18 Mar (Sat): Rainforest Walk at Lower Peirce Reservoir

Join Cicada Tree Eco Place on this walk specially for kids at our priceless Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR) that consists of the reservoirs of MacRitchie, Lower and Upper Peirce, Lower and; Upper Seletar, and the crucial rainforests that surround them. The rainforest here creates rain and catches rainfall, storing it in its ecosystem, and drop by drop form streams slowly winding through the forest and into the reservoirs. So in Singapore, we are also drinking water that has been made and filtered by rainforests!

We visit Lower Peirce Reservoir to walk its canopied forest trails, along its reservoir banks and forest stream. The Lower and Upper Peirce reservoirs are actually the headwater site of the Kalang River. The forest streams here are this river’s origins, to flow and join with the Geylang and Singapore Rivers before they together meet the sea (but now the Marina Barrage).

The CCNR is still home to many native wildlife, most already gone extinct in other parts of de-forested, highly developed Singapore where they once lived. Here live pangolin, mousedeer, colugo and wild pig. Also Gold-ringed Catsnake, Black-bearded Flying Dragon, Banded Woodpecker and Greater Racket-tailed Drongo. At water’s edge, jewel-like dragon and damsel flies flit about. We should be able to spot the Treehugger Dragonfly on one of the waterside trees here. White-bellied and Grey-headed Fish-eagles hunt over the reservoir. The orange Four-ridged Toad calls at the forest stream and we may spot the well-camouflaged Copper-cheeked Frog on a leaf, both depending on an unpolluted source of water for their tadpoles.

Our rainforest walk is a gentle stroll on level boardwalks and pathways with some steps. Baby buggies are possible. This walk ends back at our start point.

To reserve your place, please register by sending an email to Andrew Tay at andrewtay.sg@gmail.com

Time: 10.00am to 12.00pm
Cost: $13 per participant. Free for participants’ kids aged 6 yrs and below.
Venue: Lower Peirce Reservoir Park
Meeting Point: We meet at 9.30am at the main entrance of Lower Peirce Reservoir Park at Old Upper Thomson Road, outside the toilet building, behind the petrol stations.
End Point: This walk ends at another entry point to the boardwalk at Old Upper Thomson Road which is nearer to the Casuarina Road junction. Participants may want to exit here to have lunch at the Casuarina Road shops. For those who need to walk back to the starting point and car park, we will do so by back-tracking.
Address: 16 Old Upper Thomson Road (off Upper Thomson Road), S(576214).

Please note:

• Bring refillable water bottle, poncho/raincoat/umbrella, hat, snacks, herbal mosquito repellent.
• Wear full-length long pants, socks and fully-covered shoes. Long-sleeved shirt is recommended, otherwise teeshirt will do.