If you go down to the woods today...insure for a nasty surprise

Now that the rain has stopped it’s going to be lashings of ginger beer and cucumber sandwiches all round in August and September. Indeed Britons plan to take over 20 million picnics in the next two months, as they bank on an Indian Summer. And incredibly they’ll carry with them over £1.5 billion’s worth of hampers, food and champers according to research from Halifax Home Insurance.

Smarter than the average bear

But picnickers might well take heed of picnic fan Yogi Bear’s famous catchphrase by staying smarter than the average bear and checking that their belongings are fully insured against any incident outside the home. Indeed Halifax Home Insurance research found that a quarter (11 million) of British adults fell victim to a robbery in an open place over the last five years, with thieves stealing over £8.3 billion of personal possessions.

The most popular items targeted by thieves’ were mobile phones (44%), wallets (25%) cameras (8%) and mp3 players (6%) – all likely accoutrements to the modern day picnic. And with 60% of thefts happening as a result of items being left unattended, Halifax Home Insurance is warning people take extra care, especially since most home insurance policies that cover items outside the home will be invalidated if stolen while left unattended.

Posh picnics

While the average picnic basket and its contents are worth an impressive £77 a distinct group of posh picnickers were identified. Indeed 2.6 million champagne guzzling Brits (9%) really push the boat out by taking luxury hampers from the likes of Fortnum and Mason worth £150. 1.7 million (6%) take food and accessories worth £200. Over 1.3 million (5%) had hampers worth over £350 and 297,000 hampers were worth over £500.

Over the next twelve months 3.6 million (12%) picnic lovers said they will indulge themselves in ten or more picnics. While the average Briton intends to take four picnics during the next year, one-in-ten expects to take as many as seven.

The notion of men whisking their partners away for romantic picnics may no longer hold true, as men plan to take an average of 3.9 picnics, while women plan an average of 4.5 picnics over the next year. Britons aged between 35-44 will take the most picnics at an average of 4.7 while 45-54 year olds will most likely take the least with 3.3.

Britain’s picnic hotspot can be found in the idyllic countryside of Wales and the West where an average of 4.8 picnics will be taken per person over the next twelve months. This is sharply followed by Greater London’s park picnickers who plan an average of 4.5. Those in the Midlands will take the least picnics with an average of 3.7.

Britain’s poshest picnickers can be found in Greater London where the average hamper and its contents are worth a champagne guzzling £86.48, this is followed closely by those in the South East and Anglia at £86.23. Picnickers in Wales and West spend the least on dining outside at £60.80, closely followed by Scotland with £60.92.

Picnic facts

The first usage of the word picnic can be traced to a 16th century French text, describing a group of people dining in a restaurant who brought their own wine. The word picnic is based on the verb piquer which means 'pick' or 'peck' with the rhyming nique meaning "thing of little importance" .

After the French Revolution in 1789, royal parks became open to the public for the first time. Picnicking in the parks became a popular activity amongst the newly enfranchised citizens

The image of picnics as a peaceful social activity can be utilised for political protest too. A famous example of this is the Paneuropean Picnic held on both sides of the Hungarian / Austrian border on the 19 August 1989 as part of the struggle towards German reunification

Early in the 19th century, a fashionable group of Londoners formed the 'Picnic Society'. Members met in the Pantheon on Oxford Street. Each member was expected to provide a share of the entertainment and of the refreshments with no one particular host. Interest in the society waned in the 1850s as the founders died.

In the year 2000, a 600-mile-long picnic took place from coast to coast in France to celebrate the first Bastille Day of the new Millennium. In the United States, likewise, the 4th of July celebration of American independence is a popular day for a picnic. In Italy the favourite picnic day is 'Angel's Monday', also known as Pasquetta or 'little Easter', the day after Easter.

Vicky Emmott, senior manager of underwriting at Halifax Home Insurance, said, “Britain’s love affair with the picnic has been revived by the promise of better weather on the way. But beware, our research shows that thieves are opportunistic and are more likely to ruin your day if you leave your possessions unguarded. It’s not just the cost of replacing a hamper - it’s all the other accessories that we take with us on picnics such as phones, i-pods, cameras and wallets.”

Top ten picnic spots

Avon Valley Country Park, Keynsham, Bristol
Your family will definitely work up an appetite when enjoying the adventure playground in Avon Valley Country Park – which features rope bridges, climbing frames and slides.

Garsons Pick Your Own, Esher, Surrey
Why not head for the largest ‘Pick Your Own’ farm in the UK to pick up the majority of your picnic, so that you can really enjoy the fruits of your labour?

Mugdock Country Park, near Milngavie, Glasgow
Containing ruined castles and a small loch, and yet only a few miles from Glasgow city centre, this Country Park is made up of 750 acres of unspoiled countryside, making it a perfect picnic destination.

Ragley Hall, Alcester, Warwickshire
The splendid Ragley Hall, home to the Marquess and Marchioness of Hertford for nearly 350 years, is a great spot for a picnic.

Wellington Country Park, Riseley, Berkshire
There’s plenty to do at Wellington Country Park, which features a children’s farm, a miniature railway, an adventure playground, a sandpit, a cafe, and a number of nature trails. It’s a top spot for a family picnic.

Cwmcarn Forest Drive and Visitor Centre, Cwmcarn, Wales
Once a mining area, Cwmcarn now provides seven beautiful miles of forest scenery set within the Ebbw Forest and boasts magnificent views of the countryside.

Grizedale Forest Park and Visitor Centre, near Hawkshead, Cumbria
In the heart of the Lake District , Grizedale Forest Park has an extensive range of waymarked trails, as well as an adventure playground, picnic areas, a forest shop, an exhibition, a Visitor Centre and a forest tea room.

Hatchet Pond, near Beaulieu, Hampshire
The Hatchet Pond area contains the largest body of water in the New Forest.

Nant Mill Woods, Coedpoeth, North Wales
Cared for by the Woodland Trust, Nant Mill Woods is located on the southern bank of the River Clywedog in Coedpoeth.

Sheephouse Trout Fishery, Maidenhead, Berkshire
The seven-acre lake at Sheephouse Trout Fishery is the perfect spot to while away an afternoon by combining a spot of fishing with a tasty picnic! If you’re really lucky, you could even find yourself tucking into your own catch of the day.

Fun Places to picnic

In a hotel room
In a treehouse
On a barge
During a university lecture
Beside a slow moving river or a tinkling stream
Under a tree
In an art gallery
Any green open space

Essential Picnic Equipment

Sunglasses and sun tan lotion - it might be sunny, you never know
Books / Newspapers - something to read
Notebook - for writing down interesting things
Portable barbecue - if permitted
Ice cooler
Napkins
Cutlery