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| View of Bishan Park from Public Shelter |
Bishan - Ang Mo Kio Park
At 62 hectares, Bishan - Ang Mo Kio Park, with its ponds and bridges,
colourful shrubs and lush greenery, is one of the largest and most
popular parks in Singapore. Divided by Marymount Road into two plots,
Pond Gardens (formerly Bishan Park 1) and River Plains (formerly Bishan
Park 2), the park caters to park users of all ages. Some interesting
features include three exciting playgrounds, a community garden, a
vantage point on a hill that gives one a landmark view of the park, and a
Riverside Gallery.
One of the highlights of the park is the stretch of Kallang River
that used to run in a concrete canal but is now a naturalised,
meandering river teeming with life. The result of a joint collaboration
between NParks and PUB, under the latter's Active, Beautiful and Clean
Waters Programme; this river brings park users closer to the water to
enjoy its beauty and serenity, and to appreciate the flora and fauna
that flourish in the park because of the waterway.
It may be of interest to visitors to
note that the transformation of the canal into a river involved a series
of bioengineering techniques and the use of a combination of natural
materials such as vegetation and rocks. Civil engineering techniques
were also used to stabilise the slope and control soil erosion.
The water quality in the ponds and river
is maintained, without the use of chemicals, by a cleansing biotope
located in Pond Gardens. It consists of carefully selected plants which
filter out pollutants while absorbing nutrients from the water.
Bioengineering
The use of soil bioengineering techniques (a combination of
vegetation, natural materials and civil engineering techniques) to
stabilize the river banks and prevent erosion was a first for Singapore
and is a new reference for soil stabilisation in the tropics, which have
otherwise rarely been used or documented. In 2009, a test bed was
constructed, testing about 10 different soil bioengineering techniques
and a wide variety of tropical plant species along a length of 60 metres
at one of the side drains in the park. Seven of these techniques were
then selected for use along the main river. These include fascines, rip-rap with cuttings, geotextile wrapped soil-lifts, brush mattresses with fascines, reed rolls, planted gabions,
and geotextile with plantings. The test bed was used to refine the
selection of appropriate techniques and plants, as well as the most
efficient and effective construction methods. Extensive systematic
testing was carried out, including measuring the depth and tenacity of
root development.
Cleansing biotopes
Cleansing biotopes offer effective water treatment while maintaining a
natural and beautiful environment. They consist of carefully selected
plants in a filter medium which helps to cleanse the water by filtering
pollutants and absorbing nutrients. Located upstream in the park, the
cleansing biotope helps to maintain the water quality of the ponds
without the use of chemicals.
Within the park, a new water playground was designed to increase the
attractiveness and visitor enjoyment of the park. Water for this
playground is supplied by cleansed pond water that has been filtered
through the cleansing biotope and has undergone an ultraviolet (UV)
treatment to eliminate any harmful biological contaminants without
introducing any chemicals into the water.
Park features
Three new playgrounds were constructed for children to enjoy. New
bridges, stepping stones in the water and a riverside gallery were also
built to encourage increased interaction with water. Existing features
such as the foot reflexology feature, community garden, dog run and
fitness areas were refurbished to update the overall look of the park.
Biodiversity
No wildlife was introduced to the park but the introduction of the
naturalised river into the park has seen the park’s biodiversity
increase by 30%. Singapore lies within the East Asian – Australasian Flyway
so the park can expect to receive some special migratory bird visitors.
A few surprise visitors have already been spotted including Zanzibar Red Bishop, a native to Africa, the Spotted Wood Owl, native to the jungle forest in Indonesia, Long-tailed Parakeet, native in the Andaman islands and the Orange-cheeked Waxbill, native to western and central Africa. Birds (such as the Purple Heron, Scaly-breasted Munia and the White-breasted Waterhen)
that are seldom seen in a high-dense urban neighbourhood have also been
spotted roosting among the new vegetation. The Malay Archipelago is one
of the world’s greatest biodiversity hotspots, second only to the
Amazon, and the tropical rainforest climate is home to an abundance of
lush vegetation.
The restoration of the river has created a huge variety of
micro-habitats which not only increase biodiversity but the resilience
of species within the park, meaning their long term ability to survive
is greatly improved.
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