Azoreans, Madeirans, and half a dozen foreigners took part on June 6, 2026, in a visit to the Dr. Fraga Woodland Garden in Achada das Furnas, alongside the regional road.
This visit was organized by Raimundo Quintal and Teófilo Braga, co-authors of a book about this woodland garden, with the support of the Maia Parish Council and its President.
The guided tour was scientifically led by geographer and professor Raimundo Quintal, a profound expert on the trees, plants, and flowers that exist within this ecosystem. This Woodland Garden is a small botanical treasure. This natural heritage was bequeathed by a Madeiran physician who lived in the Maia area during the last century.
His work in medicine among the local people was remarkable, as was his passion for trees and flowers, which is well documented and remains alive in this woodland garden. Today, the site is managed by the Maia Parish Council.
Admission is free, and like everything that is free, it has “little value,” which is why we advise the President of the Maia Parish Council to begin charging admission tickets to this treasure and use the revenue to invest in the maintenance of the site, care for the existing plants, and introduce new species, preferably endemic species from the Azores.
This Woodland Garden is very rich in a wide variety of plants and flowers and also serves as a natural nursery for several bird species, among which the presence of Goldcrests deserves special mention. According to information provided by the President of the Maia Parish Council, the site has been open to the public since June 8, 2026.
It deserves to be visited!
At the end of the tour, the group traveled to Lombinha da Maia to visit a social and economic incubator project where several regional products are produced based on tea and other specialties, such as fresh cheese pastries.
In this building, it is also possible to view an excellent photography exhibition by photographer Laudalino da Ponte Pacheco.
Guater Furtado, is an Advisory Member of the Order of Economists and write regularly for several Azorean newspapers and media outlets.
