Living · Summer

A Summer Picnic when the garden becomes the loveliest room of all

It takes surprisingly little to make an evening you'll still remember come winter: a blanket on the grass, a net drifting softly in the breeze, a few glasses of homemade cordial – and people you love. Today I'm taking you under our mosquito net to show you what ends up on our blanket.

In this piece I'll take you to a relaxed summer picnic in your own garden – with simple ideas, homemade cordial, little treats, pretty picnic styling and a handy checklist to take with you. Whether it's a romantic picnic for two or a gentle afternoon with the children: it's easier than you think.

The evening I finally understood why we do this

It was last July, one of those days when the air hangs still by morning and you just know the whole day will happen outdoors. We had nothing planned at all. And those, more often than not, turn out to be the best evenings.

I fetched the big white mosquito net from the cupboard – the one that had spent all winter folded away in the chest, smelling of lavender – and hung it between the old apple tree and the garden fence. Underneath: a red blanket, a few rose-patterned cushions I never put away because they're simply too pretty. My husband hung the bunting, crooked as ever, and I said nothing, because crooked is sometimes exactly right.

Then our neighbour appeared with a bowl of strawberries, without our even asking. At some point the children fell asleep under the net, half on the cushions, half on the blanket, an apple still in hand. And I sat there with a glass of lavender water, the scent of warm grass and roses in the air, and thought: this is all I need. An evening like that costs almost nothing. And it stays with you.

The mosquito net that changes everything

If you buy just one thing for your summer picnic, make it a light mosquito net. It doesn't only keep the midges away at dusk – it turns an ordinary patch of lawn into a small, sheltered room. Suddenly there's a wall of air and fabric, the light falls softer, and everyone shuffles a little closer together.

Ours simply hangs from a length of string over a branch. If you haven't a suitable tree, a parasol base or the washing line will do just as well. A large mosquito net with a hanging loop* costs very little and comes out again every year. Add a length of pink bunting* – and the mood is set before the first glass is poured.

What ends up on our blanket

At a summer picnic I don't want anything that has to stay warm or topples at the first gust of wind. It can be small, fresh and made ahead – so that I'm sitting on the blanket, not standing in the kitchen. Most of it comes from my own recipe collection, because I know exactly that it tastes good and won't let me down.

To drink, my lavender cordial almost always comes along: a generous splash in a bottle of cold water, ice and a few slices of lemon – that's my summer in a glass. While the elderflowers are still out, it becomes elderflower cordial. Both are wonderful to prepare ahead and carry in old bottles.

For nibbling, I love anything already portioned into jars. My no-bake strawberry dessert in a jar is made for it: no baking, no juggling plates, just pop a lid on and into the cool bag. Alongside, a few slices of lemon cake – sturdy, somehow even better on the second day, and it survives any journey. And when strawberries are in season, the strawberry cake comes out to the garden too.

If it's to be a bigger picnic with several guests, take a look at my easy summer party recipes – most of them work just as happily on a blanket as on a long table.

Picnic styling: the little things that make the difference

What turns a picnic from "eating outdoors" into something special, for me, are a few loving little touches – nothing expensive, just things with soul. An old fruit crate becomes a side table for the cups. Floral cushions you needn't arrange too neatly. And as dusk falls, a few lanterns and tealight holders* that light the net from within.

It all gets more practical with a large picnic blanket with a waterproof backing* – it keeps the damp of the grass at bay. For carrying, I love a simple wicker basket* that fits everything in, and a set of linen napkins* you can use again and again. Unbreakable enamel beakers instead of glass – then it doesn't matter if one tips over.

How to prepare your summer picnic without the stress

A picnic should feel light – for the person putting it together, too. To keep the day relaxed, I do most of it the day before and break the rest into small steps. Then, come the afternoon, all that's left is to pack the basket and set off.

The day before: make the cordial, let the dessert in the jar set, and bake the cake – sponge cakes like the lemon one taste even rounder on the second day. I set out the mosquito net, cushions and bunting at the same time, and half the picnic styling is already done.

In the morning: wash and slice the fruit, fill the bottles with drinks, chill everything. Whatever needs to stay cold goes into the cool bag* only just before you leave – ideally with a couple of ice packs*.

Keeping drinks cold: the evening before, I half-freeze a bottle of water – it thaws slowly in the basket and keeps everything else cool as it goes. An insulated bottle or flask keeps cold picnic drinks fresh for longer too.

Transporting cake safely: sturdy slices like lemon or strawberry cake I lay flat in a tin; the dessert travels in its lidded jar anyway. Unbreakable enamel tableware* takes care of the rest – then it's no bother if something wobbles along the way.

In the heat, I leave out anything that spoils quickly – raw eggs, cream, mayonnaise. Fresh fruit, vegetables, cordial, baked things and anything in a jar are the light, safe choice. And a shady spot under the net is worth its weight in gold on a hot day.

My picnic checklist to take with you

So you don't forget a thing – this is the list taped to the inside of our basket lid:

And then? Then sit yourself down. Leave your phone in the basket. Watch the light fall through the net and the bunting stir almost imperceptibly. Summer is short, but an afternoon like this feels as though it lasts just a little longer.

In a few years you may not remember which cake you ate. But the light beneath the mosquito net, the scent of roses and the laughter on the blanket – those you'll remember for certain. That's exactly why I love these little summer afternoons, year after year.

Frequently asked questions about summer picnics

How do you keep food cool at a picnic?

Pack anything delicate into the cool bag only just before you set off – ideally with one or two ice packs. A good trick: take a half-frozen bottle of water that thaws slowly in the basket and cools everything else along the way. And a shady spot, such as under the mosquito net, keeps food and drink noticeably fresher.

What should go in a picnic basket?

A waterproof blanket, unbreakable beakers and plates, linen napkins, a small knife, bin bags and wet wipes – plus the drinks and a few small, prepared treats. You'll find the full list in my picnic checklist above.

Which drinks are best for a summer picnic?

Homemade cordial is my favourite: a splash of lavender or elderflower cordial in cold water, with ice and a slice of lemon. It's easy to prepare ahead in bottles and tastes of summer.

How do you keep mosquitoes away at a picnic?

A light mosquito net or canopy over the blanket keeps the midges away at dusk – and makes the spot cosier at once. A good insect spray helps too, along with a few candles or lanterns as it grows dark.