Authored by Clarence (Singapore), MSc Living Planet specializing in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation
When many Imperial students picture Silwood Park, they see a verdant, enchanting, and green campus brimming with wildlife and plant species seldom observed at other locations like South Kensington or White City. In several respects, they’re correct – every depiction of Silwood Park holds true!
As a representative of this less-publicized community at Imperial, I wish to emphasize the student experience, activities, and community that thrive at our natural parkland campus in Ascot, Berkshire.
Overview of Silwood Park
Silwood Park serves as Imperial’s outdoor research facility, covering 77 hectares and featuring ecosystems such as freshwater streams, lakes, an “ancient” forest, and expansive grasslands. A quick query on iNaturalist, an application for cataloging and disseminating biodiversity observations worldwide through a network of naturalists, shows that 1,436 species of plants, animals, and fungi have been recorded on campus, with eBird documenting 111 bird species to date.
Notably, Silwood Park is also home to numerous long-term field research initiatives, including Nash’s Field Experiment and the Blue Tit Project, two prominent studies conducted on the grounds.
Student Experience at Silwood Park
The campus mainly accommodates postgraduate students focused on ecology, conservation, and evolutionary studies. Many of us belong to various clubs situated at Silwood Park. Some noteworthy examples include:
- Chicken Club – taking care of chickens raised near our accommodation
- Book Club – frequently discussing interesting reads
- Gardening Club – tending to allotments in our community garden
- Conservation Club – organizing nature outings and conservation projects for students on Silwood Park Campus.
As part of the broader Imperial student community, many of us also engage in activities of clubs based in South Kensington!
Casually, we have clubs participating in sports like badminton, basketball, and pickleball (my personal favorite!), held either on the multi-use games arena (MUGA) on campus or in indoor sports facilities in nearby areas such as Bracknell or Ascot.
In addition to club functions and classes, we hold various community-driven events on campus. Silwood Park has its own student council that organizes and facilitates these activities to promote a lively and engaging student life! Recently, we hosted the Silwood language exchange, where our international community shared languages and cultures over several weeks, along with our annual Chinese New Year celebration, crafting dumplings and couplets to usher in the new lunar year. We’ve also organized community-hosted parties in honor of global events (like Carnival) or simply to celebrate for the joy of gathering.
My favorite event on campus is the weekly pub quiz, arranged by our student community. It’s a Silwood tradition that the pub quiz losers are responsible for the next one, and I can proudly say I’ve set the highest number of quizzes this year. Despite losing many quizzes due to limited trivia knowledge, there’s always great enjoyment in the company of friends and a good 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 seemed dull or lacking. Besides countless events and activities, we share a friendly, inviting community of students from across the globe. We all appreciate nature, our stunning campus property, and, more importantly, one another’s camaraderie. We’re a tight-knit community relishing stargazing in the chilly winter evenings in the open field beside our bar, observing birds and mammals that visit our windows, and enjoying time with fellow nature enthusiasts.
Most evenings, I cook with my close friend from India, who shares my passion for Asian cuisine and birdwatching. We’re often joined by friends residing just a short walk away in