Nature, Pizza & Community: A day to remember at Silwood Park
By Dr Vivienne Groner (Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Life Sciences, Silwood Park)
On a gloriously sunny day in June 2026, staff and students came together for our inaugural Nature & Pizza Day, a wonderful celebration of community, curiosity, and the incredible natural environment right here on our Silwood Park Campus.
The afternoon kicked off with a guided tree walk, where participants discovered just how many weird and wonderful specimen trees we have growing around us. From unusual bark textures of the prize-winning Betula dahurica to remarkable growth habits like Quercus x turneri and a unique hybrid Oak from Kew gardens, it was a fascinating reminder that extraordinary nature can be found just outside our doors if we take the time to look.
We also learned that it is not easy to tell what trees might be best adapted to climate change; the best candidates seem to be the ones that have been doing well in the last 10 years, including Quercus faginea and Q. georgiana.
From there, the competitive spirit took over with a BioBlitz, as teams spread out across campus to identify as many species as possible in 30 minutes. The results were nothing short of impressive: our winning team recorded an incredible 76 species, a testament to the rich biodiversity thriving on our doorstep. Prizes were fittingly nature-themed, including the much-coveted mascot ‘Leaf’ Tea Towel, a Bee Saving Kit, and some well-deserved vegan sweets.
The afternoon rounded off with veggie pizza, drinks, and good company, alongside the successful launch of our new reusable cup system, a small but meaningful step forward in reducing single-use waste on campus. With the sun still shining, the grass became the setting for some light-hearted games, including a very popular game of four-in-a-row, handcrafted by one of our very own technicians.
Beyond the fun, days like this serve an important purpose. They give us the opportunity to step outside, slow down, and reconnect with the remarkable environment we are so fortunate to work in. The diversity uncovered during the BioBlitz alone is a powerful reminder of what surrounds us and why it is worth protecting.
A huge thank you to the Silwood Sustainability Champions, the Silwood Social Committee, and CABI for organising such a memorable event, and Sustainable Imperial for providing the pizza and drinks. We hope this becomes a firm fixture in the Silwood calendar!
Interested in getting involved in future events? Look out for upcoming announcements from the Silwood Sustainability Champions and Social Committee.