New Garden to celebrate Singapore Botanic Garden's heritage

-Heritage Garden showcases Gardens’ social history and role in Singapore’s greening journey

28 May 2016 – Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong has unveiled the Heritage Garden in the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Overlooking Swan Lake, the Heritage Garden is located on the same lawn where Singapore’s first “Aneka Ragam Ra’ayat”, or People’s Variety Show, took place. The Heritage Garden highlights the social history of the Gardens, as well as its pivotal role in Singapore’s greening journey.

Today, Minister Wong also opened the People’s Variety Show, marking the start of Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Week – a new annual event featuring a series of performances and activities for the public to celebrate the Gardens’ rich heritage. The nine-day event will be held from 28 May to 5 June this year.

Minister Wong said, “The Singapore Botanic Gardens is a special place to many Singaporeans. For our parents or grandparents, the Gardens could have been where they dated. For many of us, this place holds memories such as quiet strolls, picnics and watching a performance at the Bandstand with loved ones. In a broader sense, the Heritage Garden and the People’s Variety Show celebrate more than just our love for the Gardens; they are, in fact, physical manifestations of why we love our country. They document the Gardens’ pivotal role in Singapore’s greening journey and celebrate our unique multi-cultural and harmonious society - factors that make Singapore a home we can be proud of.”

The Singapore Botanic Gardens has always been a part of Singapore’s social and cultural history. As Singapore moved towards independence, the Gardens became a venue for promoting racial cohesion and the development of a distinct national culture. On 2 August 1959, founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew officially opened the inaugural People’s Variety Show at the Gardens. It was a key historical milestone marking the first of a series of cultural concerts with a multiracial theme organised by Singapore’s then Ministry of Culture. In his opening speech, Mr Lee said to an audience of 22,000, “Here, under open skies, Malays, Chinese, Indians will, I hope, discover the materials for a national art and national culture.” Today, the Gardens continues to play an important role in fostering social cohesion by providing a common space for the community to bond through various public activities and performances.

Heritage Garden

The Gardens’ involvement in the greening of Singapore dates as far back as the 1880s, when Nathaniel Cantley – Superintendent of the Gardens at the time – assumed the role of propagating trees for planting in Singapore’s streets, parks and nature areas.

The Gardens trialled thousands of plants, such as the Rain Tree (Samanea saman), Yellow Flame (Peltophorum pterocarpum), Frangipani (Plumeria spp.) and Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.), before they were introduced to Singapore’s landscapes. When the country became independent, the Gardens played an integral role in the then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s vision of turning Singapore into a Garden City by providing saplings through its nursery and setting up the first school of horticulture.

The new Heritage Garden showcases plantings that reflect the variety of species introduced to Singapore through its Garden City campaign, especially plants that were utilised for their colour and fragrance. More than 80 types of plants can be found in the garden, including species and cultivars of Bougainvillea, Brunfelsia and Gardenia. The Heritage Garden also features trees with distinctive bark such as the Yellow Cow Wood (Cratoxylum cochinchinense) and Shore Eugenia (Syzygium antisepticum), as well as low-growing, shade-tolerant plants like Flame Violet (Episcia cupreata) and Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia amoena).

Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Week

Reminiscent of the first “Aneka Ragam Ra’ayat” concert held in 1959, today’s People’s Variety Show featured a variety of multi-ethnic performances. Hosted by television personality Suhaimi Yusof, visitors were treated to tunes from popular local artistes and groups including Ramli Sarip, Roy Li Feihui, MICapella, Shabir, The Main Wayang Singers and Sebastian Tan. The concert, which was attended by about 6,000 people, kicked off the nine-day Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Week from 28 May to 5 June. More than 105,000 visitors are expected to attend Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Week.

On 29 May, visitors to the Gardens can look forward to performances by Philharmonic Winds and the People’s Association Youth Chinese Orchestra. In addition, a carnival will be held at Orchid Plaza near the National Orchid Garden from 11.00am to 5.00pm. Visitors can purchase food and beverages, take part in interactive activities and enjoy roving performances.

During the Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Week, Singapore residents will enjoy free entry to the National Orchid Garden. Visitors will have the opportunity to view a special orchid display at Burkill Hall, featuring 40 heritage orchids that have won international awards, become important in the cut-flower trade, or named after historical figures. Orchids that will be displayed include Papilionanda Tan Chay Yan, Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim Var. Agnes and Aranthera Anne Black.

Visitors are advised to take public transport to the Gardens. Shuttle bus services will be available from Botanic Gardens MRT station on 28 and 29 May from 10.30am to 9.30pm (28 May) and 10.30am to 8.30pm (29 May).