Written by Clarence (Singapore), MSc Living Planet with Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
When students from Imperial picture Silwood Park, they see a verdant, enchanting campus filled with distinctive flora and fauna, quite different from other campuses like South Kensington or White City. In many ways, they are correct—every representation of Silwood Park holds true!
As a member of this lesser-known Imperial community, I aim to showcase the student lifestyle, activities, and fellowship at our natural parkland campus located in Ascot, Berkshire.
Welcome to Silwood Park
Silwood Park functions as Imperial’s open-air laboratory, extending over 77 hectares and featuring habitats such as freshwater streams, lakes, an “ancient” forest, and expansive grasslands. A brief search on iNaturalist, a platform for cataloging and sharing biodiversity observations worldwide among naturalists, shows that 1,436 species of flora, fauna, and fungi have been recorded on campus. Furthermore, eBird notes that 111 bird species have been documented on campus to date.
What’s even more fascinating is that Silwood Park is home to several long-term field research initiatives, including the Nash’s Field Experiment and the Blue Tit Project, which are among the more notable projects carried out on-site.
Life as a Student at Silwood Park
The campus primarily serves postgraduate students who are passionate about ecology, conservation, and evolution initiatives. Many of us participate in various clubs located at Silwood Park. Noteworthy examples include:
- Chicken Club – taking care of the chickens raised behind our dormitory
- Book Club – engaging in regular discussions about interesting books
- Gardening Club – overseeing the community garden plots
- Conservation Club – coordinating nature walks and conservation activities for students at Silwood Park.
As part of the broader Imperial student body, many of us also take part in activities hosted by clubs in South Kensington!
Informally, we have groups participating in sports like badminton, basketball, and pickleball (my personal favorite!), based either at the multi-use games area (MUGA) on campus or indoor sports halls in nearby towns like Bracknell or Ascot.
In addition to club activities and classes, several community-driven events take place on campus. Silwood Park has its own student council that organizes and manages these activities, resulting in a lively and engaging student life! Recently, we hosted the Silwood language exchange, where our international community shared languages and cultures over several weeks, and celebrated Chinese New Year with dumplings and couplets to greet the new lunar year. We’ve also organized community festivities to celebrate global events (like Carnival) or just for the joy of gathering.
My favorite campus highlight is the weekly pub quiz, organized by our student community. It’s a Silwood tradition that the teams who lose the quiz create the next one, and I can proudly say I have set the most quizzes this year. Although I’ve lost many quizzes due to my limited trivia knowledge, there’s always enjoyment to be found with good company and a pint of beer.
Silwood Park: My Second Home
Even though it’s a 30-minute walk from the lively ambiance of civilization (e.g., the train station and the closest village), life at Silwood Park is never dull or lacking. In addition to various events and activities, we share a warm, inviting community of students from all over the globe. We all cherish nature, our stunning campus grounds, and, above all, each other’s company. We’re a tight-knit community that delights in stargazing in the chilly winter on the open field adjacent to our bar, watching birds and mammals visit our windows, and enjoying time with fellow nature enthusiasts.
Most evenings, I prepare meals with my close friend from India, who shares my passion for Asian cuisine and birdwatching. We’re often accompanied by friends who live just a short stroll away in nearby residence halls. After