KEW GARDENS takes to the skies this weekend as the botany mecca opens the eagerly awaited Treetop Walkway.


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Standing 18 metres high and winding its way through 200 metres of some of London’s most beautiful and intriguing parkland, the Walkway gives a whole new perspective on Kew’s famous trees and a closer peep at the birds and other wildlife which live in them.

The view from up there also includes large parts of the surrounding city and outlying areas.

“Pollution permitting, you should be able to see the Square Mile, the Wembley arch, and maybe even as far as Windsor,” said Nigel Taylor, Kew’s head of horticulture.

Built by Marks Barfield Architects, the people behind the London Eye, the Walkway is designed to blend in with its surroundings – the steel used in its construction will rust to a mute orange shade. It’s also mighty strong and will happily cope with thousands of customers at a go and, via a lift, allow wheelchair access.

You can get a feel of what it’s like on Kew’s website, which includes a virtual walkthrough the Walkway.

The Treetop Walkway opens this Saturday, 24 May.