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WESTONBIRT PROJECT LOCAL COMMUNITY EVENING

Westonbirt , will hold an open evening on April 15 to share development plans for the Westonbirt Project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Between 6-8 p.m., members of the local community are invited to the Great   Oak Hall to meet the Westonbirt Project team and find out more about future developments to the National Arboretum and associated planning applications.

Architectural visuals will be on display and senior staff from the Forestry Commission and the Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum (FOWA) will be available to discuss the arboretum’s future.

Westonbirt Project director, Miranda Winram, commented:

"We are keen to share our vision for the arboretum with the local community throughout the development of the Westonbirt Project. Westonbirt is an internationally important place for heritage, learning and conservation and we believe the project will protect the site for people to enjoy in the future."

"We’d like as many local residents as possible to be able to attend the evening so please do contact us if you’d like to discuss wheelchair access, the hearing loop or any other matter relating to accessibility."

Call 01666 880220 or email for information on accessibility. For further information on the Westonbirt Project visit www.westonbirtproject.co.uk

 

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 What a View!

The project team staff and architects, went up in a mobile work platform to assess the height that the tower - part of the Canopy Walkway, would need to be to get decent views of the arboretum. This is the stunning view from aboive the tallest trees in the arboretum, about 30 meters high.
 

The proposed Tree Canopy Walkway, will take off from just above the Plant Centre, dip down into Silk Wood, cross Willesley Drive (near the craft shelter) then cross part of the
coppiced area and back to Willesley Drive again.

 

Keep your eye on this page for further updates.

 

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The Winning Design For The Tree Top Canopy Experience

As part of the Westonbirt Project an exciting tree canopy experience will take in the fantastic, historic vistas and connect people with the trees in a whole new way.

A national competition was run to find the very best design to suit all our visitors, and of the 50 entries five were shortlisted and displayed in the arboretum and on the website in October/November 2009. There were an amazing 1,600 positive comments from our visitors, and a winner finally chosen. A model of the winning design can be seen in the Great Oak Hall.

See the winning entry below by Glenn Howells Architects

Why This Design?

The Walkway and Tower combination was chosen because it was the best option to enable visitors to Westonbirt to view the heritage of the trees and the landscape from a different perspective. We liked that there was an accessible lower level experience, available to anyone who wished to walk or wheel along the walkway, at up to 8m from the ground. The design of the walkway supports means that the walkway itself can 'lean' and bend to get close to the trees around it. We were also enthusiastic that the braver visitors will be able to climb up the tower to about 30m. This is at, or above, the tallest trees in the arboretum, which means that people can really get a birds eye view of the landscape and tree canopy. We felt that the wooden structure proposed was beautiful and that the use of wood was thoroughly in keeping with the arboretum's heart and soul. The design will also allow us to place interpretative panels in the bends, to help us to explain the stories of the history and trees around the walkway.
 

Miranda Winram, Project Director
 
Some of our visitors' comments

"Access to the tree tops would be an adventure for young and old alike"    

"Most natural looking, a great way to feel part of the trees"                                                            

"We hope this will become one of the most popular features of the arboretum, attracting children and adults back, time and again, to experience the constantly changing world up in the tree canopy."   Simon Toomer, Director

About The Architects

Glen Howells Architects was founded by Glenn Howells in 1990. One of its more recent successes was the Savill Gardens Visitor Centre at Windsor Great Park, which opened in June 2006. This landmark structure acts as a gateway to the listed gardens, and reflects the character and quality of the park. The gently undulating roof – constructed from larch and clad with green oak from the estate - creates a series of spectacular linked spaces. Glenn Howell Architects is also renowned for its elegant and innovative urban projects. It now has its main office in Birmingham.Glenn Howells Architects.

We are currently raising the money needed to fund this and the rest of the Westonbirt Project.  To show your support, please consider becoming a member, making a donation or buying a raffle ticket when visiting the Project Exhibition on site. 

For more information about the rest of the Westonbirt Project click here or visit our on-site exhibition.