Thursday’s Food & Fire meet-up in Ten Acres Woods looked a little different this week! We met up on 13th August, right in the middle of what felt like peak summer, with temperatures reaching a scorching 37°C. With that kind of heat, our usual plans for a woodland fire had to be put firmly on hold — but that certainly didn’t mean we couldn’t enjoy a great afternoon together.
In fact, we decided that if we couldn’t have fire, we’d have food!
Keeping Cool in the Woods
Our first priority was making sure everyone stayed safe and comfortable in the extreme heat. We brought along a large tarp to create some much-needed shade, as well as extra canisters of cold water so there was plenty available throughout the meet-up.
And, most importantly, we decided not to light a fire. With temperatures soaring and everything incredibly dry, it simply wasn’t worth the risk. Woodland fires and extreme heat are not a good combination, so this week was all about enjoying the outdoors responsibly.
Instead of fire cooking, we went all-in on a giant picnic.
A Feast Fit for a Heatwave
We certainly didn’t go hungry!
Our picnic spread had a bit of everything, with plenty of options to keep everyone fed while we relaxed under the tarp.
There were crudités and hummus, delicious sausage rolls, Quorn sausages, chicken skewers, seafood sticks and mini egg bites. For the snack lovers, we had biscuits galore, a selection of crisps and plenty of Pepperami sticks.
We also made sure there was lots of fresh fruit to help keep things light and refreshing in the heat, including grapes and honeydew melon.
One of the highlights was a refreshing watermelon and feta salad with balsamic dressing — exactly the sort of cool, juicy food that hits the spot when you’re sitting outside in 37-degree heat!
Everything that needed to stay chilled was carefully kept in the shade with ice packs, helping us keep the food cool and safe despite the temperatures.
Luna Had to Come Along Too
We also had Luna with us, but not because we had planned to bring her. Unfortunately, we had no choice but to bring her along, so we had to make sure she was as comfortable and safe as possible in the extreme heat.
We set her up in the shade underneath the tarp, made sure she had plenty of fresh water available and kept a close eye on her throughout the afternoon.
She even had her own personal fan to help keep her cool!
With temperatures reaching 37°C, we were particularly conscious of how quickly dogs can become overheated. Keeping Luna in the shade, hydrated and as cool as possible was a priority while we were there.
Definitely Too Hot for a Cuppa!
Usually, no woodland meet-up would be complete without a nice hot cuppa, but there was absolutely no chance of that this time around.
At 37°C, the last thing anyone needed was a steaming mug of tea or coffee!
Instead, we stuck to plenty of cold drinks, including water, coconut water and a large pack of Rubicon Tropical cans. The cold drinks were very welcome and helped everyone stay hydrated while we sat in the shade.
Sometimes you just have to accept that it is officially too hot for cuppas!
Making the Most of the Shade
For most of the afternoon, we stayed comfortably underneath the tarp, enjoying the food, chatting and taking advantage of every bit of shade we had created.
The tarp made a huge difference. With the sun beating down at full strength, having a shaded area gave everyone somewhere cool to retreat to and made it possible to enjoy being outside without sitting directly in the blazing sunshine.
Eventually, though, the sun began to move and the shade started creeping back.
Once we realised we were gradually losing our shaded area, we decided it was time to pack everything away. We ended up leaving only about an hour earlier than planned, which honestly wasn’t too bad considering the extreme conditions!
There was no point trying to push through once the shade disappeared. Staying cool and safe was far more important than squeezing every last minute out of the meet-up.
Food, Friends and Staying Safe
Although this Thursday’s Food & Fire meet-up didn’t involve the fire, it was still a lovely afternoon. Sometimes plans have to change depending on the weather, and 37°C is definitely weather that deserves some respect.
We swapped flames for a picnic, hot drinks for ice-cold refreshments and roasting for relaxing in the shade. It was a great reminder that outdoor meet-ups are about much more than just having a fire — it’s about getting together, enjoying some good food and spending time outdoors.
And when the weather throws a heatwave at you, you adapt!
Stay Safe and Stay Cool!
If you’re heading outdoors during this hot weather, please take care of yourselves and each other. Bring plenty of water, seek out shade, avoid unnecessary fires and don’t try to push through the heat if you’re feeling unwell.
And remember to keep an eye on your pets too. Make sure they have access to plenty of fresh water, shade and a cool place to rest. Our furry friends can overheat surprisingly quickly, especially during extreme temperatures.
Stay safe, stay cool and look after yourselves, everyone! ☀️💧🐾
And hopefully, next time we meet up, the weather will be a little more suitable for a Food & Fire evening — perhaps with a nice cuppa thrown in too! 🔥☕
