29 Jul (Tue): Talk on "Singapore’s Overlooked Marine Biodiversity"

Nothing was known about the Singaporean bryozoan diversity until two years ago.
Now it is known that over one hundred species occur here (but the fauna is probably in excess of 200 species) and several new endemic bryozoan species are being described. Come learn about these fascinating creatures from Dr Kevin Tilbrook!

About the talk
Singapore stands at the gateway to the Indian Ocean, the South China Sea, and the Java Sea. At this crossroad, one would expect Singapore to host a mixture of the faunas from the water bodies around it.

While this paucity of knowledge is being addressed by the Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey, we know that much of the unknown diversity rests with those animals that are often not seen, literally overlooked, or not easily identified by the naked eye. These include the micro-molluscs, tiny crustaceans, nematodes, and the Bryozoa.

The Bryozoa are a phylum of sessile, predominantly marine, filter-feeding invertebrates that occur throughout the world – from the deepest depths to the highest latitudes. Nothing was known about the Singaporean bryozoan diversity until two years ago. Now it is known that over one hundred species occur here (but the fauna is probably in excess of 200 species) and several new endemic bryozoan species are being described. This diversity will be illustrated during the talk, as will the diverse habitats within which they occur. The influence of fouling bryozoan species and their potential for invasion is a concern; several known invasive bryozoan species have already been collected in Singapore.

Speaker’s profile
Dr Tilbrook is an authority on the taxonomy and systematics of the Bryozoa. Internationally recognised as a marine invertebrate systematist, his expertise is on the diversity and biogeography of tropical reef-associated bryozoans from the South Pacific. He has worked on specimens collected from intertidal to deep-sea habitats, and fossil faunas from around the world. Currently, he is a Scientific Associate with London’s Natural History Museum and the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. This will be his second time delivering a Wallace Lecture in Singapore.

Wallace Lecture Series
The Wallace Lecture Series was a series of important lectures delivered in the 1960s by well-known biologists in the then University of Malaya. These lectures stimulated discussions and encouraged exploration of new ideas in systematics, ecology and natural heritage. It seemed especially appropriate and timely that this lecture series, named after one of the two discoverers of modern theory of evolution, should be “resurrected” to further research interest and activities in Singapore’s rich biodiversity. This is the seventh Wallace Lecture Series delivered by a Shell Visiting Research Scientist, brought in by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (National University of Singapore), in collaboration with National Biodiversity Centre (National Parks Board) and supported by Shell Singapore.

The talk is free but registration is required at http://tinyurl.com/l5kv2de

Time: 7.00-8.30pm
Venue: Function Hall, Botany Centre 1, Singapore Botanic Gardens
Contact: Juat Ying NG (NPARKS) NG_Juat_Ying@nparks.gov.sg

21-27 Jul: Highlights of the week ahead

For kids and the family


Walks in wild places


Wild talks

27 Jul (Sun): Talk on "Protecting Chek Jawa – Past, Present and Future"

Come for this screening of the award-winning film "Remember Chek Jawa" and discussion.

Chek Jawa is an inter-tidal area encompassing six ecosystems within one square kilometre, located on Pulau Ubin. It was discovered by local conservationists only in 2000, when it was under threat of land reclamation by the government.
Despite the odds, several groups of passionate volunteers documented and publicised the site, educated the public and provided feedback to the government to rally support to protect Chek Jawa. Remember Chek Jawa (2007) documents the work of one of these volunteer groups, who followed their hearts to make a difference against the odds.

The screening (47 minutes) will be followed by a discussion on the activist efforts in 2001 and the future of Chek Jawa with the following:
  • Eric Lin, the filmmaker
  • Joseph Lai, the botanist who ‘discovered’ Chek Jawa and began raising awareness about it in 2000
  • N. Sivasothi, who led the Raffles Museum’s surveys and education efforts at Chek Jawa in 2001

Haslam Award at the Planet in Focus International Environmental Film Festival in Toronto.

Joseph Lai is a botanist by training and an avid explorer of the wilderness. He is best known as ‘discovering’ Chek Jawa on a field trip at Pulau Ubin in December 2000. He subsequently raised the issue of its conservation at a public forum and went on to conduct a transect study of the site which he submitted to the authorities. His key concerns are nature conservation and education.

N. Sivasothi is a lecturer at the Department of Biological Sciences at the National University of Singapore. He has also been a volunteer nature guide since the 1990s and, in 2001, he led the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research’s salvage surveys and education efforts for Chek Jawa.

Free. Registration is on a first-come-first-serve basis and each talk has a max. seating capacity of 245 participants. Online registration available from 1 July.

In Partnership with: Yumei & Marcus


Time: 4pm - 6pm
Venue: National Museum of Singapore Gallery Theatre, Basement
Website and contact: http://www.heritagefest.org.sg/

27 Jul (Sun): Homes, Hills and Habitats: A Morning at St John’s, Lazarus and Seringat

Visit three islands-in-one in this special tour that focuses on the social and natural histories of three southern islands. At St John’s Island, where time seems to have stood still, former quarantine quarters and school buildings are a reminder of the island’s past.
Take a peek at the research and facilities of the Tropical Marine Science Institute on the hilltop, where you can also visit touch-pools of local marine life. Then head to Lazarus and Seringat Islands to explore a lush coastal landscape and a ‘secret’ swimming cove.

In Partnership with: Yumei and Marcus
Tour Guide: Subaraj Rajathurai and Marcus Ng

Free. Registration is on a first-come-first-serve basis and each tour is limited to 30 participants. Online registration available from 1 Jul.

Only open to public above 16 years old
  • Dress comfortably for outdoor (hat, sunblock, sunglasses, comfortable clothes and shoes for extensive walking)
  • Participants are advised to take their own medication for seasickness and related ailments.
  • Participants should bring with them insect repellant.
  • Please note that the trail involves extensive walking, only suitable for those who are physically fit.

Programme
Meet at National Museum of Singapore at 8 am
Depart from Marina South Pier at 8.45 am, arrive St John’s at 9.20 am
Depart St John’s 12 noon, reach Marina South Pier 12.30 pm

Meeting point: National Museum of Singapore
Time: 8am - 12.30pm
Website and contact: http://www.heritagefest.org.sg/

27 Jul (Sun): Love MacRitchie Walk with the Toddycats

Let enthusiastic volunteer guides share with you stories about the amazing plants and animals living in our precious forest heritage. This series of free guided walks for the public are conducted by the Toddycats for the Love Our MacRitchie Forest movement
Register online at https://toddycats-lmwalk-27jul.eventbrite.sg/

Time: 8.30am-11.30pm
Meeting venue: Venus Drive Carpark (NOT MacRitchie Reservoir Park!) see this map http://tinyurl.com/lovemacritchiewalks-nus-map
More information on the Love MacRitchie website

26 Jul (Sat): Free Chek Jawa boardwalk tour with the Naked Hermit Crabs

The Naked Hermit Crabs introduce you to Chek Jawa without getting your feet wet. Even though we are not going on to the shore, there is still much to see and enjoy. There are monitor lizards, fiddler crabs, spiders, rare plants, wild boar, mudskippers and lots of fruit trees. If we are lucky, we might even spot the Oriental Pied Hornbill, White-bellied Sea Eagle and the giant Atlas Moth.
Not more than five persons in a group, pre-register with this online form.

More details on the event and how to get to Chek Jawa, Pulau Ubin on theAdventures with the Naked Hermit Crabs blog.

Time: 9.30am meet at the Chek Jawa Info Kiosk, Pulau Ubin.
Duration: Two hours
Cost: no charge for now, but donations accepted.
Website: http://nakedhermitcrabs.blogspot.com/
Contact: nakedhermitcrabs@gmail.com

26 Jul (Sat): A Night of Nanyin at Kusu Island

Join us for a night of Nanyin or “songs from the south”, with a difference. This musical performance is usually held only during the ninth lunar month, but by special arrangement for SHF, the Siong Leng Musical Association (established 1941) will hold an evening performance of their repertoire of Hokkien nanyin music at the Tua Pek Kong Temple on Kusu Island.
The visit will included a guided tour of the temple and the keramat, and a simple vegetarian meal at the temple. Special guest speaker Chan Chow Wah will also explain and interpret the music and the history of the temple. The tour will be conducted in English.

In Partnership with: Yumei & Marcus
Tour guide: Victor Yue and Chan Chow Wah

Note: 152 steps stairs up the Muslim Kramat; participants should be physically fit.

Free. Registration is on a first-come-first-serve basis and each tour is limited to 100 participants. Online registration available from 1 July.

Meeting point: National Museum of Singapore, Bus Bay L2
Time: 4.30pm - 9pm
Website and contact: http://www.heritagefest.org.sg/

26 Jul (Sat): Race Against Time – Science behind a Botanic Garden Tour

Join this free one-hour tour by the Botanic Gardens staff to learn more about the Gardens’ research work.
Come and explore the hub of the Gardens' research facilities at the Singapore Botanic Gardens to learn about botanical research. Find out about the urgency of plant exploration, collection and scientific documentation as species and habitats continue to be lost in the region. Visit the Orchid Micro-propagation and hybridisation display and find out how new hybrids are produced. You can also enter the restricted domain of the Herbarium and Library to learn about the valuable historical treasures they hold for science and posterity.

Registration 15 minutes before the tour starts, and is on a first-come-first-served basis at the Green Pavilion, Botany Centre. Limited to 20 participants.

Time: 10-11am
Meeting point: Green Pavilion, Botany Centre, Singapore Botanic Gardens.
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: 64717361 / 64717138 orNParks_SBG_Visitor_Services@nparks.gov.sg.

26 Jul (Sat): Nature Keeper Programme

Designed to stimulate the interest of the young and inculcate in them an appreciation of our forests, the programme will be carried out at Dairy Farm Nature Park. The programme aims to nurture young volunteers in protecting our natural heritage in the longer term.
Children will learn more about the fun facts of the forests in Singapore and have the opportunity to interact with nature. As part of the programme, they will also be introduced to “The Green Factory” and understand how forest products are incorporated into our daily life. There will also be a guided walk at Wallace Trail and an art-and-craft session.

Suitable for children 7 - 10 years old.

Only 20 spaces available. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and is required at least 3 weeks in advance. For enquiry or registration on Nature Keeper Programme, please email ruth_foo@nparks.gov.sg or jeanne_tan@nparks.gov.sg.

Time: 9am - 12noon
Venue: Dairy Farm Nature Park
Dates for 2014: 22 Feb

26 Jul (Sat): Plant and Their Uses in Local Malay Dishes

A Hari Raya Special guided tour! Ever been awoken by the aromatic smell of local Malay cuisine or savoured the Hari Raya dishes that your friendly Malay neighbours share with you when they swing by for the festive occasion?
Join us for this special Hari Raya Tour and steal some secrets from us! You will discover that local Malay dishes still keep to decades of tradition when it comes to cooking preparations. Learn how our local Malay community use fresh plants and various herbs and spices, to make local mouth-watering dishes such as Beef Rendang, Chicken Curry, Ikan Bakar and Satay. You will surely be begging them for a bigger share the next time round!

Suitable for children in K1 – P6 levels

For enquiry, please contact the SBG Education Branch at 64719961 and 6465 0196 or through email: nparks_sbg_edu@nparks.gov.sg. Online registration is available by clicking on the 'Registration' link at the bottom-left corner of this pop-up window.

Time: 10-11am
Cost: $6 per child and $6 per accompanying adult
Venue: JacobBallas Children’s Garden, Bukit Timah Core of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Tour will be conducted at Eco-Garden)

26 Jul (Sat): Mangrove walk at Sungei Buloh

Free guided nature walk along the Mangrove boardwalk under shady mangrove trees. Spot mudskippers, crabs and other marine life, learn about our mangroves, enjoy views of the Johor straits.

Suitable for young children.

Registration is not required for small walk-in groups. But each walk is limited to 15 persons per guide and is on a first-come-first-served basis. The walks are weather permitting and may merge with other activities at the Reserve. Those coming with large groups are advised to pre-register.

More about the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on the wildsingapore website and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NParks' Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and is held every Saturday.

Time: 9.30am and 3.30pm for walk in guests, register at the Visitor Centre.
Tour duration: One to one-and-a-half hours. Suitable for young children.
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401

26 Jul (Sat): Jane Goodall Primate Session 2014

The Jane Goodall Institute (Singapore) celebrates Dr Jane’s 80th birthday with the JGIS 2014 Jane Goodall Primate Session with speakers sharing about Singapore's primates.

ANDIE ANG | 9.45am
Reconnecting Banded Leaf Monkey Populations Using Canopy Bridges
Andie is a PhD student at the Department of Anthropology at the University of Colorado Boulder, and founder of Primate Watching. Having completed a M.Sc. on the ecology and conservation of Singapore’s banded leaf monkeys, she hopes to explore the use of inexpensive aerial bridges to reconnect these critically endangered monkeys.

JOYS TAN & LAI CHUI TING | 10.15am
How Wild are Our Wild Monkeys in Parks?
Joys and Chui Ting are undergraduates from the Department of Biological Sciences at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Their studies look at how human behavior influences wild macaques in areas of interactions in two local parks so as to urge more effective management for achieving human-macaque coexistence

JAYASRI | 11.15am
Working Hand-In-Hand: Understanding Singapore’s Long-Tailed Macaques
Jayasri is a volunteer with the Jane Goodall Institute Singapore, conducting the monthly guided walk “A walk with your neighbors: the macaques of Bukit Timah.” She has spent the past three and a half years studying Singapore’s long-tailed macaques. She believes education and outreach play a significant role in addressing misconceptions of our local macaques.

The event is free but pre-registration is required at http://tinyurl.com/primatesession

Time: 9am to 12.30pm
Venue: Function Room of the Botanic Gardens
Website and contact: http://www.janegoodall.org.sg/

23 Jul (Wed): Talk on "Pulau Seking: The Final Link to Pre-Raffles Singapore"

Pulau Seking was home to the last village community in Singapore’s southern islands. It survived until 1994, when the islanders were evicted to make way for a landfill. As recently as in the 1980s, it was a “lively settlement” with 500 or more inhabitants, whose ways of life and cultural outlooks could be traced back to a time when Singapore’s offshore islands were the home, habitat and hunting ground of people from all over the straits.
What links did Pulau Seking hold to Singapore’s ancient past, and what have we lost from the disappearance of these island villages? Geoffrey Benjamin, Vivienne Wee and Normala Manap will offer a rare look into a vanished world, based on their research and stays at Pulau Seking in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Speakers: Geoffrey Benjamin and Normala Manap

Geoffrey Benjamin is a social anthropologist and Senior Associate at the Centre for Liberal and Social Sciences (CLASS), Nanyang Technological University. Vivienne Wee is Research & Advocacy Director at AWARE and Programme Consultant/Associate Faculty at SIM University.

Normala Manap is a polytechnic lecturer and yoga teacher who spent many months at Pulau Seking in 1982, where she learnt much about the origins, culture and social outlook of the villagers.

Free. Registration is on a first-come-first-serve basis and each talk has a max. seating capacity of 245 participants. Online registration available from 1 July.

In Partnership with: Yumei and Marcus

Time: 7.30pm - 9pm
Venue: National Museum of Singapore Gallery Theatre, Basement
Website and contact: http://www.heritagefest.org.sg/

22 Jul (Tue): Talk on "Singapore’s Other ‘Underwater World’"

In the 19th century, Pulau Blakang Mati and other southern islands were surrounded by dense coral reefs, a sight that impressed many visitors. Today, many of these habitats have been lost to industry and land reclamation, but a few reefs still survive and offer intrepid visitors and divers a chance to see dazzling marine life up close.

Three views of Singapore's wild shores! From the air, on land and underwater! For the first time, three of us together: Heng Pei Yan aka Drone Commander, Dr Neo Mei Lin aka Giant Clam Girl, and Ria Tan of wildsingapore.
For the first time in one talk!

From the Air
See spectacular views from the air shared by Heng Pei Yan aka the Drone Commander. She will also share about her diving adventures. Heng Pei Yan is a teacher who began diving at Pulau Hantu in 2012. She has become an active guide to the island’s reefs and other shores. She blogs at Peiyan Photography and run the SG Sea Drone facebook page.

Underwater
Dr Neo Mei Lin is a Marine Biologist who works, among others, on Singapore's amazing Giant clams. She is an avid diver and photographer and active in many Singapore marine conservation efforts. Mei Lin blogs at Psychedelic Nature and about her scientific work in this blog.

And on land
No need to swim, no need to dive! Can even do with walking stick! Ria Tan will share how ordinary people can experience much of Singapore's amazing marine life on the intertidal shore. Otters, wild dolphins, sea turtles! Nemos, sea snakes, living corals and more. From accessible shores like Changi and Tanah Merah, to our many huge submerged reefs. Ria will share photos and stories of recent adventures on our living shores. Ria blogs at wild shores of singapore and runs the wildsingaporeweb resources.

Special gifts for those who come for the talk! This cute folding crab designed by Sabrina Tang, thanks to NParks and the Festival of Biodiveristy (while stocks last).

This talk is part of the Heritage Festival.

Free. Registration is on a first-come-first-serve basis and each talk has a max. seating capacity of 245 participants. Online registration available from 1 July.

In Partnership with: Yumei and Marcus

Time: 7.30pm - 9pm
Venue: National Museum of Singapore Gallery Theatre, Basement
Website and contact: http://www.heritagefest.org.sg/

14-20 Jul: Highlights of the week ahead

Special wild islands events, part of Heritage Week
Places still available for the talks!

Walks in wild places

Wild talks





20 Jul (Sun): Pulau Ubin on Film - A Screening of Moving Gods and Discussion

Commissioned as part of Arts Central’s Stage to Screen series, Moving Gods (2005) is a feature TV drama is adapted from a play by Lim Jen Erh for The Theatre Practice. The story revolves around a filmmaker, Jen, who explores a mystery around a German girl who is worshipped at a temple on Pulau Ubin. Who is this German girl and why do people pray to her? More importantly, why does she always appear in Jen's dream?

The screening (45 minutes) will be followed by a discussion on the landscape, folklore and people of Pulau Ubin with

Free. Registration is on a first-come-first-serve basis and each talk has a max. seating capacity of 245 participants. Online registration available from 1 July.

In Partnership with: Yumei and Marcus

Time: 4pm - 6pm
Venue: National Museum of Singapore Gallery Theatre, Basement
Website and contact: http://www.heritagefest.org.sg/

20 Jul (Sun): Spice Garden Outdoor Cooking Workshop

You might have tasted herbs and spices in various cuisines, but have you ever seen what their plants look like? Join us as we guide you through the Spice Garden at Fort Canning Park, while you harvest fresh herbs and spices and learn how to add flavour to local dishes in this outdoor cooking workshop.
This event is held in conjunction with the Singapore Heritage Festival 2014. Singapore Heritage Festival is an annual event organized by the National Heritage Board (NHB).

Registration is required, email elaine_pang@nparks.gov.sg with the following information:
•Name of participant
•No. of pax (incl. participant)
•Handphone number

Time: 4-5pm
Cost: $5/person by NETS will be charged on the day of the event.
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

20 Jul (Sun): Sketching Tour at Fort Canning Park

Discover the artist in you while surrounded by the beautiful natural scenery in Fort Canning Park. Take home your sketches of interesting heritage attractions or the lush landscapes of the park. Facilitated by artist Choo Meng Foo, just bring along to the tour your favourite sketchbook and medium of choice.
This event is held in conjunction with the Singapore Heritage Festival 2014. Singapore Heritage Festival is an annual event organized by the National Heritage Board (NHB).

The event is free but pre-registration is required, email elaine_pang@nparks.gov.sg with the following information:
•Name of participant
•No. of pax (incl. participant)
•Handphone number

Time: 10am-12noon
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: 6636 2393

19 Jul (Sat): The Turtle and the Temple - Old Tales and New Ties at Kusu Island

Thousands flock to the Tua Pek Kong temple at Kusu Island every year, a pilgrimage practice that began more than 150 years ago. How did this tradition begin and how have the associated rituals and beliefs changed over time? In turn, how have changes to the island and its physical and socio-economic environment affected the practice and future of this pilgrimage?
Drawing on his research and interviews conducted in the late 2000s, Jack Chia offers a look at Kusu from the inside out, through the eyes of the temple's caretakers and their stories of the island.

Jack Chia is a PhD candidate in Southeast Asian History at Cornell University. His research on the Kusu Island pilgrimage in 2007-2008 has been published in the New Zealand Journal of Asian Studies. It stems from his interest in Buddhism in Singapore, Chinese popular religion and overseas Chinese history.

Free. Registration is on a first-come-first-serve basis and each talk has a max. seating capacity of 245 participants. Online registration available from 1 July.

In Partnership with: Yumei and Marcus

Time: 2pm - 3.30pm
Venue: National Museum of Singapore Gallery Theatre, Basement
Website and contact: http://www.heritagefest.org.sg/

19 Jul (Sat): Homes, Hills and Habitats: A Morning at St John’s, Lazarus and Seringat

Visit three islands-in-one in this special tour that focuses on the social and natural histories of three southern islands. At St John’s Island, where time seems to have stood still, former quarantine quarters and school buildings are a reminder of the island’s past.
Take a peek at the research and facilities of the Tropical Marine Science Institute on the hilltop, where you can also visit touch-pools of local marine life. Then head to Lazarus and Seringat Islands to explore a lush coastal landscape and a ‘secret’ swimming cove.

In Partnership with: Yumei and Marcus
Tour Guide: Subaraj Rajathurai and Marcus Ng

Free. Registration is on a first-come-first-serve basis and each tour is limited to 30 participants. Online registration available from 1 Jul.

Only open to public above 16 years old
  • Dress comfortably for outdoor (hat, sunblock, sunglasses, comfortable clothes and shoes for extensive walking)
  • Participants are advised to take their own medication for seasickness and related ailments.
  • Participants should bring with them insect repellant.
  • Please note that the trail involves extensive walking, only suitable for those who are physically fit.

Programme
Meet at National Museum of Singapore at 8 am
Depart from Marina South Pier at 8.45 am, arrive St John’s at 9.20 am
Depart St John’s 12 noon, reach Marina South Pier 12.30 pm

Meeting point: National Museum of Singapore
Time: 8am - 12.30pm
Website and contact: http://www.heritagefest.org.sg/

19 Jul (Sat) - 20 Jul (Sun): Lighthouse Trail

The earliest record of lighthouses dates back to the 200 CE. Since then lighthouses have been a beacon of light, direction and often hope to the weary traveller and mariners. From the mid-19th century, the East India Company started constructing these towers to guide and warn seafarers through the rocky straits surrounding Singapore island. Today, a number of these lighthouses are still in operation.
During this tour, participants will get a rare opportunity to journey to Raffles Lighthouse, which stands on Pulau Satumu, the southern-most landly possession of Singapore. Visitors will also get a chance to tour the small heritage corner of the Lighthouse and to climb to the top of the tower for a memorable view of Singapore from its southern-most shore.

On the way to Raffles Lighthouse, participants will also sail by the picturesque Sultan Shoal Lighthouse. During the tour, the guide will provide participants with a brief history of the importance of lighthouses in Singapore’s history and the stories behind some of these remarkable beacons of light.

Only open to public above 21 years old
  • As a lot of resources had gone into the conduct of the tour, please inform the organiser if you are not able to take part in the tour at least 1 week in advance from the visit date.
  • Dress code - No skirt/dresses, covered shoes only (no sandals or slippers)
  • Participants are advised to take their own medication for seasickness and related ailments.
  • The climb to the top of Raffles Lighthouse is rather steep. You will need to climb up some 90 steps. The climb is not compulsory.
  • Please note that photography is not allowed approaching and on the island.

Max Capacity / Session: 30 pax. Online registration starts 1 Jul.

Meeting point: National Museum of Singapore
Time: 7.30am - 12.30pm and 1.30pm - 6.30pm
Website and contact: http://www.heritagefest.org.sg/

19 Jul (Sat): National Orchid Garden guided tour

Explore the beauty and diversity of orchids in the National Orchid Garden, Singapore Botanic Gardens. Over 1000 species and 2,000 hybrids are now found in the Gardens' collection, with about 600 species and hybrids on display. Every year, more vibrant and enduring hybrids are added on
Full map at http://www.sbg.org.sg/map_nog.htm
This walk is conducted by the volunteers of the Singapore Botanic Gardens and is held every third Saturday of the month.

A tour in Mandarin is also conducted at 4pm.

Time: 9am, 10am, 11am (English) and 4pm (Mandarin), register at Visitor Centre 15 minutes before the tour starts. Registration is on a first-come-first-served basis.
Tour duration: One hour.
Cost: While the tour is free, admission charges to the Orchid Garden applies: $5/adult, $1/student, $1/senior citizens (above 60 years) , Child below 12 years - Free
Website: http://www.sbg.org.sg/
Contact: Visitor Services 6471 7361

19 Jul (Sat): A walk in an ancient forest, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve


Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is the largest surviving primary rainforest in Singapore. Come and join us on a fascinating journey of discovery to learn more about the natural wonders of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and why we should protect and conserve its complex ecosystem and diversity.

This free guided walk will introduce you to the common native flora and fauna found in the primary rainforest.

This guided walk is suitable for families with children 9 and above, and groups of not more than 5. Along a slightly undulating natural path, the trail is not accessible to prams and wheelchairs.

More about the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve on the wildsingapore website and NParks website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NParks' Central Nature Reserve and is held every third Saturday of the month.

Sign up on this online form.

Time: 9.25am-10.30am. Meet at the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Visitor Centre, at the ranger counter.
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

19 Jul (Sat): Jezebel Artists Volunteer Session

Sign up as a volunteer and enjoy learning the different drawing techniques under the guidance of Tham Puisan – an avid artist and volunteer at HortPark and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, who expresses his passion for nature through his works of art. Volunteers above 10 years old are welcome.

Time: 9-11am
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: 6471 5601 or NParks_HortPark@nparks.gov.sg

19 Jul (Sat): Guided walk at the Sensory Trail, Pulau Ubin

Experience Ubin's wonderful nature through your senses along our Sensory Trail.

This is an excellent introduction to the rustic and natural character of the island. You will be able to touch, see or smell fruit trees, spices and herbs for cooking, plants used in traditional medicine and native plants of the mangrove forest.

Book online. For more details about this walk, see the NParks website

More about the Sensory Trail on the wildsingapore website and Ubin Volunteers blog

Time: Walks starts 9.30am and lasts for about 1.5 hours. Meet at the Pulau Ubin Main Information Kiosk next to the Ubin Jetty. More on how to get to Pulau Ubin.
Cost: $60 per group of 15 persons, maximum 6 groups
Website and contact: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

19 Jul (Sat): Mangrove walk at Sungei Buloh

Free guided nature walk along the Mangrove boardwalk under shady mangrove trees. Spot mudskippers, crabs and other marine life, learn about our mangroves, enjoy views of the Johor straits.

Suitable for young children.

Registration is not required for small walk-in groups. But each walk is limited to 15 persons per guide and is on a first-come-first-served basis. The walks are weather permitting and may merge with other activities at the Reserve. Those coming with large groups are advised to pre-register.

More about the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on the wildsingapore website and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NParks' Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and is held every Saturday.

Time: 9.30am and 3.30pm for walk in guests, register at the Visitor Centre.
Tour duration: One to one-and-a-half hours. Suitable for young children.
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401

18 Jul (Fri): Talk in mandarin on "The Story of Singapore’s Outlying Islands"

The Republic of Singapore is located between the south of Malay Peninsular and the north of Singapore Strait, made up of the main Singapore Island and its surrounding outlying islands. Those that are more familiar to the people include Pulau Tekong and Pulau Ubin located at the Northeast; Sentosa Island (or Pulau Blakan Mati), Kusu Island and Saint John’s Island located at the South; and finally Pulau Bukom and Pulau Semakau located at the West. Due to the National Development Plans during the 1970s and 1980s, residents on these outlying islands were gradually been relocated to mainland Singapore. And the reclamation projects for the past two decades has caused a drastic change to the looks of these outlying islands.
Using the old photos, the speaker will present to the audience the changes of the outlying islands of Singapore for the hundred years.

Lecture is conducted in Mandarin and organised by National University of Singapore (NUS) History Society
Speaker: Mr Ng Ching Huei (In Mandarin)

Free. Registration is on a first-come-first-serve basis and each talk has a max. seating capacity of 245 participants. Online registration available from 1 July.

In Partnership with: NUS History Society

Time: 7pm - 9pm
Venue: National Museum of Singapore Gallery Theatre, Basement
Website and contact: http://www.heritagefest.org.sg/

16 Jul (Wed): Tanjong Rimau Walk, Sentosa


Explore the hidden side of Sentosa, a corner of the island that has remained largely untouched since the days of Raffles. Tanjong Rimau, the western tip of the island, overlooks Labrador Park and marks Longyamen, the ancient gateway to Temasek and a long sought-after passage between East and West.
At low tide, these shores, lined with natural cliffs, caverns and a coastal forest, also unveil a remnant reef and rocky shores with tide pools and corals, scenes which once greeted travellers as they passed by this historic channel.

In Partnership with: Yumei and Marcus
Tour Guide: Marcus Ng

Free. Registration is on a first-come-first-serve basis and each tour is limited to 30 participants. Online registration available from 1 Jul.

Depart from National Museum of Singapore at 7 am
Return to National Museum of Singapore by 10.30-11 am (participants can also depart directly from Sentosa)



Meeting point: National Museum of Singapore, Bus Bay, Level 2
Time: 7am - 10.30am
Website and contact: http://www.heritagefest.org.sg/

15 Jul (Tue): Island Archaeology -- An Obscure But Bountiful Past


Pulau Seking was home to the last village community in Singapore’s southern islands. It survived until 1994, when the islanders were evicted to make way for a landfill. As recently as in the 1980s, it was a “lively settlement” with 500 or more inhabitants, whose ways of life and cultural outlooks could be traced back to a time when Singapore’s offshore islands were the home, habitat and hunting ground of people from all over the straits.
What links did Pulau Seking hold to Singapore’s ancient past, and what have we lost from the disappearance of these island villages? Geoffrey Benjamin, Vivienne Wee and Normala Manap will offer a rare look into a vanished world, based on their research and stays at Pulau Seking in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Speakers: Geoffrey Benjamin and Normala Manap

Geoffrey Benjamin is a social anthropologist and Senior Associate at the Centre for Liberal and Social Sciences (CLASS), Nanyang Technological University. Vivienne Wee is Research & Advocacy Director at AWARE and Programme Consultant/Associate Faculty at SIM University.

Normala Manap is a polytechnic lecturer and yoga teacher who spent many months at Pulau Seking in 1982, where she learnt much about the origins, culture and social outlook of the villagers.

Free. Registration is on a first-come-first-serve basis and each talk has a max. seating capacity of 245 participants. Online registration available from 1 July.


Time: 7.30pm - 9pm
Venue: National Museum of Singapore Gallery Theatre, Basement
Website and contact: http://www.heritagefest.org.sg/

15 Jul (Tue): Wallace Lecture on "Sea star and sea cucumber reproduction enhancement strategies"

Did you know that different species of sea stars and sea cucumbers are able to reproduce in different ways when survival of their species is threatened? These marine animals protect their eggs and even self-divide when conventional reproduction is inadequate. If you are curious about their reproduction strategies, join us for an evening with Dr Peter Mark O’Loughlin, a world authority on sea stars and sea cucumbers, who will share unique ways these marine lives reproduce to ensure continuity of their species.
This talk is part of the Wallace Lecture Series brought to you by Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (NUS), in collaboration with National Biodiversity Centre (NParks); and supported by Shell Singapore.

The Wallace Lecture Series was a series of important lectures delivered in the 1960s by well-known biologists in the then University of Malaya. These lectures stimulated discussion and encouraged the exploration of new ideas in systematics, ecology and natural heritage.

The talk is free but pre-registration is required at http://tinyurl.com/m25q6qr by 2 July.


Time: 7-8.30pm
Venue: Function Hall, Botany Centre Level 1, Singapore Botanic Gardens
Contact: NG_Juat_Ying@nparks.gov.sg

12-13 Jul (Sat & Sun): Festival of Biodiversity 2014

Join us at the festival to explore and learn more about Singapore's rich biodiversity!
The Festival is back bigger and better with the theme “Island Biodiversity”, the Festival hopes to achieve greater outreach by showcasing Singapore’s impressive and unique array of flora and fauna. There will be many interactive stations and workshops for all ages!

Learn more about
  • Why islands have unique plants & Animals
  • Our Forest & Urban Wild neighbours
  • Conservation of our precious forest patches
  • Threats to Singapore’s biodiversity
  • Opportunities to get involved!

The Festival of Biodiversity is an annual event organized by the National Parks Board in collaboration with the Biodiversity Roundtable.

Date: 13 and 14 July 2013 (Saturday and Sunday)
Time: 10am to 10pm
Venue: VivoCity, Level 1, Central Court B and West Boulevard map and directions
Website and contact: http://biodiversityfestiv.wix.com/biodiversityfest2014

12 Jul (Sat): Forest walk at the Botanic Gardens Rainforest Trail

A free guided nature walk through a rainforest right in the heart of the city! Along a boardwalk, under the shade of giant trees, learn about our rainforests, spot forest creatures and strange plants.

Suitable for young children.

More about the Botanic Gardens Rainforest Trail on the wildsingapore website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NPark's Singapore Botanic Gardens and is held every second Saturday of the month.

Tours in Mandarin are available at 10am and 4pm.

Time: 9am, 10am, 11am and 4pm; Register 15 minutes before the tour at the Visitor Centre.
Tour duration: One hour.
Website: http://www.sbg.org.sg/
Contact: Visitor Services, 64717361 orNPARKS_SBG_Visitor_Services@NPARKS.GOV.SG

12 Jul (Sat): A walk with your neighbours - the macaques of Bukit Timah

The long-tailed macaques at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve are commonly seen, but often misunderstood. Few know about the social world of these monkeys. They have family members, power struggles, friends, foes, and a complex social network. In many ways, they mirror our own social life!
If you would like to learn more about your community and the interesting world of your neighbouring macaques at Bukit Timah, please join our walk, led by experts in these unique creatures.

Register at sg.monkey.walk@gmail.com, at least 3 days in advance. Do provide us with your name, contact number (in case of cancellation, we will contact you), number of adult and children participants (at most, 5 participants per registration). Upon receiving your registration, we will reply with a confirmation email. The walk will be cancelled if there is bad weather 45 minutes before the walk.

This walk is held every second Saturday of the month.

Time: 5-6.30pm
Venue: Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (Meeting point is at the Ranger Counter)
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

12 Jul (Sat): Trees of the Fort

Let our nature-loving guides from The Green Volunteers bring you on a journey to find out more about our heritage trees and other beautiful trees like the flaky Gelam and gnarled Madras Thorn!
Visit www.thegreenvolunteers.blogspot.com to find out more about our guides!

To register, email tee_jia_leng@nparks.gov.sg/elaine_pang@nparks.gov.sg with the following information:
• Name of Participant
• No of Pax (including participant)
• Handphone number

Time: 4-5pm
Meeting point: Roundabout between Hotel Fort Canning and Fort Canning Centre.
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

12 Jul (Sat): Young Mathematician of the Garden

How many petals are there on a flower? Count the number of leaflets on a leaf. Get introduced to addition, subtraction, and many more mathematical skills that you can apply to plants. Be a young Mathematician of the Garden in this guided tour and have fun learning about Maths and Plants.

Suitable for children in P3 – P6 levels.

For enquiry and registration, please contact the Education at 64719961 and 6465 0196 or through email: nparks_sbg_edu@nparks.gov.sg. Online registration is available on www.sbg.org.sg (under "Education")

Time: 10-11am
Cost: $6 per child and $6 per accompanying parent
Venue: Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, Bukit Timah Core of the Singapore Botanic Gardens
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

12 Jul (Sat): Fun with Maths and Plants!


Have fun being a little Mathematician and discover plants at the same time! Learn basic math concepts through colours, shapes, sizes and numbers. Practice your skills using leaves, flowers and other plant parts. You will discover that Mathematics is fun and interesting!

Suitable for children in K1 – P2 levels.

For enquiry and registration, please contact the Education at 64719961 and 6465 0196 or email nparks_sbg_edu@nparks.gov.sg. Online registration is available on www.sbg.org.sg (under "Education")

Time: 10-11am
Cost: $6 per child and $6 per accompanying parent
Venue: Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, Bukit Timah Core of the Singapore Botanic Gardens
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

12 Jul (Sat): Mangrove walk at Sungei Buloh

Free guided nature walk along the Mangrove boardwalk under shady mangrove trees. Spot mudskippers, crabs and other marine life, learn about our mangroves, enjoy views of the Johor straits.

Suitable for young children.

Registration is not required for small walk-in groups. But each walk is limited to 15 persons per guide and is on a first-come-first-served basis. The walks are weather permitting and may merge with other activities at the Reserve. Those coming with large groups are advised to pre-register.

More about the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on the wildsingapore website and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NParks' Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and is held every Saturday.

Time: 9.30am and 3.30pm for walk in guests, register at the Visitor Centre.
Tour duration: One to one-and-a-half hours. Suitable for young children.
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401

30 Jun - 6 Jul: Highlights of the week ahead

Walks in wild places

Wild exhibitions

Wild talks

Special upcoming events

Sign up opens tomorrow for special FREE trips to our islands. Places limited. Including Raffles Lighthouse and Sultan Shoal, Kusu Island, Sentosa Tanjung Rimau, St John's Island and its neighbouring Lazarus Island and Seringat-Kias.Also film screenings about the effort for Chek Jawa, as well as about Pulau Ubin. And lots of talks about our shores too! These are part of the National Heritage Board's HeritageFest 2014. More details here.


5 Jul (Sat): Two talks on moths

Public Talk 1
Lyssa zampa Swallowtail Moths: Opportunities for Citizen Science and Public Education

Time: 10.15am - 11am (30mins + 15mins Q&A)
Speaker: Mr. N. Sivasothi

This May and June, Singapore and Malaysia have witnessed unprecedented swarms of Lyssa zampa moths, often seen congregating in urban areas. There is much talk now about these moths – Why a sudden increase in numbers? Why are we swarmed - what’s happening? Is it a good thing to find them in urban areas? What can we do? Find answers to these questions and more.
Public Talk 2
Moth Magic: an Introduction to Moths

Time: 11am - 12pm (40mins + 20mins Q&A)
Speaker: Dr. Roger Kendrick

Moths comprise the vast majority of the insect order Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), with over 160,000 species described globally. This talk provides an introduction to the lesser known relatives of the butterflies. We will explore why moths are such a magical component of the Earth's biological diversity, touching on survival strategies, ecosystem function (and services provided to humans), diversity of moths, conservation issues and how moths can be recorded.

All are welcome. The event is free.
For enquiries please contact Mr. Anuj Jain (anuj0001@gmail.com) or Mr. Robin Ngiam (ngiam_wen_jiang@nparks.gov.sg)

Time: 10.15am-12noon
Venue: Level 1, Function Hall, Botany Centre, Singapore Botanic Gardens
Contact and details on the Nature Society (Singapore) facebook page

5 Jul (Sat): Tour of the Healing Garden, Botanic Gardens

A free guided tour of the Healing Garden which showcases over 400 varieties of plants used medicinally.
It is laid out thematically relating to component parts of the body such as head, respiratory and reproductive systems. Spread over 2.5 hectares, this garden is designed as a tranquil retreat with medical plants traditionally used in Southeast Asia as the main focus.

This walk is conducted every first Saturday of the month.

Time: 9am and 10am, please register 15 minutes before the tour
Venue: Registration is on a first-come-first-served basis at the Visitor Centre, Singapore Botanic Gardens
Website: http://www.sbg.org.sg/
Contact: Visitor Services (6471 7361)

5 Jul (Sat): Mangrove walk at Sungei Buloh

Free guided nature walk along the Mangrove boardwalk under shady mangrove trees. Spot mudskippers, crabs and other marine life, learn about our mangroves, enjoy views of the Johor straits.

Suitable for young children.

Registration is not required for small walk-in groups. But each walk is limited to 15 persons per guide and is on a first-come-first-served basis. The walks are weather permitting and may merge with other activities at the Reserve. Those coming with large groups are advised to pre-register.

More about the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on the wildsingapore website and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NParks' Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and is held every Saturday.

Time: 9.30am and 3.30pm for walk in guests, register at the Visitor Centre.
Tour duration: One to one-and-a-half hours. Suitable for young children.
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401

1 Jul - 10 Aug: Balik Pulau at the National Museum of Singapore

The Balik Pulau Exhibition features amazing stories from Singapore’s islands. Singapore is not just one "sunny island, set in the sea", but used to be an archipelago of more than 70 islands.
There is lots for the kids to explore and learn.

For centuries, these islands have been important landmarks for sailors, and also home to different communities who lived off their waters. After Singapore gained independence, the islands were transformed dramatically and nearly all their inhabitants resettled on the mainland.Balik Pulau, is a return to the islands, in memory and spirit, to recover the stories of those who lived, worked and played there. We chart the changes that have taken place and how a new generation is rediscovering our islands and forging new links to them.
A wonderful slide show of our islands past and present
reveals interesting and thought-provoking facts.


Free Guided Tours- Balik Pulau Exhibition
English: 11am-12pm (Every day 18 July-27 July)
Mandarin: 1.30pm-2.30pm (Every day 18 July-27 July)
Malay: 3pm-4pm (Weekends: 19, 20, 26 & 27 July )
Tamil: 4pm-5pm (Weekends: 19, 20, 26 & 27 July)

Guided tours are subject to availability of volunteer guides.
For more information, please enquire at the Stamford Visitor Services Counter.
Estimated duration: 45 mins
*Limited to 15 participants on a first come, first served basis

Date and time: Open 1 Jul - 10 Aug, 10am – 6pm
Venue: National Museum of Singapore, Stamford Gallery, Level 1
Free admission
Website: http://www.heritagefest.org.sg/