Time For a Picnic

We can finally meet up with other households but it’s going to be outside only for a while yet. Let’s make the most of it then with good planning and some fun accessories.

Create some evening atmosphere with Outdoor TruGlow® Candles, £26.99 for 3 from lights4fun.co.uk è • Research your perfect picnic spot carefully. How far is it from the car park and is there a charge for parking? Are there toilets? Can you bring your dog? Is there somewhere to shelter if it’s too hot or there’s a sudden shower. • Pack everything you need for the day: water, sunscreen, a lightweight waterproof (just in case), warmer layers and the all-important face mask and hand-santiser. A plastic bag for your rubbish will be handy too. • Decorate your picnic area with battery-powered fairy lights, lanterns and some bunting. Get comfy with camping chairs or deck chairs, using your picnic basket as a handy side table. Music adds atmosphere so take a Bluetooth speaker. • Bring along games that all the family can play.

Rounders and croquet are great, or organise a treasure hunt, play hide and seek, or set up an old-school egg-and-spoon or sack race. • The best picnic food? Anything you can eat with your fingers. Sandwiches, mini pies, kebabs, chopped vegetables with dips, plus fruit and something sweet, for example.

ç With compartments for dippy sauce & sections so the peas don’t touch the carrots this little car is perfect for turning fussy eaters into foodies. £32.99 at bluebrontide.com

é Giant picnic blanket means plenty of room for social distancing! £59.95 annabeljames.co.uk