Wetland planting at Alexandra Canal

Alvina Soh Channel NewsAsia 5 Feb 11;

Students from Crescent Girls School and CHIJ Kellock Primary School got together to do some wetland planting at Alexandra Canal

SINGAPORE: The community got together to do some wetland planting at Alexandra Canal on January 7 as part of the Active, Beautiful and Clean (ABC) Waters Programme.

The initiative is aimed at giving the canal a makeover and be a recreational destination for the public.

Students from Crescent Girls School and CHIJ Kellock Primary School got their hands dirty for a good cause.

They were busy planting the wetlands along a 1.2 kilometre stretch of the Alexandra Canal - from Tanglin Road to Delta Road.

And it was a memorable experience for them.

"I feel really good because its like I'm giving back to society. I'm playing my part for the rest of the students, the people who live here, and the residents, so it feels very satisfying," said Lim Fang Yi, a student from Crescent Girls School.

Another student, Ayisha Fathima also from Crescent Girls School, said: "I am extremely excited and happy because it's a great opportunity for me to learn my favourite subjects, chemistry, biology and geography outside the classroom."

Various organisations also got into the act to beautify the place.

Mas Shafreen, Manager, 3P Network, PUB, said: "[It is] not just about providing engineering infrastructure, beautiful spaces, but its all about getting the community involved.

"So you're looking at secondary school students interacting with primary school students, interacting with government organisations as well as private sector organisations, so the takeaway is not just for the students."

National water agency PUB said the project is aimed at inculcating a sense of ownership in the Canal.

"After a few months, I'd like to come back here and see the fruits of our hard work," said Nabiha Safudi, a student from Crescent Girls School.

More facilities such as a lookout deck at Tanglin, a shallow water play area and an educational hut are planned for the area.

- CNA/fa