Work begins on Botanic Gardens' Learning Forest and Walk of Giants boardwalk

(From left) Dr Lee Boon Yang, Chairman of Singapore Press Holdings, Mr Kenneth Er, CEO of National Parks Board, Dr Leong Chee Chiew, DCEO of National Parks Board and Professor Leo Tan, Chairman of Garden City Fund at the tree-plan
(From left) Dr Lee Boon Yang, Chairman of Singapore Press Holdings, Mr Kenneth Er, CEO of National Parks Board, Dr Leong Chee Chiew, DCEO of National Parks Board and Professor Leo Tan, Chairman of Garden City Fund at the tree-planting ceremony for SPH Walk of Giants in Tyersall Learning Forest. -- ZAOBAO PHOTO: KWONG KAI CHUNG

Trees that go up to 20 storeys and an unblocked bird's eye view of the forest floor.

Visitors will get to take in these sights from an elevated boardwalk at the Singapore Botanic Gardens' upcoming Tyersall Learning Forest when it is ready in 2016.

Two Sepetir trees were planted on Saturday at the walkway's proposed site, to mark the start of the development of the $2.4 million walkway and the 9.8 ha learning forest.

The planting was done by Dr Lee Boon Yang, chairman of Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) - the boardwalk's co-sponsor - and representatives of the National Parks Board (NParks), which is leading the project.

The NParks representatives were Professor Leo Tan, the chairman of the Garden City Fund and NParks chief executive Mr Kenneth Er and deputy chief executive officer Dr Leong Chee Chiew.

SPH has donated $1.2 million to the boardwalk, which will take visitors up to a height of 8m. The donation is part of a series of activities as part of the media organisation's 30th anniversary this year.

The other half of the boardwalk's cost will be paid for by NParks.

The Gardens will increase by a sixth in size to about 74ha when the new Tyersall extension, to the west of the park, is ready. It will house rare fruit and nut trees such as wild durian, persimmon and chestnut trees.

Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.