New 200m long pedestrian bridge opens at Singapore Botanic Gardens
The two sections of the Core are now connected, allowing visitors seamless access across Tyersall Avenue, which separates the Gallop Extension from the rest of the gardens.
The 200m long and 2.4m wide pedestrian bridge will provide access between the Learning Forest and the Gallop Extension at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. (Photo: NParks)
SINGAPORE: Visitors to the Singapore Botanic Gardens can enjoy easier access between two sections of the gardens, separated by Tyersall Avenue, with a new 200m long pedestrian bridge.
The HPL Canopy Link was opened on Thursday (Nov 17), marking the completion of the Tyersall-Gallop Core of the gardens, said the National Parks Board (NParks) in a media release.
The pedestrian bridge connects the two sections of the Core, allowing visitors seamless access across Tyersall Avenue, which separates the Gallop Extension from the rest of the gardens.
With a 2.4m wide barrier-free pathway, the new pedestrian bridge will also make accessibility easier for all visitors, including families with young children and visitors using wheelchairs.
The new HPL Canopy link also serves as a buffer for the UNESCO World Heritage Site from urban development, said NParks. The Singapore Botanic Gardens was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015.
"With the bridge, the Singapore Botanic Gardens is now fully connected and accessible for all visitors, including families with young children and those with mobility disabilities," said NParks.
"This will bring greenery closer to visitors and contribute to the gardens’ vision of connecting people with plants and encouraging a greater appreciation for Singapore’s natural heritage."
Starting from the Learning Forest's bambusetum, the HPL Canopy Link ascends to an elevation of 7m, providing visitors with a vantage point overlooking the collection of more than 30 species of tropical bamboos.
The bridge then leads into the canopy of a recreated lowland deciduous forest habitat, which is commonly found in continental Southeast Asia - a region encompassing Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.
Visitors will cross over Tyersall Avenue and into the ridgetop forest habitats at the Mingxin Foundation Rambler’s Ridge of the Gallop Extension, which features the highest point in the gardens.
The 18-hectare Tyersall-Gallop Core is the latest addition to the Singapore Botanic Gardens, consisting of two sections - the Learning Forest and the Gallop Extension.
The addition of the core brings the total area of the Gardens to 82 hectares, the largest in its 163-year history.
The Learning Forest, which opened in 2017, allows visitors to access a network of boardwalks and elevated walkways to explore wetland and rainforest habitats.
The 10-hectare forest is an extensive restoration project of the lowland forest and wetland habitats that were originally abutting the gardens, said NParks. Detailed site surveys were conducted and reference was taken from early 19th-century maps to restore these former habitats.
The forest was designed to integrate with the gardens' existing 6-hectare rain forest to form an enlarged forest habitat that will help strengthen the conservation of native flora and fauna.
Meanwhile, the 8-hectare Gallop Extension features two conserved houses, an arboretum and a nature-themed playground among other highlights.
