SINGAPORE: Singapore's Botanic Gardens will be expanded with the addition of a new parkland.
National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said a 9.8-hectare parkland at Tyersall Avenue will be added to the Gardens.
This parkland will form a seamless extension to the west of the Gardens, bringing the total area of the Botanic Gardens to almost 74 hectares.
And there will be a new arboretum on the parkland. The Tyersall addition is slated to be completed by 2012.
Mr Mah said: "A rich diversity of flora and fauna, including some rare species, exists in the forest at this new site. An arboretum will be developed to capitalise on this rich biodiversity, integrating the forest in the extension with the existing rainforest within the Botanic Gardens to form an enlarged forest habitat.
"This Tyersall Learning Forest will showcase the best of tropical trees that grow under local conditions, and strengthen the Botanic Gardens' position as a premier institute for research, conservation and education.
"Visitors will be able to appreciate this unique collection of trees and plants through various thematic walks within the Tyersall Learning Forest, featuring giant trees with the potential to grow up to some 60 metres in height, trees with interesting forms and barks of various textures, a conservation collection of rare fruit and nut species, and a bamboo garden."
Another highlight of the parkland will be a new marshland that will showcase a diversity of tropical wetland plant species and aquatic wildlife, including birds and amphibians. And nature lovers can take in the beauty of the marshland from viewing decks along boardwalks on the marshland.
Mr Mah was speaking at the opening of "Garden of Hope", a new section at the Botanic Gardens, on Monday.
The Garden of Hope comprises four mini gardens, connected by footpaths with plants and recycled materials woven into the garden to create lovely forms. It is a project by students from Assumption Pathway School and Northlight School.
Over the past month, these students had worked under the guidance of two internationally recognised, award-winning garden designers - Australia's Jim Fogarty, and Singapore's Alan Tan - to design and build the garden.
The Botanic Gardens turns 150 this year and to celebrate its birthday, 150 couples will gather at the Gardens next month to exchange nuptial vows in a mass wedding ceremony.
Rare plants, wildlife to feature in Botanic Gardens' latest addition
Grace Chua, Straits Times 4 Aug 09;
RARE exotic plants, marshland and wildlife will be added to the Singapore Botanic Gardens as part of its newest extension.
A chunk of prime land off Holland Road will be the Gardens' 'Learning Forest', Minister for National Development Mah Bow Tan announced yesterday.
The unoccupied 9.8ha site next to Tyersall Avenue will be turned into a showcase of different types of rainforest plants, as well as a marshland habitat, bringing the Botanic Gardens' total area to around 74ha.The 'Learning Forest' capitalises on flora already occupying the new site, said Mr Mah.
Botanic Gardens director Chin See Chung said it will feature rare tropical plant species, which are 'a group of genetic resources that we think will be valuable in the future'.
The extension will also feature a bamboo garden and a marshland that will showcase wetland plant species, amphibians, birds and other wildlife.
Night tours of the area are also planned when the extension opens, and more parking facilities will be provided.
Almost all the trees that are already there will be conserved, the National Parks Board said.
Before the new extension opens its leafy doors in 2012, Tyersall Avenue - which currently runs along the edge of the Botanic Gardens - will be re-aligned.
At present, the parcel of land is lush forest, but in the 1850s, it was part of Tyersall Park and was first occupied by lawyer William Napier, after whom Napier Road is named. It was acquired by the Government in 1990.
The new extension was announced at the Garden Of Hope opening yesterday, which showcases four miniature gardens designed and planted by some 35 students from Assumption Pathway School and Northlight School in Upper Bukit Timah and Dunman Road respectively.
The month-long student horticulture project was part of the Singapore Botanic Gardens' 150th anniversary celebrations.
More forest, even night tours
Kiersten ow, Today Online 4 Aug 09;
COME 2012, nature lovers will have a much bigger Botanic Gardens to look forward to, and it will be one with a new forested area that could include night tours.
This with the addition of 9.8-hectares of parkland in Tyersall Avenue to the 150-year-old Botanic Gardens, bringing its total area to almost 74 hectares.
National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan, who announced the expansion plans yesterday, also highlighted the rich diversity of flora and fauna, including some rare species, at the new site.
To capitalise on this, he said an arboretum will be developed which will integrate the forest in the extension with the existing rainforest here to form an enlarged forest habitat.
And in line with the Gardens' core mission of "connecting plants and people", Mr Mah said "the Tyersall Learning Forest will showcase the best of tropical trees that grow under local conditions and strengthen the Botanic Gardens' position as a premier institute for research, conservation and education".
Another highlight here will be a new marshland that will showcase a diversity of tropical wetland plant species and aquatic wildlife, including birds and amphibians. Nature enthusiasts will be able to take in the beauty of the marshland from viewing decks along boardwalks.
Mr Mah was speaking at the opening of the "Garden of Hope", a new feature by students.
Dr Chin See Chung, director of the Botanic Gardens, said this is a significant extension due its naturalistic setting, and "people will get a slightly different experience".
He added: "If you come … there are always sounds in the forest, at night there will be more sounds, there will be an opportunity to see some of these wildlife."
Acknowledging the risk of losing the natural habitats for rare species, Dr Chin said the new area will be developed "sensitively so there is minimal damage to the garden, so we can integrate the excess and facilitate visitorship, without damaging existing forest".
The expansion plans for the Botanic Gardens have been welcomed by the Nature Society of Singapore. "This is a great move, as far as ecology is concerned," said Dr Ho Hua Chew, an exco member - as this means wildlife will have "more room to move and forage". And the green lung in the area has also been preserved.