The joy of the picnic has always seemed peculiarly British.
It isn’t simply eating outside — barbecuing in the ‘yard’, as the Americans do — but the act of packing up an entire meal and transporting it to some distant location to eat alfresco.
It gained popularity in the 19th century as a pursuit of the rich, along with fêtes, opera and balls, and became a favoured activity of the upper classes.
In 1983, Anne Tennant (better known as Lady Glenconner, author of ) and Susanna Johnston (the late) compiled a book in aid of charity called , and enlisted their friends and family to write about their favourite picnics, along with recipes.
