A green corridor adjacent to the Bukit Timah First Diversion Canal (between Holland Green and Holland Plain) is now open. 

Reaching almost 1km in length, this green corridor features rain gardens, vegetated swales, and wetland systems. The diverse native plants and forest tree species provide a conducive environment for flora and fauna including the Grey Heron, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Malayan Water Monitor and many dragonflies. 

The green corridor runs along Holland Plain and you can get there via Holland Road or Holland Link.  

Website: www.nparks.gov.sg

Photo Credit: Alex Tam and NParks. 

The National Parks Board (NParks) launched Singapore’s first turtle hatchery at the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park in end-September. The hatchery is strategically located on Small Sister’s Island, a protected area zoned for conservation and research. There are two species of turtles that are native to Singapore – the Hawksbill Turtle and Green Sea Turtle – both of which are critically endangered. 

Supported by HSBC’s 150th anniversary Community Fund through the Garden City Fund, the hatchery will also provide research opportunities for scientists to study local sea turtle populations. Outreach and education programmes will also be organised at the hatchery.

The turtle hatchery consists of two sections: A turtle field station and an incubation sand pit area. The turtle field station is a hub for hatchery-related activities, volunteer training, as well as curated educational and research programmes. The incubation sand pit area comprises three non-magnetic metal cages, where the turtle eggs will be kept. The cages will be partially buried in the sand and will protect the incubating eggs against predators, such as monitor lizards.

Jelutung Harbour Park has officially reopened after a major facelift and it is now a recreational hotspot for the Sembawang GRC residents. 

The new water play area and an iconic adventure / interactive playground, along with an inclusive play area for children of all ages, especially for children with physically challenged and special needs are the major highlights of the revamped park. 

The new water-feature playground in Jelutung Harbour Park operates from 9.30am - 9.30pm daily and it is something not to be missed!

A new Entrance Plaza with an improved amphitheatre also allow for more group gatherings or community events in the future.

Residents can also enjoy the enhanced basketball court and BBQ pits in the park. All these features make Jelutung Harbour Park a great destination for the whole family!

493 Admiralty Link

The 900 sq m Therapeutic Garden at Choa Chu Kang Park launched recently and is situated next to the Community-In-Bloom Garden and Allotment Garden, which improves the social connection to gardening communities in the area.

It is specially designed with features that bring about restorative effects to our mental well-being and relieve stress. The garden includes edible and fragrant plants, a calming water feature and is wheelchair-friendly.

Threpeautic Garden at Choa Chu Kang Park is the first of its kind in the western part of Singapore. There are three other such gardens at HortPark, Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park and Tiong Bahru Park. Two more will be opened by the first quarter of 2019, bringing the total to six around the island. 

Choa Chu Kang Drive, Choa Chu Kang Park

The National Parks Board (NParks) has opened the approximately 1 hectare Ethnobotany Garden at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. This new themed garden is the first in Singapore where visitors can learn about plants used by indigenous cultures of Southeast Asia; and it features a centre for ethnobotany which complements the outdoor landscape with an interpretive exhibition of artefacts and interactive elements.  

The Ethnobotany Garden is in the Gardens’ Bukit Timah Core and located at an area historically known as the Economic Garden. This section of the Gardens was previously a space for experimentation with plants that had potential commercial applications, many of which were first derived from traditional uses.

Development of the Ethnobotany Garden is aligned with the Singapore Botanic Gardens’ UNESCO World Heritage status, supporting its Outstanding Universal Value by showcasing its unrivalled collections of economic, medicinal and ethnobotanical plants – the largest such collection in Southeast Asia. This new garden enhances the Gardens’ role as an educational provider, which is in line with UNESCO’s mission.

1 Cluny Road, Singapore Botanic Gardens

Sisters’ Islands Marine Park will be home to Singapore’s biggest artificial reef by the end of this year. 

The National Parks Board (NParks) and JTC Corporation are working on the undersea housing for marine life project at the Sisters' Islands Marine Park, which will see 10m high structures placed in the waters by the end of the year. They will be made from concrete and recycled rocks from JTC's other projects. The marine park will get an additional 500 sq m of reef area to support existing habitat enhancement and reef restoration efforts to conserve marine biodiversity.

The idea is to transform bare seabed into a thriving marine ecosystem by giving corals a place to take root, and in turn attract fish and other sea life.

Singapore is home to more than 250 species of hard corals, about one-third of the worldwide diversity. 

The National Parks Board (NParks) opens Marsiling Park, formerly known as Woodlands Town Garden, after 22 months of enhancement works. As a result of close consultation with the community during the design process, the park now offers a range of new day and night experiences for visitors to enjoy. Enhancements have also been sensitively made to the mangrove area to allow visitors to get closer to nature as well as for biodiversity to thrive.

With its lush greenery and peaceful ambience, Marsiling Park is an oasis of calm and tranquillity. The park features activity areas and amenities for visitors of all ages.

Visitors can enjoy the view of the picturesque pond from the viewing tower or the boardwalks, especially in the evening, as the lighting is curated to leverage on the reflections on the water body to create a special illumination effect.

The one of a kind butterfly-shaped playground with climbing ropes provides children with a challenging play experience while the Fun Play area has play equipment with musical elements for an interactive play experience.

Nature-lovers will appreciate the butterfly-attracting plants and educational interpretive boards that have been introduced around the playground, as well as the enhanced mangrove habitat along the western edge of the park.

There are also several spaces for community activities, such as the activity plaza and the amphitheatre, which features a rain garden. Visitors can also enjoy refreshments at the F&B outlet in the park, which is open 24 hours daily.

Read more about the park here.

Woodlands Centre Road

Finally. A store that helps us solve the problem of food waste and excessive plastic packaging, while saving you money on your weekly grocery bill. UnPackt is the first zero-waste bulk store in Singapore that offers their customers the luxury of quality-assured food and daily lifestyle products in their own containers so they are free from plastic waste. 

Opening soon in May; the store will also run a recycling scheme offering donated containers for customers who visit the store without their own. Reusable containers can also be bought.

Co-founded by former business executives Jeff Lam and Florence Tay, UnPackt is a social enterprise that aims to spread the zero-waste message and make packaging-free shopping more accessible in Singapore. The store will hire staff from two disadvantaged groups, seniors and single parents. 

6 Jalan Kuras

Email: info@unpackt.com.sg