The September school holidays are here! As you plan outdoor playtime for your kids, #didyouknow there are physical activity recommendations for different age groups?

👶 0-1 years: At least 30 minutes of daily floor-based activities
👧 1-2 years: At least 3 hours of physical activities of any intensity spread throughout the day
👦 3-6 years: At least 3 hours of physical activities spread throughout the day (including 1 hour of moderate to vigorous activity)

Looking for places to bring your kids? Nature Playgardens in various green spaces allow kids to connect with nature through play and exploration, which can help them to develop a sense of adventure, discovery, self-esteem and independence! 🌳🌿

Learn more about playground safety with this infographic by Health Promotion Board and KKH Injury Prevention Working Group: https://go.gov.sg/playground-safety-info-p2

World Migratory Bird Day is almost here! Join us at this year’s ‘Welcome Waders’ to celebrate the return of migratory shorebirds to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. 🙌

#Didyouknow that some of them cover astonishing distances of almost 10,000 kilometres to be here? Check out the exhibition on migratory shorebirds, or join in on the games and craft activity booths to find out more about these birds. 😎

📅: Sat, 14 Oct 2023
🕑: 9am – 11am
📍: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

📸: Mendis Tan

Grow your Edibles Indoors: Planting Media and Plant Propagation (Part 2)

#Didyouknow there are many types of planting media other than soil?

In this hands-on gardening workshop, find out the appropriate planting media for growing vegetables indoors and basic plant propagation techniques. Also, learn how to manage common pests and diseases to help your indoor vegetable garden flourish! 🌱🌞

📅: Sat, 4 Nov 2023
🕑: 9:30am - 12:30pm
📍: Centre for Education & Outreach (House 1F), Singapore Botanic Gardens
💵: $50 per participant (includes all materials)
🔗: Sign up (limited slots) at https://go.gov.sg/growedibles-nov23

Happy World Animal Enrichment Day!
 
#Didyouknow that animal enrichment is essential to keep our beloved pets mentally sharp and prevent behavioural issues caused by boredom?

Enrichment isn't just about play, it's a way to nurture their natural behaviours, engage their minds, and keep them physically fit. This can include a simple puzzle feeder for dogs or a catnip-filled interactive toy for cats to help curb boredom and stress in our furry companions. 💪
 
Find out more interesting pet facts on our AnimalBuzzSG Facebook page!

#Didyouknow that spending time in nature can work wonders for your mental health and help reduce stress?

Soak in the soothing sights and sounds of nature while you explore the various fitness, play, and rehabilitative features at these three newly opened therapeutic gardens!

Celebrating 30 years of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

#Didyouknow that Singapore is home to half of the world’s total mangrove species? Of the 35 mangrove species, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve has 30 of them, some of which are rare and critically endangered, like the Crabapple Mangrove (Sonneratia caseolaris) pictured here!

Under the OneMillionTrees movement, we will be planting a million more trees in Singapore with the help of the community. This includes the planting of more mangrove trees across the Sungei Buloh Nature Park Network to provide an even larger sanctuary for the flora and fauna that call it home.

Join us at the #30yearsofSungeiBuloh programmes that will be progressively rolled out from this year. Check them out here 👉 http://www.go.gov.sg/sbwr

📸: Arthur Ng

To celebrate the season, here are some vibrant red blooms of the Wild Poinsettia (Warszewiczia coccinea) that can be found at the Singapore Botanic Gardens!

#Didyouknow that its true petals are small and yellow, while these large bright red segments are actually bracts or sepals? Popular for its attractive red bracts, its name ‘coccinea’ also means ‘scarlet’ in Latin.

📷: Jeremy Yeo

Rainforest Remedies exhibition – last 2 weekends to visit!
 
The Bat Flower (Tacca cristata) has raised white bracts that are thought to resemble wings, and long bracteoles that look like whiskers. 🦇

#Didyouknow it has also been used in traditional remedies? The tubers of this plant are reported to have been used externally to treat skin rashes and wounds, and internally against stomach problems, fever, and other ailments.

Discover the traditional uses of diverse plant species from tropical rainforests in this exhibition!
 
🗓️: Now till 14 Jan 2024  
⏰: 9am – 6pm
📍: Singapore Botanic Gardens, Level 2, Centre for Ethnobotany (Ethnobotany Garden)
 
📷: X.Y. Ng

Tail-chasing behaviour may look like an amusing game, but #didyouknow that too much of it may be potentially harmful to your dog’s wellbeing?

Excessive tail-chasing in adult dogs could indicate underlying issues like boredom, lack of physical exercise, attention-seeking tendencies, or even a mental condition. It’s important to observe your dog carefully, identify the triggers and provide plenty of physical and mental stimulation to reduce the likelihood of this behaviour.
 
For more interesting and insightful facts about animals, check out our AnimalBuzzSG Facebook page! 😌

Flowers like peonies and plum blossoms are often popular decorations for the Lunar New Year, but #didyouknow that orchids also symbolise fertility and abundance? 🧧

Here’s a unique local orchid to celebrate the new year – the Renanthera Singaporeans with its striking red flowers! Created by our colleague Mr How Wai Ron, this orchid is a hybrid cross between Renanthera Kalsom and Renanthera Tom Thumb. See it at the National Orchid Garden!

📸: Lily Chen

#DidYouKnow NParks has a K9 unit? 🐕‍🦺 These specially trained dogs help to combat wildlife smuggling, thereby safeguarding Singapore’s biosecurity, and contributing to global efforts to protect endangered wildlife species.

Join Ollie, an energetic Springer Spaniel in the NParks K9 unit, and its handler Edwin, for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how they combat illegal wildlife trade together!

Watch the full video here: https://go.gov.sg/nparks-k9-video

#Didyouknow that aggression in dogs may not always stem from behavioural problems but may arise due to pain and discomfort instead? 🐶

Join us in an upcoming webinar where Professor Daniel Mills will delve into the various types of pain and their impact on dog behaviour, as part of the Science Behind Animal Behaviour series organised by the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS).

AVS Webinar: How Pain Affects Behaviour in Dogs
📅: Sat, 13 Apr 2024
⏰: 4pm – 5.30pm
📍: Online via Zoom
🔗: Sign up at go.gov.sg/painbehaviourapr2024
📚: CPE (1 point), CCPDT CEU (1.5 points), IAABC CEU (1.5 points)

Ethnobotany and Diversity of Figs exhibition

#Didyouknow that there are over 850 species of figs in the world, and this diverse genus includes a wide variety of growth forms, such as trees, shrubs, vines and strangling epiphytes?

Find out more about these fascinating figs in this new exhibition at the Centre for Ethnobotany!

📅: Now till 1 Sep 2024 (Closed on the last Wednesday of every month)
⏰: 9am – 6pm
📍: Singapore Botanic Gardens, Level 2, Centre for Ethnobotany (Ethnobotany Garden)
🎟: Admission is free

📸: Ficus kurzii, SK Ganesan

#Didyouknow that the Orchid family (Orchidaceae) is one of the largest families of flowering plants with over 25,000 orchid species? 

Get tips on caring for orchids and bring home your very own orchid plant in the upcoming workshop at the Singapore Botanic Gardens!

Introduction to Growing Orchids
📆: Sat, 10 May 2024
⏰: 10am - 12pm
📍: Singapore Botanic Gardens, Centre for Education and Outreach
🔗: go.gov.sg/growingorchidsmay24

Happy World Bee Day! 🐝 There are over 20,000 bee species in the world, but #DidYouKnow a vast majority of bee species do not make honey or form large colonies as honeybees do?

An example is the solitary Pearly-banded Bee (Nomia strigata), a stingless bee which has a colourful striped pattern on its back and is one of the important pollinators that help to support the health of our forests.

Learn about bees and more by at the spotlight talks at this year’s Festival of Biodiversity – details below!

Festival of Biodiversity
📆: Sat & Sun, 25 & 26 May 2024
⏰: 10am – 7.30pm
📍: One Punggol
🔗: https://fob.nparks.gov.sg

📸: Zestin Soh

Only one week till the Heritage Festival 2024!

#Didyouknow there are festival-exclusive menus and promotions available throughout the Heritage Festival period from 29 Jun to 7 Jul? Here’s a glimpse of the special offerings from our various tenants in the Singapore Botanic Gardens and Fort Canning Park. More details at 👉 https://go.gov.sg/hf24-programme

Singapore Botanic Gardens & Fort Canning Park Heritage Festival 2024
🗓️: 29 June – 7 July 2024
📍: Singapore Botanic Gardens and Fort Canning Park
🔗: https://go.gov.sg/sbgfcp-heritagefestival
🚌: Free shuttle bus available between Botany Centre (Singapore Botanic Gardens) and Fort Canning Centre (Fort Canning Park) on 29 - 30 June & 6 - 7 July, 9am - 6pm