Glamour, green goals and getting outside …as well as these fun day trips and outings to enjoy!
WORDS: GILLIAN HARVEY
National Picnic Month
If you love eating alfresco, you’ll be thrilled to discover that July is National Picnic Month. Summer is a great time to meet up with family or friends and bring an array of treats and seasonal fruits to share. For some gorgeous accessories, locations and recipe inspiration, turn to pages 38-41. Create a mouthwatering spread with colleagues on your lunch break, or meet up with friends for a leisurely afternoon in the sun as you nibble delicacies and treat yourself to a glass of something refreshing.
Picnics are an ideal way to rediscover your love of the great outdoors, stock up on vitamin D and socialise with loved ones. So pack up your wicker basket and your favourite blanket in readiness. Don’t forget the sunscreen or insect repellent (and of course the umbrellas, just in case!).
Plastic Free July
We all want to do our bit for the planet, but it can be hard to know where to start. Plastic Free July is a global movement hoping to encourage people to eliminate as much single-use plastic as possible for an entire month. Plan ahead to think of ways you can minimise your plastic use – carrying a reusable water bottle, buying from eco-friendly shops, or choosing paper packaging over plastic. For more ideas to reduce plastic waste, or to find out about events near you visit
www.plasticfreejuly.org .
ENGLAND RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival, July 2-7
This month, gardening enthusiasts will flock to Hampton Court for the annual RHS festival. The popular event features hundreds of exhibitors and an inspiring collection of show gardens. Stroll around floral marquees and enjoy demonstrations and talks by gardening professionals.
The RHS festival has a strong focus on environmental issues, with information and inspiration for growing your own food. There are ideas for cooking up your garden produce, with demonstrations by professional chefs. Fancy redesigning your garden? There’s a wealth of gadgets and accessories on sale.
Tickets start at £28.85 for non-RHS members.
NORTHERN IRELAND Buskfest, June 22
It takes a lot of confidence and a ton of talent to busk successfully, so it’s unsurprising that Buskfest – the international busking festival which takes place in Banbridge, County Down
