S’pore’s First Inland Ash-Scattering Garden Will Open in Choa Chu Kang on 17 May

By
Sarah
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Have you ever thought about the way you’d like to go on to the afterlife? I’m sure many of us want a peaceful death, surrounded by our loved ones.

But there’s another thing to consider: what to do with your body?

With the opening of Singapore’s first inland ash-scattering garden, there’s now another option for residents to manage their cremated human remains.

Garden Of Peace @ CCK

The National Environment Agency (NEA) has announced that this new facility, named Garden of Peace @ CCK, will be operational from next Monday, 17 May 2021.

The agency has developed the 9,500 sqm garden to provide residents with another option for managing the cremated remains of their loved ones, as stated in their Facebook post.

According to The Straits Times, the garden was developed in response to the public’s interest for a greener practice to be adopted in Singapore.

Ms Khoo Siew Eng, a volunteer at Green Burial Movement, expressed that columbariums take up a lot of space and if everyone wanted a spot, more of them would have to be built. “Meanwhile, the ash-scattering garden takes up only a single plot of land.”

Many other countries in the Asia Pacific region—including New Zealand, Taiwan and Hong Kong—have also adopted this greener practice.

“NEA had conducted extensive consultations and engagements with the religious groups, funerary industry, interest groups and various stakeholder groups, on various aspects of the Inland Ash Scattering Garden,” said Mr Chew Ming Fai, NEA Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Director-General Public Health.

The facility is meant to be secular and open to all religious faiths.

Mr Chew also noted that all partners and stakeholders maintained the consensus that the experience at the facility should be “respectful and dignified”, with an emphasis on adopting a “serene garden feel” that accorded users with privacy.

Serene Garden Feel

The Garden of Peace @ CCK has an open garden concept, with designated lanes for walkways and ash scattering.

Image: The National Environment Agency (NEA)

To maintain the privacy of friends and family during the ash scattering process, the facility has four separate ash scattering lanes, as well as boundary shrubs and vegetation to clearly demarcate the garden boundary and provide sufficient privacy.

These lanes are designed to allow ashes to naturally percolate (a.k.a. to seep through) into the soil underneath.

Image: The National Environment Agency (NEA)

In addition, the garden has user-friendly features like wheelchair access and seating areas to make it more accessible to all.

Process of Ash Scattering

Residents who wish to apply for inland ash scattering (IAS) are required to apply via NEA’s online ePortal

There will be a S$320 fee, which covers the cost of pulverisation of cremated human remains into fine ashes, a canister to store the ashes, and a two-hour session at the garden.

Image: The National Environment Agency (NEA)

NEA notes that rites (such as the burning of joss sticks, food offerings, and playing of instruments or music) will not be allowed within the garden in order to provide a clean and serene environment for all users. However, there will be a prayer facility for visitors who wish to perform simple rites.

In light of the COVID-19 safe management measures, only five people will be allowed per session, excluding funeral directors.

More of Such Services

NEA also announced that IAS services will be introduced at the Mandai Crematorium Complex, featuring another facility named the Garden of Serenity.

The garden will be completed in tandem with the new crematorium development and is expected to begin operation in 2022.

Feature Image: The National Environment Agency (NEA)

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Sarah
Email: [email protected]