One of the significant features of Southern Ridges is the nature walks that they provide people with bridges that spans across a secondary forest called adinandra belukar that is still regenerating from the exhaustive agriculture exploitation in the past. Such trails, covered in a variety of biodiversity, are ideal places for bird watchers to observe birds.
- Canopy Walk
The Canopy Walk is the linkage between Hortpark and Kent Ridge Park. Kent Ridge Park is one of the historical parks in Singapore which was used for the last battles for Singapore by the British. Not only that, it also consists of the surrounding natural vegetation and topography. Near it, it is The Canopy Walk is a 280m long boardwalk that has a rich biodiversity which includes sunbirds, doves, squirrels, lizards and white created thrushes. The Tembusu is most recognized by its heavily fissured bark and low branching points and also flowers in May and November. Furthermore, the Kent Ridge Park has the highest number and species of dragonflies.
- Hilltop Walk
The Hilltop Walk, as what the name suggests, is the highest point in Telok Blangah Hilltop park. This place used to be for trading communities in the early nineteenth century. Along the way to the Terrace Garden, there are many flora and fauna found alongside. At the Terrace Garden, there is also a spectacular 360-view of Singapore.
Retrieved from: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/docs/southern_ridges/SR_Marang_to_Canopy.pdf
- Faber Walk
Dated all the way back to in 1845, Faber Walk was named after a Captain called Charles Edward Faber who set up a signal post for ships communication there. It is 56 hectares and covered by dense secondary rain forest. It offers a view of the Southern part of Singapore which includes cruise ships and landmarks like the merlion sculpture. From person experience, Mount Faber Park is definitely one of best spots to take a picture of the sunset. These are some pictures I took with my dying phone during one of my trips along Southern Ridges.
- Forest Walk
The Forest walk, which can be accessed by metal bridges, is an elevated walkway where people can spot a variety of biodiversity birds, dragonflies and butterflies. The Forest Walk is where the dense adinandra belukar is at. With the existence of Dilenia, known as the “rojak” tree, there are many variety of biodiversity. Some of the interesting biodiversity that can be found here is pink-necked green pigeon, yellow-vented bulbul, brown throated sunbird, spotted sunbird and many more types of birds. One of the interesting design in this walk is the metal gratings on the floor which was designed to avoid any prams or wheelchair wheels from being stuck. It was inspired from the fast-growing “Mile-a-Minute” plant that can be found in the forest.
- Marang Trail
In this trail that consists of an elevation of 70 metres and a distance of 0.8km, it has many beautiful sights of biodiversity. One of the significant highlights of this trail is the loud sounds produced by the cicadas. According to NParks website, cicadas live on the tuip tuip tree which is commonly found in the secondary forest, adinandra belukar. The loud chirping signifies the loud mating calls for opposite sex. On top of that, there are also the drongo birds found in the trail. Trees like Angsana tree, Saga tree and flowers like Bat Lily, ground orchids and Crape ginger found in the trail of Marang. On top of it is Mount Faber Park.
- Flora Walk and HortPark
HortPark as known as The Gardening Hub is a gardening showcase of the collaboration of industry partners from local horticulture and landscape industry. It has a well-known for its recreational, educational, research and retail activities in a park setting. This is one of the pictures of me taken during an event in HortPark.
The most interesting part about HortPark is the 40 showcase gardens which attracted gardening enthusiasts. It has won a few distinguished architectural awards like International Architectural Award 2008. It is a place that encourages passion about horticulture and community gardening.
On the other hand, Floral Walk consists of more than 100 species of flowering shrubs and trees. There are many flowers ranging from their scents, shapes and colours like trumpet-shaped flowers with crimson petals, stunning pink flowering clusters. Not only is it a walk for the public but it is also a site of experimenting ground for different plants.