The National Parks Board (NParks) and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) have announced that enhancement works for the former Bukit Timah Railway Station and its surroundings as a community node will begin early next year. At a community event at the station, Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong also shared that the Friends of Rail Corridor will be leading the community in activating the reopened stretches of the Rail Corridor along its southern half, and announced plans for a new linear park that is partly elevated above the Bukit Timah Canal – the Bukit Timah-Rochor Green Corridor. The new linear park will add to and complement Singapore’s network of recreational connections, which includes the Rail Corridor, Round Island Route and Coast-to-Coast Trail, and altogether, the connections will provide the public with more recreational options, and more opportunities to explore the outdoors and connect with nature in our City in a Garden.
Over the last two years, works to enhance Rail Corridor (Central), the 4 km stretch of the Rail Corridor between the Hillview area and the conserved Bukit Timah Railway Station, have been ongoing and guided by three key themes: Heritage and Culture, Biodiversity and Greenery, and Recreation. The works include improvements to trails, restoration works for the truss bridges, construction of a new pedestrian underpass at Hindhede, and habitat enhancements. In early 2020, enhancement of the former railway station and its surroundings as a community node will begin.
The conserved Bukit Timah Railway Station is a distinctive landmark of Rail Corridor (Central) and the community node will feature a strong sense of history, distinctive landscaping and ample public spaces. Works to restore the Railway Station building and the former Railway Station Staff Quarters will be carried out sensitively and in line with conservation guidelines. The buildings will showcase their original railway features, while being repurposed for the public’s use and enjoyment. At the same time, the 8 Mile Platform will be constructed near the Rail Mall to provide amenities such as a shelter and toilet. It will act as a rest stop and an access point to the Rail Corridor.
To provide even more recreational options for visitors, NParks will be developing the Bukit Timah-Rochor Green Corridor. The Bukit Timah-Rochor Green Corridor is envisioned as a journey through a riverine forest and will include a linear sky park elevated above the canal. It will connect to the Rail Corridor near the Bukit Timah Railway Station community node. Visitors, including users of the Coast-to-Coast Trail, can look forward to a unique walking and cycling experience set amidst lush greenery. The first phase of the project comprises 1.4 km and stretches from the Rail Corridor to Elm Avenue. Construction is expected to start in 2021, dovetailing with PUB’s canal improvement works. In the future, the corridor may be extended to Kallang Riverside Park, totalling 11 km.
The Source Bulk Foods at Cluny Court is the first Singapore branch of Australia’s largest bulk foods and zero-waste retailer. They carry a wide range of pantry staples, numbering over 350 products that include premium whole foods and treats, and packaging-free household products. The opening marks a step towards cultivating healthy lifestyles and building a healthier planet, right here on the little red dot!
Founded in 2012 in Byron Bay, Sydney, Australia, The Source Bulk Foods has established itself as a pioneer of sustainable living, promoting an ethos of zero packaging, as well as encouraging customers to buy and use only what is needed. The brand also prides itself in offering good old-fashioned service – shopping at The Source Bulk Foods is akin to dropping by a friendly neighbourhood grocer, where customers are received with a warm and genuine welcome.
Celebrating the opening, Rob Behennah, Master Franchisor of The Source Bulk Foods, Southeast Asia, shares, “We are incredibly excited to open Singapore’s very first The SourceBulk Foods store! We are as much about providing nutritious products as we are about embracing a zero waste goal, and creating a healthy community. Our passionate team looks forward to delivering wholesome food, nourishing families, and in doing so, take a hands-onapproach to nurturing our planet.”
The Source Bulk Foods encourages customers to bring along refillable bags, containers, or jars, as well as purchase as much or as little as needed. Franchise Partner, Sarah Widjaja, who is also a full-time Nutritionist, explains, “The Source Bulk Foods is revolutionising the way we shop. At every step of the way, suppliers, retailers, and customers can reduce their use of unnecessary packaging and single-use plastics. By buying only what is needed, we can alsominimise food waste.”
Shopping at The Source Bulk Foods is simple and fun, involving just three easy steps: grab a bag (or refill a jar), write the product code, and fill the bag with the desired amount of the chosen product. Customers then proceed to the cashier, where their groceries will be weighed, and payment can be made.
Visitors may browse the store’s affordable range of products, which have been carefully sourced and selected for quality, and which caters to vegan, paleo, organic, and gluten-free diets.
Stocked with plenty of ingredients for the kitchen, The Source Bulk Foods is every homecook’s dream! Pick from beans, grains, seeds, and flours, to herbs and spices, nuts; whether raw, insecticide-free, roasted, salted, or smoked, as well as a variety of cooking oils and condiments.
The newly-opened Singapore Botanic Gardens Seed Bank is an important step in safeguarding plant biodiversity in Southeast Asia through conservation, research and education. Collecting seeds for storage helps to build a valuable resource for habitat restoration and species conservation. But different seeds need to be stored in specific conditions, hence the Seed Bank will advance extensive research in this area. Go learn about seeds and the science of seed storage at a new interpretive gallery and outdoor garden!
Scoop Wholefoods at Tanglin Mall offer a wide variety of raw organic and natural wholefoods for their customers at affordable prices combined with flexible, quantity and selection. From nuts, dried fruits, spices, rice, pasta, tea and chocolates to freshly made nut butters and so much more.
Specialising in bulk bins, Scoop Wholefoods is committed to reducing peoples dependence on single use plastic. You won't find a plastic bag in their store.
Scoop Wholefoods source their products primarily from certified Australian and New Zealand growers and suppliers. They make every effort to ensure that other products come from ethical and sustainable sources.
In order to keep carbon footprint as light as possible, they make minimum use of packaging and chemicals in their activities as part of their contribution to the local community and the long term well-being of our planet for this and future generations.
Fort Canning Park is an iconic hilltop landmark has witnessed many of Singapore’s historical milestones. The hill once sited the palaces of 14th century Kings and served as the Headquarters of the Far East Command Centre and British Army Barracks. The decision to surrender Singapore to the Japanese on 15 February 1942 was also made on the hill, in the Underground Far East Command Centre, commonly known as Battle Box.
Today, Fort Canning Park features nine historical gardens - the Pancur Larangan, Artisan’s Garden, Sang Nila Utama Garden, Jubilee Park (Phase 1), Raffles Garden, First Botanic Garden, Farquhar Garden, Spice Garden and Armenian Street Park.
Accompanying these gardens are wayfinding and trail guides which will allow visitors to plan their own trail and explore the hill at their own pace. Visitors can also download the augmented reality trail, BALIKSG: The Fort Canning Trail. The app will bring park visitors on an interactive journey through Fort Canning Park, revisiting the hill back when it was known as Bukit Larangan or Government Hill. The total length of the trail is about 2.5km, with eight checkpoints placed throughout the park including the various gardens. Visitors can look out for the AR marker in the park and start the app at any point.
To get to Fort Canning Park, visitors can make use of the covered escalators from Fort Canning MRT station and Bras Basah MRT station to the top of Fort Canning Park.
Fort Canning Park is a venue for celebrations. Its expansive, sprawling lawns play host to concerts, theatre productions and festivals such as Shakespeare in the Park, Ballet Under the Stars, Shakespeare in the Park and Films at the Fort, while weddings, parties and gatherings are a regular sight in the park's venue spaces. Its ancient artefacts are a must-see for history buffs, and its lush greenery and expansive lawns offer a variety of arts, heritage and nature experiences. Whether you are drawn by the park’s ancient artefacts and rich heritage or simply its tranquility, this hilltop park offers something for the whole family.
View here for the map of Fort Canning Park. Click here to read more about the enhanced Fort Canning Park.
Lakeside Garden is the 53-hectare western section of the Jurong Lake Gardens. Visitors can now enjoy the first phase of Singapore’s third national gardens and the first national gardens in the heartlands.
Jurong Lake Gardens is a people’s garden and the design of the garden took into consideration the feedback that was received after extensive consultations with the community. In developing Jurong Lake Gardens, NParks also worked with their partner agencies, Sport Singapore (SportSG) and People’s Association (PA), to enrich the diversity of recreational experiences and programming for visitors.
In addition, Lakeside Garden was developed with a strong emphasis on nature, community and play, based on feedback received during our public engagement sessions. Jurong Lake Gardens is a green recreational node that leverages on its distinctive lakeside setting. It contributes to the larger plans for the Jurong Lake District in promoting sustainability and a healthy living environment by providing more spaces for recreation amidst lush greenery, restored wetlands and habitats for biodiversity and with vibrant programming for the community. With its opening, Lakeside Garden provides the community with a space to gather and bond, and create shared memories.
The 90-hectare Jurong Lake Gardens comprises three segments:
Lakeside Garden (Jurong Lake Gardens West/ former Jurong Lake Park)
Chinese and Japanese Gardens (Jurong Lake Gardens Central)
Garden Promenade (Jurong Lake Gardens East)
Lakeside Garden is centred around the themes of nature, play and the community. The garden has been developed sensitively to retain the serenity of the area whilst incorporating spaces for the community and recreational needs. Capitalising on its waterfront location, Lakeside Garden has spaces for all to enjoy amid nature, greenery and lakeside views. Visitors will have many opportunities to get close to nature in Lakeside Garden.
Children aged between five to 12-years-old will enjoy Forest Ramble, which is the largest nature playgarden in the heartlands. The 2.3-hectare play area comprises 13 different adventure stations for children to explore, and emulate the movement of animals which inhabit a freshwater swamp forest. Read more about the facilities at the newly-opened Lakeside Garden here.
The National Parks Board (NParks) has commenced works on the new Bukit Gombak Park. Located at Bukit Batok Batok West Avenue 5, opposite Bukit Batok Driving Centre, the 4.8 ha park will feature a hill trek, a nature playgarden and other recreational facilities amidst nature and lush greenery to serve the different needs of residents. The park is scheduled to be opened in early 2020.
In planning for the new park, NParks engaged residents to gather feedback on features they would like to have in the park. In response to the feedback received, the new park will feature a Nature Area and an Active Area to meet the diverse recreational needs of the community.
Located on a hill, the Nature Area will allow park goers to appreciate nature up close. The main feature of this area is an inclined looped 400m hill trek modelled after the trails in Bukit Timah. Besides alleviating visitorship pressure on the nearby Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, the hill trek will help residents to stay healthy in nature.
NParks, together with the community, will be planting more than 2000 trees comprising some 16 species of trees, such as the critically endangered Yellow Flame (Peltophorum pterocarpum), and others like Belinjau (Gnetum gnemon) and Pink Mempat (Cratoxylum formosum) trees.
The Active Area will feature an open lawn for events, an outdoor fitness area, a community garden, a F&B outlet and public toilets. The existing basketball court next to Block 394 will also be incorporated as part of the park.
Other features at the Bukit Gombak Park will include a biophilic playgarden which will encourage children to play amid nature. A slide will be integrated into the natural sloped terrain and there will be nature-inspired play equipment, such as balancing beams set amongst trees and shrubs.
The park will also include a 480 sqm dog run, the first in the Bukit Gombak area. It will be sited on a flat terrain for dogs to run without leash, with benches for dog owners to rest.
Do you enjoy taking nice long walks in lush greenery, or exploring the outdoor spaces around you? Go on an adventure from coast to coast with the launch of the new Coast-to-Coast Trail!
The Coast-to-Coast Trail is a 36 km trail that spans across Singapore. Stretching from Jurong Lake Gardens in the west to Coney Island Park in the northeast, it will take users through a variety of parks, park connectors, nature areas, places of interest and urban spaces. Some of these include Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park in central Singapore, and Sengkang Riverside Park, in the northeast of our island.
You can choose to explore the trail on your own, using a DIY trail guide or mobile app. Or for a more immersive experience, you can also look forward to participating in activities and programmes that will be organised along the trail. These include experiential and interactive features such as interesting way-finding signs, fun game stations and viewing areas to spot wildlife.
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