New Thomson Nature Park to be ready by end-2018
Remnants of the Hainan village at the site of the upcoming Thomson Nature Park. Photo: NParks
SINGAPORE — The soon-to-be-developed Thomson Nature Park will be ready by the end of 2018, said the National Parks Board (NParks) on Saturday (Oct 8).
Work on Thomson Nature Park — located between Old Upper Thomson Road and Upper Thomson Road — will begin early next year.
Trails will be developed to give visitors a chance to experience heritage highlights within the site — a former Hainan village. Among the features include old houses and foundations of the former village and some of the relict trees such as the majestic Ficus trees estimated to be more than 50 years old.
The area is also home to many rare and locally endangered animals at the site — including porcupines, pangolin, Samba deers, Leopard cats and Straw-headed Bulbuls.
In particular, the site also serves as a key conservation site for the Raffles’ Banded Langur, a subspecies of the Banded Leaf Monkey that can only be found in Singapore and southern Peninsular Malaysia. Additionally freshwater streams at the site are also home to many native aquatic species such as the Spotted Tree Frog which is near threatened on IUCN Red list, as well as the Malayan Box Terrapin.
First announced in 2014, the 50 hectare nature park will complement existing and upcoming nature parks including Springleaf, Chestnut, and Windsor Nature Parks which will extend the green buffer for the Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR).
Like other nature parks, Thomson Nature Park will help to reduce visitorship pressure on the nature reserves by providing alternative venues for the public to enjoy nature-related activities, said NParks.
Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development Desmond Lee made a site visit on Saturday, where he planted a Radermachera pinnata tree. Also present were representatives of nature groups, grassroots, students, residents, and key stakeholders.
