Garden City Fund

Message from the Chairman

As I reflect on 2025, I am deeply grateful for the steadfast support of our corporate and individual partners in advancing our City in Nature vision. Your generosity, commitment and shared belief in the importance of nature have enabled the Garden City Fund to support meaningful initiatives that conserve our natural heritage, strengthen community stewardship, and bring people closer to nature.

The year was marked by significant milestones that reminded us of how far we have come together. The Singapore Botanic Gardens commemorated its 10th anniversary as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a reflection of its international significance and enduring contributions to conservation, research and education. This achievement would not have been possible without the support of many like-minded partners, whose contributions continue to help the Gardens grow as a leading botanic garden and extend its reach to more people. Their support has enabled initiatives such as new donation terminals to engage more donors, including overseas visitors, as well as the Herbarium’s largest-ever digitalisation effort as it celebrated its 150th anniversary.

It is equally heartening to see donors share our commitment to nurturing future generations who will contribute to Singapore’s environment and sustainability. Through the support of Peter Lim and his foundation, the NParks-Peter Lim Scholarship Programme will continue to provide scholarships to deserving students, enabling them to pursue their studies and future careers. These opportunities will create lasting benefits not only for the recipients, but also for their families and communities.

Our community of supporters continues to inspire us. We are encouraged by the many individuals who give regularly through Giving.sg, our key online fundraising platform, and who have supported important campaigns such as the Herbarium’s digitalisation effort and the Pet Cat Sterilisation Support Programme. We are equally heartened by those who champion our cause within their own communities. One such example is Ms Rayea Bankal, an NPS International School student who organised a fundraising initiative in support of the Plant-A-Tree Programme. Her efforts reflect the growing commitment of younger generations towards environmental stewardship. It is deeply encouraging to see young people stepping forward to care for nature and contribute to a greener future for Singapore. Their passion reminds us that building a City in Nature is a shared responsibility that transcends generations.

We were saddened by the passing of Mrs Kirtida Mekani in January 2026. A dedicated member of the GCF Management Committee from 2005 to 2024, she provided invaluable guidance, nurtured partnerships with donors and volunteers, and championed stewardship of Singapore’s natural heritage. Mrs Mekani was a passionate advocate for community greening and played a seminal role in the Plant-A-Tree Programme, which has since grown into a key initiative that enables individuals and organisations to contribute to the greening of our city. As a Community in Bloom ambassador, she inspired many to embrace gardening, helping to lay the foundation for the more than 2,000 community gardens maintained by over 48,000 people today. Her dedication, generosity of spirit and love for nature have left an enduring legacy, and we will remember her with deep gratitude and respect.

Looking ahead, we remain committed to advancing Singapore’s journey as a City in Nature. We will continue to strengthen our long-term resilience to climate challenges through nature-based solutions that bring together capacity building, community engagement and outreach. Conservation efforts such as the 100k Corals Initiative will continue their important work to strengthen Singapore’s ecosystems. More feature enhancement and outreach programmes will also be introduced at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, expanding opportunities for people to enjoy and appreciate nature-based experiences. At the same time, we will continue to promote responsible pet ownership and build communities where Singaporeans can live in harmony with animals.

Protecting and enhancing our natural heritage is a shared responsibility, and we cannot do this without the continued commitment of our partners and the community. I invite you to continue walking this journey with us as we bring Singapore’s green vision to greater heights and create lasting impact for the environment we all share.

Let me close by thanking each of you. Your dedication and love for nature are the lifeblood of our work. I am grateful for all that you have done, and I look forward to growing our shared future as a City in Nature together.

Mr Guy Harvey-Samuel, Chairman of the Garden City Fund — **Mr Guy Harvey-Samuel**Chairman

About the Garden City Fund

Charity Registration Number/Unique Entity Number:: T02CC1634C
Charity Registration Date:: 19 November 2002
IPC Number:: IPC000104
Auditor:: Foo Kon Tan LLP

The Garden City Fund (GCF) is a registered charity and an Institution of a Public Character (IPC), with its registered address at the National Parks Board, Singapore Botanic Gardens, 1 Cluny Road, Singapore 259569.

It seeks to enhance the enjoyment of our City in Nature by working with corporations and individuals to support the development of amenities and special features in Singapore’s green spaces; community activities and programmes that promote and enhance nature and ecology, art and culture, landscape and horticulture, animal and greenery management, animal health and welfare, and conservation; and citizen involvement to encourage greater ownership of our City in Nature.

The Board of NParks serves as the trustee of the GCF and has appointed the GCF Management Committee to plan, develop, promote and manage the GCF in accordance with its Trust Deed.

The GCF Management Committee comprises mainly non-executive members, except for the GCF Secretary Dr Yap Him Hoo, who is also Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Professional Development & Services at National Parks Board.

Between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026, the total amount of cash donations through GCF was about S$10.7 million.

Conflict of Interest Policy

The GCF Management Committee members are required to comply with the charity’s conflict of interest policy. The charity has put in place documented procedures for committee members to declare actual or potential conflicts of interest on a regular and need-to basis. Committee members also abstain from and do not participate in discussions or decision-making on matters where they have a conflict of interest.

Whistleblowing Policy

GCF follows NParks’ whistleblowing policy for reporting improper conduct and addressing concerns about possible wrongdoing or improprieties in financial or other matters within the charity.

**The 12th Garden City Fund Management Committee**(1 November 2024 – 30 October 2026) for the Year in Review
Name	Appointment	Past Appointments	Occupation	Meeting Attendance
Mr Guy Harvey-Samuel	Chairman	Member since 1 November 2022 Chairman since 1 November 2024	Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Singapore	4/4
Mr Goh Kong Aik*	Treasurer	Member since 1 November 2014 Treasurer 1 November 2016 – 30 October 2020	Former Head of Group Corporate Sustainability and Communications, HSBC Singapore	3/4
Dr Yap Him Hoo	Secretary	Secretary since 13 June 2024	Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Professional Development & Services, NParks	3/4
Mr Daren Shiau	Member	Member since 1 November 2016 Treasurer 1 November 2020 – 30 October 2024	Partner, Allen & Gledhill LLP	2/4
Mr Han Jok Kwang	Member	Member since 1 November 2020	Business Development Advisor, Schneider Electric	4/4
Mr Ho Hin Wah	Member	Member since 1 November 2024	Chief Investment Officer, Genedant Capital	4/4
Ms May Loh	Member	Member since 1 November 2024	Partner & Singapore Office Head, Albright Stonebridge Group	3/4
Ms Shantini Ramachandra	Member	Member since 1 November 2024	Former Business Tax Partner, Deloitte Singapore	4/4

Professor Emeritus Leo Tan (Chairman, 1 November 2006 – 31 October 2024) is Adviser to the Garden City Fund.

*Mr Goh Kong Aik has continued to serve for more than 10 consecutive years. His wealth of knowledge, service and expertise has guided the charity to reach out to corporates and individuals for funding support, and ensured sound governance of the charity. With many years of corporate experience, he has also contributed to a balanced composition in the committee, with a diverse mix of backgrounds and experience to meet the growing needs of the charity.

As part of Garden City Fund’s commitment to renewal, succession planning and diversity for the management committee, plans are ongoing to identify suitable members to enable an appropriate balance of skills, expertise, experience and views.

Greening the Red Dot

Donors and partners were at the heart of GCF’s progress this year. Their contributions helped advance conservation, safeguard natural heritage, restore habitats, strengthen green spaces and deepen community participation in nature. From supporting Singapore’s first recorded Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus ernesti) chicks and planting more than 900 corals, to digitalising the nation’s botanical collections and planting over 95,000 donated trees, their generosity translated shared commitment into tangible outcomes for wildlife, people and Singapore’s City in Nature.

Honouring Our Natural Heritage

Support from CDL, Equinix, Mdm Tina Ou, Ms Min Xiao Ling and Mr Tan Jiew Hoe enabled the community to celebrate the Singapore Botanic Gardens’ natural heritage in a milestone year. In 2025, the Gardens marked its 10th anniversary as Singapore’s first and only UNESCO World Heritage Site, 30 years of the National Orchid Garden, and 150 years of the Singapore Herbarium and the Library of Botany and Horticulture. Their sponsorship made possible the Heritage Festival’s guided tours, workshops, films, concerts, special exhibitions and the first light show held in the Gardens, bringing these milestones to life for visitors.

Donor contributions are powering the Singapore Herbarium’s largest digitalisation effort to date—the digitalisation of some 800,000 specimens. This undertaking is made possible by Aramco Singapore, the Estate of Jo and Gerry Essery, Mr Toh Lam Tiang and family, TikTok Singapore, Mr Ou Tsung Ming and Mrs Ou Chen Li Chin, ST Engineering, Mr Tan Jiew Hoe, Mr Chen Xi (Kevin), Geneco and anonymous donors. Together, they are helping to preserve irreplaceable botanical records and make them more accessible for research and learning.

The Herbarium in Your Pocket campaign gave individuals and corporate partners a direct role in supporting this major undertaking. Donors that contributed S$1,000 or more received a limited-edition collectable featuring a S$5 note with a real pressed specimen from the iconic Tembusu (Cyrtophyllum fragrans) tree and serial numbers printed in ink made from the same tree by local botanical ink-making studio, Wild Dot. Hong Leong Asia Ltd donated the S$5 notes, while McCann Worldgroup Singapore designed the collectable, extending the impact of the campaign through valuable in-kind expertise and resources.

By 2027, these donors will have helped create what is expected to be the largest online database of specimens housed in Southeast Asia. Worldwide access to the collection will support researchers and the public in sharing knowledge and collaborating across biodiversity, conservation and pharmacology, including the study of species that have gone extinct or have yet to be formally described. This is a lasting legacy: contributions made today will continue to support discovery and conservation well beyond the campaign.

A group examines botanical specimens being digitised at the Singapore Herbarium — Minister of State for National Development Mr Alvin Tan (centre) and then Executive Director, National Parks & Gardens Cluster and Group Director, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Prof Tan Puay Yok (now CEO, NParks) examining some of the specimens that are being digitalised at the Herbarium. This is done in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the Herbarium in 2025.

Visitors watch the Botanic Gardens light show at night — As part of the Festival, the Gardens introduced nightly light shows at Swan Lake and Tanglin Gate, set to music by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, bringing art, nature, and national identity together.

New Life, New Wins in Conservation

OCBC’s support made it possible for NParks to monitor and support a pair of Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus ernesti) nesting in the recesses of OCBC Centre at Chulia Street since late 2024. In April 2025, Singapore welcomed its first recorded Peregrine Falcon chicks. Beyond this landmark, OCBC’s contribution is helping deepen knowledge of the native species’ breeding and foraging ecology, informing efforts to support its successful adaptation to Singapore’s urban landscape.

Learn more about the Peregrine Falcons on Instagram (opens in a new tab)

More than S$2 million in support from Delta Electronics, the GSK-EDB Trust Fund, Deutsche Bank, Takashimaya Singapore and KPI Ocean Connect, has helped transform the 100k Corals Initiative from ambition to restoration in Singapore’s waters. Since its launch in December 2024, more than 900 corals across 14 species have been planted towards the long-term goal of 100,000 corals. By enabling threatened coral species to be conserved and planted, these donors are helping strengthen marine habitats, support biodiversity and provide natural protection against shoreline erosion.

Two Peregrine Falcon chicks in their nest — Two Peregrine Falcon chicks were successfully hatched on 6 and 9 April 2025 respectively, and fledged in mid-May 2025. Their presence will provide crucial data about Peregrine Falcon breeding patterns and foraging preferences in tropical regions, where their ecology remains poorly understood.

A coral fragment being prepared for restoration — Since December 2024, the 100k Corals Initiative has worked towards planting 100,000 corals in Singapore’s waters over the next decade and beyond. Besides serving as a natural defence against shoreline erosion, corals are a cornerstone of marine ecosystems, providing for around one-quarter of marine species.

The Blossoms of Community

Plant-A-Tree donors turned their support into trees in the ground and wider participation in the OneMillionTrees movement. New donors QBE Foundation and Tempur each contributed 50 trees, while returning donors KLA Foundation, Singapore Maritime Foundation and Singlife sustained their support. FOZL extended this impact by rallying its clients and personal contacts to raise S$30,000 for the programme, bringing more people into Singapore’s shared greening journey.

As of 28 February 2026, donor support had put more than 95,000 trees into the landscape. Since Plant-A-Tree began in 2007, more than 153,541 participants—including some 914 corporations and 7,263 individuals—have taken part. Every donated tree is part of a larger, sustained effort to restore nature to the city and create a greener environment for all.

A cash donation from Singapore Pools and in-kind contributions from five partners made HortFest possible in August 2025. Support from Bio-Flora (Singapore), Biophilic Private Limited, Nanyang Inc, NaturalGRO by The Nature Company and Baba Gardening enabled garden tours, a marketplace, workshops, demonstrations and three new themed gardens at HortPark. Their contributions helped more people discover practical ways to garden at home, while celebrating 20 years of Community in Bloom—a programme that has grown from fewer than 200 gardening groups in its first year to more than 2,000 groups islandwide.

Nurturing Tomorrow’s Leaders

The NParks-Peter Lim Scholarship Programme invests in deserving students who will help carry Singapore’s green journey forward. The new merit-based scholarship creates a pathway for students in disciplines including landscape architecture, horticulture, ecology, veterinary science and animal science to pursue higher education and build meaningful careers. For recipients, this opportunity can open doors to professional growth and greater financial independence, while giving their families greater confidence in the future. Over time, the knowledge and skills they gain will also strengthen Singapore’s capabilities in caring for its natural environment—extending the impact of the scholarship from each student and family to the wider community.

Scholarship recipients speak with Minister for National Development Mr Chee Hong Tat — Minister for National Development, Mr Chee Hong Tat (centre), meets the recipients of the NParks-Peter Lim Scholarship 2026 at the Awards Ceremony held in ITE College East.

Vital Support from Individuals

New donation terminals at the Singapore Botanic Gardens are making it easier for every visitor to play a part in connecting people with plants. Introduced in July 2025, the terminals provide a convenient way for members of the public to contribute to the Give to the Gardens programme. Each donation helps the Gardens advance its conservation work and create opportunities for people to discover, appreciate and build a deeper connection with plants.

Individual donors showed how one idea can mobilise a wider community and generate meaningful support. Ms Rayea Bankal, a Grade 9 student at NPS International School Singapore, raised S$8,000 for the Plant-A-Tree Programme by transforming used clothes and fabrics collected from the community into vibrant art pieces. Mr Chuck Ng created a simple, sustained way for his fitness group at Fort Canning Park to give, with members who arrive late for weekly sessions contributing S$10 each to GCF. Their efforts demonstrate that donor impact is not defined only by scale, but also by the ability to inspire participation and make care for nature part of everyday life.

A donation terminal at the Singapore Botanic Gardens — Keen to contribute towards transforming Singapore into a City in Nature? Visitors to the Singapore Botanic Gardens can now donate to the Give to the Gardens programme using these handy terminals.

Rayea Bankal works on a floral artwork made from used fabric — Ms Rayea Bankal started her own project to promote environmental awareness and conscious consumption, donating the funds raised to the Plant-A-Tree Programme.

More Impact to Come

Continued donor partnership can unlock the next wave of practical benefits for Singapore’s natural heritage and communities. Planned work includes education projects and trials of nature-based solutions to mitigate different types of erosion at Pulau Ubin and Khatib Bongsu Nature Park, alongside further coral restoration under the 100k Corals Initiative to strengthen local coral communities and reefs.

Future contributions can also enhance green spaces and widen access to nature-based experiences. Support for new features and outreach programmes at the Singapore Botanic Gardens can enrich visitors’ experiences, while contributions to therapeutic gardens and therapeutic horticulture programmes can help advance NParks’ goal of establishing 30 therapeutic gardens islandwide by 2030 and improve the well-being of Singaporeans.

Corporate and individual donors can also help communities live more harmoniously with their animal companions. As more Singaporeans become pet owners, GCF will continue to engage partners to support programmes on responsible pet ownership.

Every donation is an investment in a greener, more resilient Singapore. By combining donor generosity with community participation and conservation expertise, GCF can turn contributions into lasting outcomes for habitats, wildlife and people. Visit www.gardencityfund.gov.sg for more information.

Garden City Fund

Statement of financial position

As at 31 March 2026

Statement of comprehensive income

For the financial year ended 31 March 2026

Income

The income comprised mainly donations and interest income. The income for the year was $11.40 million. The decrease in income was primarily due to a drop in donations.

Table of income for FY2025 and FY2024 with the increase or decrease by category

Operating Expenditure

The expenditure for the year was $9.88 million, which is $42,000 lower compared to last year’s operating expenditure of $9.92 million. The decrease was in matching expenses for in-kind donation, offset with increase in expenses in enhancement of parks, gardens and facilities.

Table of operating expenditure for FY2025 and FY2024 with the increase or decrease by category

Financial Position

As at 31 March 2026, the total assets stood at $49.98 million, an increase of 10% from last year. Accumulated funds stood at $30.48 million, while current liabilities stood at $19.50 million.