Walk, Whittle & Sip with Seb Cox & Ben Branson

Powdermills Country House Hotel

An immersive afternoon through the woods, exploring flavour, making and the relationship between trees, landscape and taste. Led by designer and woodland expert Seb Cox alongside Ben Branson of Sylva - who create aged, non-alcoholic spirits from wood and grains - the experience begins with a guided walk through the ancient woodland at Crafted at Powdermills in Battle. Along the way, conversations move through rewilding, biodiversity, woodland management and the surprising ways different trees influence flavour, from willow and alder to woods more commonly associated with workshops than drinks. Deep in the woods, guests will gather around a shared table for a remote drinks moment hosted by Ben, with cocktails and tinctures inspired by the surrounding landscape and ingredients sourced directly from the woodland itself. You'll then carve and sand your own wooden drinks stirrer while sipping Sylva Orchard, before food, drinks and fireside conversation. Expect woodland walking, slow sipping, open discussion, making with your hands and food shaped by the landscape around you. A rare afternoon designed to leave you looking at trees and flavour... a little differently.