Urban Farm DB
← Back to cases
Community gardenActiveSince 2005

Community in Bloom & Allotment Gardens (Singapore)

Singapore, Singapore · Operator: National Parks Board (NParks)

Overview

NParks' nationwide citizen gardening programme 'Community in Bloom', begun in 2005 at Mayfair Park Estate, together with the 'Allotment Gardening' scheme introduced in 2016. In the land-scarce city-state of Singapore, they spread citizen food-growing and gardening across estates, parks and rooftops.

Citizen participation

Citizens take part in volunteer-run community gardens in housing estates, schools and public spaces, each managed collectively under a 'chief gardener'. Through the allotment scheme launched in 2016, individuals lease a raised plot (about 2.5 m by 1 m) in parks and atop multi-storey carparks for up to three years to grow what they choose.

Operating model

A public programme run by the National Parks Board (NParks), providing free support with site selection, design and management; allotment plots are leased to residents for a modest annual fee.

Impact

Community in Bloom has engaged over 2,000 gardening groups and about 48,000 residents, and allotment plots had grown to over 2,500 by 2025, linking generations and contributing to urban food security and community building.

Land tenure

License / permit

Gardens are set up on public parks, estates and carpark rooftops within the NParks framework; allotment plots are leased by individuals for up to three years.

Crops

  • vegetables
  • herbs
  • fruit
  • ornamentals

Scale

Over 2,000 community gardening groups and ~48,000 gardeners under Community in Bloom; allotment scheme grew from an 80-plot pilot at HortPark (2016) to over 2,500 plots by 2025

Sources(2)

Related cases

Community garden
2019

Hongxu Habitat Garden

CNShanghai, China

Completed November 2019, a ~450 m² community 'habitat garden' reclaimed from a rubble dump, with native plants, a pond and vegetable beds that provide habitat for urban wildlife while connecting residents to nature. It is the first of Shanghai's habitat-garden network (24 gardens by 2023).

BiodiversityPollinatorsCommunity+3

nature.org+1

Community garden
1997

Network of Urban Allotments of Barcelona (Xarxa d'Horts Urbans)

ESBarcelona, Spain

Barcelona's network of urban allotments, begun in 1997 with the recovery of the Can Mestres plots. Centred on participation by older people and vulnerable groups, it turns public land into new green and social space.

CommunityElderlyWelfare+2

ajuntament.barcelona.cat+1

Community garden
2020

SECUF - Social Enterprise Community Urban Farms (Singapore)

SGSingapore, Singapore

SECUF in Singapore: gardening hubs bringing communities together through edibles gardening and curated horticulture programs. The SECUF Grant encourages social enterprises to establish and operate Community Urban Farms, conducting programs for seniors, persons with disabilities, and low-income groups. Singapore has 1,500+ community gardens and 2,500+ allotment plots across 29 parks. Next allotment garden application window in Q4 2026.

CommunityFood educationWelfare+1

gardeningsg.nparks.gov.sg+1

Community garden
2005

Community in Bloom (CIB)

SGSingapore, Singapore

Launched in 2005 at Mayfair Park Estate, adapted from Canada's movement. Over 1,900 community garden sites across Singapore. Residents apply for plots awarded by ballot. Central to Singapore's '30 by 30' food security target.

CommunityFood educationBiodiversity+1

neighbourhoodlife.com.sg

Community in Bloom & Allotment Gardens (Singapore) — Urban Farm DB