Rhizotron and Xstrata Treetop Walkway

Kew Gardens’ new show piece opened last week – it’s a 200 metre-long circular walkway up in the tree canopy and offers dizzying views of the surrounding gardens as well as letting you get intimate with the sweet chesnuts, limes and deciduous oaks. 60 ft in the air.

I love heights, but if the floor beneath me is on the verge of coming apart I damn well fear them at the same time! This was definitely the case with the walkway – the floor was constructed using an iron-like mesh which, whilst allowing the walker to peer beneath at the sheer drop, also gave a couple of centimetres every time a step was taken. It’s a funny feeling, being scared shitless yet marveling at the height you’re at. It didn’t really help that the immense structure swayed erratically with the wind, but hey – it was awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping and terrifyingly good. Be sure to experience it.

The walkway was designed by Marks Barfield Architects (who also designed the London Eye). Peep my shiny new Flickr for more photos.

For more info on the walkway, check out the Kew website here.

~ by pr3mise on June 5, 2008.