Our Growth, for Nature
As climate challenges intensify across the globe, collective efforts to green Singapore are more important than ever. By collaborating as one community, Singapore can build a City in Nature that reflects its shared commitment to environmental stewardship and quality of life.
Partnering Communities to Build Our Green Momentum
The OneMillionTrees Movement continues to transform our landscape, with 81,000 new trees planted this fiscal year, pushing the total to more than 760,000. The movement is a cornerstone of NParks' City in Nature vision and the Singapore Green Plan 2030. It highlights how NParks is partnering with different communities to expand our urban forest canopy, foster public involvement in greening projects and strengthen climate resilience for generations to come.
NParks Chairman Loh Khum Yean, Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat and NParks CEO Hwang Yu-Ning play their part in the OneMillionTrees movement.
Gardens for the People, by the People
2024 saw the opening of the rejuvenated Chinese and Japanese Gardens, completing the development of Jurong Lake Gardens — Singapore's first national gardens in the heartlands. Together with Lakeside Garden and Garden Promenade, they form a 90-ha green oasis that blends cultural heritage with nature.
Prior to its opening, over 150 community stakeholders rolled up their sleeves in July 2024 to plant trees and shrubs in the Japanese Garden, continuing a proud tradition of getting communities involved in shaping our living environment. Following public feedback, the rejuvenated Jurong Lake Gardens features improved amenities including new floral displays, aquatic gardens, galleries and community spaces. These enhancements provide more diverse nature experiences for all visitors regardless of age, while staying true to the gardens' heritage and community-focused purpose.
As NParks' Living Lab, Jurong Lake Gardens is at the forefront of integrating sustainable design, smart technology, and green innovations into park development and management. Similar to Lakeside Garden, the Chinese and Japanese Gardens were built with sustainability at their core, featuring innovative solutions for efficient operations and greener outcomes.
In conjunction with the completion of the Chinese and Japanese Gardens, NParks and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) installed a series of artworks within Chinese Garden MRT station. These artworks are inspired by the natural and cultural heritage of the Chinese Garden, adding vibrancy to the station.
NParks partnered with specialists to ensure the preservation of the Chinese Garden's distinctive character, conserving or adapting several original structures such as the Twin Pagoda (pictured), Grand Arch, Cloud Pagoda, Bonsai Garden, Stoneboat and Tea Pavilion.
Opening Green Spaces for Communities to Enjoy
The opening of Bidadari Park in September 2024 enables residents to enjoy the experience of "living in a park". New parks like these showcase Singapore's multifaceted approach to urban greening, where public well-being, community co-creation and ecological conservation grow hand-in-hand. Well known as a nature haven since the 1990s, the sensitively enhanced Bidadari Park continues to be a vital stopover point for migratory birds such as the Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher (Ceyx erithaca).
Watch a highlight reel of Bidadari ParkThe reporting year also saw the opening of Pek Kio Park, designed to cater to diverse users with recreational features that blend nature and activity, including a nature play area for children's imaginative exploration and a sensory path to keep seniors engaged and mobile.
Over in the east, residents have more green spaces to enjoy, with the opening of the 10.06-ha Tampines Boulevard Park that spans the east and west sections divided by Tampines Avenue 12. The new park expands recreational options for residents while improving green space connectivity across the region. Tampines residents provided feedback via an online survey conducted in 2020, resulting in the inclusion of amenities like the nature playgarden and activity lawn in the park.
Park-goers of all ages can enjoy the playground, exercise machines and cycling paths at Tampines Boulevard Park.
Recharging in Nature
In our fast-paced lives, therapeutic gardens are sanctuaries where we can reconnect with nature and restore well-being. In the past year, three new gardens expanded on this initiative, bringing the total to 17 therapeutic gardens in Singapore.
The new therapeutic garden at West Coast Park provides barrier-free access to activity zones tailored for seniors, wheelchair users and children with special needs. Over at Punggol Park, visitors to the therapeutic garden can enjoy inclusive facilities developed with the Singapore Disability Sports Council, including Singapore's first outdoor boccia court and wheelchair obstacle course, alongside Active and Passive Zones for varied therapeutic engagement. Finally, the therapeutic garden within Pek Kio Park applies evidence-based design to foster well-being through nature immersion.
Members of the public participated in free therapeutic horticulture sessions at different therapeutic gardens across Singapore. Through gardening and creative projects such as leaf collages and mandala making, participants benefitted from low-intensity exercise, cognitive stimulation and social interaction.
Inspiring the People's Botanical Curiosity
Since its founding in 1859, the Singapore Botanic Gardens has evolved into a world-class institution for botanical science, research and conservation. Over the past year, the Gardens has offered visitors a multidimensional exploration of the relationship between people and plants, showcasing both the institution’s scientific leadership and its commitment to public education.
Young minds now have more ways to understand and appreciate nature. A dedicated water play area was reintroduced at the Jacob Ballas Children's Garden in the Singapore Botanic Gardens, where children can engage with nature in a fun and immersive way. Carefully designed elements enable children to experience firsthand how plants contribute to transpiration and rain formation. Educational signs placed throughout the space explain these natural processes, turning playtime into valuable lessons about the environment.
Over at the CDL Green Gallery, A Garden of Birds revealed how urban green spaces sustain biodiversity through 160 photographs of 180 avian species, contributed by community photographers. Meanwhile, the Botanical Art Gallery transported visitors to the 18th century with A Botanical Odyssey.
The exhibition displayed unique engraved botanical illustrations based on drawings made during famed explorer James Cook's world circumnavigation voyage, which began in 1768. At the Centre for Ethnobotany, the Ethnobotany and Diversity of Dipterocarps exhibition introduced visitors to the majestic rainforest giants of Southeast Asia, and how they have shaped the region's ecosystem and culture.
The latest plant collection to open at the Singapore Botanic Gardens is the Hoya House, a dedicated showcase for its namesake plant genus. The Hoya represents the largest genus in the Apocynaceae family, comprising over 500 distinct species. Curated over the years by researchers and horticulturists, the collection serves as an important living laboratory for botanical studies, featuring more than 70 different lowland species and cultivars primarily from Southeast Asia and Papua New Guinea.
In July 2024, NParks and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs jointly launched Singapore's Orchid Diplomacy, a book detailing and reflecting on the practice of Singapore's orchid diplomacy. The practice dates to 1956, when the Aranthera Anne Black was named after the wife of the Governor of Singapore. Since then, Singapore has named more than 280 orchid hybrids after foreign dignitaries and distinguished guests as a gesture of goodwill and friendship.
At the Jacob Ballas Children's Garden, young visitors can splash through simulated rain from umbrella fountains, watch evaporation in action at upward-shooting water jets, and follow along as water runs down miniature hills in the Splash Zone.
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong presents Vietnamese Party Secretary General To Lam and his spouse with an orchid named in honour of His Excellency, Papilionanda To Lam Linh Ly.
Using a life-sized board game, preschool children can learn about responsible human-wildlife encounters in a fun and memorable way.
Teaching Children about Our Urban Wildlife
NParks has introduced nationwide educational resources for children to foster early connections with urban wildlife. Important lessons about Singapore's biodiversity are conveyed through engaging activities, such as animal movement dances, illustrated storytelling or role-playing for children to practise safe responses to wildlife encounters. Distributed to all 1,900 Early Childhood Development Agency-registered preschools, these resources align with MOE's Nurturing Early Learners Framework while adding unique nature-based dimensions.
Enlivening Green Spaces
In September 2024, Jurong Lake Gardens came alive with the largest edition of Lights by the Lake yet, drawing 300,000 visitors to a fusion of art, music and nature. Festivities at the Gardens reached new heights with the return of the NParks Concert Series in the Park: Rockestra® after a five-year hiatus in this location, as local artistes rocked the stage with a dynamic mix of pop hits. This year's event also supported a meaningful cause, with proceeds going to the President's Challenge Charity Fund.
Another edition of NParks Concert Series in the Park: Rockestra® brought unforgettable energy to Fort Canning Park in June 2024. Artistes delivered electrifying performances, blending original compositions with crowd-favourite covers. This concert marked a milestone, celebrating two decades of Rockestra®, reinforcing NParks' commitment to enlivening our green spaces and providing a dynamic platform to spotlight homegrown talent. Additionally, the 2024 Heritage Festival at Singapore Botanic Gardens and Fort Canning Park offered an engaging array of activities for visitors of all ages. Highlights included enchanting musical performances amidst the Gardens' lush landscapes, creative children's workshops, and a vibrant weekend MarketPlace at Fort Canning Park.
Over 300 handcrafted lanterns — the most ever displayed — illuminated the nights with depictions of folklore and Singapore's rich biodiversity, creating an enchanting outdoor gallery at Lights by the Lake.
Park-goers enjoyed tunes ranging from 1980s anthems to contemporary hits at the 22nd edition of Rockestra®, held at Fort Canning Park in June 2024.
Parkside Fun For Residents
On 8 June 2024, residents enjoyed a high-spirited ECP Day at East Coast Park, held in conjunction with the People's Association's East Coast Family Fiesta. Members of the Friends of East Coast Park community and partners transformed the coastline into a living classroom, where residents could share and learn about the area's biodiversity, hidden nature spots, and community stewardship efforts. Besides the booths and activities, the event also featured outdoor movie screenings under the stars and live bands serenading guests to the rhythm of the sea.
Park-goers also enjoyed the Park Connector Network Challenge 2024, a collaboration with Singapore Kindness Movement that combined outdoor exploration with community building. This initiative invited park users to spread graciousness while discovering the park connectors using the NParks Explore a Route (NEAR) mobile app.
Download the NEAR appEnhancing Connectivity
In the past year, NParks continued to expand and enhance Singapore's ecological and recreational connectivity. Some 30km of Nature Ways were completed in areas such as Sengkang, Tyersall, Upper Changi, Lower Seletar, and Telok Blangah, expanding the total network to 240km. These Nature Ways serve as green corridors, lined with tiered vegetation that provides shade, supports biodiversity, and creates seamless linkages between parks, waterways and urban spaces.
In 2024, recreational connectivity was further expanded with the addition of the Jurong Town Hall, Pandan Garden East Bank, Paya Lebar and Upper Thomson Park Connectors, bringing the total length of Singapore's Park Connector Network (PCN) to 393km.
Building on efforts to enhance connectivity and greenery, NParks has fostered community-driven initiatives to revitalise urban spaces. The new Buona Vista Community Node, the first of its kind along the Rail Corridor (South), reflects the collaborative spirit of agencies, stakeholders and the public in shaping the future of the Rail Corridor.
Extensive engagement with the friends of the Rail Corridor, residents, students, heritage and nature groups, and industry partners helped guide its design, ensuring it meets community needs while preserving the corridor's unique character.
The new Pandan Green East Bank Park Connector features native flowering species such as Leea ruba and Planchonella obovata. With scenic views of the Pandan River, visitors can also spot native wildlife like herons and otters.
Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Finance Indranee Rajah (far right) and then-Nee Soon South Grassroots Adviser Carrie Tan (middle) visit booths and marketplace stalls at the Singapore Garden Festival.
Singapore's 9ᵗʰ Garden Festival in Bloom
From 3 to 11 August 2024, the highly anticipated Singapore Garden Festival returned in full splendour for its ninth edition at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre, marking its first large-scale showcase since 2018.
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam graced the Awards Night, presenting prizes to the winners of the Best of Show Designer Gardens, Balcony Gardens, and Floral Table-Top categories. Attended by designers, florists, and horticulturists from all over the region, the Festival showcased an extraordinary lineup of 12 show designer gardens created by 16 award-winning local and international designers.
This edition held special significance as Singapore concurrently hosted the 8th Global Botanic Gardens Congress, the only global meeting dedicated to botanic gardens.
Beyond the show gardens, the Festival pulsed with community spirit. The seventh Singapore Gardeners' Cup celebrated local community groups, while themed gardens spotlighted grassroots creativity. Visitors explored wearable floral art, exquisite bonsai and Ikebana arrangements, and a botanical photography exhibition, all demonstrating how deeply gardening is rooted in Singaporean life.
Partnerships Redefine Urban Greenery
An additional 36 ha of skyrise greenery was added in 2024, raising the total skyrise greenery footprint to 229 ha, effectively integrating nature into the built environment. The success of NParks' Skyrise Greenery Programme stems from strong public-private collaboration, driven by regulatory frameworks such as the Urban Redevelopment Authority's Landscaping for Urban Spaces and High-Rises programme and the Housing and Development Board's green initiatives for public housing.
The multi-layered skyrise greening strategy adds a distinctive character to urban architecture while playing a key role in restoring nature in urban areas.
Growing Collaborative Initiatives
To strengthen community bonds through nature, NParks launched Singapore’s first Social Enterprise Community Urban Farm (SECUF) in West Coast Park, in partnership with social enterprise City Sprouts. Spanning 5,000 m², this innovative venture brings together diverse stakeholders such as social enterprises, grassroots organisations, volunteer groups and eldercare beneficiaries to cultivate shared green spaces. Beyond farming, SECUF features communal spaces such as an integrated Community Hall and a mission-driven café, fostering social interaction and promoting sustainable urban agriculture.
SECUF serves as a platform for community engagement, skill-sharing, and improving collective well-being, demonstrating how environmental and community goals can be achieved together.
Community gardens enable residents to maintain their own green space and grow a variety of plants, fostering deeper connections with nature.
Passionate Young Stewards Support Our City in Nature
Passionate young stewards in the community are driving efforts towards a City in Nature. The 2024 Youth Stewards for Nature Programme consisted of some 160 youths spearheading projects across the areas of publicity and communications, social media, digital mapping, recruitment, and strategic programmes. Guided by NParks' staff mentors and the programme's alumni, these young leaders gained hands-on experience in horticulture, biodiversity conservation and landscape management while tackling real-world sustainability challenges.
Building on the momentum of local youth engagement, Singapore took a pioneering role on the international stage by hosting the inaugural CITES Youth Leadership Programme from 22 to 25 April 2024. The programme's crowning achievement was the establishment of the CITES Global Youth Network, a first-of-its-kind platform for young changemakers in sustainable wildlife trade and conservation.
Meanwhile, the Nature Kakis Network has blossomed into a powerful force for community-led conservation, now spanning 27 chapters across the island. Induction programmes and learning festivals brought them together to connect, learn from each other and encourage stronger community stewardship of nature.
From small neighbourhood projects to islandwide and global initiatives, these stewards demonstrate how the community can transform Singapore into a City in Nature — one milestone at a time.
The CITES Youth Leadership Programme brought together 41 young leaders aged 18 to 30 from around the world for immersive learning, including team-building exercises, interactive wildlife trade simulations at the zoo, leadership panels and a mock Conference of the Parties (CoP).
Volunteers conduct a guided nature walk during the Nature Kakis Appreciation Event 2025: Learning Festival. The event highlighted the creativity and dedication of these community stewards, featuring interactive booths on biodiversity and community animal management; hands-on activities like nature art printing and scent bag making; and a showcase of chapter projects like the Bishan East-Sin Ming audio tour prototype and Marymount's neighbourhood planting efforts.