TO coincide with National Picnic Week (14-21 June), Visit Essex is encouraging the people of Essex to support local attractions and food producers by taking part in the Big Essex Picnic. 

Across the county top attractions, vineyards, parks and historic landmarks will be welcoming visitors and encouraging them to enjoy a picnic in their grounds. 

Visit Essex has put together a list of the top places to enjoy the Big Essex Picnic:

Go Wild

Essex Wildlife Trust is part of the Big Essex Picnic; visit one of their discovery centres and enjoy a picnic before fossil hunting at Walton-on the-Naze, birdwatching at Abberton Reservoir, or taking a stroll by the estuary at Fingringhoe Wick or Tollesbury Marshes.

Other parks are also taking part in the event, such as Lee Valley Regional Park and Epping Forest.

Go Ape! Chelmsford is also welcoming picnickers, just don’t forget a banana or two before you climb the trees for an action-packed afternoon on the high ropes. 

Please remember the countryside code and make sure you take all your picnic items away with you.

Iconic Picnics

Picnics by landmarks create the dream setting. Welcoming visitors for the Big Essex Picnic are, Brightlingsea Harbour, Hedingham Castle, Hylands Estate in Chelmsford, the Museum of Chelmsford, Chelmsford Cathedral and the Gibberd Garden in Harlow.

Stock up on local produce and enjoy alfresco dining on a picnic blanket at some of the most Instagram-able spots in the county.

Vineyards

Dine by the vines and experience a glass of wine or two! Saffron Grange vineyard near Saffron Walden and New Hall vineyard near Chelmsford are both taking part in the event. Saffron Grange offers outdoor seating for people to enjoy food purchased onsite and is also dog friendly! While New Hall vineyards will be open on Saturdays throughout the summer for a picnic in the vines, plus a glass of one of their wines!

By the seaside

Join the Sunshine Coast’s six-mile picnic walk from Walton to Frinton and back. The event includes a bring-your-own picnic to be enjoyed on Frinton’s Greensward. The walk takes place on Tuesday 24^th June from 10.30am.

Summer long picnics

Make picnics a habit and tuck into some amazing days out throughout the summer. Dedham Vale vineyard offers wine tasting tours with a specially prepared picnic to follow. The picnics are ideal for food and wine lovers.

Tiptree tearooms can be found all over Essex and offer takeaway cream teas. Their boxed treats are perfect for picnics, special birthdays and Father’s Day celebrations. 

Down Hall on the Essex and Herts borders is set within stunning grounds and offers its residents a wide range of picnic menus, there’s even a Teddy Bear’s picnic for children! Whereas guests at Delta Hotels by Marriott Colchester, can also make use of the hotel’s grounds by tucking into freshly prepared foods bought onsite.

Dine in style at Layer Marney at their Essex Summer Opera Festival, 17-22 June. Treat yourself to fine local produce in your BYO picnic. Layer Marney offers beautifully cultivated gardens, for visitors to listen to a revival of Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love and Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin.

Get in the community spirit and join the St Osyth Priory Picnic on 29 September, 12-5pm. Enjoy live music, art and BYO picnic for a free fun family day out.

Championing the Big Essex Picnic is Councillor Mark Durham, Chair of Visit Essex. He says: “Everyone loves a picnic, so this summer we’re encouraging everyone in Essex to pack a picnic and head to the beach, park, tourist attraction to enjoy a great day out. Essex is also home to some amazing food and drink producers, if residents can pick up some locally sourced food to add to their hamper that would be ideal!” 

He added: “Getting together with friends and family is wonderful, let’s make the most of our outstanding places to go and support local.”

Hedingham and Chambers buses are also supporting the Big Essex Picnic and are available to drive families and friends to picnics around Essex. 

To discover more about the Big Essex Picnic, go to www.visitessex.com.