A nature trail at Metlifecare’s Greenwood Park in Welcome Bay, Tauranga has won the 2022 Spaceworks Resident-led Gardening and Landscaping Award at the inaugural Retirement Village Sustainability Awards.
The ‘Quail Trail’ is the culmination of 30 years of hard work and care from residents, staff, and volunteers. The project began in 1985, when the first stage of the Greenwood Park village was completed. Now a beautiful and tranquil trail with a thriving quail population, mature trees, and native birdsong, it was once a steep, muddy bank with gorse and invasive weeds.
Resident and Chair of the Greenwood Park Environmental Sustainability Group, Stephen Parr, accepted the award on behalf of the village. Stephen works closely with residents to help maintain and improve the trail, a role he’s incredibly proud to play.
“It has taught me that there are no limits to what you can do with a bare piece of land. All you need is passion and dedication, and that’s something we have in spades here,” says Stephen.
Notable features of the Quail Trail include:
- Native fernery
- Native birdsong
- Propagation shade house
- Resident artwork
Residents are also busy working on a new drainage system in a part of the trail known as the Arboretum Glade, as well as introducing more diverse trees, shrubs, and ground cover species.
Greenwood Park Village Manager, Charlie Vague, says he’s delighted to see the Quail Trail formally recognised and the hard work of residents celebrated.
“I’m really proud of what has been achieved here at Greenwood Park. Environmental awareness and sustainability have become increasingly important to our residents, who recognise its impact and value for future generations,” says Charlie.
“The Quail Trail is not just a stunning part of our village that brings joy to all those that use it now, but they have also created a living legacy for future residents and their families.”
