The Week - UK (2022-05-28)

36 LEISURE

THE WEEK 28 May 2022

Consumer

Woodluv

Luxury Wicker

Chiller Picnic

Hamper This four-

person wicker

hamper has a

complete set of

crockery and cutlery,

plus a bottle cooler

bag and a cooler

compartment. It

measures 27cm x

27cm x 43cm (£50;

amazon.co.uk).

New cars: what the critics say

Tips of the week...

how to press flowers

And for those who

have everything...

SsangYong Rexton

Price: from £37,995

What Car?

A comparatively luxurious

seven-seater, the Rexton is

based on the SsangYong

Musso pick-up truck.

SsangYong has kept things

simple with just one engine

• a 202bhp 2.2-litre four-
  cylinder diesel – and one
  eight-speed automatic
  gearbox on offer. All
  models are four-wheel
  drive with a towing
  capacity of 3,500kg. But
  in weighing over 2 tonnes,
  this SUV is not fast: it does
  0-60mph in 10.7 seconds.

Autocar

There’s no confusing this

4x4 family tank with its

predecessor, thanks to a

colossal chrome grille and

sharp new LED headlights.

It is still one of the largest

SUVs on sale, which

makes parking a challenge.

And although it may be

ruggedly dependable off-

road, it rides far less

compliantly on tarmac

than the competition.

Suspension is firm, the

chunky tyres are noisy

and the steering is vague.

The Independent

There are two trim levels

for this cavernous beast –

Ventura and Ultimate,

which has a larger 9in

infotainment display, rear

privacy glass, LED ambient

lighting in the cabin and

heated seats and steering

wheel. The Rexton has an

impressive boot, and nice

touches such as Nappa

leather seats and new

digital displays, but it’s still

a bit crude and noisy. Still,

for sheer size and pulling

power, it has few rivals.

● It takes between one and four weeks to

press flowers. For best results, use a flower

press with blotting paper and card to draw

out the moisture and prevent rotting.

● Choose flowers with a flat petal structure

and a slender stem and avoid large juicy

heads. Pick flowers when they are dry and

at their peak, and press them the same day.

● Blot the end of the stem, and position in

the middle of the blotting paper in the press

leaving plenty of room. Spread out petals

and leaves so that they lie as flat as possible.

● Lay another sheet of blotting paper on

top and press down gently, then add a layer

of card and another sheet of blotting paper,

alternating the position of the flower heads.

● After the last sheet of card, screw the

press shut and store somewhere dry and

warm for five days before opening. If the

paper feels damp, move the flower to the

opposite side or replace the blotting paper.

Leave in the press until the flowers are

papery and the stems dry and brittle.

SOURCE: THE DAILY TELEGRAPH SOURCE: COUNTRY LIFE SOURCE: THE OBSERVER

SOURCE: LONDON EVENING STANDARD

The sculptural Charnwood Fireball is

a relatively efficient way to create heat

on chillier evenings outdoors. Cut from

mild steel, and designed to oxidise over

time, it is supplied as a boxed flat-pack kit,

and can be assembled (with pliers, gloves

and a hammer) in an hour.

£150; vlaze.co

Manorbier Castle, Pembrokeshire This

Norman castle above a beautiful beach is

usually open to the public, but you have it

to yourself if you stay here. There are three

cottages and Castle House, which sleeps 12

(from £650/night, manorbiercastle.co.uk).

Overlooking the River Teifi in Wales,

Cardigan Castle, Ceredigion has medieval

battlements and Regency gardens to

explore. There are four self-catering

apartments and some b&b rooms (four

nights from £612, cardigancastle.com).

Tiverton Castle, Devon, built in 1106, is a

mix of romantic ruins, walled gardens and

the castle itself; there are three self-catering

flats, plus two houses to let (three nights

from £350, tivertoncastle.com).

Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland Perched

on a volcanic outcrop, this Norman keep

has three self-catering properties, including

the new clocktower, which sleeps five, with

views of Bamburgh Sands (from £3,140/

week, crabtreeandcrabtree.com).

The best... picnic hampers

Where to find... a stay

in a British castle

Two-Person Salcombe Barrel Picnic

Hamper Made from steamed willow, this

basket has everything you need for a

picnic for two – china

plates, wine glasses,

stainless-steel

cutlery and a

cooler bag. It

measures 46cm

x 30cm (£170;

joules.com).

Picnic Backpack

VonShef’s 3.35kg

backpack includes

cutlery and crockery

for four diners, salt

and pepper shakers,

a chopping board

and a corkscrew.

It has an insulated cooler

compartment and a waterproof-

backed large picnic rug (£58;

wayfair.co.uk).

Apollo Walker 2-Person Picnic

Backpack Available in three

colours, this backpack has a cooling

compartment, chopping board, bottle

opener, cheese knife, place settings,

cotton napkins and salt and pepper

shakers. It also has a detachable bottle

holder and waterproof backed picnic

blanket (£51-£53; amazon.co.uk).

Four-Person Natural Wicker Picnic

Basket This classic basket with

leather straps is for four people;

it has an insulated base,

plastic glasses, ceramic

plates, cutlery and a cool

bag, and there’s still plenty

of room for the picnic itself

(£80; oliverbonas.com).