Written by Clarence (Singapore), MSc Living Planet with Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
When many Imperial students think of Silwood Park, they imagine a vibrant, mysterious, and green campus bustling with wildlife and flora seldom found at other locations like South Kensington or White City. In many ways, they are spot on – every representation of Silwood Park holds true!
As a spokesperson for this lesser-known part of the Imperial community, I seek to shed light on the student experience, activities, and community within our natural parkland campus in Ascot, Berkshire.
Welcome to Silwood Park
Silwood Park acts as Imperial’s outdoor research facility, covering 77 hectares and hosting ecosystems such as freshwater streams, lakes, an “ancient” forest, and expansive meadows. A simple search on iNaturalist, an application for recording and exchanging biodiversity observations worldwide with an online community of naturalists, shows that 1,436 species of plants, animals, and fungi have been identified on campus. Additionally, a search on eBird indicates that 111 bird species have been documented on campus to date.
Notably, Silwood Park is also home to various long-term field research initiatives, including the Nash’s Field Experiment and the Blue Tit Project, which are two of the more notable studies conducted on-site.
Student Community at Silwood Park
The campus predominantly accommodates postgraduate students focused on ecology, conservation, and evolutionary studies. Many of us partake in various clubs located at Silwood Park. Some noteworthy examples include:
- Chicken Club – caring for the chickens raised behind our accommodation
- Book Club – meeting regularly to discuss literature of interest
- Gardening Club – tending to the allotments in our community garden
- Conservation Club – organizing nature walks and conservation initiatives for Silwood Park students.
As part of the broader Imperial student body, many of us also engage in activities of clubs based in South Kensington!
Casually, we have clubs that participate in sports like badminton, basketball, and pickleball (my personal favorite!), either on 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 a variety of community-led events on campus. Silwood Park has its own student council that organizes and facilitates such events to cultivate a vibrant and engaging student life! Recently, we held a Silwood language exchange, where our largely international community shared languages and cultures over a series of weeks. 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 experienced community-organized gatherings celebrating global events (like Carnival) or simply out of love for celebrations.
My favorite campus event is the weekly pub quiz, coordinated by our student body. It’s part of Silwood culture that the teams with the lowest scores must organize the next quiz, and I can proudly declare I have set the highest number of pub quizzes this year. Although I have lost many pub quizzes due to my lack of general trivia knowledge, there’s always enjoyment in good company and a fine pint of beer.
Silwood Park: My Sanctuary Away from Home
Although it’s a 30-minute stroll from the lively atmosphere of civilization (like the train station and the nearest village), life at Silwood Park has never seemed boring or lacking. Beyond the numerous events and activities, we have a friendly and inclusive community of students from across the globe. We all cherish nature, our stunning campus grounds, and, more importantly, one another’s presence. We are a tight-knit community that relishes stargazing in the chilly winter on the open field adjacent to our bar, observing birds and mammals at our room windows, and spending time with fellow nature enthusiasts.
Most evenings, I cook with my dear friend from India, who