Butterflies, dragonflies, shrubs … a new family-friendly nature play-garden, a part of the Singapore Botanical Gardens, that feels as if it is in the middle of a forest.
@ Gallop Extension, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Gallop Road
- Daily, 7.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m.
- No dogs allowed
Inspired by the distinctive parts of trees found within the Gardens, this is a modern interpretation of the timeless experience of climbing and playing in trees and is focused on introducing children to nature via play and exploration.
Children can swing, slide and climb on structures resembling the aerial roots of the Weeping Fig, scramble over the warty surface of a giant Cempedak or roll and hop around the pod and seeds of a Saga tree.
The COMO Adventure Grove is set within nature, enabling children to choose how and what to play with, creating a sense of adventure and discovery as well as independence.
The nearby Forest Discovery Centre@ OCBC Arboretum, Gallop House No 5 (Singapore’s oldest surviving black-and-shite bungalow, built in 1898) offers interactive displays and videos that highlight Singapore’s forest habitats – history and botany presented as fun facts. Highlights include a photographic installation of forest trees, family-friendly displays and videos featuring three distinctive forest habitats found in Singapore, and their unique flora and fauna.
- Forest Discovery Centre @ OCBC Arboretum 9.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m.
- Closed every last Monday of the month
How to get there :
Deets :
- Crowded, so pick your times.
- Carry your own sandplay paraphernalia, even though spades and buckets may be available.
- Have to navigate steps, so strollers may prove cumbersome.
- Air conditioned cafe, but limited space.
- A brisk 15 minute walk from Farrer Road or the Botanic Gardens MRT Station.
Photographs and information from the NParks website and The Straits Times article of 4 April 2021 by Eddino Abdul Hadi.
