Authored by Clarence (Singapore), MSc Living Planet specializing in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation
When students at Imperial envision Silwood Park, they picture a verdant, enigmatic, and green campus alive with extraordinary flora and fauna, distinct from those found at other locations such as South Kensington or White City. In many respects, they are right—every depiction of Silwood Park is accurate!
As a member of this lesser-known Imperial community, I wish to showcase the student experience, activities, and camaraderie at our natural parkland campus located in Ascot, Berkshire.
Discovering Silwood Park
Silwood Park serves as Imperial’s outdoor research facility, covering 77 hectares and including ecosystems such as freshwater streams, lakes, an “ancient” woodland, and vast grass areas. A quick search on iNaturalist, a platform for documenting and sharing biodiversity observations worldwide, indicates that 1,436 species of plants, animals, and fungi have been recorded on campus. Additionally, a search on eBird highlights 111 bird species documented on campus up to now.
Notably, Silwood Park is home to various long-term field research initiatives, with the Nash’s Field Experiment and the Blue Tit Project being two prominent studies conducted here.
Life of Students at Silwood Park
The campus primarily accommodates postgraduate students keen on ecology, conservation, and evolutionary studies. We partake in several clubs established at Silwood Park, including:
- Chicken Club – tending to chickens raised behind our dormitories
- Book Club – engaging in discussions about books of interest
- Gardening Club – overseeing plots in our community garden
- Conservation Club – organizing nature walks and conservation projects for Silwood Park students.
As members of the broader Imperial student body, many of us also take part in clubs based in South Kensington!
Casually, we have clubs for sports such as badminton, basketball, and pickleball (my personal favorite!), held either at the campus’s multi-use games arena (MUGA) or in nearby towns like Bracknell or Ascot.
In addition to club activities and classes, we host numerous community-led events on campus. Silwood Park has its student council managing and coordinating activities to foster an energetic student life! Recently, we had a Silwood language exchange, where our international community exchanged languages and cultures over a few weeks, along with our annual Chinese New Year celebration, where we made dumplings and couplets to ring in the new lunar year. We’ve also enjoyed community-organized gatherings celebrating global events (like Carnival) or just for the love of festivity.
My favorite event on campus is the weekly pub quiz, coordinated by our student community. It’s part of Silwood tradition that the losers of the pub quiz organize the next one, and I can proudly say I’ve set the most quizzes this year. Even with many losses due to my weak trivia knowledge, there’s always joy found in good company and a pint of beer.
Silwood Park: My Second Home
Although it’s a 30-minute stroll from the lively pulse of civilization (like the train station and the nearest village), life at Silwood Park never feels dull or deficient. In addition to numerous events and activities, we have a friendly, inclusive community of students from around the globe. We all cherish nature, our stunning campus, and each other’s company. We’re a close-knit group who enjoys stargazing in the chilly winter on the open field next to our bar, observing birds and wildlife at our windows, and spending time with fellow nature enthusiasts.
Most evenings, I cook alongside my dear friend from India, who shares my passion for Asian cuisine and birdwatching. We’re frequently joined by friends residing a short walk away in nearby dorms. After eating, we often engage in board games or movie nights together. Living on Silwood Park Campus genuinely represents a tranquil, serene, and picturesque lifestyle. In winter, this is enhanced by the cozy warmth of heaters throughout