SINGAPORE: A new community involvement programme that aims to raise funds for research, outreach and education efforts at the Singapore Botanic Gardens was launched by the National Parks Board (NParks) on Tuesday (Nov 29).
The “Give to the Gardens” programme was announced at the launch of Trees of the World, a month-long Christmas light-up event at the gardens.
NParks said since the Botanic Gardens was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site last year, there has been growing interest from the public and companies wanting to contribute.
For a start, about 40 long-time supporters and partners have pledged close to S$70,000 to the programme.
Donations can be made online.
Members of the community, supporters and partners of the gardens were also involved in dressing up about 200 trees for Christmas, which line the paths from the Nassim Gate Visitor Centre to the Heritage Core at Tanglin Gate.
Christmas trees on display at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. (Photo: Facebook/NParks)
Also announced on Tuesday evening were details of the Singapore Garden Photographer of the Year 2017 photo competition. First launched in 2014, the second edition of the competitive invites participants to submit photographs according to three themes: “Gardens and Landscapes”, “People and Nature” and “Our BiodiverCITY”, NParks said.
This year’s competition will feature an open category as well as an Instagram category, NParks said, with cash and camera prizes worth about S$30,000. Details of the competition can be found on its website.
