Official Launch of Singapore Botanic Gardens 2006 Calendar Showcasing Singapore Garden Festival - 3rd September 2005

The National Parks Board (NParks) and ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd officially launched the Singapore Botanic Gardens (SBG) 2006 Calendar, at the Singapore Botanic Gardens today. The event was officiated by Mr Lim Swee Say, Minister in Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for National Development. This year, the SBG Calendar pays tribute to some of our animal friends in the Gardens. From familiar favourites such as the white swans to the more elusive Blue Damselfly, these denizens of the Gardens have enriched the experiences of many visitors. The SBG calendar is a community project sponsored by ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd. All proceeds go towards the Gardens’ Public Exhibition Programme which is aimed at educating visitors about our natural world. The Calendar is available as a wall calendar priced at S$12 and a desktop calendar priced at S$8.

“ExxonMobil is honoured to work with the Botanic Gardens, not only on its calendars but also on its Public Exhibition Programme. With our support and the support of many others, the Botanic Gardens can continue its good work. We are happy to continue to make a positive contribution in communities where we operate,” said Mr Kwa Chong Seng, Chairman and Managing Director, ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd.

Speaking at the ceremony, Prof Leo Tan, Chairman, NParks, said: “This community initiative with ExxonMobil is one of many outreach programmes that the Gardens offers to its visitors. We are delighted to join hands with ExxonMobil in this endeavour and look forward to future collaborations and an enduring partnership.” (Pls check against delivery)

Singapore Garden Festival During the event, Minister Lim announced that the Singapore Garden Festival would be held on 15 – 25 December 2006. Minister Lim also unveiled a garden display to give Singapore residents a special preview of what they can expect at the show come 2006. The first show to bring together the top award-winning landscape and garden designers, florists and horticulturists to the Tropics, the Singapore Garden Festival will be the largest international garden and flower show to be held in Singapore.

Comprising five focus areas such as garden exhibits, flower and foliage arrangements, orchid display, a market place featuring plants, equipment and tools as well as garden-related lifestyle products, and a programme of activities and entertainment, the show has been conceptualised to capture the interest of the man in the street as well as the serious gardener. To be staged at Suntec: Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, the show will find its home at the new gardens at Marina Bay when it is ready.


Elaborating on the show, Dr Tan Wee Kiat, CEO, National Parks Board, said, “As a premier city well-known for its lush streetscape and concerted greening efforts, it is only natural that we leverage on our Garden City brand to organise a world-class international garden and flower show that is unique to the Tropics. The Singapore Garden Festival will play an important role in furthering our efforts to develop Singapore as a centre for horticulture excellence by providing industry players in Singapore and around the region with a platform to network, facilitate exchange of ideas, as well as to keep abreast of the latest technology and trends”.

Agreeing with Dr Tan, Dr Henry Oakeley, Royal Horticultural Society, London, who was in town to attend the special preview said, “Singapore Garden Festival is a project that is both exciting and ground breaking which will give pleasure to many. In establishing this centre of excellence for plant and garden display, similar to the Royal Horticultural Society's Chelsea Flower Show's championing of temperate plants, Singapore is leading the way in promoting awareness of the glory of our tropical flora. Singapore's proud tradition as 'The Garden City' and its horticultural expertise, which were recognised in it being asked to host the 2011 World Orchid Conference, will be further enhanced by this tremendous project of an international Garden Festival”.

Added Dr Tan, “The Show is also aimed at nurturing a gardening culture by inspiring Singaporeans and Singapore residents alike to contribute to efforts to sustain our Garden City by gardening their homes. We will, therefore, be working with our partners, gardening related associations and organizations as well as schools to reach out to the community”. Already, corporate partners such as ExxonMobil, and BreadTalk have come forward to pledge their support. Breadtalk has donated $20,000 for a “Mypod” swing while ExxonMobil has made a donation of $10,000 to support a

The garden display that was unveiled by Minister Lim is specially designed by award-winning garden designer, Mr Jim Fogarty. Mr Fogarty is the first Australian show garden designer to be accepted to exhibit as well as to win an award at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show. Featuring plants and sculptures from around the world, the display is created with the use of some 1,500 plants, 1,000 of which were specially flown in from Australia. Themed “Fantasy & Reality Garden”, the display is designed as an international garden with a Singapore flavour. The display also features a section dedicated to balconies and small gardens.

The garden display will be open to the public at the Singapore Botanic Gardens on 4 – 6 September. Visitors can immerse themselves in the fiesta-like ambience at the display and look forward to a series of talks and workshops on floral designs, orchid growing, container gardening as well as story-telling sessions for children.
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Jointly issued by the National Parks Board and ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd on 3 September 2005.

For further information, please contact:

Ms Terri Oh
Communications Manager
National Parks Board
DID: 6471 7814
HP: 9046 3272

Ms Magdalene Foo
Public Affairs Shared Services Centre
ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
Tel: 6885-8275

NOTE TO EDITOR:

ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
ExxonMobil operates the Singapore Refinery and Singapore Chemical Plant. Together they form our largest integrated manufacturing site in Asia. ExxonMobil is Singapore’s single largest foreign investor. ExxonMobil operates the largest network of 77 Esso and Mobil service stations in Singapore and is a major manufacturer and marketer of high quality lubricants. For more information, please visit www.exxonmobil.com.sg

Singapore Botanic Gardens
Established in 1859 at its present location, the Singapore Botanic Gardens, showcasing the best and most spectacular of tropical flora, played an important historical role in the introduction and promotion of many plants of economic value to South East Asia, including the Para rubber tree. Today, the 63.7-hectare Gardens is a key civic and community regional recreational park, an important national tourist destination as well as a leading tropical and horticultural institution.

The Singapore Botanic Gardens plays host to more than three million visitors each year. Its collection of more than 10,000 types of plants includes the region’s most significant living collection of documented palms, orchids, cycads and gingers. The Garden is also an important centre for tropical botanical and horticultural research, education and conservation. The Singapore Botanic Gardens is managed by National Parks Board.
National Parks Board (NParks) is responsible for providing and enhancing greenery of the Garden City. Beyond green infrastructure, NParks is committed to enhance the quality of life through creating memorable recreational experiences and lifestyles.

NParks manages some 300 parks, the park connector network and the lush roadside greenery in Singapore. Some of the parks managed include Singapore Botanic Gardens, Fort Canning Park, East Coast Park, Bishan Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park and Pulau Ubin Recreation Area. In addition, NParks manages nature reserves such as Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.

As Singapore’s scientific authority on nature conservation, NParks monitors and coordinates measures to ensure the health of designated nature areas.

NParks is also the lead agency in the efforts to continually upgrade the Landscape and Horticulture Industry in Singapore. It works closely with industry partners to promote good work practices and create a thriving, creative, innovative and professional industry that will support Singapore’s aspirations of being a City in the Garden.

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