Composed by Clarence (Singapore), MSc Living Planet specializing in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
When students from Imperial picture Silwood Park, they imagine a vibrant, enigmatic, and verdant campus brimming with distinct species of animals and plants, setting it apart from other locations like South Kensington or White City. In numerous respects, they are spot on—every depiction of Silwood Park holds true!
As an ambassador for this lesser-known segment of Imperial, I aim to shed light on the student experience, activities, and sense of community at our natural parkland campus located in Ascot, Berkshire.
Introducing Silwood Park
Silwood Park serves as Imperial’s field laboratory, covering 77 hectares and encompassing environments such as freshwater streams, lakes, an “ancient” woodland, and open meadows. A quick search on iNaturalist, an application designed for mapping and sharing biodiversity observations worldwide with a community of naturalists, reveals 1,436 species of plants, animals, and fungi recorded on campus. A further inquiry on eBird uncovers 111 bird species noted on campus thus far.
Even more fascinating, Silwood Park hosts numerous long-term field research initiatives, including the Nash’s Field Experiment and the Blue Tit Project, both prominent studies conducted on-site.
Life as a student at Silwood Park
The campus mainly accommodates postgraduate scholars focused on ecology, conservation, and evolutionary projects. Many of us engage in several clubs operating at Silwood Park. Prominent examples include:
- Chicken Club – nurturing chickens raised behind our student residences
- Book Club – frequently discussing books of interest
- Gardening Club – overseeing the allotments in our communal garden
- Conservation Club – coordinating nature walks and conservation initiatives for students on the Silwood Park Campus.
As part of the broader Imperial student body, many of us also take part in clubs located in South Kensington!
At an informal level, we have clubs partaking in sports such as badminton, basketball, and pickleball (my personal favorite!), based either in the multi-use games arena (MUGA) on campus or in indoor sports facilities in nearby towns like Bracknell or Ascot.
In addition to club activities and classes, we host numerous community-driven events on campus. Silwood Park boasts its own student council that organizes and facilitates activities to foster a lively and exciting student atmosphere! Recently, we enjoyed the Silwood language exchange, where our international community shared languages and cultures over the weeks, along with our annual Chinese New Year celebration, during which everyone made dumplings and couplets to usher in the new lunar year. We’ve also hosted community-organized parties commemorating global events (like Carnival) or simply celebrating the joy of gatherings.
My cherished campus event is the weekly pub quiz, arranged by our student community. It’s a Silwood tradition that the teams with the lowest scores from the pub quiz organize the next one, and I can proudly say I hold the record for the most pub quizzes set this year. Despite losing various pub quizzes due to my limited general trivia knowledge, there’s always great enjoyment with amazing company and a fine pint of beer.
Silwood Park: my second home
Even though it’s a 30-minute stroll from the bustling civilization (for instance, the train station and the closest village), life at Silwood Park has never felt monotonous or insufficient. Along with numerous events and activities, we possess a friendly and inviting community of students from across the globe. We all cherish nature, our stunning campus grounds, and, more importantly, the company of one another. We’re a closely bonded community that relishes stargazing in the winter chill on the open field adjacent to our bar, observing birds and mammals at our window, and spending time among fellow nature enthusiasts.
Most evenings, I prepare meals with my good friend from India, who shares my passion for Asian cuisine and birdwatching. We are often joined by friends residing