Written by Clarence (Singapore), MSc Living Planet focusing on Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation
When the majority of Imperial students think of Silwood Park, they picture a vibrant, enigmatic, and green campus bustling with wildlife and plants seldom encountered at other locations like South Kensington or White City. In many respects, their vision is correct – every depiction of Silwood Park holds true!
As a voice of this lesser-known segment of Imperial, I wish to showcase the student experience, activities, and community at our natural parkland campus located in Ascot, Berkshire.
Presenting Silwood Park
Silwood Park operates as Imperial’s field laboratory, covering 77 hectares and comprising habitats such as freshwater streams, lakes, a so-called “ancient” forest, and expansive grasslands. A straightforward inquiry on iNaturalist, an application for mapping and sharing biodiversity observations globally within an online network of naturalists, indicates that 1,436 species of plants, animals, and fungi have been recorded on campus. Furthermore, an exploration on eBird reveals that 111 bird species have been identified on campus thus far.
Moreover, Silwood Park is home to numerous long-term field research endeavors, with the Nash’s Field Experiment and the Blue Tit Project standing out as two of the more celebrated initiatives taking place on-site.
Student Experience at Silwood Park
The campus mainly accommodates postgraduate students engaged in ecology, conservation, and evolutionary studies. Most of us participate in several clubs based at Silwood Park. Some noteworthy examples include:
- Chicken Club – tending to chickens raised behind our student accommodations
- Book Club – meeting regularly to discuss engaging books
- 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 population, many of us also take part in activities of clubs based in South Kensington!
On a more casual note, we have clubs participating in sports such as badminton, basketball, and pickleball (my personal favorite!), based either in the multi-use games arena (MUGA) on campus or at indoor sports venues in nearby towns like Bracknell or Ascot.
Beyond club engagements and classes, we enjoy a variety of community-led events on campus. Silwood Park has its student council which organizes and manages such activities, ensuring a lively and engaging student experience! Recently, we hosted the Silwood language exchange, where our largely international community shared languages and cultures over several weeks. We also commemorated Chinese New Year at the beginning of the year, making dumplings and couplets to usher in the new lunar year. Community-organized celebrations for global events (like Carnival) or simply for the joy of gatherings have also taken place.
My favorite campus activity is the weekly pub quiz organized by our student community. It’s a part of Silwood culture that those who lose the pub quiz arrange the next one, and I can proudly assert that I hold the record for the most pub quizzes set this year. Despite my repeated losses due to my limited general trivia knowledge, the experience is always enjoyable, surrounded by good friends and a fine pint of beer.
Silwood Park: My Sanctuary Away from Home
Even though it’s a 30-minute walk from the hustle and bustle of civilization (e.g., the train station and the nearby village), life at Silwood Park has never come off as monotonous or deprived. Besides the wide array of events and activities, we have a friendly and inviting community made up of students from across the globe. We all share a passion for nature, our stunning campus grounds, and, more significantly, each other’s company. We’re a tight-knit community that loves stargazing under the chilly winter sky in the open field adjacent to our bar, observing birds and mammals that visit our windows, and spending time with fellow nature enthusiasts.
Most evenings, I prepare meals with my