A new route into the trees

A Tree Walkway is one way that we may be able to provide an exciting new route into Westonbirt’s trees.

Once we have phase one of the Westonbirt Project in place we'll be able to consider how best to attract visitors to come and visit us in all the seasons and how best to appeal to everyone who might like to come here. A walkway might be just the thing!

A walkway would allow visitors to plunge into the canopy of Silk Wood; they’ll be able to get up close to our world-class tree collection and touch, smell and see our trees like never before.

A Tree Walkway would be accessible to wheelchairs and mobility scooters and would provide all our visitors with the chance to connect with our trees in a totally new way.

The planning authority has already approved designs for a walkway with a tower which would enable visitors to get high amongst and above the trees, so we know this kind of vision could be realised.

When we have achieved phase one of the Westonbirt Project and can turn our attention to what we can do next; we’ll consider the various options really carefully to decide what will deliver the most benefit for all our current and future visitors.


Developments to support Westonbirt's future work

Westonbirt Arboretum has many areas that need to be developed in order to maintain our position as a world class tree collection.

Once our core activities - the Welcome Building, Downs restoration and new car park - are completed, we hope to develop our important backstage facilities, including:

An improved Propagation Unit

Updated propagation facilities will allow visitors to learn about our work through special interpretation points. 

We'll be able to share more about propagation within our own collection and explore our work with organisations such as Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew to protect species at risk from climate change and disease.

A new Operations Area

We’d also like to provide a new Operations Area to house the essential equipment the tree team use to maintain the 240 hectares (600 acres) of Westonbirt Arboretum.

The tree team currently works out of a collection of small, ageing buildings and will benefit greatly from new facilities.