Me, with the crew’s Assistant Producer, Kathy

On February 6, 2007, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was in Singapore to take footage of 2 community gardens to feature in their two-year production entitled, “Around the World in 80 Gardens”. Singapore’s Garden City story and National Parks Board (NParks) Community in Bloom efforts were covered in this programme. Community gardens in Mayfair Park and Serangoon North were picked for filming for the second segment to represent the 2 different facets of community gardening in Singapore.

The crew and host, Monty (in blue) preparing for the filming

Mayfair Park was picked to showcase an example of an award-winning private housing estate community garden where residents came together to landscape the grass verges just outside their doorsteps to create a unique and welcoming environment for any visitor to their estate.

The community garden at Serangoon North represents a typical garden in a public residential estate where useful herbs and organic vegetables are grown. Unlike many other community gardens, this garden is not fenced for protection against pilferage or to demarcate its boundaries and residents are welcomed to pick the medicinal and culinary herbs grown there. Vegetables are harvested and shared among gardeners and the residents.

Various scenes during the filming

As the initiator of this community garden, I am proud that it had been chosen by NParks to represent the public community gardens in Singapore. I felt as if I was performing additional “National Service” for the country. To quote my friends and residents, this interview by the BBC could potentially be my one and only that I will have in this life. I was also glad to be able to share with an audience about the success of promoting gardening amongst Singaporeans via the Green Culture Singapore (GCS) website and discussion forum.

Me, with Monty Don

This community garden was a dream that became reality within a month after my request was put up, thanks to the support from the NParks’ Community in Bloom programme and Aljunied Town Council. A parcel of land in the neighbourhood park was transformed into community garden. As an apartment gardener, I have never dreamt that I would have land near home to grow my herbs and vegetables.

Many thanks to my friends and supporters who came

The community garden’s Official Opening was scheduled during the Clean and Green Week last year. Mrs Lim Hwee Hua, Member of Parliament for Serangoon North constituency, planted a Tecoma stans tree in the center of the European-styled medicinal herb garden located near the garden entrance. I am proud to announce that I was the one who chose the tree! The community garden was named “Our PRIDE in Bloom”, where PRIDE stands for “Promoting Resdents In Direct Engagement”. It was an acronym conjured by my Residents’ Committee (RC) Chairman, in hope that the garden can be another venue to residents to meet and interact.

Posing for a picture with the BBC crew

The host of the BBC programme was Monty Don, a renowned gardening personality from the United Kingdom whom I have also seen in the BBC Gardening magazine. Filming started around 2pm under the sweltering heat and glaring afternoon sun. As I was not given a list of questions prior the interview, I felt rather lost and anxious as to what would be asked. I am grateful to my friends and supporters from GCS who took time off from school and work to be at the community garden with me during the filming. Their presence gave me the confidence to speak in front of the camera.

We will all have to wait awhile before this interview will be shown on our local Cable TV.

- by Wilson Wong