Singapore I owe you! a changing life story.

There are a few countries that focus and develop programs to encapsulate everything for the human being, and one of them is Singapore.

Singapore is renowned as a “City in Nature” and an urban wellness destination that embodies holistic wellness. The commitment to biophilic integration starts at Singapore’s Jewel Changi airport, where arriving visitors are met with the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, nestled in thousands of shrubs and trees and canopies.

Across the city, 300 km of trails and greenways (the Park Connector Network) link urban attractions like Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay Sands with major parks and nature areas. Residents and visitors are invited to walk, run, bike or rollerblade, integrating physical activity with exploration and transportation.

The government has made health and wellness a priority through Singapore’s national policies creating a conducive environment for Singaporeans to live better and longer.

Therefore will continue to expand its wellness offerings to include new concepts, like medical spas, longevity clinics, wellness resorts or hotels, wellness attractions and wellness centers. The ongoing work on the wellness attraction at the Marina South Coastal site is one such example. But…

What Are Therapeutic Gardens in Singapore?

Therapeutic gardens are specially designed green spaces that cater to the physical, psychological, and social well-being of visitors. Rooted in evidence-based design, these gardens promote relaxation, reduce stress, and enhance mental clarity.

With Singapore emerging as a leader in wellness tourism, therapeutic gardens play an integral role in positioning the country as a holistic wellness destination.

The Therapeutic Horticulture Programme at HortPark uses plants and plant-related activities to improve the well-being of individuals through active or passive involvement.

The program aims to:

Singapore’s Therapeutic Gardens: A Step Towards Mental Wellness Tourism

Singapore is pioneering wellness tourism by integrating therapeutic gardens into its urban landscape. The National Parks Board (NPB) has been actively developing these gardens since 2016, with the latest addition launched in December 2024. These gardens, ranging from 0.15 to 1.5 acres in size, are not just aesthetically pleasing but are designed with scientific insights to enhance cognitive and emotional well-being.

Unique features of Singapore’s therapeutic gardens include:

• Ultra-violet light mazes – Stimulating neurological activity in visitors

• Confidence-building lookouts – Encouraging positive self-esteem

• Memory-triggering signage – Beneficial for individuals with dementia

• Immune-boosting horticulture zones – Promoting overall health

• Wheelchair-friendly obstacle courses – Ensuring accessibility for all

Research conducted at Singapore’s HortPark Therapeutic Garden found that visitors experienced improved mood, regulated emotions, reduced stress, and lower body inflammation compared to those in regular green spaces.

Community Gardens are common green spaces managed by volunteers. They can be found in the heartlands, in private estates, schools, and organisations. These gardens come in many forms, and serve a wide variety of functions. Some examples include edible gardens where the community grows a wide variety of edible plant species for self-consumption, sharing with community, or promoting food resilience; habitat-enhancing gardens where they grow plants to support local biodiversity; and ornamental gardens where they showcase expertise like orchid cultivation or bonsai growing. These gardens also support community bonding and other social activities, making them hubs for collaboration for residents, students, teachers, researchers and more.

Community gardeners can seek horticultural and management advice from Community In Bloom, an NParks programme that helps to start and develop community gardens islandwide.

Literature abound of stories and health improvement of garden’s therapy.