Rainforest Canopy Walkway

Along the way you'll learn how rainforests help keep you alive wherever you live. We want the Walkway to inspire you, as it has us, to work to save these precious areas of our planet.

Exhibits

Weather Maker exhibits: now open

The Weather Maker takes you around and above the tree tops on an immersive journey of discovery. Trek across a wobbly rope bridge and shelter from tropical rain storms. Delve into a vital story of our time – how the rainforests help regulate the climate.

• A Canopy Rope Bridge stretching 23 metres across the canopy between two of the tallest trees in the 50 metre-high Biome (please note that this route is not suitable for those with wheels);
• A fully accessible Cloud Bridge where visitors can travel through swirling clouds and get a sense of how rainforests reflect sunlight and help cool the planet;
• A Rain Shack where visitors can shelter from a tropical rain storm and discover why it’s so wet in the rainforests;
• A Rainforest Research Camp displaying the latest research from scientists at the University of Exeter who are working in the tropics exploring links between climate change and rainforests (watch the video on this page, and find out more about rainforests and climate here)
• The Climate Platform and Weather Station where you can discover more about the link between the atmosphere and climate change, read live weather data and find out how computer climate modelling helps forecasts.
• The Carbon Platform where you can explore how the growing rainforest captures carbon dioxide and stores it as solid carbon compounds in wood, leaves, roots and soil. 
• Interactive Exhibits including the Transpiration Tree where visitors can pump water up a tree to see how it travels through leaves and into the sky to form clouds.
• Striking Lightning, an electrifying exhibit on the relationship between tropical trees, lightning and climate change 

The Weather Maker is complemented by a new planting scheme featuring colourful bromeliads – epiphytic plants which grow on trees, stumps and branches. Bromeliads are especially adapted to thrive in the rainforest by anchoring themselves into the canopy and catching rainwater in their rosette-shaped leaves. 

Biodiversity Platform

High above the ground, visit the Nest platform and take in the stunning range of life in the rainforest. Explore how plants eat, drink, reproduce and protect themselves from danger without moving. In 'nature's design studio' see how forms are produced that fit their function, from protective prickles to pollination mechanisms and from guttered leaves to garish flowers. 

• Look up: see nature’s ‘fit for function’ designs portrayed in our beautiful Biodiversity Chandelier. The chandelier is a collection of individual shapes that interlink to form clusters that explore the theme of biodiversity. Find out more.
• Look around: see these ‘fit for function’ designs in all the plants that make up the lush environment of our rainforest. 

Accessibility

The whole Walkway, except the Canopy Rope Bridge, is accessible to wheelchairs and buggies. We have worked with the Sensory Trust to make sure the experience is great for all ages and abilities.

Supporters and team

The Canopy Walkway has been supported by a number of educational and scientific foundations and individuals, including the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Wolfson Foundation, Bunzl plc, The Kirby Laing Foundation and donors to the Eddie George Memorial Appeal as well as donations from Eden Project Members and visitors.

The Walkway design and project team comprising Blue Forest in collaboration with Jerry Tate Architects, SKM, Buro Happold, Ward Williams Associates and EaseManage has worked hand in hand with the Eden Project team to bring the project to life. The Weather Maker has been designed and delivered by Blue Forest, Tate Harmer Architects, John Grimes Partnership, Ward Williams Associates, Ease and the Eden Project Rainforest Canopy Walkway project team. 

Thanks to the University of Exeter and the Met Office for their invaluable academic support.