Birding in Singapore - A brand new Nature Park abandoned? Why??

[@soonteelee4199]

Thanks James! So far this is the most informative video on BB Hillside Park. Its past was not documented but you have provided some insights of it. Thank you once again.

[@JamesTann]

Only an old timer resident like me would have known the details, ha ha. Must record it down so future generations will know its legacy.

[@dufreversi42]

In the first place, the park was built into a dense forest. There were a lot of mosquitoes and flies in there. The park was humid and quite exclusive... Not long after it was opened, the forest began to take over as it was quite inaccessible. The biggest blow came when there was a big land slide after a heavy rain. so much that it covers part of the road. The park was sealed off for safety reasons. After several months after they clear off the land slide, mud and a lot of dead trees, the park was never re-opened after that....

[@JamesTann]

I made this video from the perspective of the birder. Yes, you are right about the rugged conditions of the park but it was designed as such. I have written about the development and subsequent abandoning of the park in my blog. You can read the article and history of the park at this link:- ijamestann.blogspot.com/2021/08/the-hidden-waterfall-at-bukit-batok.html

[@dufreversi42]

@@JamesTann Thanks James!

[@danielpeakperformerscoach]

Amazing video! I went for a trek last year and encountered the unique birds and tough terrain too. Really a great site.

[@ketlee3940]

Thanks again for making this video ,I just stay opp of this park, I went in once when I was 12 . Now I am 40. Inside the mosquito very powerful.

[@nicktasteless360]

very powerful my insect repellent didn't not scare them away. the amount of ants biting is also crazy.

[@leechai9807]

Very informative and interesting video. Thanks James Tann

[@amazingwalker7837]

Thank you James for a very informative and well done video.

[@justwalk-travelasmrchannel1630]

Very informational 😍thank you James ✌️✌️

[@ramonperezsanchez]

Hey Jams thanks for the video! Looking forward to visiting some day!

[@sehlenghockalex2194]

awesome facts james! thank you for shedding light on the information!

[@shiouming]

Thanks James. Learning something new today 😊

[@trapazoidalwindow]

Thanks for sharing the rigours one can expect discovering Hillside Nature Park. Your videos always spark a desire of local exploration within my family! The lack of park maintenance for twenty years hooks my attention and seems alluring. Mosquitoes...not so inviting. I'd love to see the Slaty-breasted Rail or Blue-winged Pitta at some point. Possibly another bird spotted in your video recorded at 10:36 is a Brahminy kite?

[@JamesTann]

Thanks. The Slaty-breasted Rails can be found at the bottom edge of the western side of the hill around the construction site. They are most likely from the flock that was resident at the huge grass patch 100m across Bt Batok Road but that area is now hoarded up for development.

[@trapazoidalwindow]

@@JamesTann Interesting. Thank you.

[@JoJo-bf5gz]

Very informative n enjoyable. Thanks James

[@ayuni1510]

Thanks Mr Tann , like I want to go there

[@LivindaBESLyf]

So sad but intriguing story. Nature park is now a home for these wonderful creatures. I hope Hillside Nature Park will remain untouched, undisturbed sanctuary for the birds and other animals.

[@esrasen1372]

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[@kehao]

Love your videos!

[@rossdiwei1591]

Hai Mr Thames...ur video is so interesting..thks for the info..i wld like to ask..every of ur video..did u ever saw burgie bird ...i intend to set free my 4 burgie..but i not sure which plc r suitable for thm..can u recomend me the plc for burgie bird...thks to u again..ive done like & subscribe 👍👍

[@zainuddinbrahim4625]

So that stretch of pillars is not torii gate right?

[@JamesTann]

Most definitely not! Torii gates are built leading to Japanese Shinto Shrines! There's no shrines, churches or places of worship in the old Hillside Park. The abandoned pillars and trellises look reminiscent of torii gates, like those in Fushimi Inari, but that's all it is. The resemblance caused people to think and named it as such because they probably didn't know what a pergola is. You can still find pergolas at the Singapore Botanic Garden. I've lived near the Hillside Park since the early 80s and have seen what the original Hillside Park looked like in its days. For a more detailed history of the Hillside Park, you can refer to my blog article at this link:- ijamestann.blogspot.com/2021/08/the-hidden-waterfall-at-bukit-batok.html

[@zainuddinbrahim4625]

Where is the actual torii gate?

[@BlueBull2604]

Is this forest still around? This video was posted 2 yrs ago, much must have changed.

[@JamesTann]

As of today, July 2023, the forest area as described in the video is still intact, including the waterfall. However, the development around it is on going and starting to encroach into the forested areas. Go visit before it’s all gone.

[@BlueBull2604]

@@JamesTann a real pity when it’s gone. I’m not a hardcore birder but will try a visit when I can. Thanks for the information.

[@weeaikkiat3595]

NPark should preserve this park

[@lawrencelim6143]

Will u be kind to do a small guided tour when Covid-19 restrictions are lifted?

[@JamesTann]

We'll have see once the pandemic is over or the siruation stabilises. I belong to the vulnberable group. Follow my fb page and you can see my announcements of birding tours there. But since the lock down, I've not done any group tours.

[@APOSTLEJOSHUASELMAN2025]

Birding in Singapore - Hillside Nature Park

[@ansariaden]

Wow, so its actually not Japanese Tori Gates, but looks cool now Anyways , i just went there yesterday, but did not manage to find the "Tori Gates" , only found the fake well, anyone knows the actual path to the "Tori Gates"?

[@JamesTann]

Hello, thanks for watching the video. As you approach the well (7:40) about 10m BEFORE the well, there is a rocky path on the left going uphill just beside an old lamp post. Take this left path up about 10 metres and you will see another path heading right (parallel to the path to the well below). This higher path leads to the, ahem."torii gates" haha. Take care as the floor planks are all rotted.

[@Nick-bc5cv]

Won't be long before Singapore has no wild space left. So short sighted.

[@nicktasteless360]

will still have like those reserves. forest will generally dissappear over time.

[@atsushidenda5597]

Tann-san, great.　However how is the immigration conditions from Japan ? No need of 2-weeks isolation stay in hotel for even people who has already finished twice vaccination? I'm eager to visit Singapore and enjoy birding based on your birding guide.

[@JamesTann]

Denda-san, at the moment there's not much change. As currently, Japan has suspended visitors from Singapore, the recriprocal agreement also doesn't allow visitors from Japan to Singapore. I wanted to join my son in Tokyo since 2019 but missed the chance. He lives in Ikebukuro. When the covid-19 restriction ends and you come here, I will organise a birding trip with you and Licong-son.