Situated in the heart of Salcey Forest, a majestic ancient woodland on the clay plateau between Northampton and Milton Keynes, the walkway represents a triumph in modern engineering and design. Constructed over a period of four months the 'Tree Top WayÍ adds an exciting extension to the 'Elephant WalkÍ, and takes visitors up and over the archaeological features that date back to the forestÍs heyday as a medieval hunting forest. Incorporating innovative design and utilising locally sourced materials this green oak structure seamlessly befits the surroundings taking visitors of all ages and abilities from the forest floor to the upper canopy of the majestic oaks. The wooden and steel structure rises gently from the ground to a height of 15 meters into the tree canopy with frequent viewing platforms for those with wheelchairs or push chairs. A crows nest ascends a further 5 meters taking visitors above the tree canopy offering breathtaking views across the surrounding countryside. The Treetop Way was awarded the British Construction Industry Environment Award 2006 and also shortlisted for the Small Civil Engineering Project Award and for the Prime MinisterÍs Award for Better Public Buildings. The Forest has been an important public recreation area for many decades, and is a hugely important area for nature conservation. Other recent additions to the forest are a new 2-mile all-ability trail suitable for families with pushchairs as well as wheelchair users and a new 5-mile family cycle route with a great new woodland caf_. The uniqueness of this place is not just the amazing Canopy Walk, but also how all the human additions have been so sensitively integrated into the woodlands. It is such an exciting, inspiring place to visit, as not only is it an opportunity for us to delve in and be surrounded by the abundance of nature, but also because of the huge variety of other people encountered as you wander through its system of paths. The good hierarchy of pathways means that different users can work together freely and this and the excitement its innovative structures have generated attract people from all walls of life... My feeling of the place is that people come here to walk.... And TALK!!! Activity to stimulate the mind.

Salcey Forest is reasonably well connected to the surrounding urban centres considering it is such a wild space. It accessible by bicycle, a short drive from Northampton, Towcester, Milton Keynes and Newport Pagnell and is also well-connected to the M1. Signposting is not great to enter the forest/ find the main car- park, but signage within the forest is better. Trails are well marked out. People living close by use it a lot, and since the Treetop Way, visitors regularly come from as far afield as Luton and London.

Before the recent improvements, Salcey Forest was beginning to become a victim of modern society, and it was getting a name of a dangerous place to go alone. Now however a huge variety of people use it -people of all ages from elderly to parents with children. Single people are often seen wandering and musing, in contrast to the deep discussions that are going on elsewhere.

It is mainly used for walking, cycling etc. Groups of school children are taken on tours by the Ranger. Choices are to be made- from whether you want to soar up in the sky to wading through mud to taking a dry route over bridges....

The caf_ in the main car park is a great meeting place- for groups of walkers, mums and children, cyclistÍs stop- off.... People turn up with barbecues in the Summer- the mood is always great- a substitute beach for this land- locked centre of the country!!!!!!!! Good mixture of locals and tourists, and you feel comfortable both alone or in a group.