SINGAPORE - The 64 hectare Chestnut Nature Park (North) was officially opened on Saturday (Feb 25), bringing the total size to 81 ha.

It is Singapore's largest nature park, with an area bigger than 110 soccer fields. It is situated next to the Central Catchment Nature Reserve

The opening also more than doubles the biking and hiking trails. The mountain biking trail has been extended to 8.2km from 1.6km, while the hiking trail is now 5.6km, up from 2.1km.

Chestnut Nature Park is the only park to have separate trails for bikers and hikers.

Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development Desmond Lee opened the northern part of the park on Saturday, nearly one year after the southern portion was opened.

Together with Minister of Foreign Affairs and MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC Vivian Balakrishnan, Senior Minister of State Sim Ann and grassroots advisor Liang Eng Hwa, the guidelines for hikers and bikers on their respective trails were also unveiled.

The park is the third of five buffer parks to the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.

These parks act as buffers to protect the reserves from the impact of urbanisation.

Two more parks, Windsor and Thomson, will be opened in the coming years. These parks are kept more natural than other public ones.

Nature lovers will be able to experience a variety of vegetation and local bird species along the hiking trails. Remnants of old kampung dwellings are also scattered within the site.

Singapore's first pump track is located within the park, for stunt bikers to practice.

The community was actively involved in the planning of this park through the help of Friends of Chestnut Nature Park.