Tampines Eco Green is not exactly the easiest to find, but that is also kind of the point. The park, which is hemmed in by the Tampines Expressway, Tampines Avenue 12 and Sungei Tampines.
The nature spot is a little patch of green just a short distance away from the bustle of Tampines Town and will whisk you away to another place. Some spots, especially the ponds, almost have an Australian-type of vibe.
In line with the back-to-nature ethos of the park, there isn’t even lighting within the park.
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Tampines Eco Green’s only toilet is a compost-based amenity, which does not have any flushing but relies on composting to breakdown any waste matter. The nearest “flushing” one is at Sun Plaza Park).
Tampines Eco Green: Reconnect with Nature
A visit to Tampines Eco Green is chance to reconnect with nature. The only pity is that the sound of traffic or the passing MRT train is never too far away.
But, that’s Singapore for you.
Footpaths around Tampines Eco Green make a loop that encircles the park.
A lot of the infrastructure, for example, the signboards and the park benches, is also made out of natural materials.
There are several entrances into Tampines Eco Green.
The Main Entrance is along Tampines Avenue 12 and there are also other along Sungei Tampines, which is along the route of the Eastern Corridor.
The shady trees of Tampines Eco Green beckoned us to venture further in to explore the various points around the natural park.
One recent development is a new Tampines Boulevard Park that runs along the fringe of Tampines Eco Green, next to Tampines Avenue 12.
This is opposite from the new flats and alongside the MRT line that connects Tampines with Pasir Ris. It was still closed when we visited Tampines Eco Green but should be opening soon.
Different Eco-Systems and Biodiversity
When we visited Tampines Eco Green, we headed along the Marsh Trail, pushing forward deeper into the all-natural park.
The terrain in the park included secondary forests, freshwater wetlands, vegetated swales and open grasslands. Compared with other parks, Tampines Eco Green is less manicured and feels more “wild”.
Some of the ponds at Tampines Eco Green even reminded us of the ones that we had come across in Australia.
There were also some magnificent vistas with just the open sky in the distance.
The Eco Green is home to wildlife such as marsh birds. On our visit, we managed to spot monitor lizards and water fowl, scouring around in the tall grass.
There are also several bird hides located around Tampines Eco Green – strategically located to overlook the water.
When we got to the lookout point at the far end of the park, we were slightly disappointed as it looked as if the pond was overgrown with vegetation. But, that’s nature, right?
However, some of the other ponds were teeming with terrapins.
One other tip for those who like nature and birds especially is that you may be able to find hornbills on the side of Tampines Eco Green that runs parallel to the Sungei Tampines.
If you follow Sungei Tampines in the direction of Pasir Ris, you can also reach Pasir Ris Town Park.
Nevertheless, Tampines Eco Green is an interesting place to visit and explore; it is a nice nature getaway tucked away in the corner of Tampines.
If you enjoyed this story, you may also enjoy this one on other parks in Tampines, or playgrounds in Tampines. Just across Sungei Tampines, you will also find a fun elevated playground at Tampines Street 43.
