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National Picnic Week – 17th to 21st June 2021

Here at Banjo HQ, we absolutely love National Picnic Week as, who doesn’t love a lovely, scrummy picnic? Whatever the weather, just being outside on a picnic blanket with a lot of yummy things to eat with your friends and family are the best ingredients for a brilliant day out! 

Today starts National Picnic Week from 19-27 June 2021. Did you know that the average person picnics at least three times a year, that’s a HUGE 94 million picnics per year?! According to research done in 2013, the average family spends £26 per picnic totaling £2,479,720,000. That is a LOT of scotch eggs!! Here are a few of our favourite places to have picnics:

Cassiobury Park, Watford

Covering 250 acres, Cassiobury Park has cafes, paddling pools, a bandstand, a miniature railway and lots of walks! You can go to Whippendell Woods which is an ancient woodland that dates back to 1600! There are a large number of mature and veteran trees, including a Cedar of Lebanon, which is over 100 years old, and several veteran oaks! 

Clifton Park, Rotherham  

Clifton Park has gardens to relax in, a Museum, play park, water splash, tennis, bowls, adventure golf, train, roller coaster, jumpin’ jack, sand pit and much more. There’s so much to do after your picnic! Clifton Park is open all day, every day for you all to enjoy!

Elsecar Park and Local Reservoir Nature Reserve, Barnsley

There is a children’s play area for up to the age of 14, multi use games area, a cafe, nine hole pitch and putt course, crazy golf, bandstand, ornamental terraced gardens, sand pit and story-telling circle! So much to do.. The kids will love it! A reservoir and local nature reserve along with a bird hide and pond dipping pool too.

University of Essex Wivenhoe Park

Within a few steps of the University library on Colchester Campus you can enter the parkland. The historic Wivenhoe Park has been immortalised in oils by world-famous painter John Constable, Wivenhoe Park remains a striking landscape of more than 200 acres! Lots of walking and space to play games after your picnic. Bring a frisbee!

Here at Banjo HQ, we also love the National Trust sites and, given how many picnics we have there, we need to mention our favourites! 

Stowe, Buckinghamshire

There are so many options to picnic here! Do you want the grand house at your back, overlooking the Octagon Lake? Or near the Queen’s Theatre? Or the Temple of Venus? There have been 60 limes trees that have been planted which look gorgeous beside the two huge lakes that join with a waterfall. It’s also dog friendly  and accessible with your pushchairs/wheelchairs too. 

Waddesdon, Berkshire

The most popular place for us Banjoers for picnics is below the Parterre with a view of the Manor on one side and sweeping views of Aylesbury Vale on the other. There are parkland trees that can shade if it’s hot too. Not sure about making your own picnic? Well, Waddesdon offers a click and collect service for picnics if you have better things to do than pack your own! 

Hare Hill, Cheshire

Have a walk around the walled gardens looking at all the blooming flowers. Lay out your rug and tuck into your picnic enjoying the gorgeous view! 

Check out more recommendations of where to picnic at National Trust sites here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lists/perfect-picnic-spots

Please check with the park directly before making your trip there to understand their rules around coronavirus, along with opening times. Please note that you’ll need to pre-book your visit at the National Trust park. 

Don’t let the sniffles keep you away: check out our top tips for coping with hay fever too! https://www.banjorobinson.com/top-tips-hay-fever-help/ 

Wherever you’re planning to picnic this summer, please make sure that you collect all litter when you leave the park, so we look after our environment and don’t harm any of our furry friends.

Need some picnic recipe inspo? Why not try making our tasty vegetarian empanadas, all the way from Banjo’s Portugese cousin, Clara!  See Clara’s recipe below:

Happy National Picnic Week everyone! Love, Banjo HQ x