Pear trees in focus: art and nature united in Regensburg's exhibition!

Pear trees in focus: art and nature united in Regensburg's exhibition!

On September 30, 2025, the exhibition “Join us! Discover the pear beauties of your district” opened in the foyer of the Regensburg district office. At the opening, the event was celebrated by the district administrator and OGV district association chairwoman Tanja Schweiger in the presence of numerous guests such as Stephanie Fleiner, Rolf Steigerwald, Georg Werner and Martin Brix. This exhibition addresses the importance of pear trees as part of the regional cultural landscape and presents the works of children who actively participated in the campaign.

The winners of a photo competition were also honored at the opening. Rolf Steigerwald, the first chairman of the OGV Viehhausen, won a prize. In total, the 12 best photos from the city and the district were presented and published in a monthly calendar. The exhibition will attract visitors until October 24, 2025 and encourage an appreciation of the pear and its cultivation methods. Particular attention is therefore paid to the orchards, which represent an important habitat for many plant and animal species.

The importance of orchards

Orchards are among the most species-rich habitats in Central Europe and are a traditional form of fruit growing. They shape the landscape with high trunks of various fruit species and varieties, whereby the trees often appear as if they were randomly distributed. Until the 19th century, over 1,000 different apple varieties were known in Germany. Historically, there were strict regulations regarding the planting and care of these fruit trees, but unfortunately the decline in orchard area since the 1960s in Germany has led to a loss of around 70% of these valuable habitats.

In order to ensure the survival of the orchards, active care and conservation measures are required. This includes planting and maintaining organically certified orchards as well as support with harvesting. The motto “Preserve by eating” also promotes awareness of healthy eating. The aim is to increase the use and production of regional fruit varieties and to pass on knowledge about fruit cultivation through pruning courses and the involvement of educational institutions.

Current competitions and participation activities

In line with the exhibition and the current appreciation for pear trees, citizens and interested parties can report new pear trees using the pear tree map. This includes specifying the tree location and some information, ideally with photos. In addition to this commitment, there is the opportunity to take part in the “Largest Pear Tree” competition. In this competition, the largest pear trees in the city and district are searched for and rewarded with regional non-cash prizes. The deadline for submitting such reports is May 1, 2025.

The presentation of the exhibition and the ongoing competitions not only represent an appreciation of the fruit varieties, but also a deeper connection to nature and the preservation of these special cultural landscapes. The initiatives aim to strengthen knowledge about orchards and highlight the importance of organic fruit varieties in the region.

Sinzing reports that the exhibition is a successful example of promoting regional fruit. For more information about the pear beauties you can visit the website OGV district association Regensburg be visited. The older traditions and current challenges of the orchards are also available on the website CONVENTION to find.