FOR MORE than 50 years visitors to the Forestry Commission’s National Arboretum have been enjoying Westonbirt’s magnificent trees with their feet firmly planted on the ground.

But that’s all about to change after the much-awaited new STIHL Treetop Walkway was unveiled on Tuesday.

The new walkway whisks visitors into and above the leafy canopy for a breathtaking birds-eye view of the world-renowned tree collection.

It is the longest treetop walkway in the UK, at 300 metres long, and is set to transform the woodland experience by promising spectacular views across the picturesque landscape and enabling visitors to discover more about Westonbirt’s 15,000 trees from high above the ground.

BBC Countryfile presenter Ellie Harrison unveiled the new 13 metre high walkway in front of a large audience who came to the opening.

She said “The walkway is the next step of evolution for Westonbirt.”

“The views from up there are absolutely extraordinary and it enables visitors to see the trees from a unique perspective.”

The route follows a serpentine path through the trees and along the contours of the site, providing step free access into Silk Wood suitable for mobility scooters, wheelchairs and pushchairs.

The impressive structure is made from Larch and Douglas Fir and includes over 20 pairs of timber legs, ranging in size from 2.5 metres up to 13.5 metres tall.

The walkway experience will also feature seven interactive hotspots to give visitors of all ages the chance to get up-close with nature and learn more about the fascinating world of trees.

Kids will love to scramble up to the crow’s nest to take in the views as well as swing along the rope bridge and peer through the mesh floored section to look down at the arboretum below.

Andrew Smith, Arboretum Director said: “The walkway allows you to plunge into the woodland at canopy level, it is different to what you would experience on the ground.”

The Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum, a charity established to preserve and protect the arboretum, have raised £1.9 million to build the new walkway, which was designed by Glenn Howells Architects.

The final design for the walkway was one of 50 submitted to the arboretums design competition back in 2009.

Sophie Nash, Project Manager said “I’m very proud to have built the walkway as it is now the longest treetop walkway in Britain.”

“The walkway is a year round attraction and I hope it will encourage people to visit at different times of the year.”

The new STIHL Treetop Walkway will be open to the public from Wednesday, April 27.

It’s a highly anticipated addition to the site and it is expected that weekends will be particularly busy.

Access will be included within the admission to the arboretum.