25-31 Jan: Highlights of the week ahead


Special event

For kids and the family

Walks in wild places


MORE events next week

MORE events for the month ahead.



31 Jan (Sun): Art In Nature Workshop

Create a nature collage with your family! Let your creative juices flow in this fun and interactive art workshop! We will demonstrate how to create an eco-friendly collage using natural materials, and you will also learn about the variety of plants we have in the Botanic Gardens. Then you'll set off as a family to hunt for materials and create your own masterpiece!
Suitable for families with children aged 5 and above. Register online.

Time: 9.30am-12noon
Venue: Singapore Botanic Gardens, Botany Centre
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

31 Jan (Sun): Paint Along with Pui San at Sungei Buloh

Conducted by Mr Tham Pui San, a volunteer of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Pui San is an avid artist who expresses his passion for nature through his art work. Bring along your art materials and enjoy learning different drawing techniques at Sungei Buloh.
More in the art in the wetlands blog.

Limited to 20 persons. Register online.

Time: 8.30-11.30am
Venue: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Visitor Centre. Meet at Api Api Lab (Kranji Way entrance)
Website: http://artinwetlands.wordpress.com/ and http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

30 Jan (Sat): Edible Garden Tour and Harvesting for families

Come for a tour of an edible garden and harvest from it!
Limited to 10 pairs per session. Registration is required at Visitor Services Centre.

More details on the NParks website.

Time: 9.30am and 11am
Cost: $3 per parent and child pair
Meeting Point: Outside Visitor Services Centre, HortPark
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

30 Jan (Sat): Nature Storytelling for kids

Let us not forget the importance of protecting nature and our environment with stories from ‘A Collection of Jungle Tales’ and ‘The Great Kapok Tree’ by Ms Gini, Instructor, James Cook University. After the session, the children can also visit 2 kapok trees in HortPark to see how they look like.
We will then go on a short guided nature walk into our lovely Upper Seletar rainforest. Families of the rare and shy Banded Leaf Monkey are regularly seen in the forest canopy here!

More info on the NParks website.

Time: 9.30 - 10.30am, 2.30 - 3.30pm
Venue: Lifestyle Corner, HortPark
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

30 Jan (Sat): Celebrating World Wetlands Day 2016 at Sungei Buloh

In conjunction with World Wetlands Day 2016, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and Pulau Ubin have organised exciting talks and a guided walk for you to get to know our wetlands better.

0945-1000 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve: Up close and personal @ Wetland Centre (Wetland Centre, Theaterette)
1000-1015 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve: Life on the mud @ Wetland Centre (Wetland Centre, Theaterette)
1000-1300 Guided walks from the Wetland Centre to Visitor Centre by young guides from Commonwealth Secondary School.
1145-1200 Chek Jawa Wetlands: Exposed @ Visitor Centre (Visitor Centre, Bakau Lab)
1200-1215 Insights to the Horseshoe crab @ Visitor Centre (Visitor Centre, Bakau Lab)

Register for the talks: http://goo.gl/forms/TbcDkN2vg8
Register for the guided walk: http://goo.gl/forms/ZKT8GYfS18

More details on the NParks website.

Venue: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve,
Visitor Centre: 60 Kranji Way, #01-00, Singapore 739453
Wetland Centre: 301 Neo Tiew Crescent, Singapore 718925
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

30 Jan (Sat): What's in my mud?

The mud at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is a key habitat for the plants and animals. This unique habitat is full of surprises!
Get close and personal to the mud and observe the rich biodiversity; critical to the ecosystem at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Join us for an interesting free guided walk featuring our lesser known creatures of the mudflats in Sungei Buloh.

Limited to 20 participants. Register online.

Time: 9.30am-11am
Venue: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Wetland Centre, meet at the Information Counter.
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

18-24 Jan: Highlights of the week ahead

For kids and the family


Walks in wild places


For Nature Society (Singapore) members only


MORE events next week

MORE events for the month ahead.




24 Jan (Sun): FREE Guided Herp Walk @ Treetop Walk!

Herps are reptiles like lizards and snakes, and amphibians like frogs. Let the HSS volunteers introduce you to some delightful and interesting herps on this walk.
We want to raise awareness, in particular, about Herps! These misunderstood creatures are often thought of as scary or unnecessary. But we want to show Singaporeans that Herps are important and integral to the Singaporean ecosystem!

So, do come down for a leisurely stroll along the Trail. Let the guides regale you with tales about the transformation of the entire area over the years. Learn about this green space that plays home to amazing biodiversity! If you’re lucky, you might get to see some of our scaly friends! Best of all, it’s absolutely free! So don’t wait and register at this link!

Time: 8.30am - 12noon
Venue: Tree Top Walk. More details on their blog.
Website: https://herpsocsg.wordpress.com/

23 Jan (Sat): Chek Jawa Intertidal Guided Tour

Join the NParks volunteers for a tour to discover and learn about Chek Jawa's six ecosystems and the diverse array of animals that inhabits these unique habitats.
Journey through the Chek Jawa Visitor Centre, 1.1km long boardwalk, Jejawi viewing tower and sandbar with experienced guides.

Open to all ages, children under the age of 13 to be under parental/guardian guidance. More details and registration online. 'waitlist' will appear once event is fully booked.

Time: 6pm
Venue: Pulau Ubin, Open Lawn (Chek Jawa Visitor Centre). More on how to get to Pulau Ubin and to Chek Jawa.
Cost: $60 per group (for a maximum of 15 people)
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

23 Jan (Sat): Trees of the Fort

Did you know that a Kapok tree can grow up to 40 metres high? Let our nature-loving guides bring you on a journey to find out more about our heritage trees and other beautiful trees like the towering Kapok, flaky Gelam and magnificent Madras Thorn!
This is part of the ‘Connecting with Nature’ programmes featuring a series of educational activities in our parks where you and your family can learn and appreciate nature.

Things to bring: Water, umbrella and mosquito repellent. Do wear comfortable clothes, preferably long pants and shoes too.

The activity will only commence when there are at least 15pax and we will inform you of the confirmation latest 6 days before the activity date. Maximum group size 30 persons. Register online.

Time: 10-11.30am
Venue: Meeting Point, Roundabout, between Fort Canning Art Center and Hotel Fort Canning (map here)
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

23 Jan (Sat): Let’s Discover Plants and Animals - a guided tour for kids

Do you know that the garden is not only a home to plants, but also many fascinating animals, such as, birds, frogs, squirrels, butterflies, dragonflies, ants and earthworms? Be amazed by the many different types of animals you can find in the Singapore Botanic Gardens! Learn fascinating facts about wildlife in the Gardens and pick up tips on respecting them in nature and our environment. You may even have the chance to get up-close-and-personal with an oriental whip snake and a monitor lizard too!

Suitable for children in K1 - P6 levels. Register online.

Time: 10-11am
Venue: Botany Centre, Tanglin Core of the Singapore Botanic Gardens
Fee: $6 per child and $6 per accompanying adult
Website: http://www.sbg.org.sg or call  Education at 64719961 or nparks_sbg_edu@nparks.gov.sg 

23 Jan (Sat): Love MacRitchie walk with the Toddycats

Join enthusiastic volunteer guides who will share with you stories about the amazing plants and animals living in our precious forest heritage at Venus Loop. This series of free guided walks for the public are conducted by The Toddycats, volunteer nature guides of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, for the Love Our MacRitchie Forest movement
More information and online registration at the Love MacRitchie Forest blog.

23 Jan (Sat): Plant Group His-Tree Expression

For Nature Society (Singapore) members only

The Plant Group would like to raise a toast to one of our oldest and most majestic plant friends – the tree. Join us in this double celebration of Heritage Trees and the inscription of the Singapore Botanic Gardens as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will start with a walk through the Gardens where certain NSS members and invited friends will share their botanical insights, history, stories, poetries, songs or drawings of some of their favourite trees. This will be followed by a time of reflection where participants will be encouraged to embark on their own creative expressions from the morning’s experience. We will end the session after listening, watching and enjoying how we each celebrate nature in our own way.

Register online here http://goo.gl/forms/NfNx14s2L9.

More details on the NSS website.

Time: 9-11.30am
Venue: Singapore Botanic Gardens
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

23 Jan (Sat): Nature and Landscape Sketching at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

Open to the Public - Registration Needed

Join artist Alpana Ahuja for a casual site drawing session at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. This is a fun gathering of fellow nature art lovers to observe and sketch Singapore’s diverse flora and fauna. As it is also the bird migratory season, we would like to celebrate our winter visitors before they fly home. Beginners are welcome. No drawing experience is necessary.

Maximum 25 participants. Details will be emailed closer to the activity date

Please register at http://tinyurl.com/sketchsbwr.

For enquiries, please contact Kerry at kerry@nss.org.sg

More details and registration on the NSS website.

Time: 4-6 pm
Venue: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

23 Jan (Sat): What's in my water?

What's that swimming in the water? A fish, a worm, an insect or a crocodile!? Join us for an interesting morning walk getting to know the creatures and plants that lives in and around the water edges of Sungei Buloh.
Limited to 20 participants. Register online.

Time: 9.30am-11am
Venue: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Visitor Centre. Please meet at Information Counter, Visitor Centre (Kranji Way entrance)
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

16 Jan (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.

A tour in Mandarin is also conducted at 4pm.

More details on the NParks website.

Time: 9am, 10am, 11am (English) and 4pm (Mandarin), register at Visitor Centre, Nassim Gate, 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.nparks.gov.sg/

16 Jan (Sat): Kampong Tour at Pulau Ubin

Take a walk with us to experience Ubin's wonderful natural and cultural heritage. The 2.2km trail takes about 2 hours to complete. The tour will start at the Ubin-HSBC Volunteer Hub and take you through the spice trees around Jelutong campsite, Butterfly Hill, Pekan Quarry, Sensory Trail Ponds, Kampong House, Old Bin Kiang School site, Toa Pek Kong Temple and end at the Wayang Stage. You will hear about the use of spices in cooking and the interesting history of the different sites.
Do you know what the Ubin-HSBC Volunteer Hub was in the 1970s? When was the Toa Pek Kong Temple built? If you would like to know, then this is an excellent introduction to the heritage of the island.

For all ages, children under the age of 13 to be under parental/guardian guidance.

Limited to 4 groups, each group a maximum of 15 people. Register online.

Time: 9.30-11.30am
Venue: Meet at Ubin-HSBC Volunteer Hub, a 10-min walk from Ubin Jetty. More on how to get to Pulau Ubin.
Cost: Guided tours charges: SGD$60.00 / Group (for a maximum of 15 people) Only payment via cheque are allowed until further notice. 4 groups per day allowed, each group can accommodate a maximum of 15 people
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

16 Jan (Sat): Nature Sketching in the Gardens with Pui San

Enjoy nature creatively through this engaging, fun and therapeutic activity. Join our volunteer artist, Mr Tham Pui San, as he teaches and guides you in acquiring drawing and observation skills to equip you for an interesting journey of nature appreciation.
Please bring along your own sketching materials. Recommended sketching materials to bring:
• Drawing or sketching block , A3 or A4 size, with a strong rigid back page for support
• Pencils of 2B and 4B softness grade
• Sharpener
• Small piece of sand paper (medium grade)
• Cotton buds
• Normal eraser
• Kneadable eraser or blue tack

This event is held every third Saturday of every alternate month

More details on the NParks website.

Time: 9am - 11am
Venue: Meet at the Service Desk, Botany Centre (Tanglin Entrance). Registration is required 15mins before the activity on a first-come-first-served basis at the desk. Limited to maximum 20 adults per session.
Website: http://www.sbg.org.sg/
Contact: 6471 7361 and NParks_SBG_Visitor_Services@nparks.gov.sg

16 Jan (Sat): Heron Watch island-wide

Join this island-wide survey of Herons, Egrets and Bitterns. As they are good indicators of our environmental health, it is important to monitor how well they are coping in our local setting. Anyone can take part by contributing heron sightings at green spaces in your neighbourhood, canals and wooded parks.
Novice birders can learn to identify the common species of herons at our training session on 9 Jan (Sat), 9-11am at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Extension.

To register and for more information, email Yap Xinli (Yap_Xinli@NParks.gov.sg). RSVP deadline: 5 Jan 2016 (Tue)

Date: 16 Jan 2016 (Sat)
Time: 7-10am
Training session (optional, for novice bird watchers): 9 Jan 2016 (Sat), 9-11am

16 Jan (Sat): What's in my mangrove?

Mangrove forests are living borders of the freshwater and salt water. Out of 73 true mangroves species worldwide, 22 can be found in Sungei Buloh. Join us for a lovely morning walk and get to know the mangrove trees and plants of Sungei Buloh.
Limited to 20 participants. Register online.

Time: 9.30am-11am
Venue: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Visitor Centre. Please meet at the Information Counter, Kranji Way entranceWebsite: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401

16 Jan (Sat): Nature Appreciation Walk at Lower Peirce

Re-discover the wonders of Lower Peirce through this free nature appreciation guided walk. Along the shady, cool boardwalk, discover and learn about the amazing plants and animals that can be found along the trails.
Keep an eye out for pitcher plants, Macaranga (Ant-plant) and Nibong palms as well as macaques and on lucky days we might even get spot the Flying lemur (Colugo) in action. Gain a greater appreciation of Singapore’s rich natural heritage and the need to protect it for our future generations.

What to bring: Water, rain gear, umbrella, hat
What to wear: Comfortable T-shirt, long pants, and covered hiking shoes
Group Size: Max 15 participants per group

All Participants needs to be registered. Register online.

Time: 9.30-10.30am
Venue: Lower Peirce Board Walk. Meet at entrance of Hevea Trail Entrance.
Website: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/

16 Jan (Sat): Birdwatching at Rifle Range

For Nature Society (Singapore) members only

This walk will take us from Rifle Range through forest trails to Jelutong Tower within the Central Catchment Forest. This is a good time to look for wintering birds like the Forest Wagtail, Arctic Warbler and maybe the elusive Ferruginous Flycatcher. We will also be searching for resident birds such as the Asian Fairy Bluebird, Blue-winged Leafbird and Short-tailed Babbler.

Pls wear comfortable hiking or walking shoes, preferably waterproof, and bring drinking water. Bring a poncho or raincoat in case of rainy weather.

More details and registration on the NSS website.

Time: 7.30-11.30am
Venue: Meet Tan Ju Lin at 7.30 am at the junction of Rifle Range and Dunearn roads. We will carpool to the starting point of the walk.
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

16 Jan (Sat): NSS Kids’ Fun with Butterflies at HortPark

Open to the Public - Registration Needed

Let your kids be inspired by the Butterfly Boys Tan Teong Seng (13 years old), Daryl Ng (11 years old) and Soh Zhi Bing (9 years old) as they lead us in search of pretty painted wings at HortPark. Expect to see garden denizens such as the Lemon Emigrant and Striped Albatross. We might even get to meet our unofficial National Butterfly the Common Rose or Singapore’s biggest butterfly the Common Birdwing.

Please register your children (4 to 12 years old) with Gloria Seow at gloria_seow@yahoo.com, stating their names and ages, if they are NSS members or not, if they need to loan binoculars (FOC) or not, and let us have your mobile number.

More details on the NSS website.

Time: 9.30-11.30 am
Venue: Details will be emailed to registrants a week before the activity.
Cost: $5 per child (member) or $10 per child (non-member) will be collected on the spot. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to join in at no charge.
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

15 Jan (Fri): Mandarin guided tour at Sungei Buloh

Join us for a morning guided walk around the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.
This guided walk is suitable for everyone, including families with children.

The walk will be cancelled in the event of rain. Number of participants is limited to 20 people. Minimum number of participants is 5. Register online.

Time: 9.30-11am
Venue: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Visitor Centre. Please meet at the Information Counter, Kranji Way entrance
Website: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/

4-10 Jan: Highlights of the week ahead

Walks in wild places



Make a wild difference



For Nature Society (Singapore) members only



MORE events next week

MORE events for the month ahead.


10 Jan (Sun): Love MacRitchie walk with the Toddycats

Join enthusiastic volunteer guides who will share with you stories about the amazing plants and animals living in our precious forest heritage at Venus Loop. This series of free guided walks for the public are conducted by The Toddycats, volunteer nature guides of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, for the Love Our MacRitchie Forest movement
More information and online registration at the Love MacRitchie Forest blog.

9 Jan (Sat): Rainforest Tour at the Singapore Botanic Gardens

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.

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, Nassim Gate.
Tour duration: One hour.
Website: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/

9 Jan (Sat): What's in my sky?

Birdwatchers, join us in this free guided walk and learn to identify many amazing birds of different species that passes through or make Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve their home.

Limited to 20 persons. Register online.

Time: 9.30am-11am
Venue: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Wetland CentrePlease meet at Information Counter, Neo Tiew entrance
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

9 Jan (Sat): Ecolink@BKE Guided Walk

The Eco-Link@BKE is an ecological bridge that spans the Bukit Timah Expressway, connecting Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Central Catchment Nature Reserve. The first of its kind in Southeast Asia, its main purpose is to restore the ecological connection between two nature reserves, allowing wildlife to expand their habitat, genetic pool and survival chances.
Participants will have the opportunity to visit the Eco-Link@BKE led by NParks and volunteer guides and learn of its role and importance in the conservation of Singapore’s natural heritage.

More details and registration on the NParks website for 9am tour and 10.30am tour.

Time: 9-10.30am and 10.30am-12 noon.
Venue: Meet at Dairy Farm Nature Park, Carpark B
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

9 Jan (Sat): Horseshoe Crab Rescue and Research Programme

Open to the Public - Registration Needed

Horseshoe crabs (HSC) are in decline globally due to the loss of habitat, poaching and overfishing. They also get trapped in abandoned fishing nets and need our help to set them free. With such concerns, NSS aims to continually monitor our local HSC population to ensure that they stay around for many generations to come. Things to bring: cap, shoes/booties, sunblock, repellent, cutter for horseshoe crab rescue and camera. Washing facilities available after the event.

Please register http://tinyurl.com/nsshscreg. Details will be emailed upon registration. For enquiries please contact Vanitha (thanetha@hotmail.com). More details on the NSS website.

Time: 4 - 7pm
Venue: Kranji Loop. Details will be emailed upon successful registration.
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

9 Jan (Sat): Coney Island to Lorong Halus Ramble


For Nature Society (Singapore) members only

Let us explore the newly-opened Coney Island and enjoy its refreshing morning air. From Coney Island’s West Entrance to its East Entrance, P Pandian and Sutari Supari will lead us in a birdwatching and nature appreciation ramble that ends at Lorong Halus. We will also check out the undulating grounds at Halus, which is rich in bird and plant life.

More details on the NSS website.

Time: 8am to late noon.
Venue: Meet at Punggol Point located at the end of Punggol Road, accessible by buses 82 and 84.
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

28 Dec - 3 Jan: Highlights of the week ahead

Only one organised event this week!

Go wild on your own!

This long weekend, why not explore our wild places free-and-easy? Great destinations include Pulau Ubin and a wide range of seashores, mangroves and forest destinations. Lots of info for visitors on wildsingapore with tips on how to prepare for a trip, how to get there and what to see and do.

A tip for a long-weekend trip

Our wild places and parks can get VERY crowded on long weekends. The best way to avoid the crowds is to arrive early in the morning and leave early. Our wildlife is generally more active in the morning too!

MORE events next week

MORE events for the month ahead.


2 Jan (Sat): What's in my mud?

The mud at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is a key habitat for the plants and animals. This unique habitat is full of surprises!
Get close and personal to the mud and observe the rich biodiversity; critical to the ecosystem at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Join us for an interesting free guided walk featuring our lesser known creatures of the mudflats in Sungei Buloh.

Limited to 20 participants. Register online.

Time: 9.30am-11am
Venue: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Wetland Centre, meet at the Information Counter.
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

28 Feb (Sun): Birdwatching at Kranji Marshes

Open to the Public - Registration Needed

This walk is offered in collaboration with NParks and we will explore the new broadwalk which will give us excellent views across the Kranji Marshes. Birding highlights here include the Red-wattled Lapwing, Purple Swamphen, Yellow Bittern, White-browed Crake, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Grey-headed Fish Eagle and more. The walk will start from Turut Track and will last about 3 hours.

More details and registration on the NSS website.

Time: 7.30-11.00 am
Venue: Meet at at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Visitor Centre coach bay at Kranji Way. Reachable by Bus 925 from Kranji MRT station. From here, a hired bus will ferry us to the starting point of our walk at Turut Track.
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.