How to plan the perfect summer picnic in Suffolk

No quintessential British summer is complete unless you’ve dined under the sun with a hamper of tasty food and idyllic countryside surrounding you.

Despite the popularity and apparent ease of eating al fresco though, picnics do require a little planning to make them successful!

So if you’re thinking of having a summer picnic in Suffolk, here’s some advice on where to go, what food to take, and what to do!

Find the Perfect Spot

Not all picnic places are created equally! While it might seem as though you could pick any spot to host a little outdoor eating, you might find yourself in a spot of trouble if you decide to settle down on private land. So it’s best to do a little research beforehand to ensure everything goes smoothly. There are some amazing designated spots for a picnic throughout the Dedham Vale and Suffolk countryside.

Perfect places for picnics in the local area…

Arger Fen

One of the local area’s best hidden spots, Arger Fen is a wild wood which is full of beautiful trees, flowers, wildlife and more. It’s one of the most scenic spots around for a picnic!

Flatford

Here you can relax by the water near Flatford Mill and enjoy the quiet atmosphere while you tuck into delicious treats. You could also hire a boat and row down the river to explore the surroundings during the day.

Long Melford Country Park

This beautiful park is has it all; open grassland, woods and ponds to explore, as well as lots of facilities to enjoy a lovely day. Walk down the beautiful River Stour and find a spot to lay your blanket and picnic!

Prepare Delicious Treats

Standard picnic fayre usually includes finger foods like chicken drumsticks, scotch eggs, pork pies, cheese and bread along with salads, sandwiches, and fruit. All of these foods are easily portable and simple to eat, which is ideal! It’s a good idea to keep all your components (like dressings and fillings) separate. Prepare as much as you can beforehand but add liquid ingredients at the last minute to ensure that things don’t go soggy.

Things to Pack

Heading outdoors with a picnic hamper is one of the best things to do in summer, but not having the right items can make it unnecessarily stressful instead of relaxing and fun.

Choose equipment careful! A leaky icebox or heated potato salad can ensure your picnic takes a turn for the worse. Check all your items (cool box, Tupperware, bottles and such) are in good working order before you fill them up and wrap anything with a strong smell in a plastic bag. If you’re bringing wine glasses, it’s worth bringing a tray to put them on during use (wine glasses can be tricky to balance on uneven grass). Oh, and don’t forget to bring a bottle stopper if your wine has a cork!

Also consider your picnic guests. Maybe all you need is a blanket, but perhaps you need to throw in some cushions or a small seat. Or maybe you need a full out picnic bench for a larger group along with a lot of food and drink that you’re bringing along. This will also influence where you actually picnic, as not all spots have benches.

Fun Activities

This all depends on what kind of picnic vibe you’re looking for. Who’s coming to your picnic? Where are you going? Do you want a relaxing lay down in nature, or do you want things to fill your time while you’re out in the sunshine?

Depending on how you answer these questions, your chosen games and activities could range from a book to a pack of cards to a board game like chess or flying kites. Or you could combine your picnic with a trip out! It could be that you take a hike around the area you’re picnicking in, visit a country estate and check out the stately home or manor, or you could even combine the picnic with an outdoor sport, like cricket, golf, fishing, or cycling.