By Clarence (Singapore), MSc Living Planet specializing in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation
When students at Imperial envision Silwood Park, they picture a vibrant, enchanting, and green campus rich with distinct animals and plants, unlike those found at other locations such as South Kensington or White City. In many respects, they are correct – every representation of Silwood Park holds true!
As a voice for this less familiar segment of the Imperial community, I wish to showcase the student experience, activities, and community within our natural parkland campus located in Ascot, Berkshire.
Introducing Silwood Park
Silwood Park functions as Imperial’s outdoor research hub, covering 77 hectares and showcasing ecosystems such as freshwater streams, lakes, an “ancient” woodland, and expansive meadows. A query on iNaturalist, an application designed for mapping and sharing biodiversity data worldwide, indicates that 1,436 species of plants, animals, and fungi have been recorded on campus. Additionally, a search on eBird reveals that 111 different bird species have been observed on campus thus far.
Notably, Silwood Park is home to a variety of long-term research projects, including the Nash’s Field Experiment and the Blue Tit Project, which are two prominent studies conducted on-site.
Student life at Silwood Park
The campus mainly accommodates postgraduate students engaged in ecology, conservation, and evolution research. We actively participate in various clubs based at Silwood Park, including:
- Chicken Club – tending to the chickens that we raise behind our halls of residence
- Book Club – regularly congregating to discuss interesting literature
- Gardening Club – overseeing the allotments in our community garden
- Conservation Club – arranging nature walks and conservation-oriented activities for students at Silwood Park Campus.
As part of the broader Imperial student body, many of us also take part in the activities of clubs located in South Kensington!
Casually, we have clubs that participate in sports such as badminton, basketball, and pickleball (my personal favorite!), either at the multi-use games area (MUGA) on campus or at indoor sports facilities in nearby towns like Bracknell or Ascot.
In addition to club activities and classes, we have numerous community-led events on campus. Silwood Park has its own student council that plans and supports such events to ensure a lively and engaging student experience! Recently, we held the Silwood language exchange, where our international community shared languages and cultures over several weeks, and our annual Chinese New Year celebration, where we made dumplings and couplets to welcome the new lunar year. We’ve also hosted community-organized parties to celebrate global events (like Carnival) or simply for the joy of socializing.
My favorite campus activity is the weekly pub quiz, organized by our student community. It’s ingrained in Silwood culture that the losers of the pub quiz are responsible for setting the next one, and I can proudly state I hold the record for the highest number of pub quizzes set this year. Despite losing many quizzes due to my inadequate general knowledge, there is always good cheer among 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 bustling energy of civilization (such as the train station and the closest village), life at Silwood Park has never seemed monotonous or lacking. Alongside a multitude of events and activities, we enjoy a friendly and inviting community of students from all over the globe. We share a love for nature, our stunning campus landscape, and, more significantly, each other’s presence. We’re a tight-knit community that delights in stargazing on cold winter nights in the open field beside our bar, watching the birds and mammals that visit our room windows, and spending 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 are frequently joined by friends who live just a short walk away.