Butterfly Trail at Orchard project takes off

Straits Times 22 Jun 10;

BEFORE butterflies can move into Orchard Road and transform it into an urban butterfly trail, their homes will have to be built - or rather planted.

The first phase of the Butterfly Trail at Orchard project yesterday had Professor Tommy Koh, Ambassador-at-Large with the Foreign Affairs Ministry and patron of the Nature Society of Singapore (NSS), and other guests sowing the seeds of host and nectar plants at a site along Nassim Road. The plants will provide food and shelter to caterpillars and butterflies.

More than 900 shrubs and trees will be planted on the 170 sq m plot.

The project, spearheaded by NSS, will cover a 4km stretch of the shopping belt from the Botanic Gardens to Fort Canning. NSS experts hope to draw about 50 butterfly species to the area once the trail is completed by the end of next year. NSS estimates the project will cost $400,000.

The plants may also help in times of heavy rain, said former NSS president Geh Min. 'Trees and plants... slow down the rain and help the soil absorb it, so it is released more slowly and in lesser quantity to the drainage system,' she said.

Butterfly Trail at Orchard Rd to raise interest in nature
Sona Remesh Channel NewsAsia 21 Jun 10;

SINGAPORE : Nature may not be the first thing one associates with Singapore's prime shopping belt, but the Butterfly Trail at Orchard Road hopes to change this.

Ambassador-at-Large Professor Tommy Koh launched the first phase of the Butterfly Trail - a project to highlight Singapore's urban biodiversity.

For a start, 900 shrubs and 24 trees have been planted along Nassim Road, including the so-called "nectar plants", which will attract butterflies to the area.

Experts hope up to 50 species will find their way to the trail.

There is also the butterfly walk - a four-kilometre trail from the Botanic Gardens to Fort Canning Park that aims to increase interest in nature. - CNA /ls