Feasibility Study Tree Top Walk – Visitor Attraction Consultants
A tree top walk is one of the most ambitious visitor attraction concepts a forest estate or landowner can consider, and carrying out an economic feasibility study is essential. We carry out feasibility studies for tree top walk attractions and other major forest-based visitor experiences, helping clients understand the market opportunity, the investment required, and the operational realities before committing to development.
Our Tree Top Walk Feasibility Study for the Forestry Commission
We were commissioned by the Forestry Commission to examine the potential to introduce a major tree top walk, a new concept visitor attraction for the UK at the time. Our feasibility study covered site options across North Wales and set out a clear route to a deliverable, commercially viable project.
What Our Feasibility Study Covered
- Site assessments across North Wales, evaluating the physical and commercial suitability of different forest blocks
- An international benchmarking exercise, reviewing tree top walk and canopy attractions elsewhere to identify key challenges and critical success factors
- A market assessment of the day visitor attraction and tourism markets in the UK and North Wales
- Extensive consultation with a range of stakeholders
- Concept development, translating the site and market findings into a workable attraction concept
- Financial modelling, testing visitor numbers, pricing and revenue against development and operating costs
- A development plan setting out the steps required to deliver the project
- Advice on key operational considerations, marketing and branding
Our feasibility study identified different development options for a tree top walk, each with the potential to act as a catalyst for long-term investment and growth,
Why Commission a Tree Top Walk Feasibility Study?
Tree top walks and canopy attractions typically require significant capital investment, so a robust feasibility study is essential before committing funding. A feasibility study should test:
- Whether visitor demand genuinely supports the scale of attraction being considered
- Which site (or sites) offer the best combination of accessibility, landscape and commercial potential
- What the attraction will cost to build and operate
- How the concept fits alongside existing forestry operations and any environmental or landscape constraints
- What funding routes are realistically available, and what a funder will expect to see in the business plan
We bring hands-on operational experience of visitor attractions. Through our sister company, which manages sites including CONKERS Discovery Centre and Kent Life Heritage Farm. Our feasibility studies are grounded in commercial reality, not just theoretical projections.
Related Work
We’ve carried out similar feasibility studies and prepared business plans for other forest recreation attractions, including a feasibility study to support Bedgebury Pinetum’s transformation and forecasting visitor numbers for a proposed aerial walkway at CONKERS. See more of our forestry tourism consultancy work here.
How Can We Help?
If you’re considering a tree top walk, canopy trail or other major forest visitor attraction and would like to discuss a feasibility study, business plan or income generation strategy, please don’t hesitate to call Richard Linington on 07866 742628 or email richard@pslplan.co.uk