wild happenings in singapore

4 Oct (Sat): Green Vibes at Bishan Park

Don't Just Eat Your Vegetable! Learn More About Them @ Green Vibes - An Educational Tour in a Vegetable Garden.

An oasis of greenery with more than 100 species of vegetables and herbs awaits you. Located right in the heartlands, Green Vibes offer visitors a chance to experience its bounty and wealth of agricultural crops up close. There is truly something for everyone in the family.

More details on the NParks website.

This event is held every first Saturday of the month.

Time: 9-10am
Venue: Bishan Park (next to Bishan Road)
Contact: Register with Gin Chua at 64597744 or chua_tiong_ghim@nparks.gov.sg

4 Oct (Sat): Nature walk at Lower Peirce Boardwalk

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.

Pre-registration required.

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.

Time: 9.25am and 10.25am. 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: vanessa_chang@nparks.gov.sg or call 6554 5127.

4 Oct (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

4 Oct (Sat): Screening of Diminishing Memories of Lim Chu Kang

Diminishing Memories I and II are two thought- provoking and intimate documentaries, a tribute to Yee Peng's indelible memories of Lim Chu Kang. Follow Yee Peng's personal journey in her attempt to re-capture her lost childhood and her struggle in letting her beloved kampong go.

Both films are narrated in Mandarin and subtitled in English, with interviews conducted in Mandarin, English and the Teochew dialect. Screenings will be followed by the director's Q&A sessions.

To book tickets contact the Arts House Ticketing Hotline: 6332 6919 or email tickets@toph.com.sg

More info on the Arts House website.

Screening dates:
19 Sep (Fri) 7.30pm
20 Sep (Sat) 4 and 7.30pm
3 Oct (Fri) 7.30pm
4 Oct (Sat) 4 and 7.30pm

By popular demand, additional screening dates
15 October, Wednesday, 7.30pm
16 October, Thursday, 7.30pm
17 October, Friday, 7.30pm
18 October, Saturday, 4pm and 7.30pm
29 October, Wednesday, 7.30pm
30 October, Thursday, 7.30pm
31 October, Friday, 7.30pm
1 November, Saturday, 4pm and 7.30pm

Venue: The Arts House, Screening Room, 1 Old Parliament Lane, Singapore 179429
(Nearest MRT- Raffles Place)
Tickets: S$8.50 Full; S$6.50 Concession (Students & Senior Citizens)
The filmmaker will donate her proceeds from the premiere to The Substation and the Asian Film Archive**
Website: http://diminishingmemories.spaces.live.com/
Contact: Yee Peng at eng_yeepeng@yahoo.com.sg

4 Oct (Sat): Our Kitchen Garden Tour at Pasir Ris Park

Excite your senses with our Garden Kitchen 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

3 Oct (Fri): Screening of Diminishing Memories of Lim Chu Kang

1 Oct (Wed): Intertidal walk at Pulau Semakau

This half-day guided walk will take you through the operations of the landfill and the pristine intertidal area of Pulau Semakau. Guided by Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research Semakau volunteer guides, participants will explore the richness of the seagrass meadows and coral reefs without having to dive in our waters.

Booking required. Reservations not accepted. Booking is on a first-come-first-serve basis.

60 places available. Please register early: email Luan Keng dbswlk@nus.edu.sg your name, organisation (if any), number of participants. To confirm your booking, a non-refundable pre-payment is required.

More about the walks on the RMBR website. More about Pulau Semaku on the wildsingapore website.

Time: 3.30-8pm
Departure point: participants will be advised
Cost: $53.50/adult, $40.60/child (age 7-18); all cost is inclusive of 7% GST, boat rides (return), guiding fees, guidesheets and coordinating fees.
Website: RMBR website
Contact: Siyang siyang@nus.edu.sg

21-28 Sep: Highlights of the week ahead

For kids and the family

Free Chek Jawa boardwalk tour by the Naked Hermit Crabs
MAD lessons on Jungle Friends on Wednesday and Sunday
Kids' Fun with Asian Elephants

Some special shore and reef activities

Dive Pulau Hantu with the hantu bloggers
Painting with Pui San at Sungei Buloh
Free Chek Jawa boardwalk tour by the Naked Hermit Crabs

Want to make a difference for our shores?
Come for the once-a-year TeamSeagrass Orientation this Saturday.

Regular walks in our wild places

Mangrove walks at Sungei Buloh on Saturday and Sunday.
In the gardens, there's a heritage and nature walk at Fort Canning Park, guided walk at HortPark.

Special events include

Laughter in the Park, an introduction to Laughter Yoga at HortPark.

Talks this week include

Glorious Morning Glories at the Botanic Gardens
Green Drinks is hosting talks by MyForestFarm and Vision Network Society

For Nature Society members only

Bird watching at Bukit Brown Cemetery
Bird watching at Pulau Semakau
Kranji Twilight Ramble at Lim Chu Kang
Conservation Chat to discuss some conservation issues

Now open for bookings

1 Oct (Wed): Intertidal walk at Pulau Semakau
3 Oct (Fri) and 4 Oct (Sat): Screening of Diminishing Memories of Lim Chu Kang

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.

The Big eye Whip Snake is such an elegant creature! Thanks to Kwok Wai for sharing photos of this and our many other special wild vertebrates.

Big eye Whip Snake, originally uploaded by kwok_wai.

28 Sep (Sun): Birdwatching at Bt Brown Cemetery

for Nature Society (Singapore) members only

Birdwatching at Bt Brown Cemetery with Sutari Supari. Meet at Explore this vibrant site filled with resident birds like the Laced Woodpecker and Common Goldenback, as well as migrants like flycatchers, cuckoos and raptors. Bring your binoculars, hat, sunscreen and mosquito repellent.

Time: 7.30 am at the entrance of the cemetery near the junction of Lornie Road and Kheam Hock Road.
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

28 Sep (Sun): Birdwatching at Semakau

for Nature Society (Singapore) members only

Dr Ho Hua Chew leads this walk. This is a good time to visit Semakau for migrant surprises and old favourites. Resident attractions include the Great-billed Heron, Pacific Reef Egret and Malaysian Plover. There are possible sightings of rare migrants such as the Chinese Egret and Oriental Pratincole.

Book your place with Hua Chew at hohc@starhub.net.sg by 20 Sep. IC or Passport is mandatory for boat boarding. Strictly for members only on a first come first serve basis. Children under 12 years old are not allowed (NEA regulation).

Time: 7.30am, meet at the West Coast Ferry Terminal near the Republic of Singapore Yacht Club. Return to mainland by 2.00pm. Free parking at Carpark 2 off the West Coast Highway.
Registration fee: Non-refundable fee of $28 for boat ride and administration. Send your cheques to NSS office by 20 September with the All-Purpose Form (back page). Number of persons per trip: 11, 22 or 33.
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.