Authored by Clarence (Singapore), MSc Living Planet with Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
When many Imperial students picture Silwood Park, they think of a vibrant, enigmatic, and verdant campus brimming with wildlife and plant life rarely found at other campuses such as South Kensington or White City. In many respects, they are accurate – every portrayal of Silwood Park is valid!
As a member of this less-publicized community within Imperial, I would like to bring attention to the student experience, activities, and community at our natural parkland campus located in Ascot, Berkshire.
An overview of Silwood Park
Silwood Park serves as Imperial’s outdoor research hub, spanning 77 hectares and featuring ecosystems such as freshwater streams, lakes, an “ancient” forest, and expansive grasslands. A quick search on iNaturalist, an application designed for mapping and sharing biodiversity observations globally among a network of naturalists, reveals 1,436 species of plants, animals, and fungi recorded on campus. A subsequent search on eBird indicates that 111 bird species have been documented on campus thus far.
Notably, Silwood Park is also the venue for numerous long-term field research initiatives, with the Nash’s Field Experiment and the Blue Tit Project being among the most recognized studies conducted on-site.
Life as a student at Silwood Park
The campus primarily accommodates postgraduate students focusing on projects related to ecology, conservation, and evolution. Many of us are involved in various clubs based at Silwood Park. Some notable examples include:
- Chicken Club – taking care of the chickens raised behind our student accommodations
- Book Club – engaging in regular discussions about interesting literature
- Gardening Club – overseeing allotments in our shared community garden
- Conservation Club – arranging nature walks and conservation-themed activities for students at Silwood Park Campus.
Being part of the broader Imperial student body, a lot of us also engage in activities with clubs based in South Kensington!
Casually, we have clubs participating in sports like badminton, basketball, and pickleball (my personal favorite!), held either at the multi-use games arena (MUGA) on campus or in indoor sports facilities in nearby towns such as Bracknell or Ascot.
In addition to club activities and classes, we host a variety of community-driven events on campus. Silwood Park has its own student council that organizes and facilitates these activities, contributing to a lively and engaging student life! Recently, we hosted the Silwood language exchange, where our predominantly international community exchanged languages and cultures over several weeks, and our annual Chinese New Year celebration at the beginning of the year, where we all made dumplings and couplets to welcome the new lunar year. We’ve also celebrated various global events (like Carnival) and thrown parties just for the enjoyment of partying.
My favorite event on campus, however, is the weekly pub quiz, coordinated by our student community. It has become a Silwood tradition for the quiz losers to organize the next one, and I can proudly claim to have set the highest number of pub quizzes this year. Despite my numerous losses due to my lack of general knowledge, there’s always plenty of fun with great company and a good pint of beer.
Silwood Park: my second home
Even though it’s a 30-minute walk from the lively vibes of civilization (like the train station and the nearest village), life at Silwood Park has never felt monotonous or uninteresting. In addition to various events and activities, we have a friendly and inviting community made up of students from around the globe. We share a love for nature, appreciate our stunning campus grounds, and most importantly, enjoy each other’s company. We form a tight-knit community that cherishes stargazing in the winter chill on the open field next to our bar, observing birds and mammals through our room windows, and spending time with fellow nature enthusiasts.