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August 13, 2008 : Greenheart Canopy Walkway at UBC Botanical Garden
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Institution: David C. Lam Asian Garden, University of British Columbia Botanical Garden
Name Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Apologies, but I'm going to interrupt the pollinator series today. Instead, here's a photograph from the new Greenheart Canopy Walkway at UBC Botanical Garden. It opened this Wednesday morning to the public, and garden staff were among the first to experience this walk in the treetops.
The walkway is independently operated by Greenheart Conservation Company Limited and provides visitors with a lengthy 300+ m (1000+ ft.) suspension walk reaching a maximum height of 15m (50ft) above ground level.
It was pretty amazing to get up close and personal with some of the largest second-growth trees in the David C. Lam Asian Garden -- grand fir (Abies grandis), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), western red-cedar (Thuja plicata) and big-leaf maple (Acer macrophyllum). Looking down one can see a combination of temperate coastal rainforest understorey shrubs and ferns interspersed with some fine specimen plants of Asian origin. All in all, very cool and it will definitely be the source of a few photographs in upcoming BPotD entries. Intriguingly, it will also be an opportunity to highlight research at UBC, as it is expected a number of researchers will be making use of the canopy as well.
Just a warning to other photographers: the range of light in the forest is going to be a challenge. If you have one, bring a polarizing filter to cut down on glare from the metalwork and foliage. I didn't use one today (had my point-and-shoot) so there are a lot of burned-out areas in the photographs I took. I'll have the advantage of going back when light conditions are more advantageous -- you may not.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at August 13, 2008 11:13 PM
Comments
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Posted by: Sara Behnami at August 14, 2008 12:49 AM
congratulations
i would love to walk your bridge
Posted by: elizabeth a airhart at August 14, 2008 6:28 AM
I hope you get the opportunity to post pictures of the trees you mentioned in this write up after the pollinator series which I would like to mention I am enjoying very much. Thank you.
Posted by: Carole Miller at August 14, 2008 7:06 AM
Majorly cool. Methinks I'm planning a visit to Canada.
Posted by: van at August 14, 2008 7:11 AM
Carole, here are some shots of a two of the trees Daniel mentioned. Obviously not from the UBC Botanical Garden but a good survey regardless.
Acer macrophyllum
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericinsf/849056518/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericinsf/1783980259/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericinsf/2585535757/
Thuja plicata
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericinsf/2481654761/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericinsf/2479876780/
Posted by: Eric in SF at August 14, 2008 9:56 AM
Wicked Daniel, will have to gather up some tree geeks and come out for a visit, thanks for posting the picture it looks much better than last month when it wasnt so near to complete. :)
How did the pricing structure work out for the garden entry and walk etc?
Posted by: Paul Buikema at August 14, 2008 12:40 PM
How is it all held up? By trees, or on pylons of its own?
Posted by: Michael F at August 14, 2008 1:53 PM
It's held up with a non-intrusive technology. A suite of cables are wrapped around the trunk above the canopy - when there's weight on the platforms or bridges, it cinches, and when the weight is alleviated, it releases (allowing the tree to expand and grow). It is similar to a Chinese finger trap.
I'll post the pricing structure in just a bit.
Posted by: Daniel Mosquin 
at August 14, 2008 2:04 PM
Daniel.....what a special bridge and its name - Greenheart - is also very dear. Again I love receiving your daily pics. They always brighten my day. Thank you for all your hard work.
Posted by: Linda C Miller at August 14, 2008 2:58 PM
Paul, Hours and Fees are now up on the site.
Posted by: Daniel Mosquin at August 14, 2008 5:12 PM
Cool, thanks Daniel, the price seems quite reasonable!
Posted by: Paul Buikema at August 14, 2008 5:52 PM
That's a very reasonable price.
Any chance the gardens might someday join the American Horticultural Society Reciprocal Gardens program?
Posted by: Eric in SF at August 14, 2008 10:10 PM
Eric, I've sent the question along to a few folks here at the garden.
Posted by: Daniel Mosquin at August 15, 2008 9:57 AM
what a supprise today to see this amazing bridge high in the trees. I am so pleased to have a link to go to to learn more. I use each days offerings to learn more and to futher my knowledge.
Thank you,
Margaret-Rae
Posted by: Margaret-Rae Davis at August 16, 2008 8:16 PM
Congratulations, it looks very cool, wish we could be there.
Is it handicapped accessible? Fairchild Gardens in Miami was trying to create a canopy walk over their rainforest display- having to make it accessible to all raised the price to the point where they had to drop the project.
Posted by: Susan at August 17, 2008 9:28 AM
Hi Susan, the answer to your question is that it will be partially accessible. By the time the walkway officially opens next month, they will have a system in place whereby some people with limited mobility can be carried sherpa-style via a litter. I haven't seen the device yet, myself, so I don't know what capacity it has or how it will work.
Posted by: Daniel Mosquin at August 18, 2008 9:14 AM
Just heard about your project this morning on the weather channel, pictures are great. On my next trip west I will be extending it beyond Calgary. Sites like yours we do not see on Prince Edward Island.
Posted by: Jack MacDonald at October 27, 2008 3:23 AM
super photo!
Posted by: Faruk at October 30, 2008 1:20 PM
Here's a video of the Canopy Walk, taken in June 2009: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ynte5mTzn0M
And another video, of other areas of the UBC Botanical Garden (incl Alpine Garden): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7vreTz1Lvc
Posted by: Mary Ann, in Toronto at August 13, 2009 7:43 AM
Please share your comments about the photograph(s) and accompanying write-up. Telling a story about the subject of the photograph(s) is also much appreciated! If you have a gardening question, the best place to ask is on the UBC Botanical Garden Forums. Thank you!
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Botany Photo of the Day is a project of the UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research, located in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada. UBC BGCPR is a department of the Faculty of Land and Food Systems within The University of British Columbia.
Moreover an educational opportunity, walking on it sould be very unique and intersting experiment, I realy desire to be there!