Into the Reserve The Singleton at Nature+

Capturing the fleeting beauty of a crisp London autumn, Camley Street Nature Reserve for one week, stirred every sense with taste at its core. Coming fresh off the back of The Singleton having announced a partnership with OpenAREA as the exclusive drinks collaborator for Nature+, a week-long creative residency and public programme unfolded from September 30 to October 5, 2025, at Camley Street Nature Reserve.

Image credit: Carys Huws @caryshuws

Conceived by OpenAREA, the platform founded by Ollie Olanipekun, Nature+ invited guests to reimagine the natural world. Through tactile installations, intimate talks, and hands-on workshops, the residency sought to awaken curiosity and transform the way people perceive their environment. Amidst London’s urban jungle of soaring new-builds and well-worn paths, it offered a rare invitation to step fully into the city’s own nature. A hidden corner of London became an urban haven, where quiet reflection and personal engagement replaced the rhythm of daily life. The programme blended vibrant sounds of nature with stillness, enriched by the subtle scent of earth, herbs, and morning air drawn from the reserve itself.

The Singleton’s role reflected a shared devotion to craft, place, and contemplation. Born in the Scottish Highlands - and thus a product of nature itself, The Singleton whiskey carries the warmth of slowly distilled traditions and the complexity of Speyside’s seasonal character. Every dram holds the essence of landscape, time, and patience, echoing the residency’s intent to slow down and deepen attention to the senses. These sentiments are shared in the words of Ellie Deans, Head of Single Malts at Diageo:

““Partnering with OpenAREA on Nature+ is a natural alignment. Our whisky is intrinsically tied to its environment – crafted slowly, thoughtfully, and in harmony with nature. This residency invites people to do the same: be present, reconnect, and reimagine. We’re excited to be part of that journey.”

Image credit: Carys Huws @caryshuws

Throughout the week, Cameron and Missy Flynn, the sibling team behind Rita’s Dining, offered drinks that became part of the residency’s living landscape. The Blackberry Highball blended Singleton 12YO with ripe blackberry, wild fennel, and crisp soda, offering a sip that carries the forest into the glass. The Mushroom Old Fashioned weaved toasted milk, earthy mushroom, autumn honey, and marigold petals into Singleton 12YO, creating a drink that felt like a walk through a quiet woodland at dusk.

Image credit: Carys Huws @caryshuws

As part of their contribution, The Singleton presented Wild Imagination, an intimate preview within the reserve. Guests moved through the space as the scent of herbs, berries, and smoke lingered in the air. At the workshop table, whisky shifted into unexpected forms, guided by ingredients gathered from the surrounding habitat. Each glass carried echoes of soil, leaf, and blossom, a reflection of the landscape that held the event.

Located just steps from King’s Cross, Camley Street Nature Reserve became a sensory sanctuary, a pause within the city where texture, scent, and sound draw people inward. Nature+ left behind more than a week of activity; having opened a moment to reflect on what it means to meet nature not in the distance, but here, at the heart of London.

Image credit: Carys Huws @caryshuws