Bordeaux winemakers plant hedges to cut pesticide risk

Bourg producers north of Bordeaux are to plant 1,200m of hedgerows around vineyards in 27 ‘sensitive sites’ around the appellation, including crèches, schools and sports fields. The planting programme, which is underway and will continue over winter 2015/2016, comes one year after 20 children and their teacher were affected with headaches and nausea following a pesticide treatment carried out on vines belonging to Château Castel la Rose and Château de Barbe in Villeneuve, Bourg. The plots were located directly next to the schoolyard.