Report: Branch Trip to Rimbun Dahan

Members' Report by: Yoke Mooi, Joselyn, Anon, Haimon Franklin, Ashley, Ng Wen Qing, Chua Hui Lin, Michael Kwa, and HY Leong.

Photos by: Joselyn, Ashley, Wong Ee Lynn, Haimon Franklin, CP Ng, Puvana, Wong Wei Fong, HY Leong, and Ng Wen Qing.

On Sunday morning, 7 June 2026, 42 MNS Selangor Branch members and their children had the privilege of visiting Rimbun Dahan, a private 14-acre arboretum and art centre in Kuang, Sungai Buloh. The visit was graciously hosted by its Director and Arboretum Curator, Angela Hijjas, who invited members for a guided walking tour of her remarkable property.

Members arrived and checked in at the front gate from 8:45 am. While Rimbun Dahan's Residency Manager Bilqis Hijjas waited for latecomers, Angela led the group through the accredited arboretum, sharing personal insights and stories about the diverse plant collection and the sanctuary’s history.

"Rimbun Dahan is such a lovely green space, I could feel the drop in temperature the moment I stepped into it," recalled Yoke Mooi. "Really enjoyed the garden tour of Rimbun Dahan's mini rainforest oasis; listening to snippets of information about the interesting trees and plants; and stories about the wildlife that could be found there."

Joselyn agreed, "The tour given by Angela Hijjas, so personal and beautifully told." 

"I enjoyed learning regarding the ex-situ conservation of trees at Rimbun Dahan," said Haimon Franklin, another member. "Truly an eye-opening session about the importance of our native plant species."

"Angela is a wonderful gracious and knowledgeable hostess," said Ashley. "Awesome experience to look up at all those tall Malaysian trees she’d planted. Didn’t realise that Hopea also exhibits crown shyness."

"It was a lovely day getting to know what it takes to start & manage a living arboretum in Southeast Asia. No small feat! Angela Hijjas was pretty candid about many things," said Anon. "I like how intentional it was to inter-weave and let flow our living heritage of the arts, architecture, culture and mother nature to play with one another. As it should."  

The tour continued with visits to a heritage house, Taman Sari garden, the work-in-progress plant nursery, and the underground art gallery, offering members a glimpse into the conservation efforts, cultural heritage, and artistic treasures preserved at Rimbun Dahan.

At Rumah Uda Manap, a restored traditional Malay house dating back more than a century, members admired its intricate hardwood carvings and architectural details. Originally built in Perak and relocated to Rimbun Dahan in 1998, the house reflects the craftsmanship and cultural influences of its era.

"Fascinated and amazed by the garden, plants, arts, kampung houses which are well curated, preserved, and presented," said Joselyn.

"Having the opportunity to smell and taste some of this labour of love added to the experience." said Yoke Mooi.

Angela picked up the fallen fruits of Dillenia philippinensis, also known as Katmon in the Philippines, and peeled them to reveal their tart, juicy, fibrous flesh. Members eagerly sampled the fruit, resulting in many puckered faces as they experienced its intense sourness. Rarely eaten raw, the fruit’s edible pulp is traditionally cooked into jam in the Philippines.

Following the insightful walk, members gathered for a group photo on the steps leading to the main house, capturing a memorable morning. MNS Selangor Branch Chairperson Wong Ee Lynn presented Bird Group merchandise to Angela and Bilqis as a token of appreciation.

 

Members then gathered at the poolside gazebo for light refreshments, including homemade nutmeg cordial and fried crunchy tempeh, providing a pleasant opportunity to mingle and connect with fellow nature enthusiasts.

"The atmosphere of everyone—old, young and everyone in between—coming together to appreciate nature, heritage, and art was truly inspiring!" said Ng Wen Qing, a new member. "The 3 hours just flew; truly a fantastic way to spend the weekend."

"Learned a lot from trees, to kampung house. I like that the sharing is about the planting experience of different species, how plants behave in different environment, the stories behind the plants, and seeing some plants used traditionally in cuisines," said Chua Hui Lin. "And like the refreshments at the end!

"We enjoyed the personal storytelling, and genuine hospitality, creating a memorable and meaningful visitor experience," said Michael Kwa. "The kids enjoy the green space especially the light refreshments."

One member’s observation about the absence of a regenerative food forest raised an interesting point about the potential of the estate, though Angela acknowledged that such an initiative would require capacity and a different level of commitment.

"The one thing that (I) wasn’t prepared for was that one noticeable disconnect...the most intimate relationship we have with nature; our procuring and partaking in food,” observed Anon. “And food is medicine. Be it through foraging, food foresting or permaculture farming.”

"Yes, the nutmeg juice was a great thirst-quencher and conversation-starter. The fact that only a handful of herbs in the edible garden was used in everyday cooking. Which was a bit of a surprise. And vegetables were all bought from outside. It’s just a bit of a wasted opportunity to see an estate as big as 14 acres and as established for more than 3 decades to not have a regenerative food forest system going."

For members unfamiliar with the concept, regenerative food forests are self-sustaining systems that mimic natural forests by integrating layers of edible plants while restoring soil health, conserving water, and supporting biodiversity.

"It could well be a way forward for Rimbun Dahan in the future, but for now the issue is one of capacity," said Angela. "I do not have either staff capacity or expertise in that area... nor am I prepared to offer the garden for others to introduce and maintain such a programme. It may seem selfish, and it is, but I want to maintain control of my garden for my personal enjoyment, and at 76, I'm past running such a project; my interest is in species and how they can or cannot fit into our created habitat. At sometime in the future it may well be considered an option."

Amid these reflections on what the garden could become, the visit ultimately returned to what it already offers — a sense of warmth, generosity, and hospitality.

"The light refreshment was a delight, and (I) felt the entire tour was so welcoming and warm, like any Malaysian family’s hospitality towards their guests," said Joselyn.

 

The visit concluded with members departing around noon. The Branch extends its heartfelt gratitude to Angela for her warmth, generosity, and willingness to share her extraordinary sanctuary with us. We are also grateful to Bilqis for her assistance in ensuring the smooth running of the event.

There was tremendous interest in this exclusive opportunity, with registration limited to the first 50 members. We were pleased by the strong turnout, though two registered families totalling seven persons did not attend on the day. We sincerely appreciate the member who gave prior notice of withdrawal and offered to cover refreshment costs, although this was not necessary.

"Our group was big this morning, so sometimes it was a little difficult to stay close to Angela to be within earshot especially where space was tight," noted Yoke Mooi. "Then again, I am constantly distracted by birdsong and the possibility of seeing birds (sometimes heard only but not seen) that I usually lagged behind 😅"

The visit was facilitated by MNS Selangor Branch Committee member HY Leong, who also ably served as the sweeper. As a special treat, members received limited-edition postcards featuring odonata photographed by entomologist Dr Choong Chee Yen. Rimbun Dahan is a thriving habitat for 44 species of dragonflies and damselflies—not all of them residents, as of November 2025.

Note: Members contributed to this report through a feedback form, and the host was invited to respond via email to a member’s query on regenerative food forests.