The 75ha Windsor Nature Park in Upper Thomson will open its doors to residents late next year.

The park is one of four that will be on the perimeter of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.

They are meant to reduce the number of visitors to the reserve, to minimise the impact on its vegetation and wildlife.

The Windsor site, where work is expected to start by the middle of this year, is home to many creatures, including frogs, squirrels and dragonflies.

Yesterday, Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee kicked off reforestation efforts there by planting a tree. The reforestation will be carried out at the entrance and along nature trails, and the entrance will also look rustic and have a wetland that expands the existing aquatic habitat.

The three other nature parks are Springleaf park at Nee Soon Road, which was officially opened last November; Chestnut park near Bukit Panjang, which will be completed next year; and Thomson park, which is still being planned.

Mr Lee yesterday also launched a new coffee table book, Rainforest In A City, which was written by National Parks Board volunteer Chua Ee Kiam.

The book showcases the rich biodiversity in the Bukit Timah and Central Catchment Nature Reserves, and contains 477 photographs taken by Dr Chua and a team of more than 100 photographers and contributors.

To mark Singapore's 50th birthday, a chapter is also devoted to flora and fauna in the reserves which are found only on the island, and native ones which are named after the nation, such as the Kopsia singapurensis plant - better known as the Singapore Kopsia.