Authored by Clarence (Singapore), MSc Living Planet with Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
When the majority of Imperial students picture Silwood Park, they conjure up an expansive, enigmatic, and verdant campus brimming with wildlife and greenery seldom found at other locations like South Kensington or White City. In numerous respects, they are correct – every representation of Silwood Park is true!
As a voice for this lesser-known segment of the Imperial community, I’d like to spotlight the student experience, activities, and camaraderie at our natural parkland campus in Ascot, Berkshire.
Discovering Silwood Park
Silwood Park serves as Imperial’s outdoor research facility, encompassing 77 hectares and showcasing habitats such as freshwater streams, lakes, an “ancient” forest, and open grasslands. A simple query on iNaturalist, a platform for documenting and sharing biodiversity insights globally among naturalists, reveals that 1,436 species of plants, animals, and fungi have been documented on campus. An additional check on eBird confirms that 111 bird species have been noted on campus to date.
Notably, Silwood Park also hosts several extensive field research initiatives, with the Nash’s Field Experiment and the Blue Tit Project being among the more recognized studies conducted locally.
Student Experience at Silwood Park
The campus primarily accommodates postgraduate students with interests in ecology, conservation, and evolution projects. Many of us are engaged in various clubs based at Silwood Park. Prominent examples include:
- Chicken Club – responsible for caring for the chickens located behind our residence halls
- Book Club – regularly convenes to discuss interesting reads
- Gardening Club – oversees the allotments in our community garden
- Conservation Club – arranges nature walks and conservation-related activities for students on Silwood Park Campus.
As members of the broader Imperial student body, many of us also join in activities of clubs located in South Kensington!
As an informal addition, we have clubs that participate in sports such as badminton, basketball, and pickleball (my personal favorite!), held either on the multi-use games arena (MUGA) on campus or at indoor sports venues in nearby towns like Bracknell or Ascot.
Alongside club activities and classes, numerous community-driven events occur on campus. Silwood Park has its own student council that organizes and facilitates these activities to ensure an engaging and lively student life! Recently, we’ve 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 start of the year, where everyone collaborated to create dumplings and couplets to welcome the new lunar year. We’ve also seen community-hosted parties celebrating global events (such as Carnival) or gatherings thrown simply for the joy of celebrating.
However, my favorite campus event would have to be the weekly pub quiz, arranged by our student community. It’s a part of Silwood tradition that the quiz losers must set up the next one, and I can proudly admit to having organized the most quizzes this year. Despite my frequent defeats in these quizzes due to my lack of trivia knowledge, there’s always plenty of enjoyment with good company and a refreshing pint of beer.
Silwood Park: my sanctuary away from home
Even though it’s a 30-minute stroll from the lively energies of civilization (e.g., the train station and the nearest village), life at Silwood Park has never seemed dull or deficient. Beyond the myriad events and activities, we foster a warm and friendly community filled with students from around the globe. Our shared love for nature, our stunning campus surroundings, and, more crucially, each other’s presence, creates a close-knit community that