With the recent road map set out by the government, from the 8th March the Prime Minister stated:

“The Stay at Home requirement will remain, but people can leave home for recreation outdoors such as a coffee or picnic with their household or support bubble, or with one person outside their household.”

There is light at the end of the tunnel! This positive news will mean that some of you can reunite with a family member or friend whilst enjoying a picnic in the great outdoors!

We’ve pulled together some tips for a successful picnic, alongside picnic gear inspiration and some simple recipes that you can make at home and take with you. It doesn’t have to be all soggy sandwiches!

Check COVID restrictions beforehand and enjoy the outdoors responsibly.

Tips for a successful picnic

1. Plan your food
It seems simple, but how often do you just pick up everything that says ‘ready to eat’ on it in a rush at the local supermarket and bung it in your basket? Plan food that goes well together – that way you’ll have more chance of it all being eaten, which means you won’t have to carry it back!

2. Keep it light
Somebody always has to carry the picnic, so keep it light as many great picnic spots involve a little walking to get there. Nobody wants to struggle with a heavy basket or coolbox. Opt for paper plates and plastic cutlery over pretty crockery to keep the weight down.

3. Prepare food at home
A properly planned picnic involves proper preparation. Make it so that all you need to do on arrival is to place the foods out on your blanket and eat them! Preparing the food before your trip means you’re far more likely to take only what you need.

4. Keep it cool
Most foods you take on a picnic are served cool and benefit from the extra cooling on the way to your location. If you’re not eating near your car, then the chances are you’ll be taking a non-electric (or passive) coolbox. It’s important to remember these boxes will not actively cool your food. To get the best out of them, you’ll need some pre-frozen ice blocks to place around your food.

5. Wet wipes / Bin bags
Wet wipes are an obvious plus in these situations for messy hands/faces and for wiping down plates. Hand sanitiser is also a great idea for washing your hands and any germs away! It’s important that you take a bin bag and properly dispose of any rubbish you may have with you.

6. Keep bugs at bay
Wasps may be the great enemy of the summer, but there are steps you can take to reduce the chance of bugs ruining your picnic. Many home stores sell mason jars with lids/straws now – these are ideal for your drinks as it means bugs can’t get in! If at all possible, it’s better to avoid bringing anything sweet and sticky.

7. Think outside the sandwich
Is it really a picnic without sandwiches? Maybe not. But if you’re looking for a great alternative why not create a salad or pasta in a small screw top jar? Simple! Or if you want to take your picnic to the next level, how about purchasing a lightweight stove? That way you can enjoy hot freshly cooked food and drink – delicious!

8. Bring something to cut on
If you’re not cutting sandwiches, cheese, cakes etc at home before your trip – make sure you bring a solid surface to cut on. While paper plates may be light to carry, they don’t make for a very good chopping board.