wild happenings in singapore

4, 5, 6 Sep (Tue-Thu): Help conserve our forest!

Help play a part in conserving our forests by participating in our invasive species removal programme. You will help improve the quality of the habitat on site, so join us if you are keen to make a change!

Individuals, families and organised groups such as schools and corporate companies are welcome to participate.

The event is free but pre-registration is required and is on a first-come-first-served basis. Registrations close 1 week before each programme. All programmes will only commence with a minimum of 15 participants. To register please contact HortPark Visitor Services at 6471-5601 or NPARKS_HortPark@nparks.gov.sg

Time: 9-11am
Meeting point: Telok Blangah Hill Park, Multi-purpose plaza
Website and contact: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

27 Aug - 2 Sep: Highlights of the week ahead

School holiday fun for kids and the family

Lots more holiday activities next week! Pre-registration required for most, so book your places early.

Walks in wild places

More events

You can also explore on your own! Check out the many DIY Trail Guides on the NParks website. More about our wild places on wildsingapore. A tip to avoid the crowds on school holiday weekends, come early. That's when wildlife is more active anyway. And leave before it gets too hot.

2 Sep (Sun): Bukit Brown Cemetery walk with Cicada Tree Eco Place

Bukit Brown Cemetery, also known as 'Kopi Sua' or Coffee Hill in the Hokkien dialect, is a Chinese cemetery established in the early 20th century. Opened on 1st January 1922, it filled with burials and was closed sometime in 1929. This interesting, old and lushly vegetated cemetery is still open to the public and has become a home and habitat to a diversity of wildlife. Nature lovers visit to do birdwatching and to look at plantlife, with many 'old fashioned' species or varieties still existing there which are nowadays no longer commonly grown. During the year-end migratory season, many rare migrating bird species may be spotted in this cemetery. Locally rare wildlife such as the Musang or Palm Civet lives here, surviving on the fruit trees growing here such as Rambai, Durian, Rambutan, and Nangka. Our easy stroll on a level, tar road will take us on a loop through the cemetery and back to the main entrance.

Pre-registration and more details with Celine Low at contact@cicadatree.org.sg giving participants' names, ages and a mobile no.

Reminders:
-Must wear long pants, with socks and covered shoes. Wear long-sleeved shirt if you are attractive to mosquitoes.
-Bring enough water in refillable water bottles and a snack
-Bring poncho, raincoat or umbrella.

Time: 9-10sm
Meeting point: Gate at entrance of Bukit Brown Cemetery at Lorong Halwa. Map
Directions: The entrance of Bukit Brown Cemetery has an iron gate. The small road that goes through this gate is called Lorong Halwa (but there may not be a sign showing it). This road is off Sime Road which is off Lornie Road. Sime Road is cut into 2 portions by Lornie Road—Bukit Brown is in the portion that is opposite the Singapore Island Country Club (SICC) golf course and MacRitchie’s forest. If coming from Thomson Road, go onto Lornie Road and Sime Road is on your left with MacRitchie’s forest on your right on the other side of the road. Turn left into Sime Road and then turn left into Lorong Halwa and you will see the iron gates of Bukit Brown cemetery.
Carpark: Parking can either be outside the gate, or after the gate at the roundabout area.
Nearest MRT: Marymount, change to bus 52 or 74 and alight at the bus stop after the junction of Sime Road with Lornie Road.
Buses: 157 (from Toa Payoh Interchange), 93, 165, 74, 852, 855.
Cost: $13 per person (adult or child)
Website and contact: http://www.cicadatree.org.sg/

2 Sep (Sun): Strange Plants Workshop! for kids

Some plants have really strange qualities! Plants like Pitcher Plants, Venue Fly-traps and Sundews eat up bugs, while other plants like Ant Plants and Ant Ferms provide food for bugs which protect them. Some plants have sweet leaves or shoots which may be eaten, while others are poisonous and should never be consumed. In this lesson, kids will learn about the Ant Plant and its symbiotic relationship with ants. Kids will also see examples of useful plants like the Rattan. The lesson will end with a walk in the garden where kids will get to hunt for all sorts of strange plants.

For kids aged 5-10 years. This programme is conducted with Cicada Tree Eco Place.

Pre-registration is required and is on a first-come-first-served basis. Registrations close 5 days before each programme. All programmes will only commence with a minimum of 15 participants. To register please contact HortPark Visitor Services at 6471-5601 or NPARKS_HortPark@nparks.gov.sg

Time: 10am-12noon
Venue: Greenhouse, HortPark
Cost: $25 per child
Website and contact: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

1 Sep (Sat): MacRitchie Forest and Trails Walk with Cicada Tree Eco Place

MacRitchie is more than just a reservoir from which we draw life-sustaining water for our daily consumption. It is also one of the last strongholds to some precious patches of primary rain forests left in Singapore today. Giant keruing trees, nutmegs, oak and other native tree species provide a wonderful representation of what a tropical forest is like. A walk along her many footpaths and boardwalks will bring you back in time to the majesty of the pristine forest ecosystem that had once covered the whole island of Singapore in pre-Raffles times. Some of the animals that can be seen there are flying dragons, skinks, clouded monitors, long-tailed macaques, squirrels, colugos & fish eagles.

Pre-registration and more details with Celine Low at contact@cicadatree.org.sg giving participants' names, ages and a mobile no.

Time: 9-10sm
Cost: $13 per person (adult or child)
Website and contact: http://www.cicadatree.org.sg/

1 Sep (Sat): Tour of the Healing Garden, Botanic Gardens

A free guided tour of the newly launched 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)

1 Sep (Sat): Free Bird-watching along the Southern Ridges

If you are a bird-lover, be sure to join us for a chirpy experience at Telok Blangah Hill Park! Comprising lush green open spaces and forested areas, the Southern Ridges is home to numerous species of flora and fauna. 43 species of birds have been recently surveyed in this area, and some of them are rare and uncommon. Bring along your binoculars and you may spot some of the 43 species of birds that may be found here!

The event is free but pre-registration is required and is on a first-come-first-served basis. Registrations close 1 week before each programme. All programmes will only commence with a minimum of 15 participants. To register please contact HortPark Visitor Services at 6471-5601 or NPARKS_HortPark@nparks.gov.sg

Time: 7.30-9.30am
Venue: Telok Blangah Hill Park, entrance of Forest Walk
Website and contact: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

1 Sep (Sat): Plant Parts - a free workshop for kids

Join us for this fun activity where children can ‘create’ their own plant, while recognising the mains parts of plants and understanding their different functions. Just as each of the organs of our body performs a specific role, each part of a plant, such as roots, stem, leaves, flowers and fruits, has its special function too!

Suitable for kids 5-12 years old

More about the speaker: Jiahui is a manager from the National Parks Board. She enjoys gardening and is passionate about spreading her love for green and nature to the public, to let them appreciate the wonderful world of plants.

Time: 2-3pm
Venue: Queenstown Public Library
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: nparks_urban_gardening@nparks.gov.sg

1 Sep (Sat): Free Pasir Ris Mangrove boardwalk tour with the Naked Hermit Crabs

There are fascinating mangroves at Pasir Ris Park! Easily explored through the boardwalks and it's open even at night! Join the Naked Hermit Crabs for an evening stroll through this interesting but often overlooked mangrove.

Here, we are sure to see lots of crazy tree climbing crabs, delightful giant mudskippers and cool monitor lizards. Pasir Ris is also one of the few places where nesting herons are easily observed. And as the sun sets, we might spot some nocturnal animals like watersnakes. If we're lucky, we may catch a glimpse of the rare Mangrove pitta or the family of otters that have been seen here! More details on the Naked Hermit Crabs blog.

Register through this online form. A confirmation note will be sent.

Time: 5pm. We should end at around 6.30pm, just before sunset.
Meeting point: Pasir Ris Park, Carpark C, meet near the first toilets nearest the entrance to the carpark. The meeting point is a short stroll from the Pasir Ris MRT station. Map
Website and contact: http://nakedhermitcrabs.blogspot.com/

1 Sep (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 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