The garden was first used to experiment with export crops such as tea, rubber and coffee, but it soon turned in to a conservatory of sorts where rare plants would be preserved. The present location of the garden was first planned as a leisure garden which later turned into a scientific venture as Kew Gardens trained botanists were entrusted with its care.
The Singapore Botanical Gardens became well known in the early 1900’s and late 1800’s for its role in introducing rubber trees to colonial planters. The garden’s then director Ridley experimented with various harvesting and propagation methods to come up with a commercially viable method of rubber cultivation which was later introduced to British colonies in Asia.
In later years the garden played a major role as an environmental agency and was at the forefront of introducing foliage back into the city in the 1960’s. Today the garden serves a dual purpose as a place of relaxation for city dwellers as well as remaining a centre for research in Botany.
The garden is divided into four sections known as cores, each one exhibiting a different type of plant life. Among the interesting areas are the Bonsai Garden, the Orchid Garden, the Rainforest and Heritage trees.
The Singapore Botanical Garden also hosts regular events such as garden tours, park festivals and picnic outings for families. Guests staying at a holiday hotel Singapore such as the Orchard Hotel Singapore can easily access this attraction. A hotel Singapore close to the Botanical garden offers many advantages as it is also close to many transportation links to the city.
