🐝 Hedgerow

A hedgerow is a strip of shrubs and trees at the edge of or inside a vineyard. It is planted on purpose or left from natural vegetation. Birds, insects and small animals live in it.

It is part of vineyard biodiversity. Birds and helpful insects, such as ladybirds, feed on pests and help protect the vines without extra chemicals. The hedge acts as a windbreak, holds the soil so rain does not wash it away, and gives shade. Flowering shrubs feed bees and other pollinators.

It makes the landscape more attractive and more resilient. It is used by organic and biodynamic growers and by many ordinary farms as well. But a hedgerow also has downsides: it takes up space and can shelter birds that peck at berries. The choice is up to the owner, who decides what matters more for their land. Such a strip may be only a few metres wide.