Autumn Colour At Kew
Visit Kew Gardens in all of its autumn glory and the new Rhizotron and Xstrata Treetop
Walkway.
As the leaves start to fall this autumn, visitors to Kew Garden's newest permanent
attraction - the 18m high Xstrata Treetop Walkway - will be able to see new views
and vistas opening across the tranquil gardens and further afield to the London
skyline, including Wembley Stadium and the Swiss Re skyscraper - also known as the
Gherkin.
Visitors can walk a 200m circuit up high in the previously inaccessible canopy of
the arboretum to take in the colourful transformation of the sweet chestnuts, limes
and deciduous oaks, planted by the famous landscape gardener Lancelot "Capability"
Brown in the 18th century. With the long summer days dwindling into autumn the trees
begin to get ready for winter, a time of rest where they live off their summer food
stores. The bright green leaves begin to slip away as yellows and oranges shine
through; a slow ever changing colourful palette. Wildlife watchers will find it
easier to spot birds such as tawny owls and woodpeckers flitting through the branches
and squirrels foraging for winter food supplies.
Visitors start their treetop journey in the depths of the Rhizotron, learning about
the fascinating rootsystems and underground life of trees.
Tony Kirkham, head of RBG Kew's arboretum and project manager for the Rhizotron
and Xstrata Treetop Walkway project said, "As a trained arborist I have had the
privilege of being up in the tree canopy; experiencing trees at height and birds
and other wildlife from a completely different perspective. It's fantastic that
we are able to give visitors the same experience and we hope it will make them realise
that trees do matter and we need to nurture them."
Discover how the project developed with the 'Building the Walkway' film...
To warm up on crisp autumn days, visitors can step into the tropical climate of
the Princess of Wales Conservatory and watch the 'Building the Walkway' film. This
short film tells the story of the mammoth building project and the team that worked
together to make the project a success. Designed by Marks Barfield Architects, the
architects of the London Eye, the pioneering structure is an ingenious design. The
programme features an interview with project manager and head of Kew's arboretum,
Tony Kirkham, also the star of the BBC's 'The Trees That Made Britain' series, and
time-lapse photography of the construction process.
The Rhizotron and Xstrata Treetop Walkway opened on 24th of May 2008. Xstrata plc
is a global, diversified mining group listed on the London and Swiss stock exchanges.
They were inspired by the concept of the Treetop Walkway, seeing it as an imaginative
and relevant project.
Construction materials supplier Hanson, part of the Heidelberg Cement Group, set
up The Hanson Environment Fund in 1997, using landfill tax credits accumulated by
the company, to support environmental and community initiatives from not-for-profit
organisations. More than £17.5 million was distributed before the fund closed to
new applicants in 2006, supporting hundreds of worthwhile projects across the UK.
As a lasting legacy, the fund's final £1 million has been awarded to the Rhizotron.
The remainder of the funding comes from Defra, who fund half of the annual costs
of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, plus two un-named individuals.