30 May (Wed): Sara Goes Gardening - a guided tour for kids

Sara, the Botanicosaurus, and her siblings and friends are going to discover the joy of gardening at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Join Sara as she discovers fascinating facts and enjoys interesting stories about aloe vera, lemon grass, garlic, spring onion and many more nutritious and yummy herbs and spices. Alongside learning about plants for a healthier and stronger body, pick up gardening tips to grow your favourite plants for your very own kitchen garden!

Suitable for children in K1 - P6 levels

More details and registration on the NParks website.

Time: 10 - 11am
Cost: $9 per child (includes "Sara Goes Gardening" book) and $6 per accompanying adult.
Venue: Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, Bukit Timah Core of the Singapore Botanic Gardens
Website: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/

29 May (Tue): 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.

More details and registration on the NParks website.

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

21 - 27 May: Highlights of the week ahead

Pesta Ubin starts this weekend!
With lots of nature happenings. Something for everyone.

• 27 May (Sun): FREE Ubin Nature Walk with Strix Wildlife Consultancy
• 27 May (Sun): Pesta Ubin WalkRunBike 2018
• 27 May (Sun): FREE Pesta Ubin Photo Booth
• 27 May (Sun): Ubin 2Rivers Kayaking by Kayakasia
• 28 May - 2 Jun: Tua Pek Kong Festival

Check out these FREE activities. No registration required. Simply come to Pulau Ubin and join the fun! More Pesta Ubin highlights.

Check out the Pesta Ubin blog, and like the Pesta Ubin facebook page for the latest updates. Find a Pesta Ubin activity that suits your schedule and interest! Many are specially for kids and for the family.

For kids and the family

• FREE Ubin Nature Walk with Strix Wildlife Consultancy
• Ecolife Tour at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park
• 9 Jun (Sat): Be a Chek Jawa nature guide! For families to volunteer together at Chek Jawa. Registration closes 25 May (Fri).
• Launch of children's books on Singapore's seagrasses and corals!

Walks in wild places

• What's in my water?
• Nature Appreciation Walk at Windsor Nature Park
• A walk with your neighbours - the macaques of Bukit Timah
• Learning Forest Tour
• Plant Guided Walk at Jurong Lake Gardens
• Free Heritage Tree Tour at Sentosa Nature Discovery
• Civic District Tree Trail
• Race Against Time - Science behind a Botanic Garden Tour

For Nature Society (Singapore) members only

• Birdwatching at Gardens by the Bay

Make a wild difference

• Habitat Enhancement at Punggol Point Park
• 9 Jun (Sat): Be a Chek Jawa nature guide! For families to volunteer together at Chek Jawa. Registration closes 25 May (Fri).

Early next week

• 29 May (Tue): Mandarin guided tour at Sungei Buloh
• 30 May (Wed): Sara Goes Gardening - a guided tour for kids

Go wild during the school holidays!

Check out the highlights of exciting nature activities specially for kids!

And MORE fun school holiday activities to discover and enjoy.

MORE events next week

MORE events for the month ahead.

27 May (Sun): Civic District Tree Trail

The FREE Civic District Tree Trail takes you through Singapore’s historic Civic District where you will be marveled by many majestic and interesting trees, some of which have stood tall for many generations and witnessed the transformation and progress of Singapore through the years. Join us as we take you through part of the trail starting from the entrance of Raffles Landing to CHIJMES.

More details and register on the NParks website.

Time: 9am - 10.30am
Venue: Empress Place, Raffles Landing (white Raffles statue behind Asian Civilisations Museum).
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

27 May (Sun): Birdwatching at Gardens by the Bay

For Nature Society (Singapore) members only

The plentiful water features and rich plant life at Gardens by the Bay have proven attractive to our local birds. Interesting sightings include the Lesser Whistling Duck, Red-legged Crake, Stork-billed Kingfisher and various sunbirds.

More details and registrtion on the NSS website.

Time: 7.30am to 11am
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

27 May (Sun): Pesta Ubin WalkRunBike 2018

Only at Pulau Ubin, only for Pesta Ubin. Choose from a family friendly 2km scenic route, or a 6km rustic route. New! This year, join mountain biking at the 6km Ketam Mount Bike Park.

In support of The Ubin Way, plastic water bottles will NOT be given out during this activity. Participants are encouraged to bring their own water bottle (BYOB) for topping up at at the start and finish points.

Register online http://alfachua.wixsite.com/pestaubinwrb2018

Jointly organized by Tanjong Pagar-Tiong Bahru CSC, Queenstown CSC, Buona Vista CSC, Henderson-Dawson CSC & Coffee Tea Runners

Time: 9.15am
Venue: Pulau Ubin
Cost: $20 for Run/Bike, $10 for Walk. 10% discount for PAssionCard Members.

Participants will receive an exclusive Compressports event tee worth $39.90 and a $5 voucher upon completion of the event and a chance to win one of the 10 Actxa Swift Activity trackers worth $49.90 each.

26 May (Sat): Launch of children's books on Singapore's seagrasses and corals!

All are welcome! Come for this special book launch which includes FREE fun storytelling and craft session!

Follow the adventures of Doo the Dugong, Ollie the Octopus in the seagrass meadows; and Cory the coral spat among the reefs and mangroves.

In conjunction with the International Year of the Reef 2018, students from the Raffles Ecological Literacy Programme have written and illustrated two books based on our two important marine habitats - the reef and the seagrass.

The two books are aimed at spreading awareness of our rich natural heritage among the younger generation through an engaging story. Join us at 2pm for the launch and continue at 3pm for storytelling and craft sessions.

The two titles will be on sales along with the past 15 titles at the launch. All proceeds will go back to the programme in support of future publications.

Time: 2-4pm
Venue: My Tree House, Central Public Library (B1, National Library Building, 100 Victoria St, Singapore 188064)

26 May (Sat): A walk with your neighbours - the macaques of Bukit Timah

The long-tailed macaques are the most conspicuous animals at Bukit Timah. Although commonly seen, they are very misunderstood. Few seeing them realise anything about the social world these monkeys live in. They have kin networks, power struggles, friends, foes, and an otherwise complex social network. In many ways, they provide a mirror of our own sociality.

If you would like to learn more about your community and the interesting world of your neighbouring macaques at Macritchie, please join our free walk, led by experts from the Jane Goodall Institute Singapore.

Suitable for adults and children above 8 years.

More details and registration on the NParks website.

Time: 5pm - 6.30pm
Venue: Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, BTNR Visitor Centre's Front Courtyard, Visitor Centre Front Courtyard
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

26 May (Sat): Nature Appreciation Walk at Windsor Nature Park

Ideally situated at the perimeter of Central Catchment Nature Reserve, the 75-hectare Windsor Nature Park is the gateway to the rich biodiversity of the largest nature reserve in Singapore. The nature park was developed as a green buffer to help reduce visitorship pressures and man-made disturbances currently experienced by the nature reserve

Through this guided walk, you will gain a greater appreciation of Singapore’s rich natural heritage and the need to protect it for future generations. Come join us and discover the importance of Windsor Nature Park as a buffer to the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.

More details and registration on the NParks website.

Time: 9.30am - 10.30am
Venue: Meet at Windsor Nature Park Pavilion
Website: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/

26 May (Sat): Race Against Time - Science behind a Botanic Garden Tour

This session introduces the research facilities at the Singapore Botanic Gardens such as the Library of Botany and Horticulture, Orchid and Micro-propagation laboratory and the Herbarium.

Highlights of this 45-minute tour includes a visit to the Herbarium which stores physical records of reference plant materials, some dating as far back as 1790. In addition, learn about our hybridization programme for orchids, a process introduced back in 1930’s by the then Director, R.E Holttum.

Limited to 25 people, for ages 9 and above.

This tour repeats every fourth Saturday. More details on the NParks website.

Time: 10am, registration is required at the Service Desk 15-minutes before the scheduled start time.
Venue: Botany Centre, Tanglin Gate (nearest MRT is Orchard station)
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

26 May (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.

More details and registration on the NParks website.

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/

26 May (Sat): Ecolife Tour at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park

This family tour introduces Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park and its biodiversity through the use of interactive exploration themes and activities. Have fun working together to answer worksheets, conduct surveys and photo hunts, among other activities.

More details and registration on the NParks website.

Time: 9am -11am
Meeting point: Bishan- Ang Mo Kio Park Promenade
Contact: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

26 May (Sat): Learning Forest Tour

Join this FREE tour of The Learning Forest every Saturday which features a network of boardwalks and elevated walkways that allow visitors to explore habitats ranging from a freshwater forest wetland to a lowland rainforest.

isitors can learn about freshwater forest wetland ecosystems at the Keppel Discovery Wetlands and walk amongst a collection of some of the tallest tree species in Southeast Asia at the SPH Walk of Giants.

More details on the NParks website.

Time: 9am - 10am
Venue: Singapore Botanic Gardens, Visitor Services at Tyersall Gate. Register 15 minute before session starts.
Website: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/

26 May (Sat): Free Heritage Tree Tour at Sentosa Nature Discovery

Did you know Sentosa is home to more than 25 carefully-conserved heritage trees?

Come and join us for a FREE Nature Heritage Tree Tour happening every last Saturday of the month! Perfect for families who wants to spend quality time together and have fun learning!

Register and find out more by emailing nature@sentosa.com.sg

Time: 10am - 11am
Venue: Sentosa Nature Discovery, Imbiah Lookout
Website: https://www.sentosa.com.sg/State-Specials/Events/Free-Heritage-Tree-Tour-at-Sentosa-Nature-Discovery

26 May (Sat): Habitat Enhancement at Punggol Point Park

Get hands-on experience creating floating islands.

Join us for a morning of fun as we create floating islands to enhance the habitat at Punggol Point Park. Participants will be divided into groups and each group will be creating their own floating island.

More details and registration on the NParks website.

Time: 8am - 11am
Venue: Punggol Point Park
Website: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/

26 May (Sat): Plant Guided Walk at Jurong Lake Gardens

Treat your senses to a beautiful morning amidst greenery! Join us for a free guided walk to appreciate plants and trees around Jurong Lake Gardens.

Take in the sights of the trees, smell the fragrance of flowers in bloom, and give gardening a try in our hands-on activity during the session. The guided walk will be hosted by APSN Delta Senior School students. For adults and children 6 years old and above.

Time:

• 8am - 9.30am: registration on the NParks website.
• 10am - 11am: registration on the NParks website.

Venue: Jurong Lake Gardens, Entrance nearest to Chinese Garden MRT. Meet at Chinese Garden MRT entrance (a detailed map will be provided to those who register)
Website: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/

14-20 May: Highlights of the week ahead

Pesta Ubin is coming soon!
With lots of nature happenings. Something for everyone. Check out the Pesta Ubin blog, and like the Pesta Ubin facebook page for the latest updates.

Walks in wild places

• Ubin Rustic Reflections Tour
• Kampong Tour at Pulau Ubin
• A walk with your neighbours: The macaques of Lower Peirce
• What's in my mud?
• Nature Appreciation Walk at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
• Nature Sketching in the Gardens with Pui San
• Trees of the Fort
• National Orchid Garden guided tour

Early next week

• 20 May (Sun): Chek Jawa intertidal walk
• 21 May (Mon): Chek Jawa intertidal walk
• 21 May (Mon): Sisters Islands Marine Park intertidal walk
• 22 May (Tue): Sisters Islands Marine Park intertidal walk

Go wild during the school holidays!

Check out the highlights of exciting nature activities specially for kids!

And MORE fun school holiday activities to discover and enjoy.

MORE events next week

MORE events for the month ahead.

22 May (Tue): Sisters Islands Marine Park intertidal walk

Update on 19 May: Big Sisters Island: intertidal walks suspended, some beaches closed, may resume end June 2018, More details.

The intertidal area at Sisters’ Islands Marine Park is most suitable for visiting during low tides of 0.4 metres and below. This is when you will be able to see the shore teeming with marine life as the area will be submerged under water at higher tides.

Nature guides will be on hand to bring you on a tour to experience the Marine Park’s amazing biodiversity. These guided walks are conducted free of charge bi-monthly. Each guided walk session is open to a maximum of 45 people.

More details and registration on the NParks website.

21 May (Mon): Chek Jawa intertidal walk

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 on the NParks website'waitlist' will appear once event is fully booked.

Time: 9am - 11am
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/

21 May (Mon): Sisters Islands Marine Park intertidal walk

Update on 19 May: Big Sisters Island: intertidal walks suspended, some beaches closed, may resume end June 2018, More details.

The intertidal area at Sisters’ Islands Marine Park is most suitable for visiting during low tides of 0.4 metres and below. This is when you will be able to see the shore teeming with marine life as the area will be submerged under water at higher tides.

Nature guides will be on hand to bring you on a tour to experience the Marine Park’s amazing biodiversity. These guided walks are conducted free of charge bi-monthly. Each guided walk session is open to a maximum of 45 people.

More details and registration on the NParks website.

20 May (Sun): Chek Jawa intertidal walk

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 on the NParks website'waitlist' will appear once event is fully booked.

Time: 8am - 10am
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/

19 May (Sat): A walk with your neighbours: The macaques of Lower Peirce

The long-tailed macaques are the most conspicuous animals at Lower Peirce Reservoir Park. Although commonly seen, they are very misunderstood. Few seeing them realise anything about the social world these monkeys live in. They have kin networks, power struggles, friends, foes, and an otherwise complex social network. In many ways, they provide a mirror of our own society.

If you would like to learn more about your community and the interesting world of your neighbouring macaques at Lower Peirce, please join our walk which is led by experts from the Jane Goodall Institute Singapore.

More details and registration on the NParks website.

Time: 5pm - 6.30pm
Venue: Lower Peirce Trail, Hevea Trail Entrance
Website: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/

19 May (Sat): National Orchid Garden guided tour

Spend an hour with our volunteer guides as they introduce how orchids are the largest flowering group of plants in the world. Visit the collection of hybrids and species that in collection of the National Orchid Garden.

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 15 minutes before the tour starts. Registration is on a first-come-first-served basis.
Venue: Singapore Botanic Gardens, Visitor Services Desk at Nassim Gate
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/`

19 May (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 on the NParks website.

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/

19 May (Sat): Ubin Rustic Reflections Tour

This tour takes approximately 2 hours. It starts at the Assembly Area before proceeding to the former Bin Kiang School site. You will then head over to the Sensory Trail pond to learn about the habitat restoration efforts before making stops at Pulau Ubin’s former headman’s house and Kampung Melayu.

Tour participants will also visit a rubber plantation that once supplied Singapore, and possibly the region, with latex, and learn more about the different plants that played a major role in shaping this country’s culinary delights at the Ubin Fruit Orchard before ending the tour at Teck Seng’s Place – a restored Chinese kampung house.

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

Limited to 2 groups, each group a maximum of 15 people. More details and registration on the NParks website.

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/

19 May (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!

More details and registration on the NParks website.

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

19 May (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.

This event is held every third Saturday of every alternate month

More details and registration on the NParks website.

Time: 9am - 11am
Venue: Singapore Botanic Gardens
Website: http://www.sbg.org.sg/

19 May (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 on the NParks website.

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

19 May (Sat): Nature Appreciation Walk at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

Join this free Guided Nature Appreciation Walk to find out more about the flora and fauna that can be found in the reserve!

Experience nature in its pristine form at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, which is a mere 12 km from the bustling city centre. By virtue of Singapore’s location on the equatorial belt, the reserve has one of the richest and most diverse ecological systems.

More information and registration on the NParks website.

Time: 9.30am - 10.30am.
Venue: Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (Visitor Centre)
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

19 May (Sat): Siloso Coastal Forest Tour

For Nature Society (Singapore) members only

Many rare plant species grow in the coastal forest at Siloso Point, the last accessible natural coastline in Sentosa. Join the Plant Group for a three-hour tour of the area.

More details and registration on the NSS website.

Time: 7.15am to 10.30am
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

7-13 May: Highlights of the week ahead

Pesta Ubin is coming soon!
With lots of nature happenings. Something for everyone. Check out the Pesta Ubin blog, and like the Pesta Ubin facebook page for the latest updates.

For kids and the family

• Free Chek Jawa boardwalk tour with the Naked Hermit Crabs

Walks in wild places

• Butterfly Walk at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital
• A walk with your neighbours: The macaques of MacRitchie
• Rain Forest Tour at the Singapore Botanic Gardens
• Learning Forest Tour
• What's in my mangroves?
• Evening Chorus at Kranji Marshes
• Figs of the Fort Trail
• Trees of the Fort
• Pelagic Birdwatching

MORE events next week

MORE events for the month ahead.

13 May (Sun): Pelagic Birdwatching

For Nature Society (Singapore) members only

May's pelagic trip is undertaken to view seabirds on their spring migration northwards. We will sail the Singapore Strait and turn around between the end of Changi and north of Batam. We will be expecting Swift and Lesser Crested Terns and the uncommon Bridled and Aluetian Terns. Swinhoe's Storm Petrels should also be migrating at this time. With luck, we may also encounter Short-tailed Shearwaters and skuas.

More details and registration on the NSS website.

Time: 5.30 am to 2.30 pm
Location: Singapore Strait
Cost: $100 per person
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

13 May (Sun): Butterfly Walk at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital

Open to the Public

With a record of close to a hundred butterfly species, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) boasts sightings of some of the rarest gems including the Influent Royal, Brown Awl, Green Baron and Great Mormon. Threatened species like the Common Birdwing and Common Rose (Singapore’s National Butterfly) breed here. Even the once thought extinct Clipper was found here in October 2017.

More details on the NSS website.

Time: 9am - 11am
Venue: Meet at the main lobby of Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH)
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

12 May (Sat): A walk with your neighbours: The macaques of MacRitchie

The long-tailed macaques are the most conspicuous animals at MacRitchie Reservoir Park. Although commonly seen, they are very misunderstood. Few seeing them realise anything about the social world these monkeys live in. They have kin networks, power struggles, friends, foes, and an otherwise complex social network. In many ways, they provide a mirror of our own society.

If you would like to learn more about your community and the interesting world of your neighbouring macaques at Lower Peirce, please join our walk which is led by experts from the Jane Goodall Institute Singapore.

More details and registration on the NParks website.

Time: 5pm - 6.30pm
Venue: Macritchie Reservoir Park, Mushroom Cafe
Website: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/

12 May (Sat): Evening Chorus at Kranji Marshes

Join this free walk for an introduction to the unique nature area and the species which are living in its marsh, woodland and grass habitats.

The walk will also guide participants through the core conservation area, which is not usually opened to the public, as it is ecologically sensitive. Led by NParks volunteers The approximately 3 km guided walk will take visitors on a two-hour journey.

More details and registration on the NParks website.

Time: 4.30pm - 6.30pm
Meeting point: Kranji Gate, 11 Neo Tiew Lane 2
Website: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/

12 May (Sat): Rain Forest Tour at the Singapore Botanic Gardens

Discover the enchantment of our tropical rain forest with our volunteer guides in this one-hour tour.

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

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

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/

12 May (Sat): What's in my mangroves?

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 this free morning walk and get to know the mangrove trees and plants of Sungei Buloh.

Limited to 20 participants. Register on the the NParks website

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

12 May (Sat): Learning Forest Tour

Join this FREE tour of The Learning Forest every Saturday which features a network of boardwalks and elevated walkways that allow visitors to explore habitats ranging from a freshwater forest wetland to a lowland rainforest.

isitors can learn about freshwater forest wetland ecosystems at the Keppel Discovery Wetlands and walk amongst a collection of some of the tallest tree species in Southeast Asia at the SPH Walk of Giants.

More details on the NParks website.

Time: 9am - 10am
Venue: Singapore Botanic Gardens, Visitor Services at Tyersall Gate. Register 15 minute before session starts.
Website: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/

12 May (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, please register here.

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

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

12 May (Sat): Figs of the Fort Trail

Did you know that we have more than 10 species of Fig trees in Fort Canning Park? Join us for the free tour as we learn about the Figs in Fort Canning park, including the magnificent Burmese Banyan tree that has been endorsed as one of the Heritage Trees in Singapore!

More details and registration on the NParks website.

Time: 4pm - 6pm
Venue: Meet at the Roundabout, between Fort Canning Art Center and Hotel Fort Canning
Website: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/

12 May (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!

More details and registration on the NParks website.

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

12 May (Sat): Be a Chek Jawa nature guide!

Update: This event is postponed due to low response. The volunteers will now do a public walk instead.

No prior experience is needed. Families welcomed to volunteer as a group.  Join this Naked Hermit Crab familiarisation tour in May so you can volunteer with the Chek Jawa Open House in June.

Volunteers making a difference for Chek Jawa!

Sign up now online! Registration closes on 9 May (Wed).

More details on the Naked Hermit Crab blog.

30 Apr - 6 May: Highlights of the week ahead

Holiday special

• 1 May (Tue): Istana Nature Guided Walk

For kids and the family

• Craft with us for kids at Jurong Lake Gardens

Walks in wild places

• Love MacRitchie Walk by Toddycats - Venus Drive
• What's in my mangroves?
• Healing Garden Tour

Make a wild difference

• Mangroves cum Coastal Clean-Up at Ubin

Wild talk

• 5 May (Sat): Talk on "Befriending the Bees"

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. Download NParks' DIY guides to explore some parks and nature places on your own.

A tip for long weekends

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.

6 May (Sun): Mangroves cum Coastal Clean-Up at Ubin

Open to the Public - Registration Needed

Pulau Ubin is designated as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area. In line with the Restore Ubin Mangroves (RUM) initiative, join us as we remove abandoned drift nets and marine debris that choke up Ubin’s coastline. This prepares the selected sites for scientific surveys and RUM works. It ensures that our wildlife have the proper environment to thrive.

More details and registration on the NSS website.

Time: 8.30am - 11am
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

6 May (Sun): Love MacRitchie Walk by Toddycats - Venus Drive

Join the NUS Toddycats of Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum in discovering the forest! Learn about amazing plants and animals living in our backyard as part of the Love Our MacRitchie Forest movement.

Come join us and learn about the conservation issues surrounding the proposed Cross Island MRT Line (CRL) through the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.

The forest trail at Venus Loop is a dirt path, which is relatively level and suitable for children and the elderly. Be prepared for some mud.

This guided walk is conducted by volunteers and is free-of-charge. Limited spaces available.

More details and registration online.

Time: 8.30am - 11.30am
Venue: Windsor Nature Park's drop off point, Venus Drive
Website: http://lovemacritchie.wordpress.com/

6 May (Sun): Tour of St John's Island Trail

Update in the NParks website: "Temporary closure notice - The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) had closed part of St John's Island from now till the end of the year arising from the asbestos found in the campsite area. As investigations and works to remove the asbestos are ongoing, the St John's Island trail and the Marine Park Outreach and Education Centre and St John’s Island Trail will be closed until further notice. We seek your understanding for the inconvenience caused."
St John's Island houses the Marine Park Public Gallery, and the western shore of St John's is part of the Marine Park. You can join a free guided tour every first Sunday of every month. Led by volunteers, the 2.8 km St John’s Island Trail has 15 stations highlighting the diversity of flora and fauna as well as the island’s colourful history.

You can also do the trail on your own, download the DIY trail e-guide or grab a copy of the DIY trail guide at the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park Public Gallery.

More details and registration online.

Time: 10am
Website: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/

5 May (Sat): Craft with us for kids at Jurong Lake Gardens

Have fun colouring together to learn about the biodiversity around Jurong Lake Gardens! Get crafty with us as we also learn about Paddy the flying Pulai seed and create your very own pop-up craft!

Storytelling at 9am to 9.20am
Craft session from 9.20am to 10am

More details and registration on the NParks website.

Storytelling at 11am to 11.20am.
Craft session from 11.20am to 12pm.More details and registration on the NParks website.

Suitable for kids 3 years old to 10 years old

Venue: Jurong Lake Gardens, Japanese Gardens - GuestHouse
Website: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/ For enquiries, please contact JurongLakeGardens@nparks.gov.sg

5 May (Sat): What's in my mangroves?

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 this free morning walk and get to know the mangrove trees and plants of Sungei Buloh.

Limited to 20 participants. Register on the the NParks website

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

5 May (Sat): Healing Garden Tour

The Healing Garden 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.

Please note that the Healing Garden is closed every Tuesday, and opened 5am - 7.30pm daily. Admission is free.

Registration is required 15 minutes before the tour at the Visitor Centre. Mandarin tours are only available at 10am. English tours are available for all slots. This tour repeats every First Saturday of the month. More details on the NParks website.

This walk is conducted every first Saturday of the month.

Time: 9am - 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, Nassim Gate
Website: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/