Lim Jing Jing Today Online 28 Jun 11;
SINGAPORE - It was once a nutmeg plantation. Today, it is the Istana, the official residence of the President of Singapore.
At 43 hectares, about the size of 53 football fields, it is home to more than 10,000 trees, which in turn house a variety of wildlife.
The trees were here more than a century ago, long before any of the dense concrete jungle of shopping malls were built along Singapore's Orchard Road.
The yellow flame trees lining the path leading to the Istana quietly greeted countless state visitors which included foreign dignitaries, statesmen and royalties.
Today, other than functioning as the green lungs of urban Singapore, the trees of Istana have become a science lab for the National Parks Board's (NParks) study of wildlife in Singapore.
"One good reason why we do it in the Istana is because it's serene and well-protected, so we can do our work quietly," NParks chief executive officer Poon Hong Yuen said.
"Key figures, like Mr Lee Kuan Yew, have (also) been very encouraging of NParks doing new things in the Istana because these are the things he also enjoys very much."
As a result, NParks introduced a pair of oriental pied hornbills in 2008 to the gardens to understand their nesting and feeding habits. Today, the Istana gardens is home to eight of these birds.
The NParks says there are about 150 varieties of trees in the gardens of Istana.
Over 70 of them are featured in the new book, Trees of the Istana, which was launched yesterday by President S R Nathan.
The book took three years to write and was first mooted by President Nathan.
The release of the book this year coincides with the United Nations' International Year of Forests.
Leaf through book on Istana's trees
New tome showcases 70 tree species found at President's residence
Royston Sim Straits Times 28 Jun 11;
THE oldest tree on the Istana grounds is a 150-year-old tembusu standing near the Sri Temasek bungalow, where Cabinet ministers have their meetings. And the one with the widest girth is a kapok tree near the main gate, which measures 7m around its trunk.
These are two of the 70 tree species detailed in a book called Trees Of The Istana, launched yesterday by the National Parks Board (NParks).
Besides showcasing the greenery and wildlife at the official residence of the President of Singapore, the hardcover book also covers the planting and landscaping activities of the 41ha grounds from past to present.
The idea for the book came from President S R Nathan in 2008; it is the third in a series of books on the Istana, after Gardens Of The Istana and Birds Seen At The Istana.
NParks' director of conservation Wong Tuan Wah, who co-authored the book, said: 'There are many beautiful and majestic trees here, and not many Singaporeans know about them. We hope they can find out more through this book.'
The other authors are Istana curator Koh Soon Kiong, Dr Duncan Sutherland and Ms Aileen T. Lau, founder of Suntree Media, which publishes the book.
The Istana grounds, formerly a failing nutmeg plantation owned by merchant Charles R. Prinsep until it was acquired in 1867, are tended to by 13 full-time staff, aided by contractors.
In a nod to history, NParks staff have planted eight nutmeg trees on the grounds; one has produced fruit with twin seeds instead of a single seed.
NParks chief executive Poon Hong Yuen said the agency uses the Istana as a 'laboratory', a place to plant new trees, introduce wildlife and see whether they can adapt to the environment.
Trees Of The Istana costs $48 and hits major bookstores and the Singapore Botanic Gardens' Garden Shop today; the Istana will also stock the book on open-house days.
GREENING THE ISTANA
13 full-time National Parks Board staff tending to the Istana grounds
20 species of fruit trees, including banana, chiku, jackfruit and durian
150 species of trees in all in the Istana grounds
400 fruit trees
10,000 trees in total
