What’s your favourite picnic memory? It’s probably got dappled sunshine, laughter, some good friends, and some good food. And our worst picnics are often plagued by insects, lashing rain, and disappointing, soggy food.

Originally the preserve of the wealthy, the Victorians popularised picnics, with famous picnic scenes turning up in many well known books of the period. And we’ve all never really stopped picnicking after that. We look forward each year to the arrival of summer and the chance for the outdoor delights of good food, good drink and great company in lovely surroundings.

So this summer, how can you up your picnic game and make more perfect picnic memories? Try some of our suggestions:

Skip the sandwiches

While sandwiches are perfect finger food, they’re not obligatory on a modern picnic. Try taking a selection of cold meats and cheeses instead and some good crackers and biscuits. Something like the savoury biscotti from Great British Biscotti make an ideal base to load up meat, cheese, pickles, whatever you fancy. To up the flavour game, add some flavoursome chutney into the picnic mix. Or try Pip & Lekker’s seed snacks, which work well with dips or are delicious on their own.

Go for robust food

Delicate dishes rarely arrive in one piece at your picnic location. That’s why things like pies and sausage rolls are perennial favourites, as they tend to travel well. Other good travellers include things like pakoras and samosas for a bit of pastry-encased variety.

Remember the little things

Even if you’re taking all finger food, there are some things you’re still potentially going to need, like a small chopping board and some cutlery. Your cheese and cold meats might be pre-portioned, but you still might want a knife or spoon to load chutney onto crackers with.

Plus, with so much good fruit around at the moment, you might want a sharper knife to cut up peaches, pears or plums. If you are taking bread to enjoy, you could just tear and share, but if you’ve got an excellent sourdough loaf, that might be tricky.

And don’t forget to check if you’re going to need a bottle opener or corkscrew!

Meat-free moments

There’s really never been a wider selection of delicious ready to eat delicacies for anyone not eating meat. The veggie sausage roll is not the only choice, with everything from things like the apple and beetroot bites from ChicP to vegan chaeses now available.  Something for everyone to enjoy.

Expand your crispy snack choices

Yes, ready salted crisps are delicious. But with so many new types of snacks available, why limit your choices to the ordinary? On Melted Inside, you’ll find things like raw crackers, unusual nuts such as pili along with incredible cashews from Cajuu, and crisps made from different ingredients, including chickpeas, kale and air-dried fruits. Many of them don’t have much salt or sugar, making them good for the little ones and the health conscious ones.

Don’t forget the drinks

We’ve all waited so long for summer to arrive so you’re going to want to make sure every element of your picnic is perfect. Whatever your tipple of choice, make sure you get it there at the right temperature and can serve it how you want it. Pack plenty of ice packs in your picnic bag, or decant your drink into a pre-chilled flask before leaving.

You could also take ice cubes in a wide-mouthed flask and add them in as you pour. Get your drink as cold as you can if it’s supposed to be served chilled. There’s nothing worse than warm drinks that should be cold!

Try changing up your choice of beverage as well as your food choices. Maybe a sparkling kombucha or a sparkling jasmine tea, or a low-alcohol alternative such as Arrowtown Hard Seltzer at just 5% alcohol content. And of course, this is an ideal time for pre-mixed cocktails, all ready to go straight from the can.

Finish in style

Picnics aren’t just about the savoury stuff. While you might not get a delicate gateau there in one piece, things like brownies, blondies and cookies will stand up pretty well to a stroll to your picnic place. They still would appreciate being kept on the cool side, but they’re unlikely to melt like some choices could. Biscotti are also ideal, as they’re twice baked, so they can stand a bit of shaking around, or take something like shortbread as it’s a bit denser.

Plan your exit

Make it easy to take all your rubbish home by doing a bit of planning in advance. Have a designated rubbish bag, take biodegradable wipes for sticky fingers and plates, and use sustainable picnicware options where possible. You might find excellent recycling and rubbish disposal where you’ve picnicked, but always best to plan for there being nothing available and make it easy to bring home and dispose of your rubbish responsibly. Leave your beautiful picnic spot as perfect as you found it, all ready for the next lucky group.

So while none of us can make the sun shine, we can all prepare for perfect picnics that we’ll remember way after we’ve packed the picnic blankets away at the end of the summer. Let’s make the most of being able to get together outdoors and create some memorable picnic moments.