For increasing the green cover of Singapore and to involve more citizens in the community gardening movement, a new national gardening masterplan was announced today. Further, public gardening plots will be installed in parks across the country.
Making the announcement, National Parks Board (NParks) said, “Apart from 160 more plots at HortPark, there will also be over 200 allotment gardening plots at Punggol Park, Clementi Woods Park and Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park by end 2017. These parks were selected for their accessibility to densely-populated heartland towns. Members of the public can expect more than 1,000 allotment garden plots by 2019 as part of initiatives to increase spaces provided for gardening.”
Speaking at the NParks biannual Community Garden Festival, Desmond Lee, Second Minister for National Development, said, “We plan to eventually have more than 1,000 allotment gardening plots for all to use.”
Plots will be rented to interested parties at SGD57 yearly, for up to three years
The main impetus of new national gardening masterplan will be on promotion of edible gardening. The masterplan will be implemented through both ongoing and new initiatives such as training, the expansion of the allotment gardening scheme, as well as outreach efforts like the Community Garden Festival.
The main aim of the masterplan is to increase knowledge and cultivate community’s interest in gardening by opening up more avenues for the public to participate in Singapore’s greening efforts.
Fast-growing edible plants that also bear fruit quickly will be promoted along with new gardening technologies. Education and outreach efforts to encourage community gardening activities among members of public, families and neighbours will also be ramped up.
NParks also unveiled HortHouse, which will serve as the new training hub for the Centre for Urban Greenery and Ecology (CUGE). This new landscape fronting HortHouse featuring eleven families of flowers and foliage will also provide an outdoor showcase of horticultural varieties to complement learning, and appeal to home gardeners. HortHouse will host arboriculture, botany and horticulture courses. Classes will begin in January next year.