Authored by Clarence (Singapore), MSc Living Planet with Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
When Imperial scholars envision Silwood Park, they picture a vibrant, enigmatic, and verdant campus brimming with distinctive flora and fauna, in stark contrast to other locations such as South Kensington or White City. In many respects, they are indeed correct – each depiction of Silwood Park holds true!
As a member of this less-publicized community at Imperial, I wish to showcase the student experience, initiatives, and camaraderie at our natural parkland campus in Ascot, Berkshire.
Welcome to Silwood Park
Silwood Park serves as Imperial’s outdoor research facility, encompassing 77 hectares and showcasing ecosystems such as freshwater streams, lakes, an “ancient” woodland, and expansive grasslands. A quick search on iNaturalist, an application for mapping and sharing biodiversity observations worldwide among a network of naturalists, indicates that 1,436 species of plants, animals, and fungi have been recorded on the campus. A further check on eBird reveals that 111 bird species have been noted on campus thus far.
More intriguingly, Silwood Park is home to several long-term research initiatives, with the Nash’s Field Experiment and the Blue Tit Project being two of the more prominent endeavors carried out on-site.
Life as a Student at Silwood Park
The campus predominantly accommodates postgraduate scholars keen on ecology, conservation, and evolution studies. Many of us are involved in various clubs located at Silwood Park. Some notable examples include:
- Chicken Club – tending to chickens raised behind our accommodation
- Book Club – regularly engaging in discussions about interesting reads
- Gardening Club – overseeing the allotments within our community garden
- Conservation Club – coordinating nature walks and conservation events for students on Silwood Park Campus.
As part of the broader Imperial student body, many of us also join in the activities of clubs based in South Kensington!
Informally, we have groups participating in sports like badminton, basketball, and pickleball (my personal favorite!), taking place either on the multi-use games area (MUGA) on campus or at indoor sports venues in local towns such as Bracknell or Ascot.
Apart from club activities and educational sessions, there are numerous community-led events on campus. Silwood Park has its own student council that organizes and facilitates such happenings to promote a lively and engaging student experience! Recently, we hosted the Silwood language exchange, where our predominantly international community shared languages and cultures over several weeks, alongside our annual Chinese New Year celebration at the beginning of the year, where everyone participated in making dumplings and couplets to welcome the new lunar year. We’ve also seen community-organized celebrations for global events (such as Carnival) or simply for the joy of gathering.
My favorite campus event is the weekly pub quiz, coordinated by our student community. It’s a Silwood tradition that the quiz losers must arrange the subsequent event, and I can proudly state that I’ve set the most pub quizzes this year. Even though I’ve lost several quizzes due to my inadequate general knowledge, there’s always plenty of enjoyment with great company and a good pint of beer.
Silwood Park: my second home
Although it’s a 30-minute stroll from the lively buzz of civilization (e.g., the train station and the nearest village), life at Silwood Park has never felt dull or unfulfilling. In addition to the multitude of events and activities, we share a warm and inviting community of students from across the globe. We all cherish nature, our stunning campus grounds, and, above all, each other’s presence. We form a close-knit community that delights in stargazing in the winter chill on the open fields next to our bar, observing the birds and mammals that visit our windows, and spending quality time with fellow nature enthusiasts.