Authored by Clarence (Singapore), MSc Living Planet specializing in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
When many Imperial scholars picture Silwood Park, they conjure an enchanting, verdant campus abundant with wildlife and vegetation that aren’t typically found at our other campuses like South Kensington or White City. In many respects, they are correct – every representation of Silwood Park holds true!
As an ambassador of this lesser-known facet of Imperial, I wish to shed light on the student experience, activities, and community at our natural parkland campus situated in Ascot, Berkshire.
A glimpse into Silwood Park
Silwood Park serves as Imperial’s outdoor research facility, encompassing 77 hectares and showcasing ecosystems such as freshwater streams, lakes, a “primitive” forest, and expansive meadows. A swift inquiry on iNaturalist, a platform for cataloging and sharing biodiversity sightings globally within a network of naturalists, uncovers that 1,436 species of plants, animals, and fungi have been recorded on campus, while a further examination on eBird reveals that 111 bird species have been documented to date.
More intriguingly, Silwood Park is also home to various long-term field research initiatives, with the Nash’s Field Experiment and the Blue Tit Project being among the most prominent studies carried out on-site.
The student experience at Silwood Park
The campus primarily caters to postgraduate scholars who have a keen interest in ecology, conservation, and evolution initiatives. Many of us are involved in several clubs based at Silwood Park. Noteworthy examples consist of:
- Chicken Club – which looks after the chickens that are raised behind our residence halls
- Book Club – which frequently meets to discuss intriguing selections from their reading lists
- Gardening Club – which oversees the community garden’s allotments
- Conservation Club – which coordinates nature walks and ecology-focused activities for students at Silwood Park Campus.
As part of the broader Imperial student body, many of us also engage in activities from clubs located in South Kensington!
In an informal capacity, we have clubs that participate in sports such as badminton, basketball, and pickleball (my personal favorite!), played either on the multi-use games area (MUGA) on campus or in indoor sports halls in nearby towns like Bracknell or Ascot.
Alongside club activities and lectures, we have numerous community-driven events on campus. Silwood Park boasts its own student council that organizes and facilitates these events, ensuring a lively and engaging student atmosphere! In recent months, we hosted the Silwood language exchange, where our predominantly international community came together to share languages and cultures over a few weeks, and we also observed Chinese New Year at the year’s start, preparing dumplings and couplets to usher in the new lunar year. Additionally, we’ve had community-organized celebrations of global traditions (like Carnival) or simply parties for the love of festivities.
However, my favorite campus event has to be the weekly pub quiz, orchestrated by our student body. It’s a Silwood tradition that the underperforming teams from the pub quiz set the next one, and I can proudfully assert I’ve set the most quizzes this year. Despite failing numerous quizzes due to my limited trivia knowledge, there’s always a blast to be had with great company and a refreshing pint of beer.
Silwood Park: my second home
Even though it’s a 30-minute stroll from the vibrant energy of civilization (e.g., the train station and the nearest village), life at Silwood Park has never seemed dull or unexciting. Along with a plethora of events and activities, we enjoy a friendly and inviting community of students hailing from all corners of the globe. We all cherish nature, our stunning campus grounds, and, more crucially, the companionship we share. We form a close-knit community that delights in stargazing during the chilly winter nights in the open field beside our bar, observing the diverse birds and mammals that grace our