Authored by Clarence (Singapore), MSc Living Planet specializing in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation
When the majority of Imperial scholars envision Silwood Park, they picture a verdant, enigmatic campus alive with flora and fauna rarely found at other locations such as South Kensington or White City. In many respects, they are correct – every depiction of Silwood Park holds true!
As a voice for this lesser-known segment of Imperial, I wish to emphasize the student experiences, activities, and community within our natural parkland campus situated in Ascot, Berkshire.
A brief overview of Silwood Park
Silwood Park acts as Imperial’s open-air laboratory, covering 77 hectares and boasting environments such as freshwater streams, lakes, an “ancient” woodland, and open grasslands. A quick inquiry on iNaturalist, an application dedicated to mapping and sharing biodiversity insights among an international network of naturalists, indicates that 1,436 species of vegetation, wildlife, and fungi have been recorded on campus. A further investigation on eBird reveals that 111 species of birds have been documented here up until now.
Notably, Silwood Park is also home to several long-term field research initiatives, with the Nash’s Field Experiment and the Blue Tit Project being two of the more recognized studies conducted on the premises.
Student Experiences at Silwood Park
The campus primarily accommodates postgraduate scholars curious about ecology, conservation, and evolutionary studies. Many of us engage in diverse clubs operating at Silwood Park. Some prominent examples include:
- Chicken Club – tending to chickens raised behind our residence halls
- Book Club – frequently discussing intriguing literary works
- Gardening Club – overseeing the gardens in our community plots
- Conservation Club – coordinating nature walks and conservation activities for students at Silwood Park Campus.
As part of the broader Imperial student body, many also take part in activities organized by clubs in South Kensington!
Casually, we have groups engaging in recreational sports like badminton, basketball, and pickleball (my personal favorite!), either at the multi-use games arena (MUGA) on campus or at indoor sports facilities in nearby towns like Bracknell or Ascot.
In addition to club activities and educational sessions, we have numerous community-led gatherings on campus. Silwood Park boasts its own student council, which organizes and facilitates such events to maintain a lively and vibrant student experience! Recently, we hosted the Silwood language exchange, where our predominantly international community shared languages and cultures over several weeks, alongside our annual Chinese New Year celebration at the beginning of the year, where we all made dumplings and couplets to celebrate the new lunar year. Community-organized parties have also celebrated global events (like Carnival) or simply provided an excuse for merriment.
However, my favorite campus event has to be the weekly pub quiz, hosted by our student community. It’s a part of Silwood tradition that the losing team of the pub quiz must organize the next one, and I can proudly assert the record for the highest number of pub quizzes hosted this year. Despite losing several quizzes due to my lack of general trivia acumen, it’s always a great time with wonderful company and a good pint of beer.
Silwood Park: my second home
Although it’s a 30-minute stroll from the lively atmosphere of civilization (e.g., the train station and the nearest village), life at Silwood Park has never felt dull or insufficient. Alongside various events and activities, we foster a warm and inviting community made up of students from every corner of the globe. We share a passion for nature, take pride in our beautiful campus environment, and, more crucially, enjoy each other’s companionship. We’re a tight-knit community that relishes stargazing in the chilly winter air in the open field next to our bar, observing the birds and wildlife that visit our room windows, and