Written by Clarence (Singapore), MSc Living Planet with Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
When Imperial scholars envision Silwood Park, they picture a lush, mysterious, and green campus bursting with distinctive flora and fauna, quite different from what is typically experienced at other campuses like South Kensington or White City. In many ways, their impression is correct—every depiction of Silwood Park is accurate!
As a member of this lesser-known Imperial community, I wish to showcase the student experience, activities, and the community at our natural parkland campus in Ascot, Berkshire.
Discovering Silwood Park
Silwood Park acts as Imperial’s outdoor research facility, covering 77 hectares and comprising habitats such as freshwater streams, lakes, an “ancient” forest, and open grasslands. A quick search on iNaturalist, an application designed for mapping and sharing biodiversity observations with a global network of naturalists, uncovers that 1,436 species of plants, animals, and fungi have been identified on campus, while an inquiry on eBird reveals 111 bird species documented thus far.
Remarkably, Silwood Park is also the host of several long-term field research initiatives, including the Nash’s Field Experiment and the Blue Tit Project, which are among the more prominent studies conducted on-site.
Campus Life at Silwood Park
The campus mainly accommodates postgraduate students keen on ecology, conservation, and evolutionary studies. Many of us are involved in various clubs based at Silwood Park. Some noteworthy examples include:
- Chicken Club – tending to the chickens raised behind our dormitories
- Book Club – engaging in regular discussions about interesting reads
- Gardening Club – overseeing allotments in our community garden
- Conservation Club – coordinating nature walks and conservation efforts for Silwood Park students.
As part of the broader Imperial student community, several of us also join and frequently take part in activities of clubs located in South Kensington!
Casually, we have groups engaged in sports such as badminton, basketball, and pickleball (my personal favorite!), either at the multi-use games arena (MUGA) on campus or in indoor sports facilities in nearby towns like Bracknell or Ascot.
Outside of club activities and classes, we organize various community-driven events on campus. Silwood Park boasts its own student council that organizes and facilitates such events to promote vibrant and exciting student life! Recently, we conducted the Silwood language exchange, where our international community shared languages and cultures over several weeks, and celebrated Chinese New Year with dumplings and couplets to welcome the new lunar year. We’ve also enjoyed community-organized parties to honor global events like Carnival or simply to revel in the joy of celebration.
My favorite campus occurrence is the weekly pub quiz, arranged by our student community. It’s a Silwood tradition that the quiz losers prepare the next one, and I can proudly assert that I’ve set the most quizzes this year. Despite losing numerous quizzes due to my inadequate general trivia knowledge, there’s always enjoyment in the company of friends with a pint of beer.
Silwood Park: My Sanctuary Away from Home
Even though it takes a 30-minute stroll to reach the lively atmosphere of civilization (such as the train station and nearest village), life at Silwood Park never feels tedious or deficient. In addition to the multitude of events and activities, we have a warm and inviting community of students from across the globe. We all cherish nature, our stunning campus grounds, and, importantly, each other’s companionship. We form a close-knit community that delights in stargazing in the winter chill on the open field beside our bar, observing birds and mammals grace our windows, and spending time with fellow nature enthusiasts.
Most nights, I prepare meals with my dear friend from India, who shares my passion for Asian cuisine and birdwatching. We’re frequently joined by friends residing just a short walk away in neighboring residence halls.