Connecting People with Plants | MND Link | Ministry of National Development

Connecting People with Plants

The Singapore Botanic Gardens turns 160 this year! The National Parks Board (NParks) unveiled plans for an 8-hectare extension to the Gardens along Gallop Road during the launch of the Gardens’ 160th anniversary celebrations on 9 January 2019.

Minister for National Development and Second Minister for Finance Mr Lawrence Wong graced the occasion as guest-of-honour, and launched a two-week exhibition about the Gardens’ significant milestones since 1859.

Minister for National Development and Second Minister for Finance Mr Lawrence Wong studies the significant milestones for the Singapore Botanic Gardens captured in the exhibition.

As Singapore’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Singapore Botanic Gardens possesses a rich history encompassing research, conservation, education, and recreation. The Gallop extension will continue the Gardens’ heritage roles in these areas, enabling visitors to learn more about native forest ecology and the importance of conservation while furthering the Gardens’ mission of connecting people with plants. The extension will also act as a buffer against urban development around the native flora and fauna within the Gardens.

With its rolling terrain of open lawns framed by landscapes of native plants and forests, the Gallop extension brings the total area of the Gardens to 82 hectares – the largest in its 160-year history. The extension also features two conservation buildings.

Opening in late 2019, the Gallop extension will include the following features:

HPL Canopy Link, a 200m-long barrier-free bridge which connects the Learning Forest to the Gallop extension, giving visitors the chance to view the Gardens’ native forest tree species up close.

The Mingxin Foundation Rambler’s Ridge, a restored ridgetop habitat, which will recreate a variety of hill-slope and cliff-edge habitats found in the region.

The OCBC Arboretum will contain a 2-hectare collection of 200 to 300 species of dipterocarps, an ecologically critical family of rainforest trees including many valuable timber species threatened by deforestation in Southeast Asia.

Located in the refurbished colonial-era Gallop Road No. 5 (Atbara) bungalow, the Forest Discovery Centre will allow visitors to learn about the ecology of Singapore’s forests through interactive displays.

The Botanical Art Gallery in the refurbished Gallop Road No. 7 (Inverturret) bungalow will display Singapore’s first permanent collection of global botanical art.

With play elements inspired by trees found within the Gardens, the COMO Adventure Grove is a new biophilic play area for children to explore and connect with the myriad forms exhibited in nature.

Gallop Valley encourages visitors to immerse themselves in the forest, as its meandering streams and softer foliage provide a calm and restorative experience.

The Gardens’ efforts in research, conservation, education and outreach would not have been possible without support from the community, including donors from various sectors. To acknowledge the important role that the community played in the Gardens’ history, NParks has dedicated Heritage Trees to donors who have contributed to the Gardens’ efforts in conservation and citizen science programmes through the Garden City Fund. Minister Wong presented the Heritage Tree plaques to these donors at the launch event.

Apart from the opening of the Gallop extension, there is much more to look forward to as the Gardens celebrates its 160th anniversary. Expect exciting festivals, concerts, workshops and guided tours all year long (including the Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Festival in July), all themed around the discovery and appreciation of flora and fauna over the last 160 years.

Check out www.nparks.gov.sg/SBG/whats-happening/calendar-of-events for more information on events at the Gardens in 2019, and come join in the fun!