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HortFest marks 20 years of community gardening
The Straits Times
|August 24, 2025
Community in Bloom scheme now a vibrant network of 48,000 enthusiasts across Singapore
Two decades ago, when the first seeds of the Community in Bloom programme were planted, there were fewer than 200 community gardening groups across Singapore.
That modest beginning has flourished into a nationwide movement of more than 2,000 such groups today.
On Aug 23, the National Parks Board (NParks) marked the 20th anniversary of the Community in Bloom programme with the launch of the week-long Horticulture Festival (HortFest) at HortPark.
Speaking at the opening, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong recalled how the initiative started in 2005 at a single garden in Mayfair in the Bukit Timah area, where he was an MP.
It has now turned into a vibrant network of more than 48,000 gardening enthusiasts across Singapore.
The programme aims to promote gardening among Singaporeans and foster a greater sense of ownership of public green spaces.
This story is from the August 24, 2025 edition of The Straits Times.
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