Written by Clarence (Singapore), MSc Living Planet specializing in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation
When many students from Imperial picture Silwood Park, they see a verdant, enchanting, and green campus rich in wildlife and plants that are not frequently encountered at other sites like South Kensington or White City. In numerous aspects, they are right – every depiction of Silwood Park holds true!
As a representative of this less-recognized community at Imperial, my goal is to showcase the student experience, activities, and community at our natural parkland campus located in Ascot, Berkshire.
Welcome to Silwood Park
Silwood Park acts as Imperial’s field laboratory, encompassing 77 hectares and comprising ecosystems such as freshwater streams, lakes, an “ancient” forest, and open grassy areas. A quick inquiry on iNaturalist, a platform for mapping and sharing biodiversity observations with a global naturalist network, shows that 1,436 species of plants, animals, and fungi have been recorded on campus. Furthermore, a search on eBird indicates that 111 bird species have been noted on campus thus far.
Remarkably, Silwood Park is also the site of various long-term field research endeavors, with the Nash’s Field Experiment and the Blue Tit Project being two of the more prominent studies conducted on-site.
Life as a Student at Silwood Park
The campus mainly accommodates postgraduate students engaged in ecological, conservation, and evolutionary projects. Many of us participate in several clubs based at Silwood Park. Noteworthy examples include:
- Chicken Club – tending to the chickens raised behind our residence halls
- Book Club – meeting regularly to discuss literature of interest
- Gardening Club – overseeing the allotments in our community garden
- Conservation Club – arranging nature walks and conservation initiatives for students on Silwood Park Campus.
As part of the broader Imperial student body, a number of us also take part in activities of clubs located in South Kensington!
Informally, we have clubs that engage in sports such as badminton, basketball, and pickleball (my personal favorite!), often utilizing the multi-use games arena (MUGA) on campus or indoor sports facilities in nearby towns like Bracknell or Ascot.
In addition to club activities and academic classes, we enjoy various community-led events on campus. Silwood Park hosts its own student council that organizes and promotes such activities, guaranteeing a vibrant and dynamic student life! Recently, we hosted the Silwood language exchange, where our predominantly international community exchanged languages and cultures over several weeks, and we celebrated the annual Chinese New Year at the beginning of the year by making dumplings and couplets to honor the new lunar year. We’ve also enjoyed community-organized celebrations for global events (like Carnival) or simply for the joy of festivities.
My favorite event on campus is the weekly pub quiz, arranged by our student community. It’s a Silwood tradition that the losers of the pub quiz run the next one, and I can proudly say I have set the highest number of pub quizzes this year. Although I have lost many quizzes due to my limited general trivia knowledge, it’s always a good time with great company and a refreshing pint of beer.
Silwood Park: My Second Home
Even though it is a 30-minute walk away from the lively atmosphere of civilization (such as the train station and the nearest village), living at Silwood Park has never encountered monotony or dullness. In addition to the plethora of events and activities, we cherish a friendly and inviting community of students from every corner of the globe. We all appreciate nature, our beautiful campus grounds, and, more significantly, each other’s presence. We’re a close-knit community that relishes stargazing in the chilly winter on the open field next to our bar, observing the birds and mammals that visit our windows, and spending time with fellow nature enthusiasts.
Most nights, I prepare meals with my close friend from India, who shares my passion for