If you go down to the woods today…

…do as the teddy bears do and take a picnic. Four Yorkshire foodies give their advice on creating the perfect al fresco feast, from the beach to back garden

- Bethan Hyatt

THE HOMEMADE ONE

By Frances Atkins, chef at The Yorke Arms, Nidderdale

It’s imperative you have great, fresh lemonade for a picnic – I think it’s terribly romantic. Or a chilled white wine (dependent on transport). I also love Annabel Makin-Jones’s Tame & Wild strawberry drinks, which are amazing and not too sweet. On my menu would be a chicken and asparagus presse, vegetable blinis or vegetable Tarte Tatin, homemade mayonnaise, cold langoustines, and strawberry tarts. I’d make it all from scratch myself, including my own bread – wholemeal baps served with great Wensleydale. You don’t need to leave Yorkshire to eat really well. I’d go into the hills by a river, with my husband Bill and two Labs Polly and Penny, to enjoy the sound of the river and birdsong. The dogs are a great company, although of course they’ll try and eat the lot – they’re Labradors!

As a child, we would have picnics every Saturday at Bolton Abbey, at what I thought was the beach – it’s actually a sandy area near the bridge. We went with neighbors and would enjoy doing what children do – throwing stones, swimming, and playing. We’d have orange juice and iced buns and fight over who got the ones with the pink icing. My mother made the buns and we always had butter inside them, which we wouldn’t dream of doing these days! We’d also collect wildflowers to press, though these days you’d just take photographs of them.

I think it’s important to put in some effort, savor the flavors and enjoy eating out in the fresh air.