Kew The New Mesh Walkway

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Towering 18 metres into the air, the newly opened Rhizotron and Xstrata Treetop Walkway at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in Surrey is the result of meticulous planning and design. Constructed using expanded metal mesh from the Expanded Metal Company, the structure is a testament to what can be achieved through the imaginative use of this sustainable and environmentally friendly material, even in the most challenging of applications.

The 3.5 million steel structure runs for 650ft through the Capability Brown Woodland at Kew Gardens and allows the public to experience the trees and wildlife from a totally new dimension. Marks Barfield Architects, of London – designers of the London Eye – called in EMC to provide a solution for the floors and sides to the walkway, which had to provide maximum support and security as well as transparency for viewing the environment. With regards to the flooring, it was adapted from an existing design to accommodate the loading requirements, and it also gave the required multi directional grip required for anti-slip safety.

Says Paul Whitton of EMC:

‘This was a particularly challenging yet hugely prestigious project. We worked very closely with the architects and the main contractors, W S Britland, who supplied the drawings. We then cut out the bespoke panels to shape using expanded steel mesh which was then galvanised for extra rigidity.

The challenge came on the viewing platforms, which had very specific dimensions and load bearing requirements, but because of the versatility and flexibility of the material, we were able to successfully provide the required three metre diameter node for this area.’

The concept of the walkway followed a similar temporary structure which was erected for two summers in 2003 and 2004 and proved so popular that plans began immediately to devise a permanent structure, culminating in the grand opening by royalty of the walkway in May 2008.



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