Authored by Clarence (Singapore), MSc Living Planet with Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
When students at Imperial picture Silwood Park, they see a lush, enigmatic, and green campus brimming with distinct flora and fauna, which sets it apart from other campuses like South Kensington or White City. They are accurate in many aspects—each depiction of Silwood Park holds true!
As a representative of this lesser-known enclave at Imperial, I wish to shed light on the student experience, activities, and community within our natural parkland campus located in Ascot, Berkshire.
Introducing Silwood Park
Silwood Park functions as Imperial’s outdoor laboratory, encompassing 77 hectares with habitats that include freshwater streams, lakes, an “ancient” forest, and expansive grasslands. A brief search on iNaturalist, an app dedicated to mapping and sharing global biodiversity observations with a network of naturalists, uncovers 1,436 species of plants, animals, and fungi recorded on campus, while eBird catalogs 111 bird species identified there.
Notably, Silwood Park hosts a variety of long-term field research initiatives, including the Nash’s Field Experiment and the Blue Tit Project, two prominent efforts conducted on the premises.
Student life at Silwood Park
The campus predominantly accommodates postgraduate students concentrating on ecology, conservation, and evolution projects. Many of us engage in an array of clubs situated at Silwood Park. Some notable examples include:
- Chicken Club – tending to chickens raised behind our residence halls
- Book Club – regularly delving into books of interest
- Gardening Club – overseeing allotments within our community garden
- Conservation Club – coordinating nature walks and conservation activities for Silwood Park students
As part of the broader Imperial student body, a number of us also take part in clubs located in South Kensington!
Informally, we have sports groups for badminton, basketball, and pickleball (my personal favorite!), 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 classes, we organize many community-driven events on campus. Silwood Park has its own student council that organizes and facilitates activities to ensure a vibrant and engaging student life! Recently, we hosted the Silwood language exchange, where our international community shared languages and cultures over several weeks, along with our annual Chinese New Year celebration, where we made dumplings and couplets to welcome the new lunar year. We also organize community-led parties to commemorate global events (such as Carnival) or simply to enjoy gatherings.
My favorite campus event is the weekly pub quiz, organized by our student community. It’s a Silwood tradition that the quiz losers curate the next one, and I proudly hold the record for the most quizzes set this year. Despite losing many quizzes due to my limited trivia knowledge, there’s always enjoyment in great company with a pint of beer.
Silwood Park: my home away from home
Although it’s a 30-minute walk from the lively buzz of civilization (like the train station and the nearest village), life at Silwood Park never feels repetitive or devoid of excitement. Alongside countless events and activities, we enjoy a warm, inviting community of students from all over the globe. We share a love for nature, our stunning campus, and, most importantly, each other’s company. We are a close-knit community who relish stargazing in the chilly winter nights on the open field by our bar, observing birds and mammals visiting our windows, and spending time with fellow nature enthusiasts.
Most evenings, I cook with my dear friend from India, who shares my passion for Asian cuisine and birdwatching. We’re frequently joined by friends living within a short walk from neighboring residence halls. After dinner, we typically engage in board games or watch movies together. Living on Silwood Park Campus truly epitomizes a tranquil, serene, idyllic lifestyle. In the winter, this is enhanced by the