Think waterfront dining and the usual suspects come to mind – the ever popular Clarke Quay, perhaps swanky Keppel Bay or the familiar food belt in East Coast Park. However, for those who know where to look, there are other places to enjoy a million-dollar view even if you don’t have deep pockets.

Oh Kee Swee, affectionately known as “Ah Swee”, has been helping out in different community gardens mainly in Sembawang Zone ‘E’ & ‘F’ RC since 2006. He helps to rejuvenate these gardens, transforming them into spaces where residents can unwind and meet with each other.

Wondering what to do for the weekend? How about taking a walk along a 4-km portion of the Western Adventure Loop and get closer to nature? That’s what we did one weekend.

A group of children attending a workshop at Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden discovers how they could use origami and recycled materials to create their own unique garden.

Braving the sweltering afternoon heat and armed with their writing materials, a group of Hillgrove Secondary School students combed the plants outside their school for birds and butterflies. Some of them turned their heads skyward while others crouched to look at the shrubs, eagerly recording their findings. These students are part of the Nature Way Monitoring Programme, an intiative by NParks to engage schools located in close proximity to green corridors.

Singapore Botanic Gardens may be renowned worldwide for its expansive plant collection, but there was once a time when it also had a zoo that exhibited a range of exotic animals such as leopards and rhinoceros.