1. Community In Bloom
Singapore’sBloom
Community In
National Gardening Movement

2. Plans & Strategies…
Community In Bloom (CIB) is a program, launched in 2005,
that aims to foster a gardening culture among the people in Singapore.
The Community In Bloom
logo
CIB facilitates and guides residents, students and workers in Singapore to
set up and sustain their community gardening projects where they can gather The logo symbolizes
to plant and care for their own favourite plants including flowers, herbs, Singapore’s multi-ethnic
spices, vegetables and fruit trees. communities coming
together to cultivate
CIB program is a collaboration with partners including Town Councils, gardens, sharing tips and
Housing Development Board, People’s Association, National Library Board, ideas and helping one
Non-Governmental Organisations, and the private sector who provide a another enjoy gardening.
range of support such as – land use, garden set-up, grassroots liaison,
gardening talks and other initiatives.
CIB aspires to link-up all gardeners and community gardening groups
islandwide into a self-sustaining National Gardening Movement.

3. Plans & Strategies… The Community Gardening Movement
The history of community gardening goes
back to 1649, when a group of English
peasants gathered in the town of Surrey,
to cultivate the common land that
belonged to the King.
Three hundred years later, the roots of
modern community gardening movement
What is Community Gardening were formed in the Second World War.
They were started as ‘Victory Gardens’
as part of a rallying cry to support the
war effort. Then, urban dwellers of
Community gardening is a collective effort by the people to countries involved in the war kept their
cultivate plants and gardens on common green areas for all to enjoy. troops supplied with vegetables and fruits
These gardens usually consist of flowers, herbs, spices, vegetables grown from these ‘Victory Gardens’.
and fruit trees.
Community gardening now flourishes in
many countries across the globe where
Individuals in the community to take up the initiative and responsibility
thousands of gardening groups bloomed
for organizing, planting and maintaining the gardens. An essential in towns and cities.
aspect is that the garden be a focal point for people to come together to
enjoy this activity as a group. In Singapore, the community gardening
movement comprises of over 400
Apart from tending to their plants, these plant lovers meet regularly to gardening groups based in residential
share gardening tips and plant specimens. They organise visits to other estates, schools and organizations.
gardens to meet like-minded people and to exchange innovative
www.nparks.gov.sg/cib_gardens
gardening ideas. They even reach out to other communities to help
with the setting up of new gardens.

4. Plans & Strategies…
How are Community Gardening projects organised
Community gardening projects are initiated and managed
by community groups in the following categories:
Public Housing Estates – Gardens can be cultivated together by residents on
common green spaces around residential blocks. The project is managed by the
Residents’ Committee.
Private Housing Estates –Gardens can be cultivated together by residents on
roadside green verges in front of landed properties or on common green spaces
around condominiums. The project is managed by the Neighbourhood Committee or
Residents’ Association.
Educational Institutions – Gardens can be cultivated together by students or
parent volunteers on green spaces within the school compound or on common
green spaces outside the school compound. The project can be managed by the
Green/Environmental club of the school.
Organisations – Gardens can be cultivated together by workers or volunteers on
green spaces within the organisation’s premises, or on common green spaces
outside of the organisation’s premises. The project can be managed by the Green
Club or Environmental Club of the organisation.

5. Plans & Strategies… Benefits of
Community Gardening
•Promotes a healthy
lifestyle through active
recreation
•Increases a sense of
belonging and community
ownership
•Builds community leaders
•Fosters social interaction
What are the Benefits of Gardening & bonding among people in
the community
The benefits of gardening are plenty. Lifting the shovel to dig and •Empowers the community
using the garden fork to loosen the garden bed helps to improve blood to beautify their own
circulation. It provides the strength training to improve muscular control and
environment
maintain bone density.
•Builds self-reliance
Studies have revealed that just looking at the garden has healthy
psychological benefits. The colours and scent of flowers in a garden •Promotes greater
stimulate the senses and soothes the mind. understanding towards
greenery
Gardening together, as a community, with neighbours and friends brings
•Turns vacant common
even more benefits. It brings people together in a friendly environment
where they can grow their favourite plants together and at the same time, spaces into focal points
cultivate their friendship. Sowing seeds, nurturing them into maturity and for the community
sharing the harvest together bring plenty of joy.

6. Plans & Strategies…
Community Gardeners’ Favorites

7. Tampines Starlight RC community garden, Tampines Street 72
This community garden started with humble beginnings in 2006. It has since been transformed through
the hard work of more than 20 active gardeners who cultivate vegetables and flowers daily. Visitors to
this lovely garden will enjoy the myriad of colourful plants and edibles as they explore the garden.

8. Sembawang RC Zone E community garden, Woodlands Drive 6
This community garden is innovative in lay out, open, and integrated with other residential amenities. It
is gardened by over 40 residents. Sections of the garden are allocated for food plants (vegetables,
herbs, and spices) as well as flowering and ornamental plants.

9. Plans & Strategies…
Pasir Ris RC Zone 5, Pasir Ris Street 51
One of the biggest community gardens in Singapore, this beautiful garden achieved the Platinum Award
and won the Best Community Garden. Over 70 residents are actively gardening here with a wide variety of
edible plants, succulent plants, and ornamental plants. Students from nearby schools visit this garden
regularly to learn about plants and the environment from the gardeners.

10. Plans & Strategies…
Ivory Heights Condominium community garden, Jurong East
This lovely garden achieved the Platinum Award and won the Best New Garden (Private Estate) in CIB Awards
2008. It started in 2007 as a little gardening patch and has grown many folds to incorporate sculptures and
resting corners where residents can gather and unwind.

11. Building A Vibrant & Sustainable Gardening Network
Springleaf Estate NC community garden, Thong Soon Neighbourhood Park
A relatively new gardening group, this community garden is home to a variety of flowering and ornamental plants
of different heights, colours and texture, which are cultivated alongside herbal and medicinal plants.

12. Building A Vibrant & Sustainable Gardening Network
Mayfair Park Estate community gardens
The Mayfair Park Estate Neighbourhood Committee community gardening project involves over half of the 150
households in the estate. The project was successful due to effort put in by NC volunteers to encourage &
sustain neighbours interest in beautifying their roadside verges in the estate.

13. Macpherson Primary School community garden
This innovative school garden combines National Education with gardening, illustrating the importance of food
sustainability and self-sufficiency. In this garden students take turns to sustain the plants and use this garden as
an outdoor classroom.

14. Assumption English School community garden
In this inspirational school gardens, teachers and students work hand in hand with parent volunteers to organise
their garden-related activities. Together, they achieved numerous awards at the Singapore Garden Festival,
Sentosa Flower Show and other gardening competitions organised by various organisations.

15. U Live – Eco Club community garden, Downtown East
Volunteers from U Live – Eco Club got together to plan and plant this ‘Spa’ garden. In addition to maintaining
this garden regularly, volunteers organise activities such as gatherings and visits to plant nurseries,
roadshows and garden display at the Singapore Garden Festival.

16. Yokogawa Engineering Asia Pte Ltd community garden, Bedok South
Blooming flowers and manicured gardens welcome workers and visitors to the factory premises of this MNC.
Inside, a group of workers plant and cultivate their own herbs, spices and fruit trees. A garden at the rooftop is
adorned with blooming flowers, where workers and visitors unwind.

17. Plans & Strategies…
How to Start a Community Gardening project
Starting a community gardening project is now easier under the CIB
program, with help from NParks and supporting partners.
First, gather like-minded participants in your neighbourhood, school or
organisation. Then, approach your Residents/ Neighbourhood Committee
or the heads of your school/ organisation to obtain approval and support
for the community gardening project.
Next, contact NParks to help you determine a good gardening site, plan
out the garden layout, get tips on gardening, and link up with other
gardening groups.
A successful community garden needs long term commitment to sustain
the garden. Proper planning, including raising funds, organising activities
to sustain interest and practising good gardening etiquettes are essential
for the long term sustainability of the project.
The guidance given by NParks to start-up groups are customised
according to their needs- from recruitment of participants to post-setting-
up consultations.

18. Tips for Success
Making it fun & easy for participants
to enjoy their gardening activities will
help keep interest alive & ensure long
term viability of a community
gardening project.
- Mohd Azmi, Head (CIB), NParks
We organise our own competitions for
Successful community gardening projects are cultivated on: our gardeners to spur them & reward
their good efforts.
Proper Planning & Support - Philip Nah, Woodlands Zone 2 RC
• organise & inspire your community towards the project
We organise garden open days and
• appoint a leader to encourage & motivate participants
share plants from our garden with
• spend some time to plan the garden details
neighbours
• raise funds to set up and sustain the garden - Gina Ong, Marine Crescent Ville RC
Active participation Our staff is given time to do
• allow creativity to plant gardening as in many ways, it helps
• have a common understanding of roles and do’s & don’ts improve productivity.
- Albert Quek, Yokogawa Engr Asia
• create room for expansion
• organise activities to engage nearby communities to get involved Our students express their creativity
in planting their own school garden
Good Gardening practices & aesthetics and use their garden for fun outdoor
• maintain good garden housekeeping learning.
• practice good gardening habits - Normala Alias, Kranji Sec School
• plant flowers and colourful plants to decorate the garden
• allocate proper storage areas for Ornamental plants growing alongside food plants at Ivory Heights
tools & materials

19. Plans & Strategies…
Be A Community In Bloom Friend!
How you can Sustain a Community Gardening project
Love gardening and want to help
Sustaining a community gardening project in the long term requires others enjoy gardening too?
commitment by everyone involved. Project leaders play an important role
by: Sign up as a CIB Friend and look out
for opportunities to help out in the
• Creating an environment that supports the growth and continuity of the following areas:
project.
• Promote the benefits of
• Adopting an inclusive approach that engages other members of the gardening during exhibitions and
community around the garden and providing opportunities for them to get community events
involved will help prevent or ameliorate problems such as vandalism and
pilferage. • Share skills with start-up
community gardening groups to
• Ensuring adequate material support and organising activities at the
guide them in their project
grassroots / organisational level to encourage and recognise contributions
are just some ways in which they can create a conducive environment for
participants. • Conduct gardening talks
• Take part in planting and
maintenance activities

20. Plans & Strategies…
How does NParks help sustain Community Gardening projects
Apart from guiding start-up community gardening groups to plan their
garden, NParks also organises activities at the national level:
Community In Bloom Awards
• Biennial gardening competition for community gardening groups to
celebrate their gardening efforts and achievements
Community In Bloom Friends scheme
• A volunteer scheme that creates opportunities for individuals to help
promote the gardening bug and help others embark on gardening
Community In Bloom Ambassadors Award
• An award given to volunteers and activists who have gone the extra mile
to promote and help others enjoy gardening
Singapore Garden Festival
• A premier international garden festival that features a gathering of
community gardening groups, for them to showcase their efforts to visitors
Gardening Talks
• Regular gardening talks of varying and interesting topics organised
regional libraries, HortPark and Community Clubs
Gatherings & Networking sessions
• Casual get-together sessions at HortPark where gardening groups can
exchange ideas and plants

21. How can Schools sustain their gardening activities
Community In Bloom Schools resources help teachers and students turn school
gardens into outdoor classroom for fun and interactive learning. It helps children get to know better
about the wonders of plants and our environment.
The school garden is a great place to learn and practice science and mathematic skills,
photographic skills, team building skills, etc. Available in both Primary and Secondary levels, the
CIB Schools resources include activity sheets and lesson plans for teachers to facilitate self-
directed learning among students. Visit the following website to browse or obtain a copy:
www.nparks.gov.sg/cib_schools

22. Plans & Strategies…
How You can help as volunteers
CIB Friends and Ambassadors play an important role in
building the gardening network by helping to promote and let others
experience the joy of gardening.
They take part in gardening booths during community events to interact
with visitors and exchange gardening tips, they guide others to set up
community gardening projects, they conduct gardening talks, they open
up their own community gardens to teach start up groups and they help
organise gardening-related activities. These are just some of the ways in
which ‘CIB Friends’ volunteers are contributing their time and effort
towards promoting the love for gardening.
To get to know your friendly Community In Bloom Ambassadors or to
sign up as CIB Friends, visit:
www.nparks.gov.sg/cib_ambassadors

23. National Gardening Movement
Singapore’s gardening network comprises of hundreds of community gardening groups spread out
islandwide. They are based in:
• public and private housing estates – highrise and landed housing estates,
• educational institutions – from pre-school to tertiary institutions
• organisations - charities, places of worship, community clubs, corporations, hotels, etc
These community gardening groups regularly interact with one another through garden visits, exchange
of plants and gardening tips, and collaborate in events such as the Singapore Garden Festival. Through
these initiatives, they help foster a sustainable national gardening movement.
To find out your nearest community garden, or to include your community garden in the network, visit:
www.nparks.gov.sg/cib_gardens

24. Happy Gardening!
Contact us for more info:
Tel: 64717808
Email: communityinbloom@nparks.gov.sg
Website: www.nparks.gov.sg/cib