 1800s.
The 600 acre site— with 15,000 specimens from all over the globe — is recognised by English Heritage as a Grade I registered landscape and garden of special historic interest.
It has been managed since 1956 by the Forestry Commission.
The Friends of Westonbirt raised £1.9m (€2.4m) to enable this walk to provide visitors with a better understanding of this beautiful arboretum and its landscape of ancient woodlands.
The walkway ends in the heart of Silk Wood, traditional home to coppice workers and charcoal burners, offering a rare glimpse of old woodland management practices.
Architect Glenn Howells said: “We are very proud to have designed this unique treetop walkway for the historic and internationally renowned arboretum at Westonbirt.
“The walkway allows all visitors, regardless of age or ability, to experience the site from the treetops for the first time.
"Focusing on visitor needs and materiality, the walkway is designed to disappear as a sinuous silver ribbon that meanders between trees and canopies.
“The aim is that this new feature will greatly enhance visitor experience and help to ensure Westonbirt’s popularity for many years to come.”
This popularity is a question Irish visitors need to consider. It is easy to overlook how underpopulated this island is when compared to our nearest neighbour.
Despite its rural location, Westonbirt gets around 350,000 visitors each year, weekends are particular busy, and only about 270 people are allowed on the walkway at any one time.
If you do plan to visit, pick your moment, preferably on a weekday.
It is interesting to speculate about whether walkways will follow the path of museums and art galleries to become a focus for cutting edge global architecture.
New York’s High Line was inspired by the Promenade Plantee in Paris.
Both linear parks were built along the paths of disused railways.
There is a treetop walkway in the arboretum at Kew Gardens in London and breathtaking new walkways have opened up new vistas in various locations around the world.
In Ireland, there is a Tree Canopy Walk at Lough Key Forest Park, in Boyle, Co Roscommon.
Westonbirt Arboretum covers 240 hectares, has 3,000 taxa (species/distinct varieties), over 15,000 specimens, including 120 UK champion trees, 73 red data species and a number of national collections.
The STIHL Treetop Walkway will be open to the public from April 27 visit www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt
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