National Picnic Day took place way back in June, when the Met Board was still promising us a heatwave – but we’ve a few weeks of ‘summer’ left and, thanks to Cavan Bakery, we’ve now got an insight into the best places in South London and Surrey to max the last days of alfresco dining.
Photo by Evangelina Silina on Unsplash
Cavan Bakery is an independent bakery established in 1929. Currently run by the third generation of the Cavan family, the bakery has 13 shops across Southwest London and Surrey, one of which is a delightful riverside cafe. Cavan Bakery’s core values of ‘People, Passion, and Product’ are behind their dedication to creating lovingly crafted baked goods, which are made by a highly skilled team using premium
ingredients. Every product – from their original sourdough to their bestselling gingerbread men – is hand-made from scratch.
With delicious ingredients and treats with which to cram the hamper. who could blame the team at Cavan Bakery for asking their loyal and local clientele where they plan to head when the sun comes back?
Here are their answers….
Bushy Park
The second largest of London’s Royal Parks, Bushy Park covers almost 450 hectares. With a history reaching back as far as the Bronze Age, it includes remnants of medieval field systems, a Tudor deer park, early 18th-century Baroque water gardens, and WWII military camps. Yet for all of this, it is fabulously untamed; its one nod to formality being the 274 chestnut trees, planted in a double row by Sir Christopher Wren.
Richmond Park
With a history dating back to 1625, when King Charles I sought to escape the plague sweeping London by relocating to nearby Richmond Palace, this vast green space encompasses ancient woods and sprawling grassland, all of which are home to an incredible array of flora and fauna – from deer (which the King introduced, for the purposes of hunting) and birds, to fungi and wildflowers. In fact, it’s London’s largest Site of Special Scientific Interest, as well as being a National Nature Reserve.
Virginia Water Lake
Six miles from Windsor town centre, Virginia Water Lake lies on the southern edge of Windsor Great Park. Featuring woodlands and spectacular gardens, it covers 160 acres of waterways, paths, and gentle slopes. Picturesque as it is, it’s understandably popular with film makers, and has appeared in the 2010 version of Robin Hood (which starred Russell Crowe), as well as the 2005 film, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Jeff Greenall, Chairman of Cavan Bakery, says: “Being located in an area with so many fantastic green spaces, we wanted to find out where locals go to enjoy a sandwich, picnic or coffee. It’s good to know that, even with the busy lifestyles we all lead, our parks and natural beauty spots are still appreciated and visited. All nominations were deserved, but the top three, in particular, are wonderful picnic destinations.”
For more information or to find your nearest store, visit: Cavan Bakery
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