PROJECT: The Heart of the National Forest Aerial Walkway

LOCATION: North-west Leicestershire

DATE: 2008 - ongoing

The Heart of the National Forest Masterplan encompasses the redevelopment and regeneration of 400 hectares of former colliery, with the Conkers visitor building at the centre.

As part of the Heart of the National Forest Masterplan, the Aerial Walkway will unite two parts of the site, currently split by an active mineral railway line. The proposed 450m walkway will benefit the wider site and act as a catalyst for other opportunities such as upgrading the footpath network and enhancing the existing landscape. The structure will be composed of diverse elements such as the Activity Tower, Bridge Crossing, Classroom/viewing nodes, Causeway and tree-top walkway.

The route has been carefully chosen to exploit the forest's topology to create maximum drama for visitors and produce a walkway that is fully accessible (step free). 'Y' shaped weathering steel supports are proposed to reduce the span of the walkway's deck and allow the use of glulam beams, demonstrating a modern use of timber for the forest.