8-13 May: Wayang performances at Pulau Ubin

Pulau Ubin town comes alive during the celebration of "Tua Pek Kong's Birthday".
Celebrations starts at Pulau Ubin from today 8 May (Fri) until 13 May (Wed) with traditional chinese opera performances "wayang" on 8-10 May, and a modern "getai" performance on 13 May, on the last day.

Bumboat rides in and out of Ubin are free most evenings from 6.30pm for this period.

Thanks to Adelle Wang for the heads up!

More about Pulau Ubin and how to get there and wayang at Ubin.

8 May (Fri): Workshop for Nature Guides - Pioneer Plants

Treasures of our "Wastelands": Pioneer Plants Workshop
by the Leafmonkey Workshop
What is the workshop about?
This workshop is an introduction to pioneer plants and the basic principles of succession ecology. Learn about some common species, and how our “wastelands” are actually important pioneering plant species.

About the speaker
Bian Tan graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Ornamental Horticulture and Master’s in Plant Taxonomy. He is the SEA Programme Coordinator for the Botanical Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), and assists botanical institutions with plant conservation, environmental education and the SEABG network. Prior to this, he spent almost 20 years in the USA studying and working at the San Francisco Botanical Gardens, where he pioneered the establishment of their South East Asian Cloud Forest.

More details of the event on the Leafmonkey Workshop

Time: 7 - 9.30pm
Venue: Civil Service College, 31 North Buona Vista Road [Map]
Website: http://leafmonkeyworkshop.blogspot.com/
Contact: leafmonkey@gmail.com

5 May (Tue): Talk on "From Chimpanzees to a Reason for Hope"

Dr. Goodall is an internationally acclaimed researcher, New York Times bestselling author, and UN Messenger of Peace. She is featured in over 15 films as well as countless National Geographic and Discovery Channel programmes.

Learn more about Dr. Jane’s life and research before her June visit to Singapore.

Attend this free talk "From Chimpanzees to a Reason for Hope: Discussion about the life and work of Dr. Jane Goodall"

Time: 7–9pm
Venue: Level 5, Imagination Room, National Library
Website: www.janegoodall.org.sg
Contact: info@janegoodall.org.sg / 6466-3328

27 Apr - 3 May: Highlights of the week ahead

For kids and the family
Special events
Walks in wild places
Talks
Registration now open
Visit the wildsingapore happenings blog for a full listing of upcoming events for the next three weeks and to search for events by your area of interest.

Photo of the Week are these cute bats shared by Brandon Chia and taken at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. See also Brandon's blog about these bats.

Bats at SBWR, originally uploaded by brandon Chia.

3 May (Sun): 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 Sunday morning, subject to availability of guides.

Time: 9.30 am (subject to availability of guides) for walk in guests, register at the Visitor Centre.
Tour duration: One to one-and-a-half hours. Suitable for young children.
Entry charges: While the walk is free, admission fees to the Reserve apply: $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401

2 May (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.
Entry charges: While the walk is free, admission fees to the Reserve apply: $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact:
info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401

2 May (Sat): Edible and medicinal plants tour at the Botanic Gardens

Join this free tour by our volunteer guides and spice up your knowledge of Edible and Medicinal Plants.

This tour is conducted every first Saturday. Registration is on a first-come-first-served basis at the Visitor Centre, 15 minutes before the tour starts.

More information on the Singapore Botanic Gardens website.

Time: 9am and 10am, register 15 minutes before the tour at Singapore Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre
Website: http://www.sbg.org.sg/
Contact: Visitor Services (6471 7361)

2 May (Sat): Nature Walk at Lower Peirce Boardwalk

Up Close and Personal at Lower Peirce. Free guided nature walk along boardwalks through cool, shady forests and by the Lower Peirce Reservoir. Learn about our forests, spot forest and aquatic wildlife, enjoy panaromic views of waters surrounded by luxuriant forest.

Suitable for young children.

More about the Lower Peirce Trail on the wildsingapore website and NParks website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NParks Central Nature Reserve and is held every first Saturday of the month.

Please register at least three days before the walk at 65545127 or email woon_ling_ling@nparks.gov.sg

Time: 9.30am. Meet at Casuarina Entrance of the trail along Old Upper Thomson Road, which is a 2-minute walk from Casuarina Road.
Tour duration: One-and-a-half hours. Suitable for young children
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: woon_ling_ling@nparks.gov.sg or call 6554 5127.

2 May (Sat): Our Kitchen Garden tour at Pasir Ris Park

Excite your senses with our Kitchen Garden Tour. Find out how vegetables are grown before it gets onto your plate! You will also learn about some natural remedies that our grandmothers might have planted in their own backyard.

Suitable for children from K1-P6 levels.

To register, please contact Wei Teng at 64653305 or email chong_wei_teng@nparks.gov.sg

This walk is conducted every first Saturday of the month

Time: 9am - 10am
Venue: Pasir Ris Park, Pasir Ris Green (Carpark C)
Cost: $4 per person
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: chong_wei_teng@nparks.gov.sg

1 May (Fri): Istana Open House

The Istana grounds are open to the public in celebration of Labour Day. View the Istana gardens, and for an entrance fee of $2, view the Staterooms in the Istana Building. A variety of performances on the grounds also provide entertainment. You may also have the chance to have your photos taken with the President and First Lady when they come by to greet visitors.

Time: 8.30am - 6pm
Venue: Entrance to the grounds is via the main gate at Orchard Road.
Charges: Admission to the Istana grounds is free for Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents. Others, including foreign visitors, are required to pay an entrance fee of $1 per person.
Website: http://www.istana.gov.sg/