PICNIC tips
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Cooler Ice cream, wine, Champagne even. All luxurious, and all even more so when outdoors. They also all have to be cool. Amberley produce some very good integrated picnic baskets and coolers with plates, cutlery, glasses, and, of course, a cool section for two bottles of wine. Costs £79.95. www.eurocosm.com
Corkscrew The most essential item on your list: something that gives you access to wine! If you want to open your bottles in style, get your hands on a Metrokane Silver Rabbit set, which features a sturdy, easy to operate corkscrew, a bottle sealer, a drip stop ring and even a wax remover. All very stylish. Costs £59.99. www.amazon.co.uk.
Wet Ones It’s unavoidable – especially if you have fruit and chocolate in the hamper – that your hands will need a clean by the end. Wet Ones are the original slightly scented, moist tissues ideal for cleaning up after both big and little kids. Costs 99p for 20 wipes from any supermarket.
Pocket knife A good pocket knife with plenty of blades and tools is extremely useful, especially if you’re preparing much of the food on site as they can handle a wide variety of jobs and foods. As you know, the Swiss are the best at making these tools, so get yourself a Swiss Army Knife. Prices vary widely, but a good knife with a range of accessories costs £45.99. www.swissknifeshop.co.uk
Rubbish bags Being the horrible, messy creatures that we are, a picnic in nature produces waste. Empty bottles, soiled napkins and Scotch egg wrappers litter the area around your blanket. Take the time to pick it up, put it in a rubbish bag, and dump it in a nearby bin.
