From trash to treasure: A community garden in Yishun that brings joy to all

Across Singapore, seniors are caring for one another. Some volunteer their time or skills, others check in on neighbours or support peers with the challenges of ageing. By Seniors, For Seniors is a monthly series profiling older adults who are helping their generation age with dignity, purpose and connection.

(From left) Retired florist Jasmine Tan, part-time cleaner Christina Koh, retired accountant Irene Oh, retired caterer Clifford Leung and homemaker Eileen Ang, at the community garden in Yishun Street 22, on Sep 4.

Published Oct 11, 2026, 05:00 AM

Updated Oct 11, 2026, 05:00 AM

A community garden in Yishun created and maintained by senior volunteers transforms recycled items into colourful, themed decorations, bringing joy and calm to other seniors and residents.

The garden encourages elderly participation, fostering friendship, purpose, and regular social check-ins, while helping seniors stay active and connected within the neighbourhood.

Despite some challenges like theft and damage, volunteers remain positive, hoping to inspire more community gardens across Singapore and promote neighbourly bonding and creativity.

SINGAPORE – A riot of colour and whimsy has transformed a small space tucked between housing blocks in Yishun into a Disney-themed wonderland.

Mickey and Minnie figurines join Winnie the Pooh bears in a picnic around a pastel-hued tiered birthday cake. White pebbles form Mickey Mouse silhouettes along pathways that wind past a rainbow arch, a fleet of toy cars, polka-dotted toadstools and a miniature pond with darting guppies and goldfish.

Near the 60-foot pocket garden is a 26-foot stretch of greenery, where miniature replicas of Singapore’s icons like the Merlion, Singapore Flyer, Changi Airport and the Esplanade are hand-crafted from recycled materials.

The community garden, nestled in Yishun Street 22, rewards those who linger.

For about four years, a group of five senior volunteers from the Garden Club at St Luke’s ElderCare Active Ageing Centre (Care) @ Nee Soon East has tended the garden, repurposing discarded objects and creating decorations for fellow seniors and residents.

Retired florist Jasmine Tan, 68, leads the group and is its resident green thumb.

“When the elderly from the day care centre feel down, the staff will wheel them out just to look at the garden,” she said. “It has a calming, soothing effect on the seniors.”

Helping her daily is part-time cleaner Christina Koh, 65, who is adept at carpentry and handicrafts. A community garden, Koh said, gives older residents a reason to leave their homes and a way to look out for one another.

The garden’s themes are shaped by residents’ donations. The haul is richest around the festive seasons when residents begin decluttering.

Occasionally, the garden becomes a “dumping ground”, with old washing machines, used mops and spoilt luggage left there overnight, said volunteer Irene Oh, a 70-year-old retired accountant.

The volunteers will take these items to the recycling bin or donate them to the neighbourhood’s quarterly flea market, she said.

Most residents appreciate their efforts.

Homemaker Eileen Ang, who takes a bus for about two stops to help out at the garden, said: “It is also about community bonding. The aunties will give us food like buns and bread. One Indian gentleman even invited us to his house during Deepavali.”

The 66-year-old used her SkillsFuture credits to take a floral arrangement course so she can contribute more.

Retired caterer Clifford Leung, 70, documents the garden’s transformation through photos and videos which he shares in the volunteers’ group chat.

“I can find something useful to do here instead of staying at home,” said Leung.

“People come by to greet and talk to me, and kids call me ‘uncle’. At least I feel visible now.”

Not every visitor comes with good intentions though.

Plants, flowers and edible produce have disappeared overnight. Someone once tossed buttered bread into the fish pond, contaminating the water. Toy cars have gone missing, and children have disrupted the elaborate displays.

“I will always tell the children: See only, don’t touch,” Koh said.

Still, the joys outweigh the setbacks.

For Oh, who started volunteering in 2023, the garden is as much about friendship and camaraderie as about plants.

Koh , who has developed a tan from her gardening routine, said: “The greenery is good for the eyes, and I get my regular dose of vitamin D from the sun.”

Tan hopes more neighbourhoods will find space for gardens of their own – and perhaps organise friendly competitions between them .

Homemaker Ang Ah Kim, 70, stops by the garden during her exercise routine.

“It is beautiful and creative, with very fine details,” said the Yishun resident.

“I can tell a lot of effort has gone into it.”

Retired tutor Koh Beng Hwa, 71, has donated pebbles from her own home garden and three Winnie the Pooh bears to the cause.

“This is a good idea that gives purpose to the volunteers and brings joy to the rest of us.”

Chin Soo Fang is senior correspondent at The Straits Times, covering a wide range of topics including community, politics, social issues, consumer, culture and heritage.

在新加坡，老年人之间互相关爱。有的老年人贡献时间或技能做义工，有的关心邻居，有的则为同龄人提供支持，帮助他们应对衰老带来的挑战。“老年人互助”是一个月度系列报道，旨在介绍那些帮助同龄人有尊严、有目标、有联系地安享晚年的老年人。

（从左至右）退休花艺师 Jasmine Tan、兼职清洁工 Christina Koh、退休会计师 Irene Oh、退休餐饮服务商 Clifford Leung 和家庭主妇 Eileen Ang 于 9 月 4 日在义顺 22 街的社区花园合影。

发布于2026年10月11日 上午5:00

更新于2026年10月11日上午5:00

义顺的一个社区花园由老年志愿者创建和维护，将回收物品变成色彩缤纷、主题鲜明的装饰品，为其他老年人和居民带来欢乐和宁静。

花园鼓励老年人参与，促进友谊、目标感和定期社交活动，同时帮助老年人在社区中保持活跃和联系。

尽管面临盗窃和破坏等挑战，志愿者们仍然保持乐观，希望能够激励新加坡各地建立更多社区花园，促进邻里关系和创造力。

新加坡——缤纷的色彩和奇思妙想将义顺组屋区间的一小块空间变成了迪士尼主题的仙境。

米奇和米妮玩偶与小熊维尼一起围着一个粉彩色的多层生日蛋糕野餐。沿着蜿蜒的小路，白色的鹅卵石勾勒出米老鼠的轮廓，小路旁有彩虹拱门、一排玩具车、波点蘑菇和一个养着游来游去的孔雀鱼和金鱼的小池塘。

在 60 英尺长的袖珍花园附近，有一段 26 英尺长的绿地，那里用回收材料手工制作了新加坡标志性建筑的微缩复制品，如鱼尾狮、新加坡摩天观景轮、樟宜机场和滨海艺术中心。

位于义顺 22 街的社区花园，值得那些驻足停留的人们细细品味。

大约四年来，来自义顺东圣路加乐龄中心（Care）花园俱乐部的五位老年志愿者一直照料着花园，将废弃物品重新利用，为其他老年人和居民制作装饰品。

68岁的退休花艺师 Jasmine Tan 领导着这个小组，她是小组里的园艺高手。

“当日托中心的老人们情绪低落时，工作人员会把他们推出去看看花园，”她说。“这对老人们有镇静舒缓的作用。”

每天帮助她的是65岁的兼职清洁工克里斯蒂娜·科，她擅长木工和手工艺。科说，社区花园让老年居民有理由出门走走，也让他们有机会互相照应。

花园的主题由居民的捐赠决定。每逢节假日，居民们开始整理闲置物品，因此花园的捐赠最为丰富。

志愿者艾琳·吴（Irene Oh）是一位70岁的退休会计师，她说，花园偶尔会变成“垃圾场”，旧洗衣机、用过的拖把和破损的行李会被遗弃在那里过夜。

她说，志愿者们会将这些物品送到回收箱，或者捐赠给社区每季度举办一次的跳蚤市场。

大多数居民都对他们的努力表示赞赏。

家庭主妇艾琳·昂（Eileen Ang）每天坐两站公交车来花园帮忙，她说：“这也是增进社区凝聚力的一种方式。阿姨们会给我们一些食物，比如面包和馒头。一位印度绅士甚至在屠妖节期间邀请我们去他家。”

这位 66 岁的老人利用她的技能创前程培训补助参加了一个插花课程，以便能够做出更多贡献。

70岁的退休餐饮从业者梁克利福德（Clifford Leung）通过照片和视频记录了花园的变迁，并在志愿者群聊中分享这些照片和视频。

梁先生说：“与其待在家里，我在这里还能找到一些有用的事情做。”

“人们会过来和我打招呼、聊天，孩子们也叫我‘叔叔’。至少现在我觉得自己被人关注了。”

然而，并非所有访客都怀有善意。

植物、花卉和可食用作物一夜之间消失殆尽。有人曾将涂了黄油的面包扔进鱼塘，污染了水质。玩具车不翼而飞，孩子们还破坏了精心布置的景观。

“我会一直告诉孩子们：只可远观，不可亵玩。” Koh说道。

然而，快乐远大于挫折。

对于从 2023 年开始做志愿者的 Oh 来说，这个花园不仅关乎植物，更关乎友谊和情谊。

Koh因为经常打理花园而晒黑了，她说：“绿植对眼睛有好处，而且我还能从阳光中获得日常所需的维生素D。”

谭希望更多的社区能够找到空间建造自己的花园，或许还可以组织社区之间的友好比赛。

70岁的家庭主妇Ang Ah Kim在锻炼期间顺道去了花园。

“它很漂亮，很有创意，细节也做得非常精致，”这位义顺居民说道。

“看得出来，这其中倾注了很多心血。”

71岁的退休教师许炳华（Koh Beng Hwa）捐赠了自家花园里的鹅卵石和三只小熊维尼玩偶来支持这项事业。

“这是一个很好的主意，它既能让志愿者们找到工作的意义，也能给我们其他人带来快乐。”

Chin Soo Fang 是《海峡时报》的资深记者，报道范围广泛，包括社区、政治、社会问题、消费者、文化和遗产等话题。