Catalina Estrada Montes is an Ecological Analyst and (Field) Facility Manager in the Department of Life Sciences. She shares what a day is like for her on the leafy campus of Silwood Park.
The first thing you notice when arriving at Silwood is that it is green and quiet, a striking contrast to the lively campuses in London. However, behind a few buildings and parking spaces lies our outdoor laboratory: a huge area of woodland and meadows that urges visitors to stop and stare, and makes this campus so special. These green spaces are my office.
As a field technician at Silwood, I spend most of my day walking around the grounds, working on field experiments, helping students and researchers establish theirs, or showing visitors around.
On a cold spring morning, you might find me exploring every corner of campus, counting blue tit eggs, checking when they hatch, or measuring adorable chicks. Later in the summer, you are more likely to find me sitting on the ground, identifying the plants that live in our experimental plots and, quite possibly, picking grasses to identify and admire. They are my new favourites!
‘I love sharing their enthusiasm’
I am sometimes alone, but more often I am accompanied by students working on their projects. I treasure our long conversations and love sharing their enthusiasm when we discover tiny insects, spot rare birds, or learn new things together about these habitats.
If you work in the field like me, or simply go for a walk, as many people at Silwood do, you will not be disappointed. If you pay attention, you might see timid rabbits hopping around, deer cautiously watching you from a distance, or red kites circling overhead.
Out of the corner of your eye, you may catch a noisy green flash: a startled green woodpecker flying away after being disturbed. Sometimes the day becomes even more extraordinary when you come across something special, such as a baby deer, a group of noisy woodpecker chicks, or a purple carpet of bluebells.
The green spaces and fascinating science are not the only special things about Silwood. Our campus is small, so everyone is a familiar face. We know each other well. Students, academics, and the amazing support team of technicians, IT staff, security officers, cleaners, estates staff, administrators, librarians, and gardeners are all (almost) under the same roof, meaning that lots of things happen in Silwood’s corridors and social spaces. It is easy to meet people and have a laugh, complain a little, or find help face to face and instantly.
On a typical day, while running countless errands around campus, I am likely to meet Peter for a chat about the grounds, seek advice from Paul (he always helps), or stop by security to collect a package, have a chat, or buy eggs.
‘Have I mentioned the chickens yet?’
Have I mentioned the chickens yet? Silwood’s pet chickens and noisy roosters are a compulsory stop on my walks and a favourite attraction for visitors. They will run to you to beg for a treat, even though Ros and the Chicken Club keep them well fed and happy.
Overall, my days at Silwood are all different, all interesting, and all busy. I meet interesting people and come across cool science every day, and I love it.
I like to think that, like the grasses in my experimental plots, I have found my niche, where I can grow and be part of the dynamic ecosystem of the Silwood campus.
This article first appeared in the Faculty of Natural Sciences’ Faculty Magazine 2026.