Authored by Clarence (Singapore), MSc Living Planet specializing in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation
When the majority of Imperial students picture Silwood Park, they visualize a verdant, enigmatic, and green campus brimming with wildlife and plants seldom found at other locations such as South Kensington or White City. In numerous respects, they’re correct – every depiction of Silwood Park holds true!
As a member of this lesser-known enclave at Imperial, I wish to showcase the student experience, activities, and community at our natural parkland campus located in Ascot, Berkshire.
Introducing Silwood Park
Silwood Park serves as Imperial’s outdoor research facility, encompassing 77 hectares and showcasing habitats including freshwater streams, lakes, an “ancient” woodland, and expansive grasslands. A straightforward inquiry on iNaturalist, an app designed for mapping and sharing biodiversity findings globally within a network of naturalists, indicates that 1,436 species of plants, animals, and fungi have been recorded on campus, while a further investigation on eBird reveals that 111 bird species have been identified thus far.
Furthermore, Silwood Park is also home to numerous long-term field research initiatives, with notable projects such as the Nash’s Field Experiment and the Blue Tit Project being among the more recognized studies carried out on-site.
Experiencing student life at Silwood Park
The campus primarily accommodates postgraduate students keen on projects related to ecology, conservation, and evolution. Many of us belong to several clubs formed at Silwood Park. Noteworthy examples include:
- Chicken Club – responsible for the care of the chickens raised behind our student accommodations
- Book Club – who convene regularly to discuss intriguing literature
- Gardening Club – who oversee the allotments within our community garden
- Conservation Club – who arrange nature walks and conservation-related activities for students on Silwood Park Campus.
As part of the broader Imperial student body, quite a few of us also engage in activities organized by clubs in South Kensington!
Casually, we host clubs that partake in sports like badminton, basketball, and pickleball (my personal favorite!), which take place either at the multi-use games arena (MUGA) on campus or in indoor sports facilities located in nearby areas such as Bracknell or Ascot.
Alongside club activities and classes, various community-driven events take place on campus. Silwood Park boasts its own student council that organizes and facilitates activities to ensure a dynamic and engaging student life! Recently, we hosted a Silwood language exchange, where our predominantly international community came together to share languages and cultures over several weeks. We also celebrated our annual Chinese New Year event at the beginning of the year, where everyone gathered to make dumplings and couplets to welcome the new lunar year. Additionally, we’ve had community-organized gatherings celebrating festivals from around the globe (like Carnival) or parties arranged simply for the enjoyment of socializing.
My absolute favorite campus event must be the weekly pub quiz, arranged by our student community. It’s a part of Silwood tradition that the losers of the pub quiz are responsible for organizing the next one, and I can proudly claim the title for the highest number of pub quizzes set this year. Despite frequent defeats in pub quizzes due to my mediocre grasp of general trivia, there’s always a great time to be had with excellent company and a refreshing pint of beer.
Silwood Park: my sanctuary away from home
Even though it’s a 30-minute stroll from the lively atmosphere of civilization (like the train station and the nearest village), life at Silwood Park has never felt monotonous or lacking. In addition to numerous events and activities, we foster a warm and inviting community made up of students from across the globe. All of us cherish nature, appreciate our stunning campus,