In 1963, founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, noticed a problem. Singapore was rapidly developing, and huge tracts of forest were being cleared for the factories, houses, and buildings needed for Singapore’s development.
In Singapore’s rapid development, he estimated that only one tree had been planted for every ten felled for building projects. He kickstarted an annual tree-planting campaign across Singapore because the island was “becoming barren of trees.” Reflecting on this campaign during a speech at the Launch of the National Orchid Garden in 1995, he recounted, “Even in the 1960s, when the Government had to grapple with grave problems of unemployment, lack of housing, health and education, I pushed for the planting of trees and shrubs.” Mr Lee Kuan Yew believed “that a blighted urban jungle of concrete destroys the human spirit. We need the greenery of nature to lift up our spirits.”
Fast forward 62 years, and Singapore continues to develop rapidly. Look around Marsiling-Yew Tee, and one would quickly notice the housing developments, RTS Link, and the growing infrastructure to improve the lives of residents. But Singapore’s tree-planting movement has not stopped.
In fact, in March 2020, NParks set a bold vision of planting one million trees by 2030, as part of the wider Green Plan. One might wonder if Singapore has enough space to plant that many trees, but as of today, Singapore has already planted 823,963 trees across Singapore!
Whilst the past slogan was a ‘Garden City’, Singapore’s vision is now to be a ‘City in Nature’, where we further restore nature into an urban environment.
Finding Rest in Singapore
Singapore is highly urbanised. Whenever one wants to steal away for some peace and quiet to restore a sense of self, it can seem hard to find. This is why Singapore has been intensifying the nature within its parks and growing the network of park connectors, so that residents can find little oases to restore one’s soul, amidst the daily hustle.
One doesn’t have to look far for such changes. Already in Marsiling, Arcadia Park has been revitalised. With refreshed landscaping, a multipurpose hardcourt, and a new fitness station, it’s another spot to rejuvenate oneself.
Planting Today, to Enjoy Tomorrow’s Shade
During Limbang’s Tree Planting Ceremony on 6 December, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong reminded residents of why the tree planting movement was started. “前人种树，后人乘凉。” (qián rén zhòng shù, hòu rén chéng liáng.) It translates as, “The previous generation plants, so that the next generation can enjoy its shade”. More than just planting trees, the movement is a reminder of how Singapore plans for today, so that successive generations can continue to enjoy the fruits of today’s labour.
On Saturday, children from the nearby PCF Kindergarten also picked up their spades with PM Wong, shoveling soil over the new sapling, before watering it with miniature cans. It was a tender moment to see multiple generations coming together to plant, not just today, but for tomorrow.
As the various constituencies planted their saplings, it symbolised a firm belief in our shared future. Every act of planting is a reaffirmation of how our past, present and future generations have and will steward these saplings and nurture Singapore. It reflects how our bonds will continue to strengthen as we build a resilient, “We First” society.
Here are some looks at the other tree planting events in Marsiling-Yew Tee in Nov-Dec 2025
