Authored by Clarence (Singapore), MSc Living Planet specializing in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation
When students at Imperial picture Silwood Park, they imagine a vibrant, enigmatic, and green campus filled with extraordinary flora and fauna, distinct from other locations such as South Kensington or White City. In many aspects, they are correct – every portrayal of Silwood Park holds true!
As a member of this lesser-known faction at Imperial, I wish to illuminate the student experience, engagements, and community within our natural park campus in Ascot, Berkshire.
Introducing Silwood Park
Silwood Park serves as Imperial’s outdoor research facility, covering 77 hectares and encompassing environments such as freshwater streams, lakes, an “ancient” forest, and expansive grasslands. A brief inquiry on iNaturalist, an application for charting and sharing biodiversity discoveries globally among naturalist enthusiasts, uncovers that 1,436 species of plants, animals, and fungi have been recorded on campus. Additionally, a search on eBird indicates that 111 bird species have been identified on campus to date.
Remarkably, Silwood Park also hosts various long-term field research initiatives, with the Nash’s Field Experiment and the Blue Tit Project being among the more recognized studies conducted here.
The student experience at Silwood Park
The campus mainly accommodates postgraduate students focused on ecology, conservation, and evolution initiatives. Many of us are involved in numerous clubs based at Silwood Park. Prominent examples include:
- Chicken Club – tending to the chickens raised behind our dormitories
- Book Club – occasionally discussing interesting books from our reading list
- Gardening Club – overseeing the allotments in our community garden
- Conservation Club – coordinating nature walks and conservation projects for students within Silwood Park.
Being part of the larger Imperial student body, many of us also engage in initiatives of clubs located in South Kensington!
Casually, we have clubs involved in sports like badminton, basketball, and pickleball (which is my personal favorite!), situated either on the multi-use games area (MUGA) on campus or in indoor sports facilities in nearby towns such as Bracknell or Ascot.
Beyond club initiatives and classes, various community-driven events occur on campus. Silwood Park has its own student council that arranges and manages such activities, enriching our vibrant student life! Recently, we hosted a Silwood language exchange, where our international community exchanged languages and cultures over several weeks. We also marked the annual Chinese New Year at the beginning of the year by making dumplings and couplets to usher in the new lunar year. Furthermore, we’ve had community-organized celebrations for global festivities (like Carnival) or simply for the sheer enjoyment of gatherings.
My favorite event on campus is the weekly pub quiz, organized by our student community. It’s a part of Silwood culture that the losers of the quiz set the subsequent one, and I can proudly state I’ve set the most pub quizzes this year. Despite my frequent losses due to my limited general trivia knowledge, there’s always enjoyable moments with great company and a cold pint of beer.
Silwood Park: my second home
Although a 30-minute stroll from the lively activities of civilization (such as the train station and the closest village), life at Silwood Park has never seemed dull or unremarkable. In addition to numerous events and activities, we share a friendly and inviting community of students from across the globe. We all cherish nature, our stunning campus grounds, and, most significantly, each other’s companionship. We form a close community that relishes stargazing in the chilly winter nights in the open field near our bar, observing birds and mammals at our room windows, and enjoying moments with fellow nature enthusiasts.
Most evenings, I prepare meals with my dear