Contributed by Clarence (Singapore), MSc Living Planet focusing on Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation
When the majority of Imperial students ponder Silwood Park, they picture a verdant, enchanting campus abundant with wildlife and plant life that are rare sights at other locations like South Kensington or White City. In many respects, they are correct – every visualization of Silwood Park holds true!
As a member of this lesser-known segment of the Imperial community, I wish to spotlight the student experience, activities, and camaraderie found within our natural parkland campus in Ascot, Berkshire.
Introduction to Silwood Park
Silwood Park serves as Imperial’s outdoor research facility, covering 77 hectares and featuring habitats including freshwater streams, lakes, an “ancient” woodland, and open fields. A quick lookup on iNaturalist, a platform where individuals can document and share biodiversity observations globally with a community of naturalists, reveals that 1,436 species of plants, animals, and fungi have been recorded on the campus, with an additional search on eBird showcasing that 111 bird species have been identified on campus thus far.
Moreover, Silwood Park is home to numerous long-term field research initiatives, with the Nash’s Field Experiment and the Blue Tit Project being two of the more recognized studies conducted on-site.
Student Experience at Silwood Park
The campus primarily accommodates postgraduate students interested in ecology, conservation, and evolution projects. Most of us participate in various clubs based at Silwood Park, including:
- Chicken Club – responsible for the care of the chickens located behind our residence halls
- Book Club – meets regularly to discuss selected readings of interest
- Gardening Club – oversees the allotments in our community garden
- Conservation Club – arranges nature walks and conservation-related activities for students on Silwood Park Campus.
As part of the broader Imperial student body, many of us are also affiliated with and actively involved in clubs based in South Kensington!
Additionally, we have informal clubs that partake in sports such as badminton, basketball, and pickleball (my personal favorite!), which take place either on the multi-use games area (MUGA) on campus or in indoor sports facilities in nearby towns like Bracknell or Ascot.
Alongside club activities and lessons, various community-led events occur on campus. Silwood Park has its own student council dedicated to organizing and facilitating these events to ensure a lively and engaging student life! Recently, we had the Silwood language exchange, where our predominantly international community gathered to share languages and cultures over several weeks. We also celebrated our annual Chinese New Year at the beginning of the year, where everyone came together to create dumplings and couplets to welcome the new lunar year. Additionally, we’ve hosted community-organized parties to commemorate celebrations from around the globe (like Carnival), along with parties purely for the joy of gathering.
However, my favorite campus event has to be the weekly pub quiz coordinated by our student community. It’s customary in Silwood culture that those who lose the pub quiz will be tasked with organizing the next one, and I can confidently assert that I hold the record for the most quizzes set this year. Although I’ve lost many pub quizzes due to my limited general knowledge, there’s always enjoyment to be found in great company and a good pint of beer.
Silwood Park: My Home Away From Home
Even though it’s a 30-minute walk from the lively energies of civilization (e.g., the train station and the nearest village), life at Silwood Park has never felt ordinary