Get ready for summer with a parasol and windbreak from B&Q

B&Q Fun Stripe Parasol

As soon as the sun is shining and it's relatively warm there's nothing I enjoy more than eating (and even working!) in the garden. Having a candy-striped parasol adds to the feeling of being on holiday – even if I am working at my laptop!

The B&Q Fun Strip Parasol is two metres across so gives mamimum coverage. It has a carry-bag for storage  and is a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified product so you can be confident that you are helping to safeguard the future of the world's forests.

This parasol is not designed to be left out in all weathers or used when it is particularly windy – but that probably goes without saying.

I think it is a very useful and attractive addition to my garden.

B&Q Windbreak

The B&Q windbreak comes neatly packed in a compact candy striped carry bag which matches the stripes of the windbreak. We spent a week on the coast on the Isle of Wight and the windbreak looked like it would be the perfect addition to our holiday; unfortunately my attempts to assemble it on the beach were aborted on a couple of occasions as the design was not up to the strong April breezes from the sea.

 I fared better erecting the windbreak in a sheltered garden and the photograph attached shows four children happily sheltering. I really wanted to like this windbreak as it looks great, is lightweight and is attractively priced at £14.99. Sadly the eight guylines and eight poles which create the structure to the polyester shelter are designed for sheltered conditions rather than windy seaside use and the metal spikes at the top of the poles were not very safe in the hands of my inquisitive children as I battled with the guyropes.

Admittedly, the accompanying instructions do state that it is "not designed for use in windy condition"', making this more of a privacy screen for a calm beach or park, rather than a busy family on a blustery Easter seaside break!