SINGAPORE is famously known as a City in a Garden. We have lush greenery lining our roads as well as verdant tourist attractions like Gardens by the Bay and the Singapore Botanic Gardens. We even have a Sunflower Garden at Changi Airport, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Recently there was a new addition to our garden family - the Therapeutic Garden @ HortPark which was launched by the National Parks Board (NParks). Here are five interesting things about Singapore’s first therapeutic Garden in a public park.
1. It is designed to relieve stress
The 850-sqm garden, located at HortPark, was conceptualised with design principles that improve visitors’ mental well-being. For example, it even has a range of plants with flowers in bright colours that create an uplifting impact and cool colours that create a calming experience. An example of a plant with flowers in cool colours is the Summer Snapdragon (Angelonia angustifolia). Now you know where to head to if you’re eager to weed out your stress!
2. It is senior friendly
A gardening area with moveable raised beds and customised benches for potting and easy water access make it convenient for seniors to participate in gardening and show off their green fingers. Designed to meet the needs of the elderly, including those with dementia and patients recovering from a stroke, the Therapeutic Garden is also wheelchair friendly and has exercise equipment suitable for seniors. Flowers in vibrant colours - red, yellow and orange - uplift the spirit and stimulate the mind, while flora in cool colours like blue, purple and pastels bring about a restorative effect. During a recent visit, we spotted some seniors enjoying the garden with their grandchildren, so why not take a leaf out of their book and set aside some time this weekend for a leisurely stroll at the garden with your family members?
3. It will help improve horticultural therapy
Horticultural therapy uses gardening and plant-based activities to achieve goals such as inner peace, increase in quality of life and social connection. The research will help improve the design of future therapeutic gardens and horticultural therapy programmes in Singapore. Interested to learn more? Then check out NParks’ ongoing research programmes.
4. It is a great spot for photo taking
Youngsters today are constantly on the hunt for fresh #ootd (pronounced as oh-oh-tee-dee, also known as Outfit Of The Day) spots. A successful #ootd is where someone poses in front of an aesthetically pleasing backdrop in a way that - you guessed it - showcases the trendy outfit being worn. Well, thanks to the lush greenery and colourful flowers all around, we’re pretty sure seniors can win the youngsters in their #ootd game! In fact, we’ve already spotted a few #ootd spots for you…
This gazebo makes for a great photo opportunity…
Or how about this unique landscape feature for an unconventional shot…
If you want the garden feel, this shaded area with tendrils and cascading leaves is perfect. So whip out those cameras and start snapping!
5. It will seed the growth of more therapeutic gardens in Singapore
Designing parks like this for the ageing population was one of the ideas raised by participants at the SGfuture engagement series. In fact, NParks has plans to develop a network of these gardens in more parks across Singapore such as Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park. So keep a lookout… and don’t forget to let us know if you spot any other gardens that we can share with our friends who support successful ageing in Singapore!
Picture credits: National Parks Board (NParks)
The Therapeutic Garden @ HortPark is located at:
33 Hyderabad Road, off Alexandra Road, Singapore 119578
Opening hours: 6am to 10pm
Admission: Free
Website: www.nparks.gov.sg/hortpark
Article published on: 7/10/2016