Look out for the width of it, too - there’s no point buying a smaller side if it’s only going to shade half the table.

If last summer is anything to go by, we could be in for a solid few weeks of summer sun this year, so getting your garden prepped to handle the rays is a must.

Whether cheerful, functional or stylish, a garden parasol offers protection from the sun’s glare and is an essential for any outdoor space you’re hoping to make the most of when the weather gets warmer.

If the idea of wrestling with a cumbersome garden umbrella doesn’t appeal to you (and frankly, why would it?) a wind up mechanism or tilt-able canopy will certainly make life easier.

You may wonder what the point of paying over the odds for an umbrella is, but the convenient features of this square number make it a proficient option whose quality will last for years.

The canopy is both water resistant and UV 50+ protected and can be detached for washing when it starts to get grimy. Attached to a cast iron swivel joint, it can be rotated 360 degrees as well as tilted up and down depending on the height of the sun. A base is included and it’s flat and wide enough to keep the umbrella standing even when it’s placed at the jauntiest of angles.