Curious to know what’s lined up for SustainableFest SG 2023? Here are the highlights you need to know.
Calling all plant lovers and eco-champions: check out SustainableFest SG 2023 that’s happening at Jurong Lake Gardens from 3 to 4 June, organised by NParks and Taman Jurong Green@Heart. If you haven’t been to Jurong Lake Gardens, boy are you in for a treat. It’s an oasis of lush green spaces and waterways, and is all about #sustainability. Aligning with Singapore Green Plan 2030, the gardens are where all the magic happens, with various innovative initiatives to help promote sustainable practices and living. That’s where SustainableFestSG 2023 comes in, with different communities in Singapore working together to promote sustainability. And it’s shaping up to be a real party!
Intrigued? Here are all the deets…
1. Grab your eco-essentials
Be spoilt for choice at the SG Green Marketplace, where you’ll find a wide range of environmentally-friendly products to help you live eco-consciously. Love to whip up your own meals? Spruce up the table with fresh produce from local farmers, or become a plant parent with a new leafy baby. Expect to see goods from the likes of Sprout Lab, No Shrubs, Seed Folks, Bulbul, and lots more.
Psst: if you’ve always wanted to ramp up your sustainable living practices, but you’re not sure how to start — we feel you! Be inspired by the stories of local farmers, small business owners, and more as they share how they achieved success by overcoming all the obstacles in their way, and managed to find ways to weave sustainability into their lifestyles.
Besides, who better to learn from than the experts? Look forward to hearing from local farmers like Just Produce and Bewilder, just to name a few. There are multiple talks and workshops to attend while you’re at it. Even better, don’t forget to bring your own bags for the marketplace, as well as containers for a fab food fiesta!
2. Discover lush nature on biodiversity guided walks
We love exploring little pockets of nature in our concrete jungle. Why not embark on a free guided walk to discover the biodiversity at Jurong Lake Gardens during SustainableFest SG 2023?
Explore the Grasslands habitat, which has bird hides to allow for unintrusive wildlife observation. Next, enjoy magnificent Jurong Lake views from Rasau Walk. We can’t wait to check out the restored freshwater swamp habitat of Alstonia Island and walk amongst dragonflies at Neram Streams too! For the uninitiated, Neram Streams is a part of the gardens where a concrete canal has been transformed into a series of beautiful naturalised streams. Plus, marvel at herons in their natural habitat at Heron Island or see if you can spot the Spotted Wood Owl at the Southern Promenade.
3. Make an artwork come to life
We’re surrounded by trees, but do we really know how they connect us with nature? Arts@JLG: The Forest Awakens is a cool colouring activity where you can transform your artwork into a digital masterpiece, which will join other coloured trees to create a virtual forest. Watch the forest come alive as virtual wildlife frolic around and inhabit the trees.
4. Plant your very own tree
Bet you didn’t know that Singapore started going green a whopping 60 years ago. Once known as a Garden City in the 1960s, Singapore evolved into a biophilic City in a Garden in the 2010s, and is now moving towards becoming a City in Nature.
Much has been done during this ongoing journey: our natural capital is constantly being extended, plus nature in our gardens and parks are being amplified and enhanced everyday. The good folks at NParks are always finding ways to introduce nature into our concrete jungle, and connect all our green spaces while they’re at it — how about a cycling trip along our park connectors, anyone? Many nature playgrounds for kids are also in the works. Click through to find out more.
Mother Nature has become firmly intertwined with the narrative that shapes our city, thwarted only by the cruel effects of climate change. However, the trajectory can be slowed if we each do our part — which is what SustainableFest SG 2023 is all about.
In line with this vision, the OneMillionTrees movement aims to plant 1 million more trees across Singapore by 2030. That will bring the total number of trees in Singapore to a whopping 8 million. If you wanna be involved, break out your gardening gloves and plant your own tree – simply register here!
5. Be mesmerised by melodic tunes
Don’t be too quick to leave: once dusk falls, stay tuned for Notes of Nature SG. This is a two-hour concert featuring local artistes such as Benjamin Kheng, lullaboy, and NationOne, hosted by the witty Joakim Gomez — we promise it’ll be nothing but a good time! You’ll be serenaded by soothing tunes and get inspired by hearing all about how the musicians have adopted sustainable practices. Working towards living a sustainable life might sound daunting, but it’s really not that difficult — and you might even enjoy the process while you’re at it.
Parents can also bring the kids for an outdoor movie screening in the gardens. Be entertained by The Lorax, an animated Dr. Seuss romp that revolves around a cute creature that’s a “guardian of the forest”.
Bookmark the NParks website for information on dates, times, and more. Head to SustainableFest SG 2023 to join the party — via public transport, of course, because every little green step counts! Together, we can all play our part to build a brighter and greener future for Singapore.
This post is in partnership with NParks.
