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The French Connection

I always thought that France was one of the better pro-naturist countries. However, the French Naturist Federation has found itself citing BN and British Laws and attitudes to public nudity as being something to admire and they have raised concerns about legal developments in France.
They have started a petition and called for crowdfunding to help with their campaign. In February last year, a 22 year old man was sentenced to a year in prison for sunbathing naked on a beach in Carnac, in June a naturist was was fined €600 by Nimes Criminal court and the Paris World Naked Bike Ride in September was banned.
The problem seems to be a reinterpretation of “Article 222-32 of the Criminal Code on Sexual Exhibition" which states:
"The sexual exhibition imposed to the view of others in a public area shall be punished by one year's imprisonment and a fine of €15,000".
But this article was meant to replace an earlier one in an attempt to differentiate between simple nudity and an intent to cause alarm and distress. The French want formal legal guidelines similar to our own.
Read and sign the petition
 

 

The Naked Pub - and it's local to you!

Did you know there is a pub where all the customers are encouraged to be naked? In fact, on a Friday night, you'll actually find that they all happen to be Naturists as well. How cool is that? What a great crowd to be part of! Also, you'll never have to queue at the bar, nor be overcharged for your drinks and you're welcome to get refills whenever you like. I'd like to say that it's a place that is right up your street, but the best part is that you don't even have to go that far. 
Book your place now for our online pub chat session tonight and enjoy the company of like-minded people, from the comfort of your own home.  Invite your friends and family too...
Cheers!
Details on how to join the events will be found in the Members’ Area of the BN website All BN members have access to the Members' Area as part of your subscription. If you need help on how to access it, please have a look at these guides: 
https://www.bn.org.uk/quickstart and https://www.bn.org.uk/guides/not-logged-in/what-is-my-username-and-password-members-only-r10. 
Our online events are also open to INF members. 
If you are not a member, it is easy to join, access the forum and gain many more benefits. It costs less than £4 a month. Find out more at: 
https://www.bn.org.uk/membershipinfo and https://www.bn.org.uk/guides/memberships. 
 

 

Let me paint you while we've got nothing on...

Are you ever at loss wondering to what to do with your lockdown time? Well when Greenpoint resident Amanda Geller was laid off from her job as the wine steward (or “sommelier”) in a Manhattan restaurant, she quickly realised it was an ideal opportunity to spend more time with her lifelong passion - painting.
But not just still life in and around the home. No, Amanda, whose most recent art course was figure drawing, asked her friends to send her naked pictures of themselves which she then committed to canvas. The local community website found out and she agreed to an interview. She told Greenpointers.com:
“It started out as a joke when I asked my friends in a group chat if they wanted to ‘send me their nudes’ for me to paint, now, after five days ,I have had around 30 people send their pictures — some that I don’t even know.”
But many of her subjects were fellow hospitality workers who were also sitting round twiddling their thumbs due to the New York lock down.
“After the quarantine is over I plan to launch an online gallery showing and donate a portion of the proceeds to women in hospitality who have lost work due to the shutdown. Mostly the project is something fun during these crazy times that celebrates women and all types of beauty. A woman takes a nude when she is feeling sexy and awesome and I love capturing that in a piece of art that they can show off and feel good about themselves.”
Follow Amanda on Instagram  
 

From the archive: Tell the Neighbours? Why?

Here's an article from the Summer of 2018, but just as relevant now. Keep an eye out for our celebration of garden nakedness, to be announced soon!
 
Despite the news we announced a few weeks ago confirming that Naturism is perfectly lawful, a number of high-profile publications have come out during the heatwave with nonsense about nude sunbathing. It's misleading, irresponsible and - worst of all - based on a social media post from a year ago. Obviously a slow news week.
BN have since been courted by other media outlets (a nice one for example in The Guardian) and have taken the opportunity on behalf of all Naturists and wannabe Naturists (of whom there are many more in this hot weather seeing the complete sense of taking it all off so as to cool down) to put the record straight.
Being naked in a public place can only be a crime if the naked person undressed with the intention of causing alarm and distress. 
Are we clear on that? There is no need to 'warn' your neighbours that you are sunbathing naked (or even topless, as one article had it - we're in the 21st Century, did you know that?) in the same way that you wouldn't consider warning them about the wafting smells from your soon-to-be-lit BBQ, embarking on playing noisily with your kids or anticipating cheering loudly for all the street to hear when Harry Kane scores his seventh in Russia. 
Let's grow up. We're all naked underneath, in all our various shapes and sizes. It's only social convention that suggests certain body parts must always be covered up. It's right to challenge that, to reclaim our humanity and to realise that the world doesn't end if someone sees a nipple or backside when they didn't expect to. It's a wonderful feeling to be naked in the sunshine and fresh air. Try it, and you never know, the neighbours might decide to join you.
 
Photo by Randy Fath on Unsplash
 

Tonight! An online event session Open to All!

Our online event programme is proving very popular and we're seeing a huge number of people joining BN to be able to take part. Fantastic! It certainly eases the pain of lockdown if you can enjoy being part of a naked community.
Today we bring you four pieces of news...
1. One of our yoga sessions is Open to All. You don't need to be a BN member to participate. It's tonight at 20:30 (BST). Find out how to book your place.
2. The programme has been expanded to include MORE activities that you can take part in from anywhere in the world - choose from (or do them all...) social events - coffee morning and pub night; health and exercise - yoga, fitness and aerobics; debate and discussion and interviews; meditation; and a cook-along naked kitchen. Oh, and there's more in the pipeline...
3. All sessions are now open to (and free of charge) to members of the International Naturist Federation. 
4. We've launched a new booking system which will simplify the process of booking for sessions for participants and make it easier for us to remind you when your sessions are happening. You'll also be able to create an account and see all the sessions you've booked in once place. Visit our online event listing and get booking! Tell your friends too...

It's #WorkNakedWednesday!

Don't the weeks fly by? It doesn't feel like a whole seven days since we decided to throw off our clothes and work naked. Perhaps that's because many of us - and not just Naturists - are spending a lot of our lockdown time undressed, especially if we are working from the comfort of our own home and taking advantage of this unseasonable April weather. And why not? Doesn't it make you feel great? 
There is no law in the country that tells anyone what they can and can't wear in any circumstances. British Naturism has been in the forefront of clarifying this simple fact with the police and other authorities, in the face of decades of social conditioning and Victorian values that have made people assume that public or social nakedness is wrong. In fact, it's the opposite, as there are many health and well-being benefits to spending time not being wrapped up in clothes. It's also liberating, improves body-image and is a lot of fun!
Let's tackle one big barrier to working naked: colleagues! British Naturism run a variety of events (well, under normal circumstances, we do) in venues like hotels and waterparks where the staff on duty remain clothed. Many of them say to us how they admire us and would like to join in but they wouldn't want to in front of their work-mates. We can get the same reaction from Naturist newbies who are nervous that they might meet someone at a Naturist gathering who they know. But one naked body is very like another when everyone is undressed and - as amazing as it sounds - you soon forget you are naked among other naked people. At our events, we're seeing a huge increase in friends booking together and people bringing members of their family. So, if you are in the workplace and want to embrace #WorkNakedWednesday, then go ahead and see who will join you.
Like so many things in society, what's deemed 'unusual' quickly becomes normal when it's seen, heard, and talked about. Taboos and stigma fade away when something becomes 'acceptable'. Let's make that happen to being nude...it's good for Every Body.
If you are having a great time with #WorkNakedWednesday and want to record it, do send in your photos...
 
 

BN speaks! A You Tube interview

It's easy to practice social distancing when you are in the UK and the interviewer is in Massachusetts...
Here's an interview I did recently for Jon Coleman, the force behind Apocatastasis - an Institute for the Humanities, talking about a wide variety of aspects of Naturism.
 
 
 
Photo by Lee Soo hyun on Unsplash

From the archive: Naked Beach

This article appeared on the BN website in April 2019. We didn't imagine that we'd add 'deathly viruses' to that list in paragraph 4. Tomorrow night's online discussion will be with Naked Beach's Dr Keon West. Incidentally, it appears that Naked Beach is still available to watch on All4...
 
We’re enjoying Channel 4’s Naked Beach programme. We recommend it if you’ve not seen it, especially if you are not (yet) part of the Naturist community in the UK. There are no spoilers in this article. 
Of course, it’s not a programme about Naturism but the subject goes to the heart of what we stand for. Spending time naked is good for everyone! 
Tall or short, large or small, oversized or undersized, lumpy, bumpy, blemished, scarred, stretched, disfigured - we’re all the same underneath - wonderfully human. 
With famine, drought, homelessness, war and persecution worldwide it seems a particularly first-world issue to be depressed about the way you look, but for the participants in the programme - filmed in a stunning location - it’s very real. Can the company of naked people help them overcome it?
Although the format is that of a reality TV show, with members of the public taking centre stage and carrying-out prescribed tasks, it’s done sensibly and sensitively. It’s fantastic how the chosen hosts are not the usual airbrushed (and sometimes air-headed) wannabe celebrities who front such shows.
The programme makers were inspired by the survey in this story. Some members of British Naturism were involved in the studies and the show’s Dr Keon West has been a guest speaker at our events. Great to see the experiment taken to a wider audience.
Natasha Devon MBE, who co-hosts the programme with Dr Keon also published this excellent article on body image and we stand bare shoulder to shoulder with her in her views.
If you’ve been inspired by Naked Beach and want to get those great feelings for yourself, come and join us!

Updated: The Full Programme of BN Online events!

Hundreds of British Naturism members have enjoyed the first full week of our new programme of online events. We've also seen a sharp increase in new joiners wishing to become part of the community during the long lockdown hours - and to have something to entertain them or keep them fit.
We've been adding events all the time and are now delighted to bring you the full programme. There's something every day, from yoga and mediation, through fitness and exercise, to discussions and workshops. There's a special afternoon tea for Easter Sunday and a coffee morning or pub night, depending on your choice of beverage....please let your friends know what's happening and invite them to join in.
Details on how to join the events will be found in the Members’ Area of the BN website All BN members have access to the Members' Area as part of your subscription. If you need help on how to access it, please have a look at these guides: 
https://www.bn.org.uk/quickstart and https://www.bn.org.uk/guides/not-logged-in/what-is-my-username-and-password-members-only-r10. 
If you are not a member, it is easy to join, access the forum and gain many more benefits. It costs less than £4 a month. Find out more at: 
https://www.bn.org.uk/membershipinfo and https://www.bn.org.uk/guides/memberships. 

From the archive: Running Wild, Running Free

A YBNer’s first time running the BH5K at the Naturist Foundation from 2018. Want to experience a naked run for yourself? The Nudefest 5k in September is open for booking 
It's early Sunday morning and I'm already in the car and a few minutes into a sat-nav defined 35-minute journey south. Having driven this route before I know that the sat-nav is not being entirely honest with me. I live in central London so navigating the traffic, road works, pedestrians, cyclists, traffic lights and whatever else will take me a good amount of time. Those 35 minutes, I know, will have become 85 by the time I arrive. 
But nevertheless, I'm always glad to be venturing out of the city. I do it a lot, so today really is no different. Today, I'll be taking part in a 5K run which, again, is not unusual and I'll be doing it with about 150 other people. Also not unusual. But those people, myself included, will all be naked. 
As my interest in the naturist movement has grown over the last few years, I’ve often found myself wondering why it is unusual is and, moreover, why there is a ‘naturist movement’ anyway. On my drive down to the Naturist Foundation’s BH5K, I began to think on it some more. My theory is that it has a fair amount to do with domestic society i.e. naturism in societies wherein social nudity, and nudity in general, is commonly associated with sex and seediness. Britain, for one, is quite guilty of that. 
Of course, there are plenty of societies/countries where naturism is practised that have a completely healthy perspective on being naked. Germany is an obvious one but look further north to Scandinavia or further south to, say, Croatia, and you’ll see similar, equally nonchalant attitudes to nudity. Having been brought up in a relatively conservative British family, being naked was a state to embrace in private or, if it came to it, in front of the doctor, hence the notion of naturism certainly never figured in daily conversation. Therefore, it seems to me that cultures of living naked, socialising naked, exercising naked, holidaying naked or simply hanging out at a campsite naked specifically in countries where this is uncomfortable for most, is in part an extreme reaction to prudishness and the general association of nudity equalling Sex. I can’t help but wonder if the Victorians hadn’t ushered in their frightfully unnatural belief that being naked is shameful we’d all, every person in the country, have markedly more open minds about being sans clothes.
I enjoy being naked, a lot, and I see absolutely nothing shameful, wrong, embarrassing or otherwise about - that doesn’t make me a weirdo or an exhibitionist. Like the connection between mind and muscle that is advocated to gym-goers as the holy grail of doing weight-bearing exercise, I believe that being naked is vital to facilitating the strongest connection between mind and body. By being exposed to the natural world, our entire bodies are able to feel it. The wind, as it swirls around and caresses every inch of us. The sunlight as it warms those parts of us usually covered by layers of fabric, and the frosty air as it creeps in and chills them. That beautiful sensation of sliding in and out of the pool without clingy swimwear pulling itself in to every crevasse. The realisation that no one is staring at your naked body and hey, if they do happen to check you out, so what? I’m comfortable in my own skin and I’ll thank you to appreciate it. 
I’ve never done any kind of naked running before and as a fitness addict it’s bizarre that I haven’t. My ancient Greek ancestors have been up there on Mount Olympus these past 29 years, chuckling in disbelief. But today is finally that day. Today, I’m running the BH5K because I love the freedom of being without clothes and have the sneaking suspicion that I’ll enjoy running that way too. 
Back in the car, 85 minutes have passed by the time I arrive at the Naturist Foundation. There’s already a queue of cars waiting to get in and we’re being asked to park as close as physically possible to other cars. Sardines, meet the can. Some folk are already undressing by the boots of their cars, others will do so in the changing rooms on site, but either way, there is a healthy mix of the nude and the not already milling around. Once I’ve registered, I head back out and over to the changing room where I disrobe and return again to the growing assortment of my fellow, naturist runners. 
As usual with groups of naturists in the UK, there is a wide-ish mix of folk but, as is also common, most of the people here are male, the majority of whom are in the 40+ demographic. There are a handful of younger guys here and there, and perhaps 10-15 women in total, but it’s clear that I’m amongst the very youngest here and certainly of the most well represented gender. My mind, as it often does, drifts off again and I wonder why more women, both young and older, are not so attracted to this environment. Is it the case of being afraid of the jump? The kind of fear that drags us away from the open aeroplane door but which, once we’ve mustered the strength to push it aside and taken that jump, turns into pure adoration, perhaps even exhilaration. Is it self-awareness? Or perhaps just a case of being uncomfortable being naked in front of others and simply not enjoying it, irrespective of any fear? 
As there is still plenty of time before the route walk, I take the opportunity to go for a swim in the club’s wonderfully warm pool and warm up with a gentle 10 lengths. Before I know it, a voice over the tannoy announces the imminent commencement of the walk so I quickly dry off and join the crowd. I notice everyone has race numbers lipsticked onto their chests and shoulders, so I head back over to the clubhouse for my own. I’m number 17. As I don’t wear lipstick it takes me a clumsy brush of my own arm against my chest to recognise that this stuff smudges. I make a mental note and a conscious effort to avoid contact with any of the freshly numbered areas of my upper body. 
The route this year differs to the one last year, as I understand it, and requires us to take three loops around the entire site before peeling off for the final few hundred metres to the finish line. Once we’ve all walked the full circuit we arrive back at the start. Here I bump into Julie who taps me on the shoulder and says ‘Hi! Remember me?!’. Julie and her husband were the first people I met at the club when I first visited last year and were both incredibly warm and friendly. But stood in front of her, I can’t help but realise the irony of our meeting: I might not have recognised her had we been wearing clothes, and likely she would not have recognised me either. In any other environment, it would probably have been ‘Oh, Taylor! Sorry, I didn’t recognise you with your clothes on!’. We chat briefly and I’m pleased to see a familiar face. So far it feels as if everyone else already knows everyone else. I’m sure that’s not the case but so friendly is the naturist crowd that it’s tough to discern who is and is not familiar with one another. 
It’s also here that I really get a good measure of today’s turnout and it’s excellent. The group is big and buzzing to get started and we’re all rewarded quickly. After a short announcement inaugurating this year’s event, we’re off. 
Now, if you’ve never seen or been part of a large group of naked runners, there’s something that you need to know. The atmosphere is joyous. It’s respectful and, more than anything, it’s just like any other running race. The thrill of taking part in a sporting event, however grassroots, or private, or local, is ever present. I’d started right at the very back of the runners and looking down that first strait, it was jiggly butt cheeks for as far as the eye could see. I’ll admit, there’s a competitive streak in me that sometimes I fight against but most times I lose that little battle. Today, alas, was no different. I’d gone to the back of the pack to keep out of the way of the more serious runners and to simply enjoy the run for what it was, but before long I found myself slowly working my way in front of other runners. I do enjoy the thrill of the chase and today it’s a chase I’ll be thrilled by for the entire 5K. 
By the time I reach the final stretch to the finish, there’s already a good number of people catching their breath and sipping on the orange juice being handed out at one of the tables. I’m handed a card with the number 52 on it and figure I must have passed about 100 other runners. I’m pleased with my effort and after overhearing some of the earlier finishing times I understand that there are some seriously strong runners on site. Again, my mind begins to wonder. This time, I consider the benefits of running naked on my own training. At the very least, I tell myself, there’ll be no material to flap around, catch the backdraft and slow me down. I commit to looking into naked running a little more seriously. 
It’s been 25 minutes since the start of the race and, for me, it’s done. I hang around for a little while longer and clap several runners over the finish line but, as I’ve a busy day ahead of me, decide to treat myself to one final dip in the pool so I shower off and return to that delightful water. After a couple of lengths it becomes a bit too busy to do any real swimming so I leave and, to my joy, find the sauna has been turned on. I duck right in and quickly strike up a conversation with Adam, a chatty gentleman who tells me that he’s driven down from Leicester over 130 miles away. I ask him why he’s travelled so far and he replies, simply: ‘Because it’s wonderful here. I’m lucky enough to own some private land back home and occasionally have people come over and join me, but here there’s an entire society to engage with and there’s not many other places with such a large community all in one place’. 
And it’s true. There really is something about being here that is hard not to enjoy. Perhaps it’s the community spirit. Maybe it’s the amount of likeminded people to hang out with or the size of the site. Maybe it’s just the post-naked-race endorphin high. For me, it’s the freedom and the lack of archaic societal restrictions on embracing my own body. And yes, I also loved the run. Loved it.
Taylor
 
Photo: BN/Mark Bass

The online events programme grows...

Hundreds of BN members have already taken advantage of the opportunities for free exercise and entertainment from our online events programme. Yoga classes, fitness, a cookery demonstration and a discussion forum have already taken place.
We're growing the programme all the time and you can expect to see new classes announced very soon. One new class we can announce is 'Dry Aquarobics' on Saturday afternoon. It's aquarobics without the water! Unless, you have the luxury of a pool of your own...
We're also pleased to announce that Dr Keon West will be joining us for next Monday's discussion group meeting, and don't forget our Easter Sunday afternoon tea! A world first?
Details on how to join the events will be found in the Members’ Area of the BN website All BN members have access to the Members' Area as part of your subscription. If you need help on how to access it, please have a look at these guides: 
https://www.bn.org.uk/quickstart and https://www.bn.org.uk/guides/not-logged-in/what-is-my-username-and-password-members-only-r10. 
If you are not a member, it is easy to join, access the forum and gain many more benefits. It costs less than £4 a month. Find out more at: 
https://www.bn.org.uk/membershipinfo and https://www.bn.org.uk/guides/memberships. 

It's 'Work Naked Wednesday'!

So it's official! Today is #WorkNakedWednesday....
OK - so we made it up! But what an opportunity to give Naturism a try in the comfort of your new workplace - at home! It's perfectly legal to enjoy the sun in your garden too.
 
Give your birthday suit an airing 
We've all got a body under our clothes - it's nothing to be ashamed of. You're probably not bothering to get fully dressed, if at all, these days, so if you've never tried it, take that extra step today. 
 
Strip into something more comfortable 
You'll be joining millions of people around the world who have already discovered the exhilarating freedom that comes with being naked and who have also found that their self-esteem increases as a result. This survey showed how being naked can make you happier.
 
See more of your friends (online, at least)
Spread the word - see how your friends and colleagues feel about adopting #worknakedwednesday with you...a top reason why people get involved in Naturism is the social context and the welcoming, vibrant, happy and healthy community it creates. Feel free to post about it on social media #worknakedwednesday.
 
The more observant of readers will have noticed that there is another Wednesday in a mere week's time...look out for another #worknakedwednesday then!
 
 

Got Time On Your Hands? Why not write for BN Magazine

British Naturism Magazine depends on members and others sending in their articles, features and reports.  Regular readers will know that each issue contains a dedicated travel feature and we are always looking for written reports and stunning photographs to showcase naturist holiday places around the world.  
If you have time on your hands now may be the time for you to get round to writing for the magazine.  We are looking for:
Features and articles - you might write about your first Naturist experience, how you discovered Naturism, an interesting story about how you told friends about your interest in Naturism, or any Naturist related item or experience.
Travel -  If you have been to a splendid place that you would like to recommend to others then please do write about it. Please note that in the next issue - and perhaps very timely in current circumstances - one of the travel features is the UK and so if you have had a great stay at a Naturist place in this country, please do think about writing.
Information on 'How to Contribute' can be found in the downloadable PDF file at the foot of this article, or please contact magazine@bn.org.uk
Please note; every submission to BN magazine is given consideration but unfortunately we cannot guarantee that everything we receive can be published.
Photographs, especially those showing happy naked people enjoying themselves really help our decision to publish an article or travel report. We are always happy to have a look at all of your pictures and make our selection.  We will assume that all people featured in the images have given consent for it to be published.  Whilst British Naturism is a members magazine, as printed material, we have no control over who eventually reads it. 
How to Contribute - for web.pdf

Event news: Nudefest Rescheduled

It will come as no surprise that we have had to look carefully at whether it would be practicable to proceed with Nudefest as originally planned.  Unfortunately, the global lockdown caused by COVID-19 means that running Nudefest in July is no longer possible.  
However, we are not put off so easily so have rescheduled for the end of the summer.  We are very pleased to announce the revised dates for Nudefest 2020 are Monday 7th - Monday 14th September 2020.
Visit nudefest.co.uk to find out more about our flagship annual festival.
...and click here, if you booked for the original date in July and want to find out what happens to your booking.

You can leave your mask on...

While us well behaved British Naturists are studiously obeying the Corona “lockdown”, others around the globe seem to have a perilously relaxed attitude. President Trump for instance is of the “Do as I say not as I do” school of thought and refuses to wear a facemask due, he says, to having a “beautiful, beautiful resolute desk” in the Whitehouse.
According to a report on the Expats Cz website, our fellow naturists in the Czech Republic seem to have similar aversion with or without the benefit of having a nice desk. The local police in Pardubice region were informed that naturists were sunbathing without masks at the Lázně Bohdaneč spa resort. With lights flashing and sirens wailing they turned up to find the reports were true!
It is a mandatory requirement throughout the Republic to wear a face mask in public spaces, and an obligation not to congregate in groups larger than two people. So, after being politely informed of their breach of protocol, the obliging naturists duly donned the requisite gear.
The police did a spot check the following day and found that the word had got around and had, indeed, sunk in.
A spokesperson said: “We understand that many people do not have a garden and want to “ventilate” into the countryside, but we all want one thing in common: to fully respect government regulations, so that the measures taken can be gradually relaxed. However, we will not achieve this before everyone has strictly followed the restrictive measures.
However, one slightly disconcerting part of the report on the website says:
“After checking 150 people in the area, police found no violations of the mandate not to congregate in groups larger than two”. Work that one out.
 
Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash

More online events announced!

Following the first of our new online events yesterday - naked yoga - the BN Events team now bring you a full exciting line-up of naked online events for BN Members to join in - free of charge...

They include Naked Yoga three times a week, informative discussions, fitness sessions, a kitchen bake-a-long and an Easter Sunday Afternoon Tea Party with guest speaker and author Jane Malyon. Jane is the leading authority on Afternoon Tea Etiquette and owner of The English Cream Tea Company. Jane can even deliver an Afternoon Tea to your door in time for our Easter Sunday Tea Party!

Details on how to join the events will be found in the Members’ Area of the BN website All BN members have access to the Members' Area as part of your subscription. If you need help on how to access it, please have a look at these guides: 
https://www.bn.org.uk/quickstart and https://www.bn.org.uk/guides/not-logged-in/what-is-my-username-and-password-members-only-r10. 
If you are not a member, it is easy to join, access the forum and gain many more benefits. It costs less than £4 a month. Find out more at: 
https://www.bn.org.uk/membershipinfo and https://www.bn.org.uk/guides/memberships. 
 

Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

Campaign: Women in Naturism

Women in Naturism is an ongoing initiative to try and attract more women into Naturism and to help build body confidence.
More men attend events, visit beaches and Naturist holiday resorts, making it appear that Naturism appeals more to men than women, however this is not necessarily the case. Naturism may appeal to a similar number of women but for their own reasons they are reluctant to embrace the lifestyle. The aim of this campaign is to find those reasons and answer the concerns.
Find out more about why we are doing it, what we hope to achieve and how you can help. https://www.bn.org.uk/campaigning/womeninnaturism/
There are also details of our 'Take a Friend' initiative aimed at encouraging Naturist women to invite someone to an event or other gathering - which of course, could include online these days...
We've also got hints and tips for all the guys we regularly see at events, in clubs and on the forum who have a wife / partner / girlfriend / fiancée who finds it a challenge to share their interest in Naturism - or  perhaps just needs a little persuasion. 
We also bring masses of first person stories from women who have discovered the wonderful world of clothes-free recreation and want to spread the word! If you are inspired, why not write your own and send it in.
 

 

From the archive: Despatches from an Olive Grove

Naturist Kevin Wheeler shares his experiences about making a stone 'mas' habitable on his own Finca in Spain.
There is nothing better than a hot day on a British naturist beach. The problem is that there are just not enough hot days in the typical British summer. I am privileged to live on a farm with a private sheltered garden in beautiful part of Devon, but in forty years of Naturism I have seen no great improvement in the weather. So I am writing this in Spain. 
Four years ago I decided to try to buy a place somewhere sunny. A villa with a pool, or an apartment by the beach would be nice. The problem is that my spare cash would not run to either one. I needed to do this on a very limited budget. Time share would not work for me, I need more than two weeks a year in the sun!  Then I heard about fincas.
The Spanish word finca has many translations, Google Translate suggests land, property and estate. My finca is fairly typical, it is an olive grove. Two acres of terraced land on the side of a mountain. There is a stone building with one room inside. We Brits might call it a shed! Traditionally these houses were lived in for a short time when the land was worked or during the harvest. Mine still had a section where the donkey would have stayed. These buildings were very well made and would have been warm at night and cool by day. If you buy one that is a hundred years old it may not be quite so weather-tight.
I pictured myself sat naked outside such a house with a drink just soaking up the sun. Today that is precisely what I am doing. Then later on I will take a stroll among the trees.
A quick word about Spanish law, it is lawful to stay in these buildings, but most Spanish authorities will not give formal consent for them to be lived in permanently. Nonetheless many intrepid Spanish people and expats do live in them. One thing is sure, they make great and perfectly legal holiday homes. 
So where exactly are we? Well very close to the frontier of Catalonia and Aragon. The nearest settled community is Maella, which must be a town as it has a town hall, but it is the size of a British village. It is an historic town and is best known as the birth place of Pablo Gargallo the noted Spanish sculptor. 
As is frequently discussed elsewhere, the Spanish constitution includes the right to public nudity. When on the finca we only dress by day when we need to limit our exposure to the sun. Public nudity is not really an issue here as we never see anyone except for visiting Naturists who have their own fincas in the area.
Sitting naked in the virtually-guaranteed sunshine can be the principal pastime for six months a year.
The temperature here often gets into the high thirties in June, in July and August it can reach 40. I have been asked “What can you wear at 40 degrees?” My answer is water. Get in it, or get it all over you. One of the things I did on my first visit to the finca was to install a plunge pool. It is only a very simple design but it makes an amazing difference.
Then there is swimming in the local river. There are four rivers in the area, but for me it has to be the Algars. It has sink holes so you can swim even when the river starts to dry up. There are small fish who show no fear when you swim with them. The surrounding countryside is stunning. The banks are gently sloping and covered in small pebbles. It is like being at the beach.
On the subject of beaches, my nearest Naturist beach is the amazing El Torn at Hospitalet del Infant.  El Templo del Sol is the Naturist camp site which is on the cliff above the beach. The reviews of the camp site are mixed but everyone loves the beach. A review on Trip Advisor called it one of the best naturist beaches in Europe. About a kilometre of beautiful golden sand and shingle. The water is usually calm, clear and warm even in May. The back of the beach is fringed with pine forest. It is very popular, but never feels too crowded. There is a very good tapas bar on the beach which does not seem at all out of place. This is not a commercial, but explains why my friends and I love it. It is quite a way from the finca, but well worth the drive.
An average day here often begins with an early start to carry out any work that needs to be done before the sun rises fully above the surrounding hills. This is the cool time of day, the temperature is around 16 - 18 degrees which is very comfortable for working. Equally this is a great time for walking around the finca and enjoying the amazing countryside views. 
When the sun hits the finca fully, a couple of hours after sunrise, the temperature rises quickly. Breakfast time, then settle down with a book for some sunbathing and frequent dips in the pool. Alternatively head out for a day on the beach.
Around 1 pm to 3 pm is a good time for swimming in the river. Local people seem to observe the siesta and will tend to go to the river around 4 pm. So mad dogs and Englishmen have it to themselves in the early afternoon.
Grocery shopping for a supper of fresh local produce on the way back to the finca and there is still time for a few hours sunbathing. 
Many expats like to take a walk in the evening, if you are en casa this is when you may get a visit from the neighbours.
There is quite an active café and bar culture in Maella. There is a good chance you will see friends in the local tapas bars at lunch time and in the bars in the evening.
My nearest neighbours, one Dutch and two British, stay on their fincas for several months a year, and one lives there full time. I must admit to envying them when it is time for me to return home.
The mountain climate in summer has been a revelation, the day carries on getting hotter well into the evening. You can leave the beach as the day cools, drive up the mountain and find that when you get home it is hotter than when you left the beach. There are often a couple hours more sunbathing if you need it.
When I wrote this, it was my third summer visiting the finca, I get five weeks holiday a year and I spend it all here. I have a week in May, June, and July and two weeks in September. That way I have five months a year which feel like summer. 
Sunbathing, swimming, local wine and the Mediterranean diet, my Spanish naturist hideaway is a great place to be.
Like so many people of my age I caught the DIY bug back in the eighties. As a younger man I was very keen on knocking down walls, fitting breakfast bars, stripping floors and painting or varnishing almost everything. So I can still tell one end of a screwdriver from the other.
I have been able to carry out a fair amount of work on the house myself. When I first took it on, I described the building as a shed. Now it has had work done on it and it is upgraded to a habitable shed.
It is important to note that any substantial work here needs permission from the town hall. I was advised by the estate agent that I needed a concrete floor inside and a patio outside. This would provide a clean area in which to stay, work and relax. That proved extremely good advice, it was a big job and I was not keen on mixing concrete in the summer heat. This was a task for a local builder. He arranged the necessary permission to restore the building and carried out the agreed work. All this was done in the spring, before my first planned stay on the finca. I was very pleased with the result. From that point on I have done the work myself.
During my first visit I noticed that the roof was sagging a bit. So as a temporary measure I reinforced it from below and replaced a few broken tiles. That at least kept it water proof for the first few years. I was not sure how much longer my temporary fix would last. The major project this year has been to rebuild it. I have had a great deal of help from visitors who are staying on the finca and a friend from a neighbouring finca. 
The traditional roofs in this area are the pan tiles which you see in older Spanish buildings. Below this is a layer made from rushes and soil. All this is supported on wooden beams. The rushes are around four feet long and about as thick as the bamboo we would use for growing runner beans. They are mostly split in half long-ways. They are woven into a panel and laid on top of the beams. On these there is a thick layer of soil, possibly applied wet. If you can imagine a wattle and daub wall on its side you will have the picture. The tiles rest on the soil.
In the long term the rushes start to break up and a constant light rain of dust and small stones falls from the ceiling. To be fair the roof here may be more than a hundred years old, so it has done really well.
I don’t know where I would get the rushes, I am fairly sure that I would not be allowed to cut them from the river banks, and I did not fancy spending days splitting them so instead I decided on a wooden ceiling.
A word about wood. There are pine trees growing on most mountain sides, but it is not permitted to cut them as they are a protected plant species. I imagine they are an important wildlife habitat. As a result I understand that most of the timber in Spain is imported. This means that it is not readily available and when you can find it, it comes at a high price. As a British farmer I am used to wood being relatively affordable, so I was surprised to find that it is actually more economical to buy the timber in the UK and have it shipped to Spain.
With all the materials on site and the work force prepared each day by having had a very substantial breakfast we got started. The old roof was dismantled taking care not to break the tiles. A lot of broken rushes and soil were hauled away in the wheel barrow. Then new timber planks were fitted and tiles rested on top. The entire job took four days, but has been well worth the effort. The roof is now secure and the ceiling looks good in a rustic way.
I had expected that one of the major DIY jobs would be going “off-grid”.
There has been a great deal of discussion in the British press recently about living off grid. Experts tell us that it may hold the solution to increased use of renewable energy. They seem to be promoting large banks of very expensive batteries linked to equally expensive solar panels and wind turbines. Personally I am entirely in favour of renewable energy, from our farm in Devon you can see six windmills and there are another eight within a mile or two. There are also three substantial solar farms nearby, in my view they are all necessary and when properly planned they blend nicely into the countryside. Of course there are those who will disagree.
What I am not so sure about is the high cost of renewable energy in the UK. Life off grid here in the Spanish countryside is a far simpler affair, I often think the planners would do well to look at the way rural communities live. When you are up a mountain off grid is your only option. There are no mains electricity, gas, water, or drainage here. There are some truly enormous arrays of wind turbines and solar installations serving the Spanish mains, but it is the small scale local systems which interest me.
Going off grid has proved to be much less complicated than I had thought. 
In many parts of Spain bottled gas is the most popular choice of energy to cook with, this applies even in town. Most garages therefore sell gas. The sale of gas is regulated in Spain, to buy the first bottle you need a license. After that they exchange an empty bottle for a full one as we do at home. Gas takes care of the cooking. I could not survive out here without a steady supply of cold drinks. A fridge is essential, this also runs on gas.
The next question is water. As everyone knows you cannot drink the tap water in much of mainland Europe, so we all buy vast amounts of bottled water. Go to any supermarket and you will find that everyone’s trolley is half filled with bottles of water. You also need water for other purposes and there are no mains taps where I am. Being British I thought about a bore hole. I made enquiries much to the amusement of local people who told me that you can drill as far as you like, there is no water under these mountains. I have since learned that at least one person has tried, they now own a very deep, very dry hole. I now have a rain water harvesting system which gathers water during the winter. This consists of metal roofing sheets on a timber framework with gutters leading to water tanks. These are the caged plastic type known in the UK as IBC tanks, in Spain they call them cubes. I have four tanks which when topped up by the occasional summer storm hold enough water to see us through. This system is at the highest point on the finca, well above the house. By the time it has come down the hill the water pressure is about the same as it is at home. The taps run quickly and we can have a good shower. We also collect water from the house roof for the pool.
Heating the water is surprisingly easy, simply run it through a black pipe. This is solar heating at its most basic. I was warned by the locals that this will provide water which is too hot to handle, it is certainly true that from mid-day and all afternoon it is necessary to mix it with some cold water, so we bury blue pipe to carry the cold water and use black pipe laid along the ground for hot water. 
At the same time I set up the shower. This is outside. I made a privacy screen, which no one uses. Showering in the great outdoors is described by some visitors as one of the highlights of the stay, it is like something out of a shower gel commercial.
A hot water storage tank would probably improve the system, but so far we have not needed it. Instead we have learned to have our showers and do the washing up when the water is hot. It is all part of adjusting your lifestyle to match the environment and the natural patterns of the day rather than trying to do things the other way around as we are often obliged to at home. I think this fits in well with the naturist philosophy. Very occasionally we also do some laundry such as beach towels, but living the way we do there are very few clothes to wash! There is more than enough hot water for all these tasks.
The drains are even easier. The ground here is parched in summer. A simple, shallow soak away will take all the used water. The nearest trees respond with richer, greener leaves and bigger fruit. Hopefully as a result they also support a few more insects and birds. This way of life encourages us to think carefully about waste and to recycle as much as possible on the finca, if the water is no use to us perhaps it will benefit the wild life.
Naturally there is another kind of drain needed when you are making a holiday home miles from the nearest loo. A composting septic tank takes care of that. I won’t go into detail about it here, suffice to say that it provides a hygienic solution to a potentially tricky problem.
This leaves the electricity. I only need power for the phone, the camera, and some lighting. The car will charge the first two.
It was therefore a priority to install solar lighting. Solar electricity presents two main problems. The set up cost can easily run into hundreds of pounds and in one local case a system with computer controlled solar tracking panels cost tens of thousands. The second concern is that solar panels have been targeted by thieves in some parts of Spain. Thankfully that has not been an issue in our area, touch wood!
My preferred system is much simpler. Four lights, each connected to its own very small solar panel (about the size of a smart phone) no controllers or inverters, the batteries are inside the lights. The whole system cost less than twenty pounds and the first parts of it have now lasted for four years and counting.
The finca is now as off grid as it is possible to get and the system is mostly self-sustaining.
I would not want to give you the impression that we have only been working this week. We have stopped to go swimming in the river almost every day and we have had a day down at El Torn, our nearest naturist beach. Now that the work is done we will be back on the beach tomorrow.
 One question that sometimes arises, “Is it safe to do DIY without protective clothing?” Or in the case of BN members “In no clothing at all?” I think it depends which tools you are using. Personally I draw the line at dodging sparks from the angle grinder.
A little understanding of DIY is a good thing on the finca, but not essential. Neighbours are usually generous with their advice and quick to lend a hand. They have usually got the one tool I forgot to pack. Alternatively there are local builders who will handle it all for you, if you prefer to sit back and relax.
The building work is done, and we have a few bottles of wine in the fridge. I think it is time to call it a day
 

Announcing online naked yoga classes - starting this week...

We delighted to announce the launch of our online naked yoga classes on Fridays at 2pm.
The first class will be this Friday, 3rd April. Places are limited, so don't delay...
This event is exclusive to members of British Naturism. Details on how to join the class will be found in the Members’ Area of the BN website. All BN members have access as part of your subscription. If you need help on how to access it, please have a look at these guides https://www.bn.org.uk/quickstart and https://www.bn.org.uk/guides/not-logged-in/what-is-my-username-and-password-members-only-r10. 
If you are not a member, it is easy to join, access the forum and gain many more benefits. It costs less than £4 a month. Find out more at https://www.bn.org.uk/membershipinfo and https://www.bn.org.uk/guides/memberships. 
Keep an eye out for more online events and activities...

From the archive: How to talk about Naturism

With the world in turmoil and facing serious issues, it's a good time for us to realise that the fear that some of us have about telling people what we do on a hot day seem irrelevant by comparison. Anecdotally, we hear that many home-workers (that's pretty much everyone right now) are spending time without bothering to get dressed each day, and, we hope, discovering that far from being shameful, eccentric, ridiculous, embarrassing or dangerous, it's actually rather nice. Here's some tips from 2018 to help you to talk about it like any other subject you may want to bring up...
 
It’s not always easy is it? People often have their own ideas about it before you open your mouth and you’re never sure how they are going to take the news that you’re a Naturist yourself. Then there are the awkward questions. You’d love to just tell them how it makes you feel but they interrupt with statements that throw you off balance...
Perhaps this article will help. You can download a handy PDF version of it here. It includes a number of useful things to say to help you answer the awkward, misguided, irrelevant questions, and overcome objections and misunderstandings. The more we all say the same things, the stronger our collective voice becomes. It’s what we want to say in all situations with all kinds of people – friends, family, neighbours, work-colleagues, even the media and authorities.
We’re often our own worst enemies, assuming others don’t want to talk about Naturism, but experience shows that’s not the case with many people reporting good reactions and genuine interest – and often being told about nude experiences in return! We hear Naturists all the time saying they don’t want to cause ‘offence’ - we must stop using that word. People might be surprised, a little shocked, confused, unsure what do to or say if they unexpectedly see a naked person, but not offended.
If you need further inspiration, check out our 'Just One Person' campaign and read about the many and varied experiences of BN members when they've decided to talk about it to people in their lives (log in required).
Finally, it’s good to show how sensitive and socially-aware we are. The law makes it possible for us to be nude anywhere, anytime. We don’t generally exercise that right, as we understand the sensitivities and are nice, normal, trustworthy, considerate members of a wider society.
Oh, and you don’t have to decide to be some sort of freedom-fighter or evangelist, it’s all about ordinary, everyday conversation.
Go for it - and come and tell us about it. 
Naturism is normal
We’re ordinary people choosing not to wear clothes when the weather and circumstances are appropriate. Other than being nude, our activities are no different from what most people do in their leisure time. We’re not anti-clothes, we just know they are not always essential. It’s also a lot of fun!
If we were supposed to be naked, we’d have been born that way...
...and yet now anyone wanting to be in that natural state is treated with at best, mild amusement and at worst, suspicion. Being naked isn’t obscene, provocative, ridiculous, eccentric, shameful, immodest, weird, rude, disgusting, perverted etc. In fact...
Naturism is good for you
Naturism promotes positive body image. There is no such thing as the perfect body and we’re all unique. Physical health is improved with the benefits of sunshine and fresh air, which we don’t get enough of; and mental health benefits from relaxation, de-stressing and a friendly, comfortable community spirit. Most sunbathers wear very little more than we do. Swimsuits are pointless – why get dressed to get wet? It has wider benefits too – teenage pregnancy rates appear to be lower in countries with a more relaxed attitude to nudity. Research published in 2017 confirms what we’ve all known for years - Naturism boosts self-esteem, happiness and life satisfaction.
Naturism is not illegal
There is no offence of nudity in English law but there are badly defined offences which may be used and abused for just about anything that somebody in authority dislikes. The Sexual Offences Act 2003 specifically excludes Naturism, though intending to upset or cause harm by being naked may well be a criminal offence. Fundamentally the law is a mess but the practice of Naturism is legal in a much wider range of circumstances than many people assume.
Naturism is not about sex
Naturist people have sex like anyone else but despite what people imagine, a gathering of naked people doesn’t make for a sexually charged environment. Think of a nude beach as closer to the checkout queue in Tesco than a page three photo shoot.
Naturism is not embarrassing
Once in a Naturist place, you soon get used to being surrounded by naked people and forget that nobody is wearing clothes. It’s clothed people that stand out. What you look like is irrelevant. No-one stares at you, or judges your appearance – it’s all about feeling good for yourself. It’s liberating not to have to conform. Nudity is usually only mandatory when swimming and people will put something on if the weather turns.
Naturism is very popular
Millions of people around the world have discovered this wonderful way of life. BN’s IPSOS- MORI survey discovered that there are 3.7 million Naturists in the UK. There are thousands of holiday resorts and other places to go to. Plenty of ‘non-Naturist’ people in the UK have skinny-dipped, go topless on beaches and spend time happily naked at home.
Children in Naturism are happy, well-adjusted and safe
Children don’t care if they are wearing clothes or not, it’s adults who make them get dressed. They grow up with a better understanding of what people really look like and enjoy a relaxed, outdoor life. Families can do something together that they all enjoy and children are always accompanied by a parent or guardian. Naturist places tend to have entry requirements and secure gates, making the inside a far safer environment than the outside. Many adult Naturists today grew up in Naturist families and now bring their own families up within it.

From the archive: Is it legal to sunbathe naked in my garden?

It might have turned a bit wintry, but the sun's bound to come back...here's an article from 2017 which is just as valid today - especially useful to know when you're stuck at home and wondering if you really are free to dress as you choose...
In short - yes!
During the heatwave, we’ve seen this question posed across the media and it’s a bit annoying to Naturists that there is even a suggestion that it might not be.
The Sexual Offences Act 2003 was carefully worded to exclude Naturism - it is perfectly ok to take your clothes off to enjoy the sun and the breeze on your skin, or the life-affirming feeling of swimming without a costume. However, if you do so because you have the intention of causing ‘alarm and distress’ then it could be a criminal offence though the onus is on the onlooker to prove the intent. Despite what many journalists said this week, merely being ‘offended’ is not enough to warrant a call to the authorities. Let’s face it, in this Mrs Grundy society, they’d be inundated! 
It follows that nudity is permissible in all public places…and how could it not be? It’s our natural state. It’s only social conditioning that tells us that certain parts of our body are - choose your own adjective: shameful, disgusting, sexual, offensive, ridiculous - and must therefore be hidden away. The harmful growth in poor body image and almost obsessive focus on appearance as the only measure of a person’s worth is entirely because we’ve suppressed normal bodies so much that no-one knows what normal is anymore and the only indicator of how to be is the airbrushed celebrity. Sadly, the same conditioning has led people to conclude that a nude person, especially a man, must be up to no good. No-one, ever, children included, has been harmed by the sight of a naked person.
We’re aware of the sensitivities though. Many people never think to challenge what their parents and teachers taught them when they were very young. That social conditioning, the stigma and taboos are thus ingrained and it takes a lot to change attitudes. Whilst it’s perfectly legal, Naturists will rarely be nude in very public places, it’s too easily misunderstood, or treated with suspicion, and it only takes one member of the public to make a fuss and the damage is done. We’ve worked with the CPS who subsequently published guidelines about public nudity and the number of arrests and cautions has plummeted, but still pockets of ignorance remain. 
Being neighbourly is desirable and so Naturists sunbathing in their back garden will generally choose a spot that isn’t too overlooked and will often speak to neighbours who can see into their garden to advise them they may catch a glimpse of naked flesh. Anecdotal evidence and long experience shows that most neighbours couldn’t care less. It’s also not uncommon for them to say ‘Great! We do that too!’ Wearing clothes of any description during this hot weather has been uncomfortable and stripping down to nothing (whatever your mother might say) is sensible and not at all provocative. 
So, go ahead. Strip off. Enjoy the sun and the exhilarating feeling of being naked.

Naked into the Celtic mist

Nick Mayhew-Smith delved deep into the use of nudity for ancient ritual for his latest book, The Naked Hermit, which is featured on BBC One this spring
Laying bare my soul on the summit of a sacred mountain one glorious summer evening has to rank among the most memorable and moving of all my many naked adventures in the great outdoors. I sat in a state of primal innocence on the warm boulders of an Iron Age hillfort and watched the sun slowly sank into the haze of the Irish Sea. It felt like I was at one with nature like never before, the afterglow of the sunset warming my bare body as the landscape around me drifted towards a moonlit sleep.
I had climbed this sacred mountain in Pembrokeshire naked that afternoon, carrying only the barest of necessities to make it through the night. Clothes, needless to say for me as a lifelong naturist, were not on my list of essentials. Even sandals had been buried deep in my rucksack as I felt moved to embrace this blessed wilderness without anything getting in the way.
The mountain is called Carningli, the ‘Rock of Angels’ in Welsh, and has been considered sacred for centuries, ever since the 6th century Saint Brynach ascended it and spent the night conversing with the angels he encountered on the summit. Spending the night up there to commune with whatever heavenly beings might be found today is not exactly an ongoing tradition, with or without clothes. But I found it the most uplifting and spiritual of encounters, and it was based on genuine ancient ritual.
Many naturists describe the feeling of being naked outdoors, in nature, as some sort of spiritual experience. Surprising as it may sound, this sort of devotional outdoor nudity is actually a forgotten practice in mainstream religion, including the early Christian/Pagan crossover period in Celtic Britain.
In terms of sacred mountains, if you know your Old Testament you might remember that God himself instructed Moses on Mount Sinai to remove his sandals because he was standing on holy ground. As a naturist I find that a deeply intriguing, a divine preference for bare skin over artificial footwear. Scrolling forwards into the early Christian era, history records that an early hermit once lived entirely naked for 50 years on the flanks of that same holy mountain. For a brief period he was celebrated by the early church, held up as a holy man for his single-minded dedication to a life devoid of any distractions.
His life story was recorded in the early 5th century by a writer named Sulpicius Severus. This unnamed pioneering nudist granted just one interview during his life, and was asked why he spent so much time alone. He replied that it was impossible to meet angels unless you removed yourself from human company – rejecting not just other people but all the other trappings of civilisation and community too, clothes included.
These days it would be difficult to imagine anyone being celebrated as holy for devoting their life to naked solitude, particularly not on Mount Sinai given that it now sits in southern Egypt. But in earlier times there was an honoured place for devotional nudity within the church, albeit in very specific circumstances, and mostly in absolute solitude.
If naturists ever want to find historical, moral and spiritual precedent for going naked outdoors, in other words, there is a story I am working hard to tell. It certainly demonstrates that what we do is part of a continuum of practice and belief dating back to the dawn of recorded history. Some of it may have been forgotten or deliberately edited out, but it is entirely authentic and the written records are very clear.
And so it was in memory of this naked hermit of desert tradition that I ascended Britain’s rather smaller and greener version of Mount Sinai to see what would happen. This was one of many deep encounters I had during a recent major research project into wilderness spirituality, a project which involved a PhD, a book and most recently a BBC One television sequence, due to be broadcast some time around Easter 2020. This topic has become something of a passion of mine.
In Britain, it must be said, there is no record of any hermit living naked for an extended period of time outdoors, on a mountain or anywhere else. But there is one other early ritual that involved nudity, a practice that might be called ‘sacred bathing’. In this a holy man or woman would go down to the river or the sea, undress completely, and enter the water in order to say their prayers or sing their psalms. It is certainly a tradition that resonates with a lot of naturists I know, as well as people interested in Celtic Christian or Pagan spirituality.
In all there are around 50 examples from antiquity of devout Christians performing such a bathing ritual, of which 39 took place in Britain and Ireland. Nude bathing has a long and noble history even in our chilly waters. Nearly but not all of the bathers were either described or assumed to be naked, and indeed there is an early medieval illustration of one of Britain’s most important early bishops, St Cuthbert, bathing in the sea at Coldingham. There would no doubt be a lot of manufactured outrage today if anyone tried to depict a saint’s bare bottom in a devotional work of art, but there he is in an ancient historical document demonstrating a rather happier attitude towards the fullness of humanity.
And it was in St Cuthbert’s footsteps I followed on my journey, bathing at his bay in Coldingham and also in Derwentwater in the Lake District, where we made our BBC One film. The saint’s best friend St Herbert used to imitate St Cuthbert’s holy life in every detail, and lived in a hut on an island, no doubt stripping to enter this lake in humble simplicity to give thanks for the beauty of creation. The BBC presenter who accompanied me on our modern-day visit did agree to enter the waters with me, although his bosses instructed him to wear a bathing costume. From the depths of a Cumbrian lake to the summit of a Welsh mountain, our land is rich in tales of people connecting to nature in ways that can inspire us today.
I’ve no idea what others will make of this project to revive and recreate some of these older practices, but if it strikes a chord with naturists today there are dozens of examples I have recorded in my book. Taking yourself deep into the wilderness, away from the noise and distraction of everyday life, has proved just as intense, memorable and uplifting today as the hermits and pilgrims found of old.
I have yet to see a more heavenly sight than the one greeting me on the summit of Carningli, as I arrived hot, panting and with feet bleeding from the brambles and rocks of my path. Coming over the summit the land lay glowing in a haze of purples, greens and blues before me as I heaved my rucksack on to the ground. All at once a flock of butterflies rose from the ancient rocks and flitted about me, wings ablaze with the colours of a midsummer sunset, a simple beauty that still moves me to this day. I had found St Brynach’s angels.
• Nick’s latest book The Naked Hermit: A Journey to the Heart of Celtic Britain is published by SPCK Publishing, May 2019.

Keep busy with BN!

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From Hatred to Love in Eight Short Weeks

As I write this article, I have been a Naturist for just two months. However, it has been a life transforming two months and what follows is the story of how in just a few short weeks Naturism has taken me on a journey from absolutely hating my own body to the point of not even looking at myself in the mirror getting out of the bath, to feeling completely accepting of myself, lumps, bumps, wobbly bits, and all.
In January I went on a date with a lovely man called Peter, who is a naturist. I had heard of nudists before, and knew it wasn't anything weird, or sexual, but I'd never actually met one in the flesh before. (Please pardon the pun! Also just to be clear Peter was fully clothed on our date!!).
We hit it off straight away and Peter made it very clear how important naturism was to him. His face lit up when he told me about how he became a naturist and his journey since then. I knew then and there if I wanted a relationship with this man, I would have to give naturism a go at the very least. If I didn't like it, at least I'd have tried it. Peter put no pressure on me at all to try, but I could see what it meant to him, and as someone who believe's couples should enjoy things together as much as possible, I knew I had to try. Peter had brought me a very helpful BN booklet which I read on the train home.
Peter and I continued chatting and a second date happened. I knew then that this man was someone special, and so just a few days later as I was getting out of the bath, I decided I would try to look in a full length mirror before I got dressed (a big deal for me! Not least because I am over 50, overweight, and have had three children, but also because of other factors in my life that have led me to have very low self-esteem). However...I did it!! Yes, at first, I wasn't overly pleased with what I saw, but I quickly realised I wasn't completely disgusted either.
I couldn't wait to tell Peter. I felt so proud of myself that I had managed to look at myself completely naked. When I did tell him, he sent me back to the mirror and told me to look at myself and repeat a bible verse (we are both Christians) that says: 'You are fearfully and wonderfully made' over and over while looking at myself naked. I did, and the longer I looked at myself the better I felt.
A couple of weekends later, I went with Peter for a Naturist swim and sauna. It was mostly men that were there, only two other women. The first thing I noticed was how safe I felt. No-one was looking at my body! They were talking to me. Looking straight at my face. In no time at all I was chatting happily to lots of different people and completely forgot that I was naked. I had a great time.
However, a couple of things made me feel very sad. Firstly, where were all the women?? And secondly, many of these men told me how their wives/partners didn't support their naturism. Some weren't even allowed to tell their own children. All I could think was..'why?' Naturism is not something weird!! What could be more natural then being in the skin you were born with?? What I had also learned very quickly that day, is that bodies come in all shapes and sizes. I made my mind up there and then that I would not feel ashamed of the decision I had recently made to become a naturist, and more than that, over time I would try to find a way to speak out to other women and try to encourage them to give it a go.
At the beginning of February, I went with Peter to a naturist party at the house of some friends of his. I met other naturist men and women who were all really lovely. The women in particular were very encouraging and made me feel really relaxed, at home and welcome. We danced, laughed, ate
and drank together. It was a lot of fun! What struck me more than all of that though, was how at ease I felt with myself. I felt confident, happy, content and at peace, a feeling I have not felt for many many years. As the weeks go on, and my journey with naturism continues, my confidence just grows and grows. Naturism has freed me from my inhibitions and low self esteem. I still have my moments, but 95% of the time I love my body now, and I honestly don't care who knows I am a naturist. I refuse to feel ashamed. Every lump, bump, scar etc. I have, was earned and has a story that has shaped my life.
Come on women, let's make sure future generations of women don't grow up with the same hang ups we did. Let's not continue to allow media and magazines to tell us what is beautiful. Let's give our daughters, nieces, grand-daughters, the gift of confidence and positive body image. Get naked! It will set you free!
Lastly to wives and partners who struggle with the idea of naturism, give it a go! You might love it like I do! However, you will never know, if you don't try. The cherry on the cake for me, is that Peter and I can enjoy all aspects of our lives together. Come on ladies! Don't be shy. You are beautiful!
Siobhan Crowther

Naked Dining With King Henry VIII

It's not every day you can say you've had a meal in Henry VIII's old boozer. Twenty eight British Naturism members in the Eastern Region enjoyed a great evening at the Olde King's Arms in Hemel Hempstead in March. It was the day Donald Trump banned UK travellers from the USA , Spain had just gone into total lock down and our supermarket shelves were being emptied as if shops were about to be closed for ever. There was an apocalyptic feel to the day, made worse for me as our much looked forward trip to Russia had just been cancelled and our first rental at our Spanish apartment had cancelled. At the same time flights to Spain were returning to the UK mid flight. On entering this historic pub it had the feeling of the Last Supper and we wondered if anyone else would turn up. As it happened, there was only one non arrival.
The pub is an old coaching inn and reputed to be a regular haunt of Henry who seemed to love the Hemel Hempstead pub scene. There are reputed to be two ghosts that haunt the pub and one is “the Jolly Man'. He's a large, happy man who some think is Henry's ghost.
Inside we had a large warm room to ourselves and landlord Ben was extremely welcoming. His staff were friendly and quick to smile. It's so nice when we go to new venues and staff are totally relaxed - apart from the young waitress who had a bowl of very hot soup hovering over my lap at one point! Actually, thinking back, it was me who was nervous and she was very relaxed!
This was another successful meal organised by Richard and was accompanied by a fiendishly tough quiz. It was worth winning though as the prize was a bar of gold each (soap that is). Richard had contemplated toilet rolls as prizes but didn't want things to get too competitive. Once again it was good to meet old friends and make new acquaintances. It's such a shame that the format of a sit down meal prevents you meeting more people on the night, though  we did circulate a little towards the end.
I'm sure we will visit this venue again, so it's worth mentioning to those thinking of coming that many members stayed overnight at the inn and the rooms were of a high standard.
 Andy Wyman

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