When packing a picnic most people make sure they’ve got their sandwiches, fruit, cold meats and drinks - but during national picnic week you might want something a bit more special.

And a butchers in Telford is offering just that.

Bakers at the family firm G. N. Badleys & Sons butchers, based in Trench, have cooked speciality cheese and onion sausage rolls and pork pies with pickle for one week only from June 13.

Alma Robertson, bakery assistant, said: “It is a bit of fun to mark this national occasion.

“Most people may not even know that it’s national picnic week but we try to do what we can to make a little difference whenever an opportunity arrives.

“As we’re based in Telford we thought this was a good occasion to get involved in - we have so many beautiful picnic spots from the Wrekin, the Ercall, the Town Park and many more - it is something we can really celebrate.

“The only thing you can’t guarantee in Shropshire is the weather - but if you’ve got the best picnic food available then I’m sure as we’re British we’ll just get an umbrella and continue to enjoy it outside.”

The aim of National Picnic Week, which is now a decade old, is to provide people with the ideal opportunity to get together over a picnic with advice, tips, recipes and information.

Across Shropshire special events will take place at Carding Mill Valley and Ye Olde Punch Bowl Inn pub in Bridgnorth - and recipe ideas will be showcased on Lorraine, the ITV television show.

As one of the UK’s most enjoyable summer traditions, bosses at G. N. Badleys & Sons are encouraging people to take advantage of open spaces and try out the new tasty treats, on sale at the shop in Gibbons Road.

Operations director Kay Badley, whose husband set up the butchers in 1976, said: “We have a lot of customers coming in to prepare for a picnic during the summer months.

“The cooked meats like ham, silverside of beef, leg of pork, turkey breast, ox tongue and stuffed pork are very popular along with the pastries like pork pies sausage rolls and scotch eggs.
“But we don’t want people to tire of the standard chicken pieces or the sausages to pack into their lunch - we wanted to make people think about what they can get and where they can go, hopefully these new products specially designed for the occasion will do just that.

“They will only be available for the national week - but if they are popular we will think about extending it, so have a try while you can.”

For more information on the latest products call 0808 901 2110, email info@gnbadleyandsons.co.uk or visit the website www.gnbadleyandsons.co.uk.