Written by Clarence (Singapore), MSc Living Planet specializing in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
When the majority of Imperial students picture Silwood Park, they see a lush, enigmatic, and green campus rich with wildlife and plant species seldom found at other campuses such as South Kensington or White City. In many ways, they are correct, and every depiction of Silwood Park holds true!
As a spokesperson for this lesser-known community at Imperial, I wish to spotlight the student life, activities, and community present 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” woodland, and open grassfields. A brief search on iNaturalist, an application for cataloging and sharing biodiversity observations worldwide with a network of naturalists, uncovers that 1,436 species of plants, animals, and fungi have been recorded on the campus. Furthermore, a check on eBird indicates that 111 bird species have been documented on campus to date.
More fascinatingly, Silwood Park is home to numerous long-term field research initiatives, with the Nash’s Field Experiment and the Blue Tit Project being two notable projects conducted on-site.
Student Experience at Silwood Park
The campus mainly houses postgraduate students focused on ecology, conservation, and evolution studies. Many of us belong to different clubs that are based at Silwood Park. Some prominent examples include:
- Chicken Club – tending to the chickens raised behind our dormitories
- Book Club – meeting regularly to discuss books of interest
- Gardening Club – overseeing the allotments in our community garden
- Conservation Club – coordinating nature walks and conservation efforts for students on Silwood Park Campus.
As members of the broader Imperial student body, many of us also engage in activities from clubs located in South Kensington!
Casually, we have clubs participating in sports such as badminton, basketball, and pickleball (my favorite!), held 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, there are numerous community-led events on campus. Silwood Park has its own student council that organizes and facilitates these activities to maintain an engaging and vibrant student life! In recent months, we hosted the Silwood language exchange, where our predominantly international community shared languages and cultures over several weeks, and we also celebrated Chinese New Year at the beginning of the year, making dumplings and couplets to usher in the new lunar year. We’ve also enjoyed community-organized celebrations for global festivities (like Carnival) or simply for the joy of getting together.
My favorite campus event, however, is the weekly pub quiz, organized by our student community. It’s a part of Silwood culture that the quiz losers are responsible for setting the next one, and I can unashamedly assert the highest number of quizzes set this year. Even though I’ve lost many quizzes due to my lack of general trivia knowledge, it’s always a great time surrounded by good company and a nice pint of beer.
Silwood Park: My Sanctuary Away from Home
Even though it’s a 30-minute walk from the lively essence of civilization (for instance, the train station and the nearest village), life at Silwood Park has never seemed tedious or unfulfilling. In addition to the many events and activities, we have a friendly and inviting community of students from around the globe. We all share a love for nature, our stunning campus environment, and, above all, each other’s companionship. We are a tightly-knit community that enjoys stargazing in the winter chill on the open field beside our bar, observing the birds and mammals visiting our windows, and spending time with fellow nature enthusiasts.
Most evenings, I prepare