The National Parks Board (NParks) recently unveiled the Forest Restoration Action Plan for the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Central Catchment Nature Reserve and Nature Park Network. The Action Plan will chart the restoration that will be undertaken over the next 10 years to regenerate the secondary forests in the Nature Parks buffering the two Nature Reserves, as well as disturbed patches within the Reserves. This will assist the forests to regenerate and approximate a mature forest landscape in time.
The Action Plan seeks to strengthen the resilience of our native rainforests by restoring ecological processes, and enhancing the biodiversity and ecological connectivity in these areas. This will improve the habitats for native biodiversity. It is also timely to assist with the succession of the early secondary rainforests to more mature and diverse rainforests over time. This will strengthen the resilience of our forest landscapes to climate change, and will be achieved through a science-based approach that will involve the sustained planting of native rainforest species.
The approach will comprise the planting of a framework of native species that are nitrogen fixing to naturally improve the soil condition, and those that will attract dispersers and pollinators. The regenerating forest will be assisted further by the removal of invasive weed species. Dominant primary rainforest species, which might be limited by dispersal or are rare in occurrence, will also be introduced. In restoring these forests, efforts will also be directed towards the regeneration of riparian vegetation alongside natural streams to further conserve this sensitive habitat.
The Forest Restoration Action Plan is integral to NParks’ habitat enhancement and restoration programme under its Nature Conservation Masterplan (NCMP). Launched in 2015, the NCMP charts Singapore’s plans for biodiversity conservation.
The Action Plan was announced during a recent tree-planting session to mark the commencement of restoration efforts at the upcoming Rifle Range Nature Park, which will be completed in 2020. It is one of the areas to be restored under the Action Plan.
Raffles Singapore is currently closed for restoration with a planned reopening at the end of 2018. The iconic hotel recently unveiled its new line-up of dining experiences, which combine the hotel’s much-loved culinary traditions with contemporary dining concepts by renowned celebrity chefs. Each dining concept promises to tantalise the senses and has been carefully selected to enhance the famed ‘Raffles Experience’ for the local community and the discerning travellers.
Bar & Billiard Room returns with a new concept by acclaimed Ducasse Paris, who will be presenting his first Mediterranean sharing and grill concept in the world, titled BBR by alain ducasse.
Anne-Sophie Pic, one of the world’s top female chefs with three Michelin stars, debuts her entry into Asia with gourmet French cuisine at La Dame de Pic, Raffles Singapore.
Celebrity MasterChef Jereme Leung marks his homecoming to Singapore with 兿 yì by Jereme Leung. 兿 yì, which stands for art in the Chinese language, alludes to the fine art of Chinese dining. Savour modern yet authentic cuisine from Cantonese classics to adaptations of China’s ancient delicacies.
Signature dining experiences Tiffin Room, Long Bar, The Lobby, Writers Bar, Raffles Courtyard and Ah Teng’s Café make a comeback, incorporating subtle tributes to the hotel’s rich heritage.
Read more about this official announcement by the hotel here.
Three historical gardens will be recreated as part of efforts to restore the rich heritage of Fort Canning Park and its surroundings. The three gardens within and around Fort Canning Park make up the heritage landscapes of Fort Canning Hill, and include Singapore’s first botanic garden. The National Parks Board (NParks) will create these gardens as part of sensitive enhancements to Fort Canning Park to emphasise Fort Canning’s historical features. Enhancements will be accompanied by the introduction of a greater variety of education and outreach programmes, and enhanced accessibility to the park.
Fort Canning Centre will also be repurposed as a gallery for visitors to learn more about the history of the hill and its surroundings. Members of the public are invited to volunteer at park programmes and give suggestions on the upcoming enhancements.
As one of Singapore’s two National Parks, Fort Canning Park is deeply rooted in history, from the time of the 14th century kings to the founding of modern Singapore. The enhancements will highlight the significance of Fort Canning Hill and retrace the history of Singapore across the 14th, 19th and 20th centuries.
The heritage landscapes of Fort Canning Hill and its surroundings will be restored and weaved seamlessly into Fort Canning Park with the creation of three gardens, namely the Royal Garden, the First Botanic Garden, and Jubilee Park.
The First Botanic Garden, which was established by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1822 to also serve as an experimental garden, will extend from Fort Canning Park onto the streetscapes of roads bounded by Hill Street, Victoria Street, Bras Basah Road, Handy Road and Canning Rise. As part of the First Botanic Garden, a large part of Armenian Street will be pedestrianised and turned into a park featuring plants that were introduced as economic crops for the spice trade, food and horticulture. Economic crops such as nutmeg were cultivated in the First Botanic Garden before they were propagated across Singapore in the 1800s. The new park at Armenian Street is part of a multi-agency effort by URA, NParks, PUB, LTA, NHB and NAC in close collaboration with stakeholders within the vicinity to create new vibrant public spaces that visitors can enjoy. The new park at Armenian Street and wider sidewalks along Coleman Street will also enable visitors to walk comfortably from Armenian Street to Civic District, linking Fort Canning Park, Bras Basah.Bugis and the Civic District together into an expanded arts, cultural and heritage district.
NParks is also planning a greater variety of education and outreach programmes, including re-curation of existing heritage trails of the 14th and 19th centuries. These trails will be enhanced to interpret the rich history of Fort Canning Park and feature new nodes. The 14th century trail will feature the Forbidden Spring or Pancur Laranganwhich is believed to be the bathing site of the royals. The refreshed 19th century trail will feature the restored Raffles Garden and Farquhar Garden, which will showcase plants collected and documented by Sir Stamford Raffles and Singapore’s First Resident William Farquhar through their botanical explorations.
“Jubilee Park” will be restored where the King George V Jubilee Park was originally located at the junction of River Valley Road and Clemenceau Avenue. The park will avail more outdoor family-friendly venues for arts and culture activities in a garden setting. New amenities will include play features, a landscaped theatre and an event lawn.
Find out more about this restoration project here.
Keeping your kicks clean can be an undertaking, and a new shop in Singapore is dedicated to make sure your sneakers are sparkling.
Holystic is Singapore's first full-service sneaker laundry. Find them at Wheelock Place from 18 March 2017 onwards.
Holystic started online 2 months ago and was created to allow Sneaker collectors a place they could go, to solve their sneaker cleaning and restoration needs. Most people do not know what to do or how to do when it comes to sneaker care and grooming. Many are using the wrong method or solution to clean their sneakers causing damages to their highly-prized collection/purchase. This was evident in their overwhelming online orders when we started, and that gave them the motivation to open a proper brick and mortar shop.
They want to make your life easier by helping you keep your kicks fresh and crisp, so you don't have to do it yourself and mess them up. Their services include Sneaker Cleaning, Sneaker Restoration as well as Sneaker Customisation for customers who wants a fresh and unique new look for their sneakers.
Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery, an architectural masterpiece of the nineteenth century, also represents a unique pageant of Singapore history. Its restoration work took 25 years and was completed late last year.
Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery is not only the oldest Buddhist monastery in Singapore but also the only Buddhist monastery in Singapore gazetted as a National Monument, symbolizing its historical and architectural value. Built in accordance to the traditional Chinese courtyard layout – the Heyuan concept. It has a unique blend of architectural styles from Fuzhou , Quanzhou and Zhangzhou Counties of Fujian province and Chaozhou County of Guangdong province in southern China.
Established in 1995, Eagle’s Eye Art Gallery represents many regional artists of international reputations.They promote art that espouses the enduring values of humanity and their heritage. They have a collection from local artists who are deeply entrenched in their Asian heritage and yet cosmopolitan in outlook. They are passionate about art with social narratives, which illustrate the joys and struggles of humanity.
Eagle’s Eye Art Gallery is art consultant and supplier of fine art to Governments, Statutory boards, Royalties, Diplomats and MNCs. Heralding a new beginning, they have a brand new look. They will continue the same friendly services Corporate Art Consultancy, Art Restoration and Framing, Art Valuation, Art Print Services and Gift Wrapping.
They art pieces are marked with the seal of professionalism by Koeh Sia Yong, Chua Mia Tee, Tay Bak Koi, Goh Beng Kwan, Lee Boon Wang, Tan Choh Tee, Choo Keng Kwang, Thang Kiang How, Tung Yue Nang, Lai Kui Fang, Michael Tan, Wan Soon kam, Choy Moo Kheong, Alex Leong, Lui Cheng Thak, Patrick Teo, Andrew Yeo, Lye Yau Fatt, Ching Kek How, Christine Mak and other artistic geniuses from Singapore and Asia. A fusion of eastern sensibilities and western aesthetics are seen in these oil, mixed media and watercolour paintings.
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