The Singapore Botanic Gardens Learning Forest is a new secondary forest extension of the Singapore National Botanical Gardens. Located at the South east portion of the gardens at the new Tyersall-Gallop core, the new attraction sector sits on the outskirts beyond the USENSO portion of the botanical gardens.
Getting There
If you are coming from the south Tanglin gate, the new attraction is walkable (and wheelchair accessible) from there. Moreover, it is a short 15 minute stroll past the Swan lake. You will hit the egde of the Learning Forest after a short uphill climb, bringing you to the iconic “walk of giants” and cargo net play area.
Walk of Giants tree play nets
Here, the SPH walk of Giants is a 2-storey free-standing open structure which elevates you from the ground level right up to the upper tree line. You can either take the stairs up or use the elevator. Additionally, on the top platform, you will be greeted by two large 5 by 5 meter openings in the structure. This is made to accommodate the trunks of two mature trees which peeks through the roof of the structure.
A combination of interlinked cargo nets bridges this gap to the trees, suspending you a full 2 floors over the secondary forest foliage below the structure which you can use as a giant hammock or trampoline (just don’t bounce off anyone else currently on the net). Not quite for those with vertigo!
Products of forest Wooden broadwalk
Furthermore, the forest walk section of the Learning forest connects to the walk of giants path route. It brings you deeper into the forest on a wooden broadwalk path lined with a variety of information boards and point of interests along the route.
This can range from wooden pathways on ground levels, or an elevated broadwalk path bringing you almost to tree top height. Areas of interest includes the “Products of the forest” and “Bark of trees” sections. The route is family and pet friendly too. It is a good addition to your walks or jogs around with your pet too.
Notably, as the “Learning forest” attraction name suggests, you get to learn about the type of native trees, general ecosystem and the resident animals which natively reside here. Midway through, you will go past a lake man-made lake called the Keppel wetlands.
Keppel wetlands
The Keppel wetlands home to a variety of mangrove plants, as well as marsh land animals and birds. These animals find home and nests along the banks of this enclosed freshwater lake. Moreover, here, a distinctly modern sky bridge overlooks and links the carpark entrance of the Learning forest over the said wetlands right into the forest itself.
Also, if you prefer to drive in, the Tyersall Gate carpark and visitor drop-off point here is the closest to the attraction. It brings you right up into the forest via the Keppel discovery wetlands.
All in all, the Learning Forest itself is about just over a kilometer long and walk can be covered under 30 minutes of leisure walking. This involves checking out the various points of interest and information signs along the route.
Flora not too far from civilisation
Moreover, the route runs parallel along Tyersall Avenue outside the gardens, and overlooking Casarium drive within the park itself. Despite being surrounded by greenery and flora, you still get hints of city and road noise from outside the edge of the reserve area, constantly reminding you that you are surrounded and still smacked right in the heart of urban Singapore.
The short trail ends on the Durian Theory section. Here, you can return back to the start point through the Bambusetum, a sparse collection of over 30 species of tropical bamboos by circling back to the said Keppel wetlands area through the Wild fruit trees garden. This fruit tree garden section is home to natural occurring species of edible fruit plants such as Lychee, nutmeg, Jackfruit, Bananas, Starfruit and Mangosteen back to the Tyersall carpark/drop-off point or via Casarium drive.
View more photos of the Learning Forest here.
Botanical Gardens Learning Forest
Can I ask where is the forest therapy/bathing session being held in Botanical Garden?