By Clarence (Singapore), MSc Living Planet with Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
When Imperial students picture Silwood Park, they imagine a vibrant, enigmatic, green campus abundant with distinctive flora and fauna, contrasting sharply with the typical sights of South Kensington or White City. In many ways, they are right—every depiction of Silwood Park is true!
As a member of this lesser-known Imperial community, I aim to showcase the student life, activities, and camaraderie at our nature-rich parkland campus in Ascot, Berkshire.
Discovering Silwood Park
Silwood Park serves as Imperial’s outdoor research facility, covering 77 hectares and encompassing habitats such as freshwater streams, lakes, an “ancient” wood, and open fields. A quick exploration on iNaturalist, an application for cataloging and sharing worldwide biodiversity observations, shows 1,436 species of plants, animals, and fungi identified on campus. Additionally, eBird lists 111 bird species observed on-site.
Silwood Park also hosts various long-term field research initiatives, including the Nash’s Field Experiment and the Blue Tit Project, which are two prominent on-campus studies.
The Student Experience at Silwood Park
The campus mainly caters to postgraduate students engaged in ecology, conservation, and evolution research. We take part in several clubs based at Silwood Park, including:
- Chicken Club – nurturing chickens raised near our dormitories
- Book Club – regularly chatting about books of interest
- Gardening Club – tending to community garden plots
- Conservation Club – organizing nature walks and conservation initiatives for students
As members of the broader Imperial student body, many of us also join clubs located in South Kensington!
Casually, we partake in sports such as badminton, basketball, and pickleball (my favorite!), either at the campus multi-use games arena (MUGA) or in indoor sports facilities in nearby towns like Bracknell or Ascot.
In addition to club activities, we host numerous community-led events on campus. The student council at Silwood Park organizes and supports these activities to promote an active student life. Recent highlights include the Silwood language exchange, where our international community shared languages and cultures over several weeks, and our annual Chinese New Year celebration, where we crafted dumplings and couplets to usher in the new lunar year. We’ve also enjoyed community-hosted parties celebrating global occasions like Carnival or simply for the joy of gatherings.
My favorite campus event is the weekly pub quiz, orchestrated by our student community. It’s a Silwood tradition that the losing team sets the next quiz, and I proudly hold the record for the most quizzes set this year. Despite my poor general trivia knowledge leading to many losses, there’s always enjoyment with good company and a pint of beer.
Silwood Park: My Sanctuary Away from Home
Even though it’s a 30-minute walk from civilization (e.g., the train station and the nearest village), life at Silwood Park is always engaging. With a variety of events and activities, we enjoy a friendly, inclusive community of students from across the globe. We all share a passion for nature, our stunning campus, and each other’s company. We’re a tight-knit group that loves stargazing in the winter chill 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 Indian friend, who shares my passion for Asian cuisine and birdwatching. We’re often joined by friends living just a short walk away in neighboring residence halls. After dinner, we typically enjoy board games or watch movies together. Living on Silwood Park Campus embodies a serene, tranquil, idyllic lifestyle. In winter, we are comforted by the warm embrace of heaters throughout our halls and campus buildings.
These comforts are made possible by the Student Accommodation team, who ensure our well-being on campus. We also have a dedicated Student Experiences Coordinator who