h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Just a few tips on how to keep creepy-crawlies out of your picnic food:

>food covers; these can be purchased from garden stores, or even places like Habitat or Cargo, who do quite nice patterned ones. They are very much like umbrellas, but without the handle in the middle. I would recommend you get the largest one that you can afford, so that you can cover the food all in one go.

>citronella candles; nice if you are having a picnic in your garden. The natural citronella extract is meant to be a really good bug deterrent. Oh and it smells quite nice too, lemony, citrussy smell (just like the name suggests...). These do tend to be a fire risk in the outdoors, so remember to totally extinguish them and remove any matches from the area when you have finished.

>A portable bug zapper; these run on batteries, and attract bugs toward them, and well, they become rather dead bugs. I'm not sure where you can get portable ones from; but try asking the garden store again.

>Wrap food up; keep food covered, eg; sandwiches in clingfilm, other stuff in tupperware pots. This means that even if bugs crawl over it, they are still protected by the clingflim or the container.

>Don't use sprays or bug powder; chances are that you will get them into your food. Not very nice as these will cause stomach upsets.

>Be aware! Keep an eye on you food; if you do see that a wasp or other bug intends to eat it before you, wave it away with a newspaper.

I'm sure that there are many more tips.....over to you!

Stay ,
WD