MEET

GEMMA

Woman smiling and posing in front of a white wall with vibrant pink bougainvillea flowers cascading over it. She is wearing a blue and white floral dress, and the ground is a concrete surface with some fallen flowers.

Mother of four, Somerset storyteller, and firm believer that life tastes better outdoors - better known these days as The Duchess of Picnics.

Inspirational quote on a black background, written in white cursive font: 'What if being joyful is the bravest thing we can do?'

Let’s be honest, life can feel like a never-ending juggle of school runs, meetings, and reheated cups of coffee. Between deadlines, dinner dilemmas, and dreams we never quite get round to, it’s all too easy to forget the good bits, the slow bits, the outside bits, the moments that make you feel alive.

I should know — I lost sight of them too.

But somewhere between motherhood, midlife, and one too many half-packed picnic baskets, I found my way back. Not through grand gestures or perfect plans, but through gathering. The kind that happens under trees, over tea, and in the middle of ordinary days.

I’m Gemma — mother of four, storyteller, and founder of The Piknic Club. Also known (to some and quite proudly) as The Duchess of Picnics. Because life’s best moments don’t need an occasion, they just need a blanket, a basket, and a reason to pause.

These days, I help people rediscover that feeling, of connection, beauty, and joy, one picnic, one story, and one season at a time. I still collect far too much blue-and-white crockery, sing loudly at musicals, and firmly believe champagne tastes best outdoors.

You’re not too much. The world just got too greige and boring.

Real moments over filtered ones. Wobbly, wonderful, messy gatherings that smell like grass and taste like strawberries. Perfection is not the price of joy. Participation is.

I BELIEVE:

Filtered living. Rules about what joy should look like. Pretending the children aren't feral or the weather isn't doing something completely unreasonable. I'm here for the honest version.

I’M NOT ABOUT:

In Somerset, with a blanket, a basket, and a small army of children ranging from toddler chaos to teenage eye-rolls. Usually humming a show tune, chasing the afternoon light, or rummaging through antique shops for blue and white crockery I absolutely do not have room for.

YOU CAN FIND ME:

What I Actually Do

I am Britain's most dedicated picnic expert. I say that with complete sincerity and only a small amount of embarrassment.

I research, write, photograph and teach the art, history and joy of the outdoor meal. My Picnic Chronicles series is tracing four thousand years of outdoor dining — from the feasting tables of ancient Egypt to the Victorian railway hamper, from the French Revolution's al fresco celebrations to the gingham-lined summers of Brideshead and Bridgerton. It is, to my knowledge, the most comprehensive guide to British picnic history and culture currently available anywhere.

I also research the science of joy and gathering — drawing on work from Harvard, Oxford and the wider positive psychology field to make the case that a blanket on damp grass is one of the most evidence-backed things you can do for your wellbeing. Not because it sounds nice. Because the data genuinely supports it.

My work has been featured in Somerset Life magazine. I am available for press, broadcast, and podcast appearances, brand collaborations, event hosting, and speaking engagements. If you need Britain's Duchess of Picnics — for a quote, a commission, or a picnic on a castle lawn — I'm right here.

hello@gemmaduck.com for press enquiries.

A woman with blonde hair smiling outdoors, standing next to a wooden fence with greenery and trees in the background, in black and white.

What I’m Known For

🌷 Inspiring people to gather more, worry less, and find joy in the ordinary moments — the ones hiding in plain sight between the school run and the reheated coffee.

📸 Chasing light with my camera and turning outdoor moments into content that's genuinely beautiful — because your product, your story and life little moments deserves better than a white background and a ring light.

🧺 Turning picnics into a personality trait (because obviously)

🌿 Building The Piknic Club — a brand that's redefining what it means to connect, create, and celebrate outdoors. Starting with the seasonal box that lands on your doorstep four times a year with everything you need for a picnic worth remembering.

🎤 Knowing more about the history of the British picnic than is probably reasonable for one person, and being completely delighted about it.

👑 Running a home, a business, and a thriving family taxi service involving four children, a camera bag, and a frankly excessive number of picnic blankets. Usually in wellies. Always with snacks.

SPREAD THE JOY

  • A white bust sculpture of a woman wearing tortoiseshell sunglasses, placed in front of a window with a blurred outdoor background, with the words "My Musings" written at the bottom.

    The picnic has four thousand years of history. The science of joy is genuinely surprising. And Somerset looks extraordinary at golden hour. The blog is where all of it lives — written from my kitchen table with the occasional very strong opinion about gingham.

    Come and read
  • A promotional poster for The Piknic Club with a background of people picnicking in a park under a large tree, featuring a white oval border, a small strawberry icon, and text reading "Life is too short for boring picnics" and "Est. 2025."

    Four times a year, a carefully curated seasonal box lands on your doorstep. Somerset-sourced, Duchess-curated, and packed with the things that actually belong on a picnic blanket. The Piknic Club Box launches Summer 2026 — and the waitlist is open now.

    Join the waitlist

  • My version of snail mail, personal musings, letters and notes from my Somerset kitchen table. Joy science, seasonal living, the small things worth noticing, and the occasional reminder that life doesn't have to wait until everything calms down. It never does. You know this.

    Read JoyMail
A woman sitting on the grass in front of a flower garden, smiling and looking to the side.
Two women relaxing and smiling on grass in front of a stone wall, one with blonde hair wearing a yellow floral top, and another with curly blonde hair lying down in a pink top.

Why I Do This

Because I think we’ve all forgotten how good life can feel when we stop rushing.

Because gathering outdoors shouldn’t be reserved for special occasions or sunny weekends, it should be part of how we live, connect, and recharge.

I built The Piknic Club as a joyful rebellion against busyness and beige living. A reminder that life doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful, it just needs a blanket, good company, and a reason to celebrate the everyday.

This is my way of helping people fall back in love with the outdoors, with each other, and with the sheer magic of a shared moment.

My Joy Philosophy

(in case you’re wondering)

Joy isn’t fluffy, it’s foundational.

It’s not about doing more, it’s about being here — in the moment, in the season, in the company of people who make your heart lighter.

It’s found in gathering, in traditions that tether us, and in noticing the little details most people rush past.

I believe in living seasonally, laughing often, and choosing beauty even when the world feels a bit beige. Because joy ripples, it starts small, spreads quietly, and before you know it, it’s changed the whole room.

A woman with blonde hair and pink lipstick is smiling as she burns candles on a cupcake birthday cake decorated with colorful sprinkles, placed on a wooden table with scattered sprinkles, with a white background.

SUPER FUN

NOW FOR THE IMPORTANT STUFF

FACTS

01

Sunsets over sunrises, always. I’ve never met a 6am I liked.

02

Gingham is a neutral, I consider it my picnic-based personality trait.

03

I collect blue and white crockery like it’s a competitive national sport.

Champagne goes with everything (including leisurely hikes, breakdowns, birthdays, Tuesday afternoons and business plans).

04

Okay, this one’s mildly embarrassing, but I have a huge fear of popping balloons. I’ve birthed four humans but will still leave the room if someone starts inflating one.

05

A group of diverse people, including children and adults, smiling and posing outdoors in front of Spaceship Earth at EPCOT, Disney World.
A white wooden cabinet with decorative blue and white vases on top, filled with pink tulips. The cabinet has a glass door revealing white vases and a purple patterned bag inside. A floral-patterned plate is mounted on the wall above the vases.
A woman with blonde hair smiling while standing outdoors near a body of water, wearing earrings and a light-colored sweater.

So whether you’re here to work together, read something joyful, join the movement, or just breathe a bit deeper, welcome. I’m glad you’re here.

Now, pour the tea, pull up a blanket, and let’s make life feel a little more like you again.

Handwritten text reading 'love grandma' in green cursive on a black background
A woman and a young girl are at the beach, both blowing bubbles. The woman is wearing sunglasses and a white shirt, and the girl is in a striped shirt. They appear to be enjoying a sunny day outdoors.
A woman with blonde hair smiling outdoors, leaning on a wooden railing, wearing a white eyelet dress and a purple cardigan, with a woven basket hanging on the railing, trees and cloudy sky in the background.