Salcey treetop walk, Salcey Forest, Northamptonshire
About the Project
- Client: Forestry Commission
- Principal designer: Forestry Civil Engineering
- Principal contractor: Pauley Construction
- Principal engineer: forestry Civil Engineering
- Contract value: £700,000
Inspired by the government's drive towards health projects for young people, Forestry Commission business unit Forestry Civil Engineering has created a treetop walk for people of all abilities.
The scheme - free to all and open all year - is a walkway which starts at ground level and rises 15m above the ground via a number of carefully designed timber bridges. These 24-metre span bridges rise at a 1 in 12 slope and are made from off-the-shelf aerial mast towers to form bridge beams. They had to be designed carefully in order to give them a little tolerance but maximum safety levels.
Steel was used for the towers, which are triangular to enable spans to exit in different directions and aid general stability. The result is a deliberately wobbly bridge, something the many thousands of children who have used it so far love.
The designers brought the scheme in on time and under its £700,000 budget including fees, allowing contingency to build a spectacular entrance bridge.
The judges said: 'An intriguing project for the Forestry Commission which allows people of all ages to enjoy the forest environment at a height of 15 metres.'