Nature Ways are routes planted with specific trees and shrubs to facilitate the movement of animals like birds and butterflies between two green spaces. These routes also connect areas of high biodiversity to urban communities, creates immediate habitats and bring nature closer to Singapore residents. Besides enhancing the living environment, these green corridors help create a greater appreciation of the rich biodiversity in our City in Nature.

Nature Ways are designed to replicate the natural structure of forests as far as possible. Trees, shrubs and groundcover are planted along the streetscape to re-create habitats similar to those found in natural forests. Greenery along these routes are also enriched with flowering plants which attract butterflies and support their breeding.

The Nature Ways are planned to include four important layers:

 

Emergent layer - rainforest trees such as Dipterocarps. When fully matured, these trees provide food for canopy-dwelling insectivorous birds, and nesting sites for eagles and raptors.

Canopy layer - existing roadside trees. These trees provide shelter and food for insectivorous as well as nectar-loving birds and butterfly species, as some of these trees are flowering species such as Cassia fistula and Tabebuia rosea.

Understorey layer - smaller fruit-bearing trees. These trees produce small berries that are food source for frugivorous or fruit-loving birds. Some of these trees are also host plants for butterflies.

Shrub layer - comprising flowering shrubs that provide nectar for butterflies and some nectar-loving birds. Some of these shrubs are also host plants for various species of butterflies. This layer also provides a habitat for the insects and spiders that birds feed on. As most of these shrubs are colourful flowering species, and because of the wildlife they attract, this layer would also provide a visual treat to pedestrians and road users.

  

1. Admiralty Nature Way 2. Yishun Nature Way 3. Sembawang Nature Way 4. Ang Mo Kio Nature Way 5. Punggol Nature Way 6. Halus Nature Way 7. Tampines Nature Way 8. Upper Serangoon Nature Way 9. Kallang Nature Way 10. Bishan-Bidadari Nature Way 11. Braddell Nature Way 12. Kheam Hock Nature Way 13. Tanglin Nature Way 14. Jurong Spring Nature Way 15. Tengah Nature Way 16. Choa Chu Kang Nature Way 17. Yio Chu Kang Nature Way

18. Upper Thomson Nature Way 19. Mandai Nature Way 20. Yuan Ching Nature Way 21. Jurong Nature Way 22. Hillview Nature Way 23. Clementi Nature Way 24. Gombak Nature Way 25. Sembawang-Woodlands Nature Way 26. Bishan Nature Way 27. Bartley Nature Way 28. Limbang Nature Way 29. Jalan Jurong Kechil Nature Way 30. Pasir Panjang Nature Way 31. Western Catchment-Southern Ridges Nature Way 32. Bedok Nature Way 33. Woodlands Nature Way 34. Toa Payoh Nature Way

35. West Coast Nature Way 36. Lornie Nature Way 37. Keat Hong Nature Way 38. Pasir Ris Nature Way 39. Bukit Batok Township Nature Way 40. Upper Changi Nature Way 41. South Buona Vista Nature Way 42. Corporation Road Nature Way 43. Punggol Central Nature Way 44. East Coast Nature Way 45. Admiralty West Nature Way 46. Kranji-Woodlands Nature Way 47. Pandan Nature Way 48. Woodlands Town Nature Way 49. Simei Nature Way

Currently, there are 49 Nature Ways in Singapore, stretching 190km in total (as of FY22). They connect areas of high biodiversity, such as the Western Catchment (SAFTI Live Firing Area), Central Catchment Nature Reserve and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.

By 2030, NParks aims to increase this to 300km.

Rewilding Plan

One key component of the City in Nature vision is the introduction of more naturalistic landscapes which attracts biodiversity, encourages ecological connectivity and enhances sustainability. The rewilding process is one way to achieve this. NParks has been experimenting with rewilding for many years. This includes habitat enhancement and restoration in our parks, and implementing Nature Ways, which are multi-tiered planting that resemble the natural structure of forests along our roadsides and other green spaces. Greenery in selected areas (such as Coney Island Park, Tampines Eco Green, and Jurong Lake Gardens), Nature Ways (such as Tanglin and Yishun-Mandai Nature Ways), and some slopes along expressways were allowed to establish naturally. Biodiversity attracting shrubs replaced typical groundcover like grass and were judiciously maintained. This not only reduced the need for regular grasscutting, it also enabled biodiversity to thrive as landscapes become more natural.

The Rewilding Plan will be rolled out progressively at 32 stretches of Nature Ways, and various other habitat areas in parks and green spaces over the next three years. Upcoming rewilding sites include those along Ang Mo Kio Ave 1, Kheam Hock Road, Old Choa Chu Kang Road, and Upper Thomson Road, and in parks such as Bedok Reservoir Park and Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park.