After months of being confined to our social bubbles, from the 17th May we will be able to invite up to 30 family and friends over for a garden party (see gov.uk for guidance). If you are an attentive gardener then the chances are your garden is virtually party-ready, but if you have not managed to get out in the garden over the Winter months then your garden may be untamed with a scattering of children’s toys over the lawn. The good news is that you have a few weeks to prep for a garden party and we have compiled a few helpful tips to make your garden comfortable and safe for guests.
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Dust off the lawnmower, adjust the cutting height to trim the grass down to 1.5-2 inches, this will create a neat green canvas for your guests to walk on. Tidy any edges and borders with a grass trimmer and clear away any leaves or debris with a petrol leaf blower.
Hide toys and muddles away in and around the shed and garage. Cover them with colourful fabric if you are short on time and space.
Follow Government Guidelines
Be sensible with the number of people you are inviting, regardless of Government Guidelines if you have a small garden then 30 guests may not be able to maintain a safe distance from each other and you will be potentially putting people at risk. Make sure you have pre-planned where everyone will sit or stand before inviting guests so you know you can fit them in.
If you are organising a children’s party then consider asking the parents to drop the children off and collect them after the party, this may be more stressful for the host, but it will ensure that guidelines are met.
When inviting guests make sure that you let them know that you have followed the Government guidelines, it is important that they feel confident about attending and safe while they are there. Being honest with yourself and others is key, if it looks like rain and the gazebo can only fit 10 people underneath safely, you will have to cancel or reduce the numbers at short notice. Let guests know this may be a possibility, they will understand. There is always the option of giving guests time slots so everyone can still attend but for a shorter time.
Make sure there is hand sanitiser readily available around the garden for guests to use on arrival and throughout the party.
Plan routes in and out so guests do not need to come through the house unless you do not have access. The Government guidelines state that guests can use the toilet if needed, but it would be an idea to explain to guests where it is and that they shouldn’t queue.
Create zones
As we know the weather in the UK is very unpredictable so having an undercover area or shelter in the garden is advisable. There are many marquees, gazebos and shades available to buy and one to suit any budget. If you are handy at DIY and fancy a project, then Garden Plans Free have step-by-step guides on how to build gazebos, pavilions and bars. An enclosed marquee or gazebo will need to maintain a good airflow (see gov.uk for guidance)
Creating seating areas for all guests will give you a good idea of how much space you will have to work with. It is not always possible to have chairs for everyone, being inventive with seating plans by using long planks as benches or asking guests to bring their own chairs or picnic blankets. Be prepared for colder weather with blankets, patio heaters or fire pits.
Serving Food
The standard party buffet is probably not the safest choice for food. If you do want to have a less formal meal, then options would be to pre-plate food for guests or ask guests to come one by one for you and serve them. Another option would be to separate guests into their support bubbles and give them platters to enjoy amongst themselves. BBQ’s are a good option as guests can be handed their food. The obvious rule would be that nibble bowls are a no-no!
Have A Good Time
It may seem like the logistics are a bit overwhelming and you might find your stress levels rising if the weather looks a bit iffy but remember that however it happens it will be good to socialise with people again, relax and enjoy the long-awaited celebration.