Steaming hot blue pea rice and sweet, juicy papayas – for Bai Sin Yeou, these were more than just food items. They were the highlight of a potluck party she had organised for allotment gardeners at Kallang Riverside Park, where dishes made from their own harvest filled the tables.
Sin Yeou joined National Parks Board (NParks) in 2021 as a park manager, overseeing the construction of the Kallang Riverside Park’s allotment garden.
Based on a ballot system, aspiring gardeners are assigned a garden plot to hone their green thumbs. The lease for each plot is renewed annually for up to three years. The Kallang Riverside Park garden alone saw over 300 applications for 30 plots.
“It was overwhelmingly popular and I was very proud to guide the first batch of gardeners by organising virtual and in-person meetings to introduce themselves, and forming a Telegram group to exchange gardening tips,” she says.
After three months of getting to know each other better, Sin Yeou organised a potluck gathering for the allotment gardeners.
From a young age, the 27-year-old had discovered the charm of gardening in urban spaces. Growing up, her parents would plant aloe vera and kang kong along the common corridor outside their Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat.
Even now, whenever she returns home from overseas, she is proud to see the iconic rows of lush, colourful bougainvillea along the East Coast Parkway expressway linking Changi Airport to the rest of the island.
“To attract investors, we have to show that our country is safe and pleasant to be in,” she says.
“It is important that we have greenery and that everyone has equal access to it, as being in a green space is good for the body and the mind.”
Under the Singapore Green Plan 2030, Singapore will have 300km of nature ways and 500km of park connectors by 2030, so that every household will be within a 10-minute walk from a park.
When she was a teenager, Sin Yeou already knew that she wanted a meaningful, hands-on, outdoorsy job with NParks.
“I want to help create spaces where both people and wildlife can thrive together,” she says.
“From the birds in the trees to the otters in the river, everyone has a home in Singapore’s green spaces.”
Drawn to nature and open spaces like the Singapore Botanic Gardens, and with a strong interest in biology and geography, Sin Yeou pursued her bachelor’s degree in environmental studies (with a specialisation in environmental biology) at the National University of Singapore on the NParks Undergraduate Scholarship.
In her third year, she enjoyed an “eye-opening” semester during her overseas exchange programme at The University of Edinburgh where she learnt about conservation programmes in the Scottish Highlands.
Upon returning, in her first posting as a park manager, Sin Yeou would gear up in sleeve guards, long pants and a sunhat, and slather on sunblock before riding her bicycle to start her workday at 8.30am at Kallang Riverside Park.
She would make pit stops at various parks along her park connector route to assess tree health and inspect infrastructure like pathways for safety hazards before ending her morning in Bugis.
Her second posting at the National Orchid Garden showed her how Singapore’s national flower plays an important role in attracting tourism as well as strengthening its diplomatic relations with the rest of the world. This is part of a uniquely Singaporean tradition known as orchid diplomacy, in which specially cultivated orchid hybrids are named after visiting heads of state, royalty and other distinguished guests as gestures of friendship and goodwill.
“It is very important that we have greenery and that everyone has equal access to it, as being in a green space is good for the body and the mind.”
– Bai Sin Yeou, recipient of the NParks Undergraduate Scholarship
While her main job scope was to manage the orchid nursery and ensure the flowers were healthy and at their best for display, she also had the opportunity to contribute to the research of the book Singapore’s Orchid Diplomacy, a 2024 collaboration between NParks and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Then came a memorable assignment. Sin Yeou delivered a special orchid to Expo 2025 in Osaka. The specially commissioned orchid Dendrobium Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai Japan was unveiled at the opening ceremony of the Singapore Pavilion to mark Singapore’s participation in the event and the 59th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Japan.
Soon after, her career took a new turn within the public service. She transitioned to a new role under a job rotation scheme with the Ministry of National Development. She is now the assistant director in the infrastructure division, where she works on climate resilience projects.
“This is about reviewing safety codes and regulations to make sure that they are up to date with the latest climate changes,” she explains.
“For instance, buildings may need to change the materials they use so that they don’t heat up so easily.”
She may no longer spend her days inspecting the parks, but she continues to nurture her love for plants. She has two shelves of aroids, succulents and cacti at home because she loves the routine of tending to them and helping them flourish.
And which plant would best describe her?
“The cactus – because I may look prickly but I am actually soft inside,” says Sin Yeou. “And I’m also resilient.”
| About the NParks Undergraduate Scholarship The NParks Undergraduate Scholarship is the most prestigious scholarship awarded to outstanding individuals who have achieved academic excellence, demonstrate leadership capabilities and are actively involved in co-curricular and community/voluntary activities. We offer you a gateway to a career that actively engages you in the development of a vibrant urban ecosystem. Scholars and awardees can pursue an overseas or local education at world-renowned universities. |
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