And think herbs Pots of rosemary and thyme, arranged on the tabletop, look pretty and smell wonderful.I use cosmos, dahlias, delphiniums and sweet peas in summer. Think flowers Decorate with garden blooms to bring a seasonal flourish as well as colour, scent and texture.Add some gentle lighting Solar fairy lights, lanterns hanging from trees and flickering candles all add ambience.Get robust furniture that’s weatherproof If you have to spend ages setting it up, you probably won’t use it very often.Choose a sheltered spot Either naturally by a tree or a structure like a pergola.Story continues below.Ĭlodagh's top tips for summer suppers alfresco

The 300-year-old cottage sits in the grounds of Highclere Castle – owned by Harry’s family since the 17th century – and was originally a folly. Clodagh and husband Harry Herbert moved to Broadspear in 2017. It’s hard to believe this spot was an impenetrable mass of brambles just four years ago. Standing in the shade of the pergola, she’ll chop, char, stir and slice while butterflies dart among the beds. The simplicity of Clodagh’s dishes also means she can prepare them in the garden. If you grow a few tomato varieties – I love ‘Sungold’, ‘Tigerella’ and ‘Costoluto Fiorentino’ – they’re wonderful simply sliced on a platter.” People drown supermarket salad leaves in dressings because they don’t taste of anything, but all fresh rocket needs is a squeeze of lemon and olive oil. “When you put so much care into growing vegetables, you want the flavours to speak for themselves. The best thing about cooking with home-grown produce is that it shouldn’t be complicated, says Clodagh.

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