SINGAPORE NATURE TRAILS

Many Singaporeans and also visitors think of Singapore as a concrete jungle. In this series, I will endeavour to show an aspect of Singapore that is not apparent to many - that it has its nature trails. This is the MacRitchie Reservoir located in the centre of Singapore. It is a part of our water catchment area which consists of several reservoirs. It is a popular area for jogging, canoeing and other ECAs, including lovers in the evenings.

Many schools organise canoeing activities for their students at MacRitchie Reservoir. These secondary school students are organising themselves to get started. 

The entrance to the MacRitchie Reservoir Northern Route. 

This track is part of the Northern Route of MacRitchie Reservoir. On this track, one can choose several distances ranging from 10 to 12 km to go round the reservoir. There is another track within the reservoir grounds which schools and colleges use for their cross-country runs.

This pavilion in MacRitchie Reservoir may host orchestras and bands on weekends for free public performances.  

A jogger warming up before his run at the Upper Pierce Reservoir. The park in this reservoir, as with the other parks and nature reserves, is very popular with Singaporeans for keeping themselves fit and in good shape. In the mornings, the air here is extremely fresh. It's something one cannot pay in kind or cash for.

A place to rest, picnic or take shelter should it rain in the Upper Pierce Reservoir. 

Taken off one of the reaches of the Upper Pierce Reservoir, this pic looks like it's taken from a tributary of a river. Perhaps, somewhere in the Amazon? From here, one can also access Singapore's only tree-top walk.

One of the many sign posts found here in the Upper Pierce Reservoir and all the national parks of Singapore exhorting people not to feed monkeys so as not to upset the ecological system. 

The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is very popular with schools which organise outings for their students to study nature itself. Here, two secondary school teachers are explaining some aspect of nature to their charges. In this reserve, there is also a designated mountain-biking trail, a cliff for rock-climbing and many paths for jogging, brisk walking and other body-moving activities. These can be quite taxing although the hill is slightly more than 162m in height.

The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Visitor Centre greets visitors as they enter its grounds. 

The workings of Mother Nature. A fallen tree trunk which will eventually become compost to fertilise the other trees and plants in the reserve.

The path leading to the summit of Bukit Timah. 

The Hindhede Quarry located within the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. The quarry is no longer in operation.

A mini waterfall found in the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.

One of the many huts put up in this nature reserve and other parks to allow visitors to take a break and/or enjoy the scenery. 

The boardwalk leading from the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Visitor Centre to the Hindhede Quary.