Forestry Commission
The National Arboretum Westonbirt, Tetbury, Gloucs.
Architect: Glenn Howells Architects
Structural Engineer: Buro Happold
Principal Contractor: Speller Metcalfe
Stihl Treetop Walkway
Winner of a 2016 Wood Award the Stihl Treetop Walkway is a 284m.long aerial walkway that provides visitors to the National Arboretum an opportunity to walk within the canopy of some the 15,000 trees on the site in Gloucestershire. The longest structure of its type in the UK the structure has been designed to complement the surroundings with its turned timber columns. With its timber deck and galvanised steel fittings and balustrades the choice of materials delivers a structure which will require the minimum of maintenance. Twisting through the trees at a height of up to 13.5m the walkway had to be very carefully set out so its piled foundations could be installed without disturbing any of the roots of the surrounding trees.Having previously worked with Glenn Howells Architects on their award winning Saville Building in Windsor Great Park, this is another example of SH Structures ability to deliver stunning steel and timber composite structures.
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