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Botanic
Gardens Rainforest Trail
6ha of primary
rainforest just minutes from Orchard Road!
A fabulously easy
introduction to a rainforest! Right in the heart of the city, within
minutes of Orchard Road, this is the oldest remnant of rainforest
in Singapore!
The 1889 Gardens’ catalogue gave the following description of the
Gardens’ Rain Forest ‘With one or two exceptions, this is the only
piece of original jungle left on the island…. It gives the visitors
some idea of the wonderful richness of tropical vegetation.’
This is still true today! More than 50% of the species in this patch
of rainforest represent plants that are rare in Singapore.
Short and easy trails bring you amongst rare forest giants which still
shelter birds and other wildlife. Among the highlights are tall rainforest
trees (about 40m), some so tall that lightning conductors had to be
installed on them for protection. They include a good representation
of Singapore’s original timber trees. My favourites are the enormous
strangling fig and giant hanging rattan!
An observant visitor might be rewarded with sights of forest birds,
playful squirrels and brightly coloured butterflies.
After the walk, enjoy refreshments at the cafe or browse through the
amazing collection of nature books at Nature's
Niche.
Let a guide really show you the forest!
Going
on a tour with a volunteer guide is the best way to see and learn
more about this special forest. There are free monthly guided
walks of the Botanics Rainforest Trail in English, Mandarin and
Japanese.
History of Botanic Gardens Rainforest
The Rain Forest is a national treasure, not only because of its
rich biodiversity but also because its historic records stretch back
to the last century when Ridley collected herbarium specimens from
it. The rain forest is part of the original site of the Botanic Gardens
founded in 1859 and it was recorded then as primaeval forest and covered
11 acres (4.45 ha).
Burkill's statement in 1918 that "The eye of Sir Stamford Raffles...saw
forest where we see it still" remains true today. Apart from a reduction
in size as the Gardens' developed (such as the siting of the collection
of tropical shade palms beneath its canopy), it has persisted with
minor disturbance until present when it now measures 4-ha in extent.
The Rainforest boasts forest giants of a size rarely seen now in lowland
mixed dipterocarp forest of Peninsular Malaysia, which have been subject
to timber extraction, or in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Singapore,
where many of the large trees were cut down during the Japanese occupation--from
a paper by Ruth Kiew and Lena Chan
more about
the history of the Botanic Gardens as a whole on the Gardens website
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updates
& activities
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Free
guided walk
of the Rainforest Trail
Every second Saturday:
9, 10, 11am and 4pm. more
Walks in Mandarin at 4pm
Walks in Japanese:
first Sat 10am
Free guided tour of the
Evolution Garden
Every fourth Saturday 9am
Free guided tour of the
National Orchid Garden
Every third Saturday: 9, 10, 11 am and 4 pm.
more
activities
on the Gardens website
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info
for visitors
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photos
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