22-28 Dec: Highlights of the week ahead

For kids and the family


Walks in wild places


Go wild on your own!
During the up coming holidays, why not explore our wild places free-and-easy? Great destinations include Pulau Ubin and a wide range of seashores, mangroves and forest destinations. Check out the many DIY Trail Guides on the NParks website. Lots of info for visitors on wildsingapore with tips on how to prepare for a trip, how to get there and what to see and do.


A tip for a long-weekend trip

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!

28 Dec (Sun): Paint along with Pui San at Sungei Buloh


Free art-and-nature appreciation at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.

Tham Pui San, a volunteer of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, is an avid artist who expresses his passion for nature through his art work.

Pui San welcomes artists of all ages or anyone who wants to learn. His objective is to encourage creativity while enjoying nature at the same time. Bring along your favourite drawing or painting supplies and enjoy learning different drawing techniques at Sungei Buloh.

More in the art in the wetlands blog.

Time: 8.30-11.30am, meet at Wetland Centre (Otter Room).
Website: http://artinwetlands.wordpress.com/
Contact: Tham Pui Sam at thampuisan@hotmail.com or the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve at info@sbwr.org.sgor call 6794 1401

27 Dec (Sat): Muddy and his Home - Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Free Guided Walk

Meet Muddy, the new friendly mudskipper of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. This new trail is suitable for families with young children 6 years old and above. Learn about the mangrove plants and animals!

Register early to avoid disappointment as this is limited to 20 pax.

Time: 9.30am-12noon
Venue: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Kranji Way Visitor Centre
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401

27 Dec (Sat): Free Pasir Ris Mangrove boardwalk tour with the Naked Hermit Crabs

Specially for kids and families, explore Pasir Ris mangroves with volunteer nature guides from the Naked Hermit Crabs on this FREEguided tour of the boardwalk!
During our evening stroll through this interesting but often overlooked mangrove, 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/

27 Dec (Sat): Ecolife by the Riverplains

Ecolife is a free two-hour tour which introduces the park and the biodiversity found in Riverplains through the use of interactive exploration themes and activities. The tour aims to encourage family bonding between parents and child through the process of learning together. Join us as we take you through this tour with worksheets provided and fun hands on activities such as doing up your very own underwater viewing scope.
Pre-registration is required by emailing Pauline Tan pauline_tan@nparks.gov.sg or call 6554 51326

Time: 9-11am
Meeting point: Bishan- Ang Mo Kio Park Riverplains, multi-purpose shelter
Contact: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/ or call 6554 5136

27 Dec (Sat): Race Against Time – Science behind a Botanic Garden Tour

Join this free one-hour tour by the Botanic Gardens staff to learn more about the Gardens’ research work.
Come and explore the hub of the Gardens' research facilities at the Singapore Botanic Gardens to learn about botanical research. Find out about the urgency of plant exploration, collection and scientific documentation as species and habitats continue to be lost in the region. Visit the Orchid Micro-propagation and hybridisation display and find out how new hybrids are produced. You can also enter the restricted domain of the Herbarium and Library to learn about the valuable historical treasures they hold for science and posterity.

Registration 15 minutes before the tour starts, and is on a first-come-first-served basis at the Green Pavilion, Botany Centre. Limited to 20 participants.

Time: 10-11am
Meeting point: Green Pavilion, Botany Centre, Singapore Botanic Gardens.
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: 64717361 / 64717138 orNParks_SBG_Visitor_Services@nparks.gov.sg.

27 Dec (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.
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401

15-21 Dec: Highlights of the week ahead

For kids and the family



Walks in wild places



Make a wild difference



The school holidays are here!

Wondering what to do with the kids during the December school holidays? Check out the highlights of exciting nature activities specially for kids lined up for the school holidays!
And MORE fun school holiday activities to discover and enjoy Singapore's biodiversity!

21 Dec (Sun): Nature-guided Walk for kids at the newly opened Kranji Extension of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (SBWR)

Join Cicada Tree Eco Place to explore Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve’s new extension was officially opened on 6th December 2014. The Reserve’s visitor centre is now located at Kranji Way road, beside the Kranji Dam. The coastal and forest trails here link up to Buloh’s previous visitor centre which is now called the Wetland Centre. Along the way, two boardwalks with artsy observation pods jut out over the seashore for scenic views of the Straits of Johor and JB city. Here we look for migrant Crested Terns and rare Ospreys perching on the distant kelong poles. If the tide is low we will spot mud critters doing their thing. If it is high then we should encounter silvery schools of Milkfish, Mullet and Needlefish.
If extremely lucky, Pink Dolphins, Dugong and/or Smooth Otters may show up. If not it is still a lovely stroll on the bund through lush mangrove forest. This walk will end at Buloh’s Wetland Centre. We can either walk back to our start point or from outside Buloh take Bus 925 back to the start point or to the MRT/bus interchange. This bus only goes to Buloh's Wetland Centre on Sundays and public holidays. BTW our route is 1.3km per way.

Please note:

  • Bring refillable water bottle, poncho/raincoat/umbrella, hat, snacks, herbal mosquito repellent. Optional items: camera, binoculars, sunblock, sunglasses.
  • EVERYONE MUST wear full-length long pants, socks and fully-covered shoes. Long-sleeved shirt is recommended, otherwise teeshirt will do.
  • Currently there is no food shop at this location. We will be staying on boardwalks and level gravel paths. Stroller and wheelchair are possible although it may be a bumpy ride.
  • The Kranji Countryside shuttle minibus (limited seats) also stops outside this new extension of the reserve. The first bus leaves Kranji MRT at 8.30am, 2nd at 9.30am and thereafter its one and half hrs between buses. Those who intend to have a lovely lunch at Bollywood Veggies’ Poison Ivy Café can take this shuttle at 1.10pm at the end point of our walk at Sungei Buloh’s Wetland Centre. The fare is $3.00 per person valid for multiple rides the entire day, so you may also want to visit the other attractions on its route after lunch. For the full bus schedule, peek into: www.kranjicountryside.com/transport.html
To register, please email Celine Low at contact@cicadatree.org.sg giving participants' names, ages and a mobile no.

Time: 10am-12noon
Meeting Point: Meet at 9.45am inside the new visitor centre at Kranji Way road.
Cost: $13 per participant. Kids aged 5 years and below come along free.
Website: http://www.cicadatree.org.sg/

20 Dec (Sat): What's in my mangroves? - Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Free Guided Walk

Join us for a free guided walk to find out about the amazing mangroves at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. This tour will be conducted at the new extension at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Kranji Way Visitor.

Register early to avoid disappointment as this is limited to 20 pax.

Time: 9.30am-12noon
Venue: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Kranji Way Visitor Centre
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401