By Clarence (Singapore), MSc Living Planet with Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
When the majority of Imperial students picture Silwood Park, they see a verdant, enigmatic, and vibrant campus bustling with flora and fauna that are rare at other locations like South Kensington or White City. In many respects, they are correct – every depiction of Silwood Park is true!
As a member of this more obscure community at Imperial, I wish to shine a light on the student experience, activities, and sense of community at our natural parkland campus located in Ascot, Berkshire.
Welcome to Silwood Park
Silwood Park serves as Imperial’s outdoor research facility, covering 77 hectares and showcasing environments such as freshwater streams, lakes, an “ancient” woodland, and expansive meadows. A quick exploration on iNaturalist, an application dedicated to cataloging and sharing biodiversity insights worldwide, reveals 1,436 species of plants, animals, and fungi that have been recorded on the campus. Furthermore, eBird indicates that 111 bird species have been noted on campus to date.
Notably, Silwood Park is home to several long-term field research initiatives, with the Nash’s Field Experiment and the Blue Tit Project being two prominent studies carried out on-site.
Life as a Student at Silwood Park
The campus primarily accommodates postgraduate scholars engaged in ecology, conservation, and evolutionary research. Many of us belong to a variety of clubs that operate out of Silwood Park. Some noteworthy examples include:
- Chicken Club – caring for the chickens reared behind our dormitories
- Book Club – frequently discussing intriguing literature
- Gardening Club – maintaining plots in our community garden
- Conservation Club – arranging nature walks and conservation initiatives for students at Silwood Park.
As part of the broader Imperial student body, many of us also engage in clubs at South Kensington!
Casually, we have sports clubs like badminton, basketball, and pickleball (my personal favorite!), held either at the multi-use games arena (MUGA) on campus or in indoor sports facilities in nearby areas such as Bracknell or Ascot.
Apart from club events and educational sessions, there are numerous community-led gatherings on campus. Silwood Park features its own student council that organizes and facilitates events to create a vibrant and lively student atmosphere! Recently, we hosted the Silwood language exchange, where our international students shared languages and cultures over a series of weeks, alongside our annual Chinese New Year celebration where we made dumplings and couplets to greet the new lunar year. We have also enjoyed community-organized festivities celebrating global occasions (like Carnival) or just for the love of celebrations.
My favorite campus event is the weekly pub quiz, put together by our student body. It’s ingrained in Silwood culture that the quiz losers organize the next round, and I can proudly claim to have set the most pub quizzes this year. Despite struggling in many quizzes due to my limited general knowledge, there’s always a great time to be had with wonderful company and a refreshing pint of beer.
Silwood Park: My Second Home
Even though it’s a 30-minute walk from the lively buzz of civilization (such as the train station and the nearest village), life at Silwood Park has never felt dull or lacking. Along with an array of events and activities, we share a friendly and inviting community of students hailing from around the globe. We all cherish nature, our stunning campus landscape, and, most importantly, the joy of each other’s company. We’re a close-knit group that takes pleasure in stargazing in the chilly winter on the open fields next to our bar, observing birds and mammals grace our windows, and spending time with fellow nature enthusiasts.
Most evenings, I prepare meals with my dear friend from India, who shares my passion for Asian cuisine and birdwatching. We are often accompanied by friends residing a short walk away in surrounding dorms. After dinner, we typically enjoy playing board games or watching films together.