Plant a pear tree to give birds at your school food and shelter

Support pupils’ understanding of the role of trees as bird habitats

Save to My scrapbook

Quick facts

Learning objective:
  • Understand how planting a pear tree can provide habitat for a variety of birds
Curriculum links:
  • Science: habitats and how animals obtain food from plants
  • PSHE: how pupils can help look after their environment and how everyday choices can affect the environment

Jump to

Creating a habitat for birds

A pear tree in your school grounds can help to create a habitat for birds by providing them with food, a nesting site and twigs and branches to use as singing perches.


How does a pear tree provide food?

Pear trees support birds with food in two ways. The first is by providing flower buds and fruit for birds to eat. The second is by providing food for the many invertebrates that form part of birds’ diets. The pictures below show examples of birds that are supported in these two ways.

Flower buds
Bullfinches eat flower buds in the spring before the flowers open.
Flower buds
© iStock.com/MikeLane45
Bullfinch

Ripe or fallen pears
Pears and their seeds are eaten by many different birds including wood pigeons, starlings, thrushes, redwings, magpies and lesser spotted woodpeckers.
Pears
Wood pigeon

Part of the tree which provides food for invertebrates which birds then eat

Flowers
Pear tree flowers provide nectar for moths and butterflies. This gives them energy to fly, mate and lay eggs. The caterpillars that hatch from the eggs provide food for birds.
Pear tree blossom
© IStock.com/BriBar
Blackbird

Leaves
Pear tree leaves provide food for the caterpillars of moths such as the Leopard, Brindled Beauty and Eyed Hawk moths. Birds such as blue tits, blackbirds, woodpeckers and robins then eat the caterpillars.
Pear tree leaves
© IStock.com/Tom Meaker
Blue tit

Fallen leaves
In autumn, the leaves fall off the tree, creating a layer of leaf litter on the ground. Leaf litter is a habitat for invertebrates including earthworms, woodlice, spiders and beetles. These invertebrates may then be eaten by birds, including blackbirds, robins, song thrushes and wrens.
Fallen leaves under a pear tree
© IStock.com/Dave Dunn
Song thrush

Tree bark on older trees
Insects can hide in cracks and crevices in the bark of older trees. These insects may be eaten by birds such as blue tits, great tits, nuthatches and tree creepers.
Pear trees
© IStock.com/Peter Clayton Photography
Nuthatch

How does a pear tree provide shelter?

Pear trees give birds a place to rest, sleep and nest, away from harsh weather and predators. Different sized pear trees provide shelter in different ways.

Leaves and branches
Leaves and branches can provide protection from wind and rain and help small birds stay hidden from predators.

Leaves and branches on larger trees
Leaves and branches on larger trees provide places for birds to build their nests and raise their young. Some birds will roost (rest and sleep) in their branches.
Pear tree leaves and branches
Pear tree

Singing perches

Songbirds like robins, wrens and song thrushes stand on the branches and twigs of trees like pear trees to sing. They do this to let other birds know that the area is theirs. They will also sing to attract a mate.
Robin perching on a branch to sing

Choosing which pear tree to plant

Pear tree trained against a fence

Pyrus communis ‘Concorde’ on a dwarfing rootstock is recommended for school growing. This tree is on the RHS Plants for Pollinators list and is known to benefit pollinating insects such as bees, butterflies and moths. Due to its compact size, it can be grown in pots or trained as a step-over tree.

Reflection questions

  • Where can birds can shelter and find food in your school grounds?
  • Is there anywhere a pear tree could be planted to provide a habitat for birds?

Additional information

There are many different types of pear tree. While some like Pyrus communis ‘Concorde’ produce edible pears, others are ornamental and although still provide a habitat for birds, are not to be eaten by people.

Key words

Invertebrate An animal that doesn’t have a backbone (spine), e.g., insects, spiders, worms, slugs
Mate When a female partners with a male to produce young
Nectar Sweet liquid mainly produced by flowers to attract pollinators

Gardeners' calendar

Find out what to do this month with our gardeners' calendar

Advice from the RHS

Get involved

The RHS is the UK’s gardening charity, helping people and plants to grow - nurturing a healthier, happier world, one person and one plant at a time.