Latest news with #BotanicGardens
Free Malaysia Today
7 hours ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
S'pore, Johor regent agree to land swap at Holland Road
The Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, plans to develop his land. (Bernama pic) SINGAPORE : The Singapore government and the Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, have agreed to undertake a land swap at Holland Road, here. In a joint statement, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said Tunku Ismail would transfer 13ha of his land in the area, close to the Singapore Botanic Gardens Unesco World Heritage site, to the Singapore government. In exchange, the Singapore government will transfer 8.5ha of state land to Tunku Ismail. 'The land parcels to be swapped are of comparable value,' the joint statement stated. Tunku Ismail currently owns 21.1ha of land at Holland Road, which has been under the private ownership of the Johor royal family for generations. The SLA and URA stated that Tunku Ismail plans to develop his land. Both parties agreed to the swap so that the planned development would be located further away from the Unesco World Heritage site. 'The Regent of Johor may develop his land after the swap, which is suitable for low-rise and low-density residential uses,' the statement said. The SLA and URA added that any development plans will be subject to due process. 'URA and relevant agencies will assess development applications and ensure that the proposed development is sensitive to the surrounding site (requirements),' the statement said. Prior to the commencement of any work, the development will be subject to environmental studies to mitigate any potential impact on the environment. For now, the Singapore government is not planning to develop the land which it will receive from Tunku Ismail. However, it is keeping its future plans for the area open.
CNA
11 hours ago
- Business
- CNA
Singapore and Johor regent agree to swap land parcels at Holland Road
SINGAPORE: The Singapore government has agreed to swap land parcels at Holland Road with Johor's regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) said on Tuesday (Jun 10). Tunku Ismail, who is also Crown Prince of Johor, currently owns 21.1 ha of land at Holland Road. The Johor regent 'plans to develop his land', which has been under the private ownership of the Johor royal family for generations, the authorities said in a joint media release. The land swap is so that the regent's "planned developments will be further away from the Singapore Botanic Gardens UNESCO World Heritage Site', the press release said. The 166-year-old Singapore Botanic Gardens is Singapore's first World Heritage Site under the United Nations body, after being awarded the coveted status in 2015. Under the land swap, the Johor regent will transfer part of his land – a 13 ha parcel bordered by Tyersall Avenue to its east and sitting beside the Botanic Gardens – to the Singapore government. In exchange, the Singapore government will transfer 8.5 ha of state land to the Johor regent. This piece is located to the west of the land privately owned by the Johor regent. 'The land parcels to be swapped are of comparable value,' the authorities said. The remaining 8.1 ha of land in between will remain under the regent's private ownership. In the press release, the authorities said the Johor regent 'may develop his land after the swap, which is suitable for low-rise and low-density residential uses'. Any development plans will be subject to due process, they added, noting that URA and its agencies will assess such applications to ensure the proposed development is 'sensitive to the surrounding site context'. The development will also be subject to environmental studies before works commence. The Singapore government noted that it will keep the 13 ha of land to be transferred from the Johor regent as 'undeveloped for now, while keeping open our future plans for the area'. This plot is currently labelled on URA's website as "open space". On the website, the other two plots - the 8.5 ha to be transferred to the regent, as well as the 8.1 ha remaining under the regent - are currently zoned as 'special use' sites, indicating areas used or intended for special purposes. A 2021 Bloomberg report said the Johor regent had plans to develop a 'multibillion-dollar luxury residential project' on his family's plot of land in Singapore, which lies in Tyersall Park and includes the ruins of Istana Woodneuk. Istana Woodneuk, along with the torn-down Istana Tyersall, served as the palaces of Johor's former Temenggong Abu Bakar Daeng Ibrahim in the late 19th century. The Bloomberg report, citing sources, said Tunku Ismail was seeking permission to develop the land into a 'cluster of high-end homes'.
Hospitality Net
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hospitality Net
The Standard, Singapore Now Open
The Standard, Singapore, officially opened its doors tonight with a spectacular grand opening party that brought to the fore its signature lifestyle brand of irreverence and high design. The private event saw the who's who in creativity, art, media, and fashion arrive in the city, coupled with electrifying entertainment and sublime food and drink. At the centre of the evening was Dreamscape, a fantastical living installation conceptualized by artist Eric Tobua—in collaboration with The Standard's brand and design team—who also created the striking centerpiece that is a permanent piece of the hotel's reception. Known for blending nature, performance, and surrealism, Tobua brought his imaginative world to life— transforming the hotel into a dreamlike landscape where fantasy meets reality. The original Dreamscape, a terrarium-inspired piece set at the reception desk, drew inspiration from Singapore's lush natural beauty, including Gardens by the Bay and the Botanic Gardens. It featured magical elements like a crystal pond, a white snail, orchids, orange groves, tropical flowers, colourful frogs, and even a mermaid. For the grand opening, Tobua scaled this vision into a full-scale experiential journey throughout the hotel's tiered garden, reimagining the space as a living fairytale. The journey began at Café Standard with signature cocktails and elegant canapés served under intimate lighting, accompanied by a curated soundtrack. From there, guests wandered into The Garden, which had been reimagined as a fantastical realm dotted with immersive encounters. A green bush pianist, camouflaged head-to-toe in leaves, emerged from the vertical wall to perform live music, while flower dancers and orchid pole performers glided through the foliage. Whimsical characters like the white snail and other fantastical creatures drifted between guests, adding playful spontaneity to the evening. In the middle of The Garden was the official unveiling of Impossible Blooms, a bold flower sculpture by Singaporean artist Samuel Xun. Commissioned by The Standard, Singapore, the work symbolised life, blooming, and transformation. Costumes inspired by the sculpture's vivid forms allowed dancers to emerge like spirits from the artwork itself, embodying the surreal and celebrating the blurring of boundaries between art and life. The space also featured a series of striking installations: a sculptural waterfall adorned with vibrant tropical flora, turning an existing water feature into a living masterpiece where design and nature converged; and an Orange Grove Walkway, a whimsical trail of glowing oranges and twisting branches that paid homage to both Dreamscape and the hotel's location on Orange Grove Road. Each twist and turn revealed a new scene, inviting guests to wander and wonder. From spontaneous art encounters to ambient performances, the evening reflected The Standard's commitment to surprise, delight, and defy convention. The evening's crescendo unfolded poolside, where the tranquil waters were transformed into a serene pond echoing Dreamscape's crystal lagoon. In a breathtaking performance, synchronized swimmers dressed as colourful frogs and lotus flowers glided across the surface, a living reflection of Tobua's dream world. Another standout moment came when Singaporean soprano Felicia Teo took the stage for a stunning opera performance in a glowing tiger lilyinspired gown, her voice ringing through the garden under the stars. Hotel website
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Aussie discovery to end centuries of 'confusion' around $5 billion plant species
Growing in a sunny flower bed at the Botanic Gardens of Sydney are evergreen shrubs that thousands of visitors have strolled past without a second thought. But cutting-edge research led by its experts has overhauled our understanding of these plants, disrupting an industry already worth up to $5 billion a year. Hibiscus flowers were bigger business than botanist Russell Barrett ever imagined when he began a deep dive into the plant. 'I was surprised when I started,' he told Yahoo News. Powder from the roselle species (Hibiscus sabdariffa) is probably the most valuable product. Flowers are dried and made into red dye for foods and cosmetics, as well as health drinks, while the stems from the kenaf variety (Hibiscus cannabinum) have been used as a fibre for hundreds of years, and remain common in commercial textiles. There are also big international ramifications for any reordering of the plants, because the yellow hibiscus (Hibiscus brackenridgei) is Hawaii's state flower. Related: 200-year-old mistake corrected after 'suspicious' details emerge about common plant As a systematic botanist at the Gardens, Barrett's role is to understand the origins and complicated evolutionary history of plants. And when it comes to hibiscus, there are hundreds of species and a lot of confusion about which genus each one belongs to. Over the last 250 years, identification has often been drawn from "guesswork" that was based on appearance. This approach can be problematic because not all related species look the same. For instance, there was a myth that the closest living relatives of hippos were pigs, when it's actually dolphins and porpoises. Using DNA analysis of 850 species, Barrett and his team were able to better understand which plants were related, and this resulted in the proposal that 123 species and subspecies should be moved into the genus Sabdariffa. Some were already categorised as Sabdariffa, but they were only recognised as a distinct section, not a full genus. 'While plant name changes are not always popular, and take time to get used to, these proposed changes in Hibiscus represent a breakthrough in our understanding of relationships between Hibiscus and its relatives that have remained clouded for over 250 years,' Barrett said as the paper was published in the journal Australian Systematic Botany. Improved knowledge of hibiscus relationships is important because it helps botanists predict which species could be hybridised to make commercially improved plants. Barrett noted the team has made 'significant improvements' in our understanding of kenaf. 'Clarifying the definition of that species should enhance our ability to study its wild relatives, and that may well lead to enhancements and additional opportunities to improve fibre quality, particularly under changing climates where you can draw on additional genomic resources to expand the scope of where it can be grown,' Barrett told Yahoo. Although the scientific names will likely be changed, the decision won't alter the way food manufacturers have to label their foods. Food Standards Australia New Zealand confirmed with Yahoo News consumers will still see familiar names like 'hibiscus' or 'roselle' on their labels. 'The requirements are that ingredients must be listed using their common name, a name that reflects the true nature of the ingredient or a generic name listed in Schedule 10 of the Code,' it said. 🌏 Carloads of Aussies flock to water's edge as 'exciting' ancient ritual begins 🧈 Aussie household staple being snapped up by Kiwis as local price jumps by 65 per cent 😳 Farmers lead Aussie research team to 'unreal' discovery on island For Barrett, the research has evolved his relationship with hibiscus, further deepening his affinity for the plants. 'I've actually known them from a young age, when I was growing up on a cattle station in the remote northwest Kimberley,' he said. 'Some of the species I started collecting when I was in high school hadn't been described at the time. That was one of the things that got me interested in that group. In that sense this has been a very long-term personal project to understand them.' Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
BBC News
21-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Belfast: Rare sighting of white stork in Northern Ireland
A rare sighting of a white stork has caught people's attention in various parts of Northern Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA) posted on Facebook that it had received "numerous calls from concerned members of the public regarding an "injured stork over the past two days". It seems the bird was spotted in Botanic Gardens, Belfast, parts of Downpatrick in County Down and even in Donegal.A USPCA wildlife officer assessed the stork in Belfast and found it to be "in good health and free flying". Storks are not native to Northern Ireland and the charity has advised the public, especially dog owners, to leave the wildbird alone."We would advise the public, not to approach, and give the bird as much space as possible to avoid stress. Dog owners should also be aware around the bird," it charity added that if left alone the stork will move on, but if anyone has further concerns to contact them. The bird appears to have a metal ring attached to its leg, which might indicate it is from a private collection. The white stork was spotted in Botanic Gardens in Belfast on Tuesday but seemed to be in good spirits, according to onlookers. History of storks on the British Isles White storks are a breeding bird of southern Europe, with a red bill and black and white feathers. A small breeding population live in southern England as part of a reintroduction attempt in 2016, according to the charity British Trust for Ornithology (BTO).The only documented record of a pair of white storks breeding in the UK is from Scotland in 1416, when a pair was reported to have nested on St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. The BTO added that, "since the 1960s, white storks have been recorded in small, but increasing, numbers as scarce migrants, some of which have been considered to be of wild origin, while others are likely to have been released or be birds that have escaped from collections or from reintroduction projects, making it difficult to accurately assess their numbers".
