5 Things That Can Ruin Your Picnic

There’s nothing more important when planning a picnic than ensuring everything goes smoothly. Food, weather, location, wildlife, there are a lot of things that can go wrong if you’re not careful. National Picnic Week looks at some of the top things that go wrong, and how to make sure your picnic goes off without a hitch.

FOOD ALLERGIES
First things first, if you know who’s attending your picnic, you should know if anyone is allergic to anything, and what preferences everyone has. If you don’t know, or aren’t certain, try to have a wide variety of things to cater for all types. There’s nothing worse than feeling you aren’t welcome, or that your diet is a burden or an annoyance. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options are readily available in most supermarkets, and will mean there’s something for everyone at your picnic. Check out our post on 3 delicious vegetarian recipes for some inspiration.

WEATHER
As we all know, the weather can make or break a picnic. Check both the week and the night before, to give yourself the best chance of sun. Always bring an umbrella just in case. It doesn’t have to be tropical to be a great picnic, if you’re prepared you can have fun no matter what the weather. Packing extra clothes lets you wrap up warm if you need to, it’s always better to bring more and not need them than to bring nothing and be left in the cold.

LOCATION
A good location is vital when it comes to having the perfect picnic. Too windy, and your food is sent flying. Too far, and everyone’s exhausted from the walk. A good picnic location is near to parking and facilities, but also in a green space. If it’s a hot day, try to find a place with shade for children or pets. Parks, woods, even gardens can all be perfect places for a picnic, getting everyone out for some fresh air and sun.

TRANSPORT AND STORAGE
Once you’ve cooked up all your delicious food, how are you going to get it to your picnic site? If you’ve let yourself get carried away with your picnic, this could be one of the last things you think about, but it is important. How everyone gets there, and how the food is transported can have a big impact on the tone your picnic sets, as well as the environmental impact. All your leftovers and rubbish should be easy to take away, with you leaving nothing behind.
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ANIMALS
Having an idea of the kind of wildlife that lives where you’re planning your picnic can be a huge help. Something few people think about when planning a picnic is whether any attendants have any phobias. If you know someone has a fear of dogs, don’t take them to the local park where hundreds of dogs walk every day. If someone has a fear of wasps, don’t pack nothing but fizzy drinks and sugary snacks.
But dealing with a phobia is the most effective way of making sure it won’t ruin your picnic. The fastest way to cure a phobia is hypnosis, it takes no conscious effort and can have immediate results.
 
For more great picnic ideas, check out this post on how to make your picnic look the part.
Don’t forget to tweet your picnic tips to us @PicnicWeek