Treetop walkway at Kew Gardens

The 200m-long walkway was designed by the architects of the London Eye Photograph: Linda Nylind/freelance

The structure is 18 metres high and constructed from 'weathering steel' which turns the colour of redwood Photograph: Linda Nylind/freelance

Visitors will wander above the canopy of limes, oaks and sweet chestnuts planted by Capability Brown in the 1770s Photograph: Linda Nylind/freelance

Tony Kirkham, head of Royal Botanical Garden (RBG) Kew's arboreteum and project manager for the walkway, said it will offer visitors the opportunity of 'experiencing trees at height and birds and other wildlife from a completely different perspective' Photograph: Linda Nylind/freelance

There are 108 steps leading up from the woodland floor, and a lift for wheelchairs will be installed in the next couple of weeks Photograph: Linda Nylind/freelance

The chance to see birds such as nuthatches and woodpeckers at close quarters Photograph: Linda Nylind/freelance

The walkway's engineers argue that it is strong enough to last for 500 years Photograph: Linda Nylind/freelance

It also offers a birds-eye view of the vast 300 acres of Kew and further beyond to the London skyline Photograph: Linda Nylind/freelance

The RGB are billing it as a 'thrilling, innovative and educational journey' Photograph: Linda Nylind/freelance