Nature on Your Doorstep Community

A place to learn, share and inspire others to create a haven for you and for wildlife.

Sign In or Register to join the conversation

What is best tree to plant to encourage bird nests.

Hi, 

Dont know if I am on right forum or not but I have a small place at the bottom of my garden where I would like to plant a tree that will encourage the birds to nest. I don't want anything that is going to grow too tall or too wide as I am disabled pensioner and not able to prune it.  I already have a Weeping Willow tree on one side of garden, and at the bottom on one side there is an Holly tree that grows over from house at joins onto bottom of my garden. I would like another tree that will flower so the Bees will have pollen and the birds will have cover. I have Honeysuckles etc.

Can anyone suggest whats best tree to plant.

Cheers

 

  • Hi meesha

    If you don't actually need the fruit, how about a crab apple tree. It would provide blossom in Spring and the small fruit could be left on the tree for the birds. I think they are good hosts for insects during the summer. There are some dwarf varieties available. A weeping variety called, I think, Royalty springs to mind but don't hold me to it.. Not sure it would be any good for nesting though. Most garden birds prefer dense hedges etc. like hawthorn.

    TJ

    ____________________________________________________________________

    Regards,Tony

    My Flickr Photostream 

  • In reply to TeeJay:

    Hello,

    I'd go for a Hawthorn - we're used to them in hedgerows but they can be grown as specimen trees too (apparently - I'm no gardener though!). Dense and prickly, providing a reasssuring hiding place for nesting birds, and produces lots of insect-attracting blossom which in due course becomes bird-attracting berries.

    My blog: http://mazzaswildside.blogspot.co.uk/

    My Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/124028194@N04/