Yen Maseri Idris, or Uncle Yen to those who know him, coped with the grief of losing his youngest son in 2016, by growing an orchard near the Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery where the boy was buried.

He had worked as a grave digger there for one year and was familiar with a mosquito-infested patch of land nearby that was overrun with weeds, trees and wild bushes.

Today however, that patch of land has been transformed into a beautiful orchard, home to a variety of fruit trees, and a wonderful ecosystem with fish, birds and dogs – all thanks to Uncle Yen.

FMT met up with Uncle Yen recently, to visit this orchard that is almost completely hidden beneath the busy streets of Taman Tun Dr Ismail.

A typical day here begins for Uncle Yen at around 8.30am, when he sweeps the fallen leaves along the pathway. Then he tends to the trees growing in abundance here. Whether watering, fertilising or pruning, there’s always something or other to do at the orchard every day.

Through the years, Uncle Yen has planted ‘pokok merbau’, Monthong durian, Harum Manis mangoes, avocadoes, limes, lemons, Miracle Berries and many more.

“I put the sadness of my loss into these trees, therefore they all have a story behind them.

“I invested a lot of effort in them and have most of the growth process recorded on my phone, so even if they get cut down one day, I’ll still have proof that they existed, along with my memories,” Uncle Yen said fondly.

There’s also an array of fishes like red tilapia and catfish that thrive in the waters of the storm drain, although thanks to Uncle Yen, the water runs so clear that it can easily pass for a running stream.

While being guided along the pathway of ‘pandan’ plants, Uncle Yen said he enjoys a mutually-beneficial relationship with the traders at the nearby food court.

“I trade these pandan leaves with them and get food scraps in return, which I then feed the fishes and other animals here.”

Speaking of animals, the orchard is also home to many species of birds, tortoises and even monitor lizards.

An animal lover, Uncle Yen also looks after four dogs who were born at the orchard, saying he couldn’t bear the thought of shooing the puppies off and leaving them to fend for themselves.

“When the animals here pass, I give them a proper burial and leave a stone on top of their graves. The bigger the stone, the bigger the animal,” he said.

Uncle Yen has also established a club of sorts with about 150 members, who help fund the orchard’s upkeep.

The Pahang native said that while he would love to have members of the public come visit the orchard, the slippery path near the storm drain leading to the orchard below poses a significant safety hazard.

“I plead with DBKL to maybe install some fences around the area so that it can be a safe place for those who come here.”

At the end of the day, Uncle Yen said he doesn’t claim to own the orchard, choosing only to identify as its caretaker. He said he was working on the orchard for the benefit of the future generation, so that they ‘don’t have to go all the way to rural villages to appreciate the beauty of greenery’.

Follow Urban Orchard KL on Instagram. Volunteers are welcome to help cultivate the land and keep it clean.