The Greening Waipara research project is going from strength-to-strength, with June 08 marking the opening of the world's first vineyard biodiversity trails at three North Canterbury wineries.

Mud House, Pegasus Bay and Torlesse Wines have each developed the trails close to their respective tasting room or restaurant, complete with information boards and an educational quiz for children. The trails wind through vines and native plants, leading visitors to areas where Greening Waipara is in action.

Visitors see how Greening Waipara benefits New Zealand's wine production by encouraging nature's services - pollination and pest and disease control, as well as weed suppression, improved soil quality, conservation and eco-tourism.

Nature's services add value to the vineyards while reducing reliance on herbicides and chemical pesticides.

To date, 50 North Canterbury wineries have signed up for Greening Waipara, a project funded mainly by the Bio-Protection Research Centre, the Foundation for Research, Science & Technology and Waipara Winegrowers.

The team behind the biodiversity trails includes Bio-Protection Research Centre staff Shona Sam, Anna-Marie Barnes, Jean Tomkins, Mark Gillespie, Mariska Anderson and Dr Marco Jacometti - a 2007 MacDiarmid Young Scientist of the Year award winner.

It also includes Dr Colin Meurk of Landcare Research, the Waipara Promotion Association, Hurunui Natives, Signwise and Four Leaf Co. Ltd - a Japanese food company that is sponsoring the trails.

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Our Greening Waipara newsletters are attached below.