Singer Issac Dang to explore Botanic Gardens with mobile app

Singapore Botanic Gardens will have a star attraction on May 18.

Malaysian singer Issac Dang, winner of "SPH Media Award - Best New Artiste (Male)" at the Singapore Entertainment Awards 2014, has been invited to promote the gardens as he explores its trails to understand its rich 155-year history and the key role it has played in Singapore's growth as a nation.

Dang will explore the charms of the gardens using the sParks mobile application and learn more about Singapore's first nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Botanic Gardens submitted its bid for the recognition earlier this year.

From April 25 April to May 11, fans of the singer will be able to choose one of three trails that Issac will explore in the gardens by voting on the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/singaporebotanicgardens.

To mark Issac's first meeting with fans in Singapore, 15 lucky fans will win the opportunity to walk on these trails with Issac by participating in the contest.

The three trails are the Evolution Gardens Trail, the Ginger Gardens Trail and the Heritage Trail. These mobile trails can be viewed on the sParks mobile application, which also display facts about the Gardens' spectacular collection of tropical flora, as well as the significance of historical landmarks on its grounds.

Dr Nigel Taylor, Director of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, said in a press statement: "It is our pleasure to welcome Issac to the Gardens in this special visit. Issac's contemporary appeal coupled with the heritage of the Singapore Botanic Gardens will add another facet to the many dimensions of the Gardens' cultural tapestry.

"Many Singaporeans and residents can relate to fond memories of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. We hope that Issac's experience at the Gardens will encourage more youths to appreciate its significance in Singapore's cultural and social heritage, and understand the Gardens' contributions to the rest of the world."

Looking forward to the event, Dang said: "I love coming to Singapore, to be greeted by all the greenery right from the point of arrival, even while driving from the airport. This time round, I am so looking forward to attending my first Singapore fan meet in the world-renowned Singapore Botanic Gardens.

"This is one place that holds many, many fond memories of the time when I was living in Singapore and enjoying the sights and sounds of nature here. You know, I used to take evening walks in the Botanic Gardens and occasionally dined there with friends, surrounded by all that beauty. Thank you for inviting me. I am so very excited to be here again."

About sParks mobile app
The sParks mobile application was developed by iAPPS Pte Ltd (iAPPS) in collaboration with NParks and was officially launched in March 2013. sParks is a location-based application which allows the public to access information on Parks and the Park Connector Network (PCN), such as mobile trails, nearby facilities and lifestyle amenities. Users can also be updated on the latest events and activities in parks on the island.

The sParks mobile application is available for download in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. iAPPS is the presenter for the Singapore Entertainment Awards 2014.

Trails in the Singapore Botanic Gardens
Fans of singer Issac Dang are invited to vote for a trail in the Singapore Botanic Gardens, which Issac will take during his visit on May 18. Garden trails are found in the sParks mobile application, developed by iAPPS in collaboration with NParks. From April 25 April to May 11, fans can choose from three trails shortlisted for the contest at www.facebook.com/singaporebotanicgardens

1. Evolution Garden Trail
Visitors can embark on a journey through time at the Evolution Garden, which showcases the diverse plant kingdom as a dynamic and ever-changing living entity, responsible for making the once-fiery planet Earth a habitable place. As visitors walk through this 1.5ha display, they will learn more about the beginning of life on Earth and the earliest plant species. The exhibits will show how plants have evolved and adapted through the ages, to become the amazing and complex life forms that are crucial to the survival of all life forms today.

2. Ginger Garden Trail
This walking trail takes visitors through the amazing world of gingers. An area of 1ha showcases over 550 species, varieties and horticultural cultivars of the plants of the ginger order (Zingiberales). Visitors can get up close with diverse gingers, as they walk through the exhibits, organised according to geographical origin or plant uses. Exhibits include edible gingers used in daily cooking as well as ornamental plants with spectacular flowers and foliage. Some of the rare gingers on display are endangered species.

3. Heritage Trail
Passing landmarks that have witnessed the history of the Singapore Botanic Gardens over the past 155 years, such as the Bandstand, Brick Steps, and Holttum Hall which currently houses the SBG Heritage Museum, visitors will be able to learn about the role which the Gardens played in Singapore's social and cultural heritage. A number of its heritage trees are found along this trail, like the iconic Tembusu tree printed at the back of the Singapore 5-dollar note. Some of these trees are even older than the Gardens itself.

Other trails in the Singapore Botanic Gardens include the Rain Forest Trail, National Orchid Garden Trail and Heritage Tree Trail. More mobile trails in the Gardens, as well as other parks and the park connector walking network can be found in the sParks mobile application. The mobile application is available for download in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

For more information on the Botanic Gardens and its trails, visit www.sbg.org.sg

chenj@sph.com.sg