Written by Clarence (Singapore), MSc Living Planet specializing in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation
When students from Imperial think of Silwood Park, they often picture a vibrant, enigmatic, and green campus overflowing with distinctive flora and fauna that are rarely found at other locations such as South Kensington or White City. In many ways, they are right—each portrayal of Silwood Park holds true!
As a member of this lesser-known branch of the Imperial community, I would like to shed light on the student experience, activities, and community at our natural parkland campus located in Ascot, Berkshire.
An Introduction to Silwood Park
Silwood Park acts as Imperial’s outdoor research facility, encompassing 77 hectares and showcasing environments like freshwater streams, lakes, an “ancient” woodland, and expansive grasslands. A quick exploration on iNaturalist, an application for documenting and sharing biodiversity observations with a global network of naturalists, indicates that 1,436 species of plants, animals, and fungi have been recorded on campus. Moreover, eBird has documented 111 bird species spotted on campus to date.
More fascinatingly, Silwood Park is home to numerous long-term field research initiatives, including the Nash’s Field Experiment and the Blue Tit Project, both of which are noteworthy studies taking place on-site.
The Student Experience at Silwood Park
The campus mainly hosts postgraduate students involved in ecology, conservation, and evolutionary studies. Many of us engage in a variety of clubs based at Silwood Park. Some prominent examples include:
- Chicken Club – taking care of chickens raised behind our student accommodations
- Book Club – regularly engaging in discussions about their reading list
- Gardening Club – overseeing allotments in our community garden
- Conservation Club – coordinating nature walks and conservation initiatives for Silwood Park students
As part of the larger Imperial student cohort, a number of us also join clubs based in South Kensington!
Casually, we have clubs for sports such as badminton, basketball, and pickleball (which happens to be my personal favorite!), hosted either at the multi-use games area (MUGA) on campus or in indoor sports centers in nearby towns like Bracknell or Ascot.
Apart from club activities and classes, we organize various community-led events on campus. Silwood Park has its own student council that arranges and facilitates these events, guaranteeing a lively and exciting student life! Recently, we organized the Silwood language exchange, in which 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 usher in the new lunar year. We have also organized community parties to celebrate global events (such as Carnival) or simply for the joy of gatherings.
My favorite event on campus is the weekly pub quiz, coordinated by our student community. It’s a Silwood tradition that the pub quiz losers are responsible for setting the next one, and I can proudly mention that I have set the most pub quizzes this year. Despite often losing due to my weak general trivia knowledge, there’s always enjoyment to be found with great company and a pint of beer.
Silwood Park: My Second Home
Even though it’s a 30-minute walk from the bustling atmosphere of civilization (e.g., the train station and the closest village), life at Silwood Park has never seemed dull or deficient. Alongside a multitude of events and activities, we boast a warm and inviting community of students from various parts of the globe. We all cherish nature, our stunning campus surroundings, and, most importantly, each other’s company. We’re a close-knit group that delights in stargazing on chilly winter nights in the open field next to our bar, observing birds and mammals that visit our surroundings, 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 joined by friends living a