EXPLOREEXPRESSACT!
|
|



|
Lower
Peirce Trail
900m wooden
boardwalk through secondary forest and skirting the reservoir
This 900m boardwalk
through the Central Nature Reserve brings you through one of Singapore's
last remaining mature secondary forests. It takes about half an hour
to walk this easy trail.
A primary rainforest in the making
In this 2,000ha forest, many of the trees may be more than 100 years
old. These trees were once cleared for rubber plantations in the 1930s.
Over the years, natural regeneration resulted in some of the original
forest species recolonising the forest. If left undisturbed, it will
eventually become a primary rainforest again.
The Lower Peirce Trail comprises boardwalks that take you through
the forest then along the edge of the Reservoir.
So you will encounter a wide range of wildlife from forest to aquatic
creatures. And enjoy wonderful panaromas of waters surrounding by
luxuriant forest. Shaded by the forest, the walk is pleasantly cool.
It is suitable for even young children.
Wondrous creatures and features
The forest is home to more than 840 flowering plants, 100 ferns and
250 animal species.
These included endangered animals such as the Lesser mousedeer, Malayan
pangolin (Scaly anteater) and the Flying lemur (Colugo). Other commonly
encountered creatures include the Clouded monitor lizard, squirrels
and the Long-tail macaque (monkey). Delightful surprises include the
Twin-barred tree snake.
Forest birds include the Drongo, babblers, barbets, cuckoos, flowerpeckers
and sunbirds. The White-bellied fish eagle can sometimes also be seen
flying over the Reservoir from the Trail, while kingfishers call nearby.
Amazing plants that you will encounter include pitcher plants, Macaranga
or the Ant-plant and Nibong palms.
Along the water's edge, kids love to watch the antics of dragonflies
and pond-skaters. Butterflies and other small creatures also abound
in the colourful wild vegetation that crowd the water's edge.
There are lots of informative signboards along the boardwalk that
tell you more about the flora and fauna of this forest.
Let a guide really show you the trail!
Going on a tour with a volunteer guide is the best way to see and
learn more about this special trail. There is a free monthly guided
walk of the Lower Peirce boardwalk.
History of Peirce Reservoir
Originally named the Kalang River Reservoir, it is Singapore's second
reservoir. After it was constructed in the lower reaches of the Kalang
River in 1910, the surrounding forest was protected as a water catchment
reserve. Much of the northern shore of Upper Peirce used to be thriving
gambier and pepper plantations in the late 19th century. In 1922,
the Kalang River Reservoir was renamed Peirce Reservoir after Mr Robert
Peirce, the municipal engineer of Singapore in 1901-1916. In 1975,
a dam was constructed at the upper reaches of the Peirce Reservoir,
forming the Upper Peirce and Lower Peirce reservoirs. |
|
updates
& activities
|
Free
guided walk
Every first Saturday: 9.30am and 10.30am. more
|
|
info
for visitors
|
|
|
|
photos
|
|
|
|
make
a difference!
|
|
|
|
free event updates!
|
|
|
|
|
Links
- Central
Nature Reserve on the Nparks website, which includes the Lower
Peirce Boardwalk: General Information, Hiking Route, HSBC Treetop
Walk, History & Attraction, Amazing Biodiversity, Outreach & Educational
Programme, CNR Volunteers, Forest Cleanup
- For
the Future of the Forest the central nature reserve volunteers
blog: photos, adventures and more!
- NPark's
Lower Peirce webpage: all about the Trail: how to get there,
what to do.
- The
Canopy an on-line magazine by the Central Nature Reserve with
features on fauna, conservation, volunteer activities, feature
articles and what's new.
- Lower
Peirce Reservoir: An easy walk in a tranquil forest on Nick
Baker's ecologyasia: an introduction to the Trail with photos
and details on what you can see and facts on facilities and getting
there.
- Wildlife
Singapore photos and factsheets of forest vertebrates of Singapore
Media articles
about Lower Peirce Reservoir
Field
guides and references
- A Walk
through the Lower Peirce Trail, an NParks pamphlet
- Singapore
Green Map Singapore Environmental Council, 2000.
|
|
|
|