An artist’s impression of the planned STIHL Treetop Walkway
A new treetop walkway is planned for the National Arboretum at Westonbirt, to enhance the facility as a visitor attraction. The project marks a 5-year sponsorship deal with STIHL Group, after which the new walkway will be named.
Work on the STIHL Treetop Walkway will commence in late spring and is due for completion by the end of 2015. The Walkway represents the final element of a major five-year development project at the National Arboretum, which has included a new car park and Welcome Building plus the restoration of a historical listed downland landscape completed in 2014. Phase II of the Westonbirt Project includes the STIHL Treetop Walkway and construction of a new Tree Management Centre which is underway. Supported by donations from hundreds of individuals as well as companies, trusts and foundations, Phase Two funding of £1.9 million has now been fully raised, and development of the STIHL Treetop Walkway will add further to Westonbirt’s ultimate goal: connecting its visitors more closely with trees.
Speaking at a tree-planting ceremony to mark the beginning of the project, Simon Toomer, Director of Westonbirt, The National Arboretum said: “STIHL’s sponsorship of the new Treetop Walkway at Westonbirt will allow us to give our visitors an even more fascinating view into the world of trees, their biology, care and maintenance. STIHL and Westonbirt, The National Arboretum are both at the cutting edge in their fields and this partnership is a perfect combination of strengths to bring real public benefit.”
