Poppy perfection at Forest Lake Gardens

A talented group of knitters from Metlifecare’s Forest Lake Gardens in Hamilton has captured hearts across New Zealand after creating a striking large-scale ANZAC tribute celebrating remembrance, creativity and community spirit.

For nearly a year, members of the village’s much-loved “Knitter and Knatter” group handcrafted more than 3,000 individual poppies, creating a stunning two-storey-high ‘cascade’ of bright red blooms for their ANZAC display in the village atrium.

The project became a true labour of love for the group of more than 20 residents, who meet weekly to knit, chat and support one another.

The initiative was led by Forest Lake Gardens’ social coordinator Pippa Bennett, who was inspired after seeing a knitted poppy display online.

“I am incredibly proud of the ladies who rose to the challenge,” Bennett told the Waikato Times. “Members of the public were welcome to come and see the finished poppy wall.”

The story quickly gained national attention, with the knitters and their impressive display appearing on TVNZ’s 7 Sharp on the eve of ANZAC Day.

“My dad would be very proud,” Knitter and Knatter member Carolyn Pulman told TVNZ reporter Michael Holland. “Each time I stitched on a poppy I thought about my dad, Allan.”

The response from residents and visitors has been overwhelmingly positive, with many amazed by the scale of the finished display.

Group member Jenny Price admitted the group never imagined just how large the display would become.

“We never ever thought it would go that high. We thought maybe the first floor… but it’s gone up to the second floor,” she said.

The project represented hundreds of hours of work, with each poppy taking under an hour to produce.

Resident Velda Parke said she hopes the project shows the power of community spirit within retirement communities… and it becomes a regular ANZAC Day feature at Forest Lake Gardens.

“When you look at this, we just hope to goodness it just gets folded up and used every year!” she laughs.