Natural jewel

Spring Creek, or Awarua as it is known by local iwi, is the largest spring- fed creek in the Wairau Plains area – the country’s largest grape- growing region. Crystal- clear water emerges yearround from a series of springs which build the creek’s fl ow until it joins the Wairau River near Spring Creek township. The underground fl ow acts as a giant gravel fi lter removing all impurities. Following European settlement, many of the springs and waterways of the Wairau Plains have been impacted by the intensive agriculture however Spring Creek still fl ows in its original course. It is home to the rare giant k okopu,ˉ which can live to 20 years and grow to 50cm, and is part of the whitebait species. It is also home to the banded k okopu,ˉ inanga, lamprey, common bullies, eels, black fl ounder, brown trout and freshwater mussels and k ouraˉ (crayfi sh). Peter Hamill, team leader for land and water at the Marlborough District Council, says caring for such a precious waterway involves encouraging good cover along the creek edges, letting native plants grow where possible and keeping stock and thus nitrogen runoff away from streams.

The pond by the water pump is home to many friendly frogs, as is Spring Creek which continues to draw Huguette and her husband Georges Michel. They often sit on the riverside landing and enjoy wine produced by their own Georges Michel Wine Estate label. They grow and produce sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, viognier, pinot noir and syrah. Huguette gifts all the income from the garden (including entrance fee and weddings) to the Blenheim Cancer Society and the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research in Wellington. “The donation is good motivation to keep going and gardening helps me keep fi t otherwise I can be lazy.” OPPOSITE: Spring Creek fl ows on the northern side of the property, and in the more shaded east is Huguette’s potting and painting shed.