Enjoying green spaces this summer – picnic tips and tricks

1. Location – Find somewhere that’s not too difficult to get to, and that offers you a little bit of space away from others, without disturbing any resident wildlife. Download your free Guide to Green Spaces for details of some of our favourite picnic spots in Oxfordshire.

2. Are you sitting comfortably? If you’re taking blankets and cushions that don’t have a waterproof layer then an old shower curtain laid down underneath them works well, or pop a waterproof jacket down first.

3. Food: Picnics are the perfect time for simple but delicious lunch goodies, and supporting local producers can be a more sustainable way to shop. Our favourite picnic recipe is this one from our Farm Step tenant:

Norton and Yarrow’s Goat’s Cheese Tarts

Ready roll puff pastry
Extra toppings such as caramelised onions, courgettes or tomatoes
Goats cheese
Olive oil
Herbs and seasoning

1. Lay out a sheet of ready roll puff pastry, add your choice of veg and then the goats cheese on top.
2. Drizzle with olive oil, season well with salt, pepper and herbs.
3. Cook for about 15-20 mins on a high temperature until the cheese starts to brown.

Top tip! Take a separate bag to put any rubbish in and weigh it down with a stone or log to stop it blowing away. Taking your rubbish with you helps protect wildlife and keeps our places spick and span for everyone to enjoy.

4. Packing it all up: Re-useable tubs and containers are great to take homemade food in and they can double up as plates and bowls to eat from if you’re trying to pack light, too.

5. Keeping cool. Freeze water and juices ahead of time, and then use them to keep fresh food cool as you travel. And as they melt they’ll be the perfect temperature for a cooling sip!

Top tip! Use ice cube trays to freeze juice or squash and then simply add to a bottle of water when you’re ready!

6. Keeping insects at bay. At Earth Trust we love our pollinators, but we also know that some of them are less welcome at picnics. Keep food covered as much as possible, and try natural repellents which won’t harm the environment or the pollinators that we rely on – some people have found onions, vinegar, herbs like rosemary or lavender, and citrus fruits have helped. Pack some bite and sting cream too, just in case.

7. Pack light to avoid carrying too much, but we recommend making sure you have:
– something to do (a Frisbee, ball or the crossword for after everyone’s eaten were favourites from the Earth Trust team!)
– sun cream, hat and plenty of water if it’s hot
– warm layers in case the weather changes/for later in the day

What are your best picnic tips? Let us know in the comments below or share your picnic pictures with us on social! #EarthTrust