CLOSE your eyes and imagine the perfect summer picnic. The sun is shining but there are trees nearby offering shade if you need it. There's a gentle breeze and a lake just over yonder, in case you fancy a paddle. a red checked cloth is spread out on the grass and atop it lies a delectable selection of home-made treats. Baguettes, cheeses, rose wine, Victoria sponge cake, juicy strawberries and so much more are being enjoyed by friends and family while laughter fills the air. Time for a reality check. The grass is wet. The insects are biting. You forgot to bring a corkscrew. The sandwiches are squashed and soggy. Your perfect peace has been broken by someone blasting tartan techno out of a ghetto blaster. Didn't those die out in the 1980s? Picnics are something I dream about. a successful one is yet to happen. Mostly it's wasps that have been to blame, or the weather. But let us put the past behind us and focus on the ideal picnic. This can be an exceedingly eco-friendly experience, or a high-impact activity, depending on the choices you make. The food bit's easy. You know the sort of virtuous-yet-delicious stuff you should be taking with you. Fresh produce from farmers' markets or treats with the organic or Fairtrade stamp. Job done. What we don't want to see hitching a ride is a load of plastic packaging. I've become rather taken with the notion of bundling it all, Dic