|
| all news articles | by topics |
|
news
articles about singapore's wild places
|
| Streats 16 Nov
04 Route to treetop walk enjoyable for the prepared I WAS delighted when I read reports about the opening of the 250m-long suspension bridge at the MacRitchie Reservoir area as nature lovers will now be able to get close to the flora and fauna of the forest canopy. During the Deepavali holiday, I ventured into the reserve with my family, but soon realised that the suspension bridge is not that easily accessible. Like us, many other visitors did not know that the hike to the bridge is about 5km long over uneven terrain, with steep slopes and long stretches of mud track strewn with stones and broken bricks. Proper footwear and clothing are necessary in such a terrain. Some women that day wore slippers and high-heeled shoes. And it was not suitable for very young children and the elderly. I would like to suggest that the authorities give out printed maps of the tracks to the suspension bridge. Although there were signposts to direct hikers, these were very far apart. During our hike back, my family met a mother with three young children who said she was heading for the bridge. But she was walking in the wrong direction. I hope that by being informed beforehand about the hiking conditions, visitors will be able to prepare themselves adequately for what can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Lydia Pan She Teng Streets, 23 Nov 04 Treetop walk: closer carparks under study WE refer to the letter, "Route to treetop walk enjoyable for the prepared" (Streats, Nov 16). We are heartened by the interest in the treetop walk. The treetop walk is part of our efforts to provide a range of recreational amenities to cater to visitors with different interests and varying levels of trekking or hiking experience and ability. To further enhance visitors' experience, we have put in place interpretive signages and information on trail etiquette as well as map boards at the major trail junctions, entry points and activity nodes along the walking trails at MacRitchie, including the treetop walk. In anticipation of increasing public interest in the treetop walk, we have also installed additional directional signs to guide visitors to the bridge and will be deploying additional staff on the weekends to help guide visitors as well. We are also looking into improving access by providing car-parking facilities nearer the bridge. The treetop walk is part of the National Parks Board's management strategy to balance the twin aims of protecting our native flora and fauna while allowing the public access to certain areas of the Nature Reserves for recreation. The site for the treetop walk was therefore chosen with much care to take advantage of the natural elevation provided by the two highest points in MacRitchie while ensuring that no tree felling would be required in the process of building the bridge. As with all visits to nature areas, we would like to advise members of the public to make pre-visit preparations such as checking on the terrain and hiking conditions. To help further enhance and prepare for their experience at the Nature Reserves, members of the public can view our website at www.nparks.gov.sg for further information such as maps and directions. We thank the writer for the feedback and would like to invite her to contact us on our QSM Helpline at 1 800-471 7300 should she have further feedback. Wong Tuan Wah, director (conservation), National Parks Board links Fact sheet on the Tree Top Walk with links to more articles. |
| News articles are reproduced for non-profit educational purposes. | |
website©ria tan 2003 www.wildsingapore.com |