Planting heritage

Abstract

As a country often celebrated as a “garden city”, an abundance of lush greenery is visible across Singapore’s landscape from town to neighbourhood. However, despite being surrounded by nature, there is observed to be an absence of a robust plant culture within Singaporean society. The lack of interest in plant heritage and rich plant-centric traditions amongst the general public translates to a weak sense of connection to conservation efforts for nature in the society. As such, Planting Heritage is a project that strives to foster a deeper appreciation for plants amongst the younger demographic of Singapore who are at a more impressionable age. Through incorporating local plant heritage and storytelling, the project focuses on introducing native plants and their relevance in our culture to the target audience in a more accessible way. As a migrant country with a melting pot of cultures, the project aims to capitalise on the diverse plant customs inherent within the fabric of Singaporean society. This helps to establish meaningful points of connection that resonate across various communities with different ethnic backgrounds. Through exploring the role plants play in our culture and highlighting the important value of plants, the project endeavours to nurture young Singaporeans to have a personal connection with the botany surrounding them and compel them to champion the cause of environmental conservation.