8 reasons to visit Singapore Botanic Gardens

Botanical gardens have ebbed and flowed in popularity throughout the centuries. These facilities today play a tremendous role in the conservation of plant species by raising awareness and cultivating seeds for distribution.

 

Ask any Singaporean and he or she is sure to have a cherished memory of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Its sprawling grounds in the heart of the city are ideal for an invigorating jog or a lazy picnic with family, friends and pets while its dazzling array of over 60,000 plants makes it a nature lovers’ paradise.

This year, Singapore’s oldest garden adds another accolade to its illustrious history by becoming the country’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here are eight reasons to include the Botanic Gardens on your itinerary.

1. Have an audience with some VIPs

Photo by Derrick See

Very Important Plants, that is.

At the National Orchid Garden, you will get to rub shoulders with VIPs such as the Vanda William Catherine and the Paravanda Nelson Mandela. It is a longstanding tradition for Singapore to name orchids after visiting dignitaries and celebrities who have contributed significantly to society.

This unique hall of fame includes one-of-a-kind orchids named after the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Catherine, as well as special guests such as Nelson Mandela and celebrities like Jackie Chan and Shah Rukh Khan. With over 200 VIP orchids on display, let’s see how many names you can recognise.

2. Take a selfie with Singapore’s most famous tree

Did you know, the majestic Tembusu tree that’s featured on Singapore’s $5 note is an actual tree that’s alive and well at the Botanic Gardens? This heritage tree, which is believed to be older than the 157-year-old Gardens, has provided shelter and a nostalgic photoshoot backdrop for generations of young lovers, curious tree climbers as well as park-goers seeking shelter from the sun.

Today, there is a fence around the tree to reduce the impact of excessive soil compaction due to human traffic and its iconic low-hanging branch is propped up with a dynamic support system. However, fret not as you can still get close enough to take a nice snapshot with the tree that every Singaporean knows about.

3. See the birthplace of SEA’s rubber boom

It would not be an exaggeration to say that Southeast Asia would be a very different region without the Singapore Botanic Gardens. In 1877, rubber seedlings were brought to Singapore from London’s Kew Gardens, where they were cultivated in the gardens.

In the 1880s and 90s, sustainable rubber tapping techniques were developed there, giving birth to the rubber boom across the Malay Peninsula. By 1917, the gardens had supplied over 7 million rubber seeds to the region, bringing economic prosperity to Southeast Asia. This supply of rubber also gave rise to unprecedented developments in various modern industries that required rubber as the raw material for their various innovations, including automobiles, aviation and textiles.

4. Enjoy a bit of England in the tropics

With its gently sprawling grounds, meandering paths and natural distribution of plants, the Singapore Botanic Gardens is the only major garden in Southeast Asia that is landscaped in the English style. Founded in 1859, the gardens were designed by Lawrence Niven, whose work reflects the influence of the English pleasure garden style of parks and gardens in England.

This layout has survived the ages mostly intact, and the park is also dotted with many historical buildings including Burkill Hall, Ridley Hall, EJH Corner House and Holttum Hall. For some extra credit, keep an eye out for Burkill Hall, which is believed to be the only surviving example of an Anglo-Malay plantation-style house in Southeast Asia.

 

Read more: http://www.yoursingapore.com/editorials/8-reasons-to-visit-the-botanic-gardens.html

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