Authored by Clarence (Singapore), MSc Living Planet with Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
When the majority of Imperial students picture Silwood Park, they imagine a verdant, enigmatic, and green campus bustling with wildlife and vegetation rarely found at other campuses like South Kensington or White City. In numerous respects, they’re correct—every representation of Silwood Park is true!
As a voice of this lesser-known community within Imperial, I wish to showcase the student experience, activities, and camaraderie at our natural parkland campus situated in Ascot, Berkshire.
Introducing Silwood Park
Silwood Park serves as Imperial’s outdoor research facility, covering 77 hectares and encompassing environments such as freshwater streams, lakes, an “ancient” forest, and expansive grasslands. A quick look on iNaturalist, an app for cataloging and sharing biodiversity observations worldwide with a social network of naturalists, indicates that 1,436 species of plants, animals, and fungi have been recorded on campus. Additionally, a search on eBird shows that 111 bird species have been noted on campus thus far.
Moreover, Silwood Park is home to various long-term field research initiatives, with the Nash’s Field Experiment and the Blue Tit Project being among the more recognized projects performed on-site.
Student Experience at Silwood Park
The campus primarily accommodates postgraduate students engaged in projects focused on ecology, conservation, and evolution. Many of us are involved in various clubs that are based at Silwood Park. Some notable examples include:
- Chicken Club – which looks after the chickens raised behind our accommodations
- Book Club – which meets regularly to discuss books of mutual interest
- Gardening Club – which oversees the allotments in our community garden
- Conservation Club – which arranges nature walks and conservation-oriented activities for students on Silwood Park campus.
As part of the larger Imperial student body, numerous members also engage in activities of clubs based in South Kensington!
Casually, we have groups participating in sports such as badminton, basketball, and pickleball (my personal favorite!), either at the multi-use games arena (MUGA) on campus or at indoor sports facilities in neighboring towns like Bracknell or Ascot.
Apart from club activities and classes, numerous community-led events take place on campus. Silwood Park has its own student council that organizes and manages such events, ensuring a lively and vibrant student experience! Recently, we hosted the Silwood language exchange, where our primarily international community shared languages and cultures over several weeks, and our annual Chinese New Year celebration at the beginning of the year, where everyone made dumplings and couplets to welcome the new lunar year. We’ve also organized community parties celebrating global occasions (like Carnival) or simply enjoying the festivities.
My favorite campus event is the weekly pub quiz, arranged by our student community. It’s a part of Silwood culture that the quiz losers prepare the next one, and I can proudly state the highest number of quizzes set this year. Even with my frequent losses in pub quizzes due to my lackluster general trivia knowledge, there’s always enjoyable time spent with great company and a refreshing pint of beer.
Silwood Park: My Home Away from Home
Even though it’s a 30-minute walk from the lively atmosphere of civilization (e.g., the train station and the closest village), life at Silwood Park has never felt dull or insipid. In addition to the countless events and activities, we enjoy a friendly and inviting community made up of students from around the globe. We all cherish nature, our stunning campus grounds, and, more significantly, each other’s presence. We’re a tight-knit community that revels in stargazing during the chilly winter on the open field adjacent to our pub, observing the birds and mammals that visit.