Written 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 alive with distinctive flora and fauna, unlike what is found at other locations such as South Kensington or White City. In many ways, they are right—each depiction of Silwood Park is indeed true!
As a member of this lesser-known Imperial community, I aim to showcase the student experience, activities, and camaraderie at our natural parkland campus located in Ascot, Berkshire.
Introducing Silwood Park
Silwood Park acts as Imperial’s outdoor research facility, covering 77 hectares and encompassing habitats such as freshwater streams, lakes, an “ancient” woodland, and expansive grasslands. A simple search on iNaturalist, an application for cataloging and sharing biodiversity observations globally with a network of naturalists, shows that 1,436 species of plants, animals, and fungi have been recorded on the campus. Furthermore, a query on eBird indicates that 111 species of birds have been noted on campus thus far.
More fascinatingly, Silwood Park is home to various long-term field studies, including the Nash’s Field Experiment and the Blue Tit Project, which are two of the more prominent studies conducted on-site.
Student Life at Silwood Park
The campus predominantly serves postgraduate students keen on ecology, conservation, and evolution initiatives. Many of us belong to several clubs situated at Silwood Park. Notable examples include:
- Chicken Club – tending to the chickens raised behind our residential halls
- Book Club – convening regularly to discuss interesting books
- Gardening Club – overseeing the allotments in our community garden
- Conservation Club – arranging nature walks and conservation activities for students on Silwood Park Campus.
As part of the broader Imperial student community, many of us also take part in activities of clubs based in South Kensington!
Informally, we have clubs that engage in sports such as badminton, basketball, and pickleball (my personal favorite!), located either on the multi-use games area (MUGA) on campus or at indoor sports facilities in nearby towns like Bracknell or Ascot.
In addition to club activities and classes, numerous community-driven events take place on campus. Silwood Park has its own student council that organizes and coordinates such activities, fostering a lively and dynamic student life! Recently, we held the Silwood language exchange, where our international community exchanged languages and cultures over several weeks, and our yearly Chinese New Year celebration, during which we made dumplings and couplets to welcome the new lunar year. We’ve also enjoyed community-hosted parties celebrating global events (like Carnival) or simply celebrating the joy of gatherings.
My favorite event on campus is the weekly pub quiz, organized by our student community. It’s a Silwood tradition that the quiz losers are responsible for setting the next one, and I can proudly declare the highest number of quizzes set this year. Even though I often lose due to my limited general knowledge, there’s always fun to be had with great company and a pint of beer.
Silwood Park: My Home Away from Home
Although it’s a 30-minute walk from the lively atmosphere of civilization (e.g., the train station and the closest village), life at Silwood Park never feels tedious or lacking. In addition to many events and activities, we boast a warm and inviting community of students from around the globe. We all have a passion for nature, treasure our beautiful campus grounds, and, most importantly, enjoy each other’s company. We’re a tight-knit community that delights in stargazing in the winter chill on the open field next to our bar, watching the birds and mammals that visit our windows, and spending time with fellow nature enthusiasts.
Most evenings, I cook with my close friend from India, who shares my passion for…