Is Grafham Water the best place for a picnic?

PACK your blanket, make your sarnies and head for Grafham Water, the Huntingdonshire beauty spot that could be named the best picnic location in the region, possibly the country. The area has always been a popular destination for cyclists and walkers, but

PACK your blanket, make your sarnies and head for Grafham Water, the Huntingdonshire beauty spot that could be named the best picnic location in the region, possibly the country.

The area has always been a popular destination for cyclists and walkers, but Grafham Water has now made it onto the shortlist in a competition to find East Anglia's best picnic spot.

However, to ensure Huntingdonshire takes the regional title, the public are needed to vote Grafham Water in the Warburton Picnic Awards competition.

The other shortlisted sites include Thetford Forest Park in Norfolk, Wandlebury Country Park in Babraham, Ferry Meadows Country Park in Peterborough, Dunwich Beach in Suffolk and Sea Palling Beach in Norfolk.

A spokesman for Anglian Water, which owns and runs the Grafham Water site, said: "We would be thrilled if Grafham Water won and we would urge as many people as possible to vote for us."

She added: "It is the perfect harmony between water, nature, wildlife and people. There are miles of footpaths and cycleways to be enjoyed and it is an absolutely stunning resource that offers some truly amazing views.

"It is an area of outstanding nature beauty on our doorstep and we would encourage more and more people to visit the site.

"Just remember to take your picnic wrappers home with your afterwards."

All regional winners will be presented with a £500 cash bursary and will go on to battle it out in the national competition and a cash prize of £1,000.

Last year's East of England winner was Sea Palling Beach in Norfolk, while the national award went to Cannon Hall in Yorkshire.

Jonathan Warburton, chairman of Warburtons, said: "The Warburtons Picnic Awards 2008 are a fantastic opportunity to celebrate one of our Great British traditions and uncover the most populist spots where families can enjoy a picnic."

INFORMATION: To vote for Grafham Water visit www.welovebread.co.uk or write to: Brand development, Warburtons, Hereford House, Bolton, BL1 8JB. Votes should be cast by Friday, May 16. The winner will be announced in the first week of June.

The Hunts Post's favourite picnic spots:

- Hinchingbrooke Country Park, Huntingdon

- Riverside Park, St Neots

- Pocket Park, St Neots

- "The frying pan", Hemingford Meadows, across the river from Wyton

- The green by St Thomas à Becket Church, Ramsey

- Fen Drayton Lakes, near Over, opposite the Pike and Eel, Needingworth

- Fen Drayton Lakes, Fen Drayton

- Brampton Wood

- The Green, Hilton

- Monk's Wood

And the one to avoid:

A lay-by on the A14 after getting caught up in traffic