Malcolm McBride (front right) from Selmes Garden Trust and his team propagating native plants. Image courtesy Whitehaven Wines
Whitehaven Wines in Marlborough is embarking on a regeneration mission for its newly purchased 760ha property in Wairau Valley, partnering with a local charitable trust which empowers individuals with disabilities.
Whitehaven said it purchased The Springs, a 760ha property in the Wairau Valley, with plans to regenerate the property’s native forest and protect its waterways.
The winery has “eco-sourced” seeds from neighbouring properties. “Eco-sourcing” is the process of collecting seeds from areas close to where they will be planted—meaning that plants will be suited to local conditions and more likely to survive.
Initially, Whitehaven established its own nursery at its winery on Pauls Road, but as plans for The Springs grew, so did the company’s need for a larger nursery with the capacity to propagate up to 20,000 natives per year.
Whitehaven’s sustainability manager Josh Barclay approached the Selmes Garden Trust in Marlborough to see if they would be interested in taking on the project.
“Selmes Garden Trust is a registered charitable trust set up in Marlborough to provide work and work experience to people with disabilities,” explained Barclay. “We felt we could support the community by providing employment opportunities for these individuals, as well as upscaling our propagation plans.
“It was a win-win and fortunately Selmes Garden Trust were immediately onboard with the concept.”
Selmes recently announced the closure of its native garden centre retail operations, but has shifted to a native plant production model, similar to The Springs project, to continue delivering on its mission.
The Selmes team propagate the seeds and cultivate seedlings to be planted back in the same area they were sourced from.
The first batch of at least 10,000 natives was planted back at the Springs during 2024 and a further planting is now underway.
Once established, the native forest at The Springs will have the potential to sequester enough carbon annually to offset significantly more than Whitehaven’s carbon footprint.
However, the project is about “so much more” than a box ticking exercise, Barclay explained. “Carbon offsetting aside, the primary motivation for this project was to give something back, to create something that will have a lasting impact for the environment and the people in our community.”
The Springs Vineyard project is an enduring and long-term project, which aims to connect place, landscape and nature with community and people through three key pillars:
- Restoring The Springs
- Reforesting the valleys at The Springs using Podocarp Forest, Red Beech and low canopy species.
- Creating a series of experiences such as walking and biking trails, and educational spaces to involve the community in an experiential and educational journey.
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