Mrs Mekani, 48, who's been heavily involved in green volunteerism since the early 1990s, said she wanted to encourage all Singaporeans to take a leaf out of her own book and care for nature.

Her zest convinced the Garden City Fund and the Singapore Environmental Council (SEC) to adopt her idea of allowing anyone to plant a tree in parks and nature reserves.

'When I couldn't have my own garden when I moved here from India in 1988, I began to see beyond myself; that every park is my garden. There are 300 [here]!' said Mrs Mekani, who lifted the SEC out of dormancy in 1992 as its first executive director.

'I want everyone to enjoy them. What better way than if they own a part of these gardens?'

The board wants people to plant regional species in 16 spots, including Fort Canning Park, East Coast Park and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.

A schedule has been laid out for this on the last Sunday of the month and on occasions like Earth Day.

'We're hoping to bring wildlife like unusual birds back to areas which have lost tree cover,' said chief operating officer Leong Chee Chiew.

The Plant-A-Tree programme could see up to 2,000 new trees taking root across Singapore in the next 12 months.

It costs $200 to plant a tree with discounts on 10 or more. Those who do, will get a certificate with a picture of them planting their sapling.

Proceeds are tax deductible and go towards the Garden City Fund.

Read the full report in The Sunday Times.