The Great British Skinny Dip returns to the UK today, and we've got venues across the country throughout the month of July. Where will you go?
Choose from beaches, lakes, rivers, pools, outdoor lidos, Naturist clubs, and campsites, in:
Aberdeenshire
Buckinghamshire
Cambridgeshire
Cheshire
Cumbria
Dorset
Durham
East Lothian
East Sussex
Glamorgan
Gwynedd
Hertfordshire
Norfolk
Nottinghamshire
Oxfordshire
Somerset
Suffolk
West Sussex
Yorkshire
Discover all these locations on our website and keep checking back - we’re still adding new ones!
I am a great believer in naturists not being excluded from the sorts of activities that clothed people regularly do simply because of their choice of dress. As I regularly used to visit the ten-pin bowling facility at Tunbridge Wells when I lived there, I decided that this might be a “normal” activity that naturists could do. Of course looking up the website gives you all sorts of centralised telephone numbers, email addresses and so on which proved absolutely no good – “I will be passing on your request and you will hear within 72 hours…..” etc., etc. So, after several unsuccessful attempts at communicating with a real human I decided that a personal approach to the centre I would want to use was best. So I made a special trip to Tunbridge Wells and approached the under-manager there with some trepidation when the “special” nature of our group visit needed to be raised ! To my amazement the venue was delighted to have been asked – this would be a great “first” for us. From that point on negotiations went smoothly. A date was arranged, prices and other details discussed and so on. BN agreed to take on the ticketing and we were away out of the starting blocks.
On the night I have to say we were treated royally. Nothing was too much trouble. Drinks were brought to us, piles of food were placed within arm’s reach and the welcoming team of five couldn’t have been more accommodating. Over 40 naturists arrived for the bowling and, after some initial hesitation, understandable as relatively few people knew each other from previous meetings, within a few minutes people were chatting happily (as naturists of course do) as if they had known each other for years. They organised themselves into lanes and amidst all the chatter and food actually found it quite difficult to complete the two games allowed before the end of the evening ! One lovely touch was when it was announced that every so often a pink skittle would appear among the normally white skittles in each of the bowling lanes. If someone managed a “strike” (getting all the skittles down in one go) that lane would be awarded a bottle of Prosecco to share. Amazingly three teams achieved this and huge ear-splitting cheers went up as they did so!
It was a really fun evening on what had been a cold and wet June day. I was so very grateful to BN for taking on the publicity and ticketing arrangements and indeed to all who participated, often coming from many miles away to take part and who showed the staff at the centre that naturists truly are ordinary folk who just like to have a good time without the encumbrance of clothing. The staff seemed impressed by us and will be happy to host again and to act as “referees” to other venues within the company. That is just the sort of message we need to get out to the general public. Thank you to everyone !
Keith Hillier-Palmer.
The Hertfordshire naked dining revolution started by Robert Finney last year goes from strength to strength. In the latest dining experience we went back to the great We R Cakes restaurant, near Knebworth. This time it was with a Moroccan theme and the head chef once again showed she can do the double. Not only was the quality of the food really high but the quantity was fantastic. Nobody could possibly have left hungry! The Round the World theme was continued having had Greek, Chinese, Italian and Mexican meals over the last 12 months.
As usual the meal was accompanied by a quiz which is a great ice breaker for newcomers and gets us all chatting. To get a taste of what was to come we had a huge platter for starters with butternut hummus, harissa hummus, olives, falafel, aubergine and goats cheese, pitta bread, yoghurt dip and giant bean salad. There were no less than six different dishes as part of the buffet main course and a gorgeous raspberry and orange syllabub with Moroccan cookies to complete the meal. Once again everyone - vegetarians, meat-eaters and vegans all had plenty of choice.
We R Cakes is a small establishment with quirky décor. It's very homely and wonderfully warm with an open plan kitchen in the same room. All the staff were good humoured, friendly and welcoming.
These events are organised by Eastern Region and it's good to see others now sharing the organising. This time Rick stepped up to the mark and did an excellent job which is great for someone who went to their first naked dining event only last year. These events are not all in Hertfordshire of course. Recently we had the Rodin, Kiss and Tell event in Ipswich. Later this month we will be cruising the countryside in Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire whilst dining on a narrowboat, and in August visiting a Suffolk vineyard for wine tasting and tour - both already sold out! Tickets are still available for our Great British Skinny Dip event in July at Peterborough Lido and our theatre trip in Oxford in August.
Andy Wyman
One of the very few negatives of attending British Naturism events is the come down - the back to reality feeling you get the moment you put your clothes back on and return to a clothed world... particularly so after a weekend like our British Naturism Woodland Weekend in the Lake District where you can embrace two days in one of the most beautiful areas of the UK.
This year's event was another great success. With almost double the numbers, and yet still not cramped or crowded due to the beautiful off-grid 60 acre venue, Fell Foot Wood. We practically have a whole fell to ourselves! It’s a good work out for the calves too, it’s hilly but just beautiful.
At the heart of the site lies a cosy barn with a roaring log burning fire and bar serving local Lakeland ales and cider. This is also where our crafts and music takes place and is our main social hub.
And, there’s always a camp fire to welcome in the evening, with marshmallows of course.
This year we had some of the best music we have had at any BN Event with the incredibly talented Matthew Fearon on Friday night playing an acoustic set featuring some classic and new covers. His laid back, endearing and quirky charm eased us into the weekend beautifully.
Saturday night we welcomed Mobius Loop (a philosophical folk band) whose naked, non stop 2.5 hour set of all original music had the audience captivated - sometimes lulled by soft tones, other times dancing to drum filled beats, and often laughing along to satirical, edgy lyrics. We were literally putty in their hands and enchanted by their raw talent and love that filled the room.
The weekend was packed full of activity with two naked fell walks, both with Skinny Dips, and crafts in the form of fragrant felted soap workshop and making lava bead bracelets.
The weekend also had time to reflect with our morning ceremony, celebrating the wonders of the earth, and a group meditation. There were massages on tap too from Katherine and Brian.
Saturday evening gave us a drum circle around the camp fire, lead by Sean from Mobius Loop. This evolved beautifully into a spontaneous, drum-accompanied camp fire sing along.
One of the most memorable (and out there!) moments of the Woodland Weekend was the Woodland owner’s tongue in cheek, pagan-esque Moon Pond ritual including naked torch bearers, flaming horns and the opportunity to be baptised - you had to be there!
Our Woodland Retreat will return to Fell Foot Wood in 2020.
Members can see the gallery of images from the event here (log in required)
If you are reading this and you are a member of British Naturism then you should feel proud of yourself for that decision. Your membership and subscription fee allows us to do our work on behalf of all Naturists. Thank you.
If you are reading this and are not a member, or have allowed your membership to lapse, we hope that the information in this article will help you to make the easy decision to join and get many more benefits AND be part of a vibrant, meaningful community. It costs less than £4 a month.
Perhaps you are not a Naturist - a journalist maybe, photographer, swimming pool manager or local politician. If so, thanks for taking an interest in our world. Despite what social convention teaches us from a young age there is nothing wrong with simple human nudity. It’s healthy, wholesome and good for you. A recent survey even proved that spending time naked can make you happier. One of the saddest problems of modern life - low self-esteem from poor body image - can often be eradicated by spending time with naked people. We’re a fun, friendly community too - every one of our venues says so and invites us back!
Events
An organisation like ours primarily exists to bring like-minded people together and we run a variety of exciting events, and support those run by others. There’s not a lot you can’t do naked - recently, we even broke the record for the most naked people on a rollercoaster!
If you are into hotel weekends, camping and caravanning, swimming, family-friendly festivals, live music, waterparks, museum and art gallery visits, exercise classes, glamping, dining, boat trips, sports tournaments, walking, yoga, running, open gardens, spa weekends, cycling, woodland retreats, beaches, theatre trips and even ten-pin bowling - all without clothes, then there is something for you.
Download our event brochure and check out full details of all event-related activity on our dedicated events website, our main website and our calendar. Make sure you do that soon - there are plenty of events happening soon!
Naturist clubs around the country provide safe environments for Naturism and are great communities for their members with facilities and social events. Some clubs hire a swimming pool for regular session. Check them out - maybe there's one near you.
Sticking up for Naturists
We have a responsibility as the national organisation to speak up on behalf of Naturists. It’s something we do well, and regularly. Radio, TV and printed materials feature our news and members are often interviewed, photographed and filmed, nationally and locally. We also challenge the media and clear up misunderstandings when needed. As a result, Naturism is moving into the mainstream.
The BBC can’t get enough of us lately. The Daily Star reported on the Great British Skinny Dip (see below) this week. You can keep up with - and discuss - media mentions over on the BN Members’ Forum (log in required) and keep an eye on all our news - regularly updated - on our website news page.
Earlier this year, our freedoms were threatened, with pressure groups attempting to restrict or close Naturist events and clubs, which would have caused long term damage for Naturism in the UK. We could easily have caved in to pressure for an easy life, but, of course, we didn’t. The absence of our collective, properly resourced and focused action might have meant that our wonderful world ceased to exist as we know it. Promoting Naturism and stating the benefits of it for everyone, especially the next generation, is essential, and we will continue to do so on behalf of all Naturists - present and future.
The legal position is clear - since 2003, public nudity is not illegal. Even the police haven’t quite grasped this over the years. In 2017, BN worked with them to make sure every police officer understands.
The Great British Skinny Dip - coming to a
venue near you, this July...!
The Great British Skinny Dip is our annual campaign to raise the profile of the health benefits of nudity - and give people a chance to experience the exhilarating, life-affirming feelings for themselves. It happens next month and we have venues from Aberdeen to Brighton and Harlech to Peterborough. The list includes a couple of public open air Lidos running a costume-free session for the first time. Good on them!
Holidays
Naturism in the UK is often hampered by the weather but British Naturism provides a wealth of information about Naturism abroad - where sunshine and an all-over tan are almost guaranteed. Our quarterly magazine - included with your subscription always features travel reports from happy Naturists and advertisements from the world’s Naturist resorts. Members can also download a digital version from the Members' forum.
We also run group holidays for our members - so far this year we’ve been to Austria, Rhodes and Spain, with Croatia, Corsica, France, Canaries and a two-centre trip to Spain yet to come.
‘I completed the Swimathon in April as part of my local Naturist Group's regular swim session. I think I may be the only person to have done the Swimathon naked!’ writes Leann
Standing on the poolside wearing my purple Swimathon hat but no swimsuit, it occurs to me this is the opposite look to my regular public class - where I sport a range of costumes but rarely need a hat to control my short hair (I figure it will give me a boost if I ever have to race!) – The fully uniformed lifeguard wishes me luck, I check the time and push off on the first of 218 lengths.
I’ve been a member of my local swim with Leeds Naturist Group for a couple of years now – though, in truth, I normally spend more time relaxing in the steam room and chatting around the edge of the pool. When I realised that Swimathon were offering a MySwim option where participants could complete the challenge at a pool of their choice I knew exactly where I would swim and why.
Swimming is a fantastic exercise for all ages, yet we probably all know at least one person who wouldn’t dream of getting in a pool (or the sea on holiday) for fear of putting their lumps and bumps on public display. Thousands of people hold themselves back from all sorts of activities because they fear judgement and alienation because they do not meet society’s idea of body beautiful.
Naturism puts everyone on an equal footing; It is hard to be judgemental when everyone is entirely on view. You quickly realise that bodies come in all shapes and sizes and none of them are perfect – we have scars, stretch marks, bits that are too big or too small, too wrinkly or hairy or spotty. You don’t choose to interact with people because of their body, but because they are friendly or have shared interests or interesting opinions. Spending time unclothed, swimming or socialising has taught me to care less about what I see as my imperfections and given me far more confidence.
Swimathon has raised over £2 million for Cancer Research and Marie Curie. For those living with and after cancer, a healthy body is what really matters. We should all embrace and celebrate our healthy, functional bodies, whatever they look like.
My lap-counting hubby and a dozen other comfortably naked people gather on the poolside to cheer me in as I stop the clock at 1hr 37mins. With no costume to wring out and 10 minutes before the session ends, I head straight off for well-earned tea and biscuits and to fill my bucket with donations. Perhaps others will consider taking part as individuals or a team in future years?
A superb video of the good people of BN member club Desford Swim was launched on the BBC News site this weekend. (Seems the BBC really can't get enough of us...)
Our thanks to them for helping to raise the profile in such an excellent, sensible, calm way and for coming up with their 'Women in Naturism' initiative in the first place AND having the foresight (and good sense) to issue a press release so that everyone got to hear about it. Most praise of all though for the members of the club for their willingness to talk to camera.
Find out how you can become a Desford swimmer
On a cold, wet evening on the 2nd of March 2019, 195 naked people congregated at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, aiming to break the world record for most naked people on a theme park ride. This attempt, organised by British Naturism, was looking to beat the previous record of 102 people and in fact we smashed it.
Since that evening, we have all been waiting to know whether the attempt would be officially approved and we would make it into the record books.
The official verdict has come through: We are Record Breakers!
As now stated on the Guinness World Record website, British Naturism now holds the record, and it will be a tough one to beat.
This attempt was the brainchild of one of our newer members and shows that anything is possible. Beyond putting our name in lights, the attempt had a huge positive effect. Although many of the record breakers were members of British Naturism, many were not and the attempt led to a surge in new, young members joining British Naturism. There were other spin-off benefits. Riders all contributed a small fee to cover the costs, but because we attracted nearly double the number of people we were expecting, we ended up with a cash surplus that we were able to donate to local Blackpool charities. Events like this really show how much naturism and British Naturism can contribute to the community and why we can make a difference to people’s lives.
So congratulations to all who took part. You can now tell your family and friends that you are officially World Record holders…. until we try this again!
At the end of May, the NKD youth and families festival returned to Dorset for a weekend of parties, minimalist camping, holi paint fights, and basking in the intense sunshine. As an event designed for Young British Naturist (YBN) members and recent YBN graduates, now bringing their own families with them, the tone is quite different from that at our other events. NKD shows how the portfolio of British Naturism events is diversifying to target different groups, so if organised Naturism has not appealed in the past, it will now. The event was made possible by the rapid expansion of YBN over the last few years that has made an under 35s festival not only viable but essential. The demand from YBN is backed up by the influx of families looking to practice Naturism in a safe, well-managed environment that provides ample activities for the kids.
However, it is not hot tubs, high quality food and coffee vendors, campfire jamming or the night club atmosphere of the evenings that makes NKD remarkable, it is the testimonies of the people there. We live at a time where prospects of young professionals are less predictable than they once were, and we are continually judged on our image through the court of social media. There are many of us looking to be accepted for who we are and find friendship. Talking to people at NKD told the same story again and again, people are finding that acceptance and relief from stress through Naturism.
As Ben tells us:
“NKD 2018 was a fantastic first ever experience of Naturism for me, NKD 2019 matched that groundbreaking success. The fact that I recognised so many faces from last year speaks volumes, and I can safely say there are two things which make the festival so special. The first is the excellent organisation, the second is the community of participants in the festival.
To put this in perspective, in my day to day life I get out very little and my social life largely consists of the occasional outing after my friends keep nagging me to come out and meet them. So, the fact that someone as socially demotivated as me is so keen and eager to put myself forward to attend NKD in its second year, really is something to take note of. I'm reluctant to drive a few miles to a local bar for a social engagement in my own city and yet I'm enthusiastically willing to drive a 120 mile round trip to spend a weekend away in Dorset meeting old friends and new at an event like NKD.
Attending NKD last year was a decision made at the last minute after so much indecisiveness, and I could not have known at the time how much it would change my life for the better. Attending NKD this year didn't require a second thought.”
Kathryn goes even further:
“I can comment on both NKDs, 2018 and 2019 - they were incredible. Not only is the atmosphere wonderful, but you feel so safe and supported. People really helped me out last year with some mental health troubles and this year it was really nice to know the difference they saw in me. You have no idea how much I got out of NKD. I'm most excited at the thought of coming year on year, hopefully with little ones within the next couple of years.
British Naturism has filled that gap in my life, and I am so happy to have made some lovely new friends, all with similar values to me. Leaving at the end was sad for me and I really can't wait to attend future events. I can say that this is truly the best introduction to Naturism you could possibly get, and I am inspired by the community of people I now feel a part of.”
So, if you are looking for something that is missing from your life, the chance to be welcomed and accepted, Naturism may be an answer and we look forward to seeing many new people at future youth events.
I will let Kathryn close as she wrote these few words to summarise her experience:
Anticipation, fear, excitement
Beauty, nudity, friends
Fun, freedom, inspiration
Memories, joy, harmony
Inner peace, self-worth, connection
NKD 2019
In May a first ever skinny dip took place at Bude in Cornwall. Why first ever?
- It was the first organised by SW Skinny Dippers to support Mental Health Awareness Week and raise funds for the charity MIND. - It was the first time a Naturist/skinny dipping event took place on Summerleaze beach. - Of the 200 or so people who took part, over 60 were first-time Naturists/skinny dippers.
There was camping, pizza and campfires the night before for many and then we all met up on the beach at 7am on a beautiful Sunday morning ready for our dip. Sadly the one thing that couldn't be organised was the sea temperature. The Atlantic Ocean in May was 10.5C so it was a short dip for most! However, everyone was in great spirits and we meet many new people with their own reasons for being there who were quite interested in us as BN members, and recognised the health and well-being aspects they were experiencing through participating in the event.
Many thanks to Ruth and her team who organised the event, and to those who gave of their time freely. The Hub at Bude was provided by the Council for registration and hot drinks, and the lifeguards and St John's Ambulance donated their time. The event raised just shy of £4,500 in fees and pledges - so, a good cause was well-supported, and a little bit more was also done to bring Naturism into the mainstream.
There was a time you might have waited all year for a Naturist related item on the BBC but now they all seem to have turned up at once! It started in January with a short series on BBC3 called “The Naked Truth”. Four fifteen minute documentaries about completely different subjects but all filmed naked with little censorship. The series featured episodes on tattoos, loose skin, male body image and amputees. The BBC blurb said “The Naked Truth gives a voice to young people as they share their revelatory, personal and surprising perspectives on life and their bodies…while naked”.
British Naturism featured in March, there was an excellent article featuring BN's Volunteer Coordinator, Pam Fraser (pictured) which made it to the the front page of of the BBC News website no less! As you might expect, there was a spike in visitors to our little corner of the internet as a result. Pam told how she got thrown into the deep end of naturism but took to it like a duck - well - to water. It was also an opportunity to advertise a lot of BN events including the Blackpool weekend and the World Record attempt at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. We are still waiting for official confirmation of our record busting ride but the numbers add up but the BBC also put out a short video of the event under the title “Three things we loved today!”
In April, Sandra Ballard organised a naked dining evening at the Oxford Tap Social Bar to "celebrate the human body and challenge the British reluctance to strip off" . The event was filmed by the BBC and the short video made it onto their news and Facebook pages. A nice little video where several of the diners spoke on camera doing a good job to get our message of body confidence across to the BBC audience.
Remember the BBC Radio Sheffield Naked Podcast? “Two friends, one guest, no clothes. Celebrating and undressing the taboos about nudity”. Well, it worked so well, it's back for a second series. Jenny Eells and Kat Harbourne came up with the idea of an experiment to see if getting rid of clothes for an interview might make the whole thing more - revealing; in a conversational and confessional sort of way. It seems to have worked because people have asked for more and now they've got it!
BBC Three Counties Facebook page featured a short video of BN member Tom filmed during a life modelling session. Short as it was, Tom took full advantage of it to extol the virtues of our naturist lifestyle.
But possibly our greatest achievement was to make it into the very popular comedy current affairs show, Have I Got News For You. BN Magazine was featured in the ‘Missing Words’ round as the guest publication. We had to grant them a license to use it and we made various stipulations, but an estimated 8 million people will have seen it and the extended version, “Have I Got More News For You”. There were the obvious and expected jokes at our expense but nothing actually derogatory and overall, we came out very well.
Update 12 June...
And the coverage continues:
Desford Swim feature in a BBC news video
BBC Ideas - The freedom to be topless (whilst drinking tea)
Highlights include:
A round up of recent events including our record-breaking roller-coaster ride in Blackpool, National swimming gala, ‘Kiss and Tell’ and Royal Academy museum visits and our canal trip
Women in Naturism - Leann swims for charity and Jooles and her team prepare to row the Atlantic naked
A review of Channel 4’s Naked Beach
An introduction to our new Families Officer Shân
Three adult Naturists tell their stories of growing up with Naturist parents
Two travel sections - Southern Europe with holiday reports from Greece, Lanzarote, and Italy, and the UK with features on some of the great places for a ‘staycation’
… plus a packed news section, a huge guide to events yet to come and comprehensive listings of clubs, swims and other places.
We’ve also made some changes to the print version - and it’s looking smarter than ever! Definitely one to leave on the coffee table…
BN Magazine is available to members only and issued four times a year as part of the annual subscription. If you are not a member, you can join us and get your own copy through the post and as a download and many other benefits.
Few of us can forget the iconic moment when Barbara Windsor’s bikini top flew off in the ‘slap & tickle’ Carry On series loved by millions, but British Naturism is actually rather more serious than that. Founded over 50 years ago, Naturists simply want to enjoy life without the encumbrance of clothes. Holding garden events for around 10 years, the evening of 13 July will see the first British Naturism private event at The Alnwick Garden in Alnwick, Northumberland.
Founded by The Duchess of Northumberland, the continually evolving garden has attracted millions of visitors since opening in 2001. The Alnwick Garden is The North East Large Visitor Attraction of the Year, and in 2018 was awarded VisitEngland’s coveted accolade Welcome Award, scoring 98% for the exceptional welcome it gives its visitors.
A spokesperson for British Naturism said “We are delighted to add The Alnwick Garden to our growing schedule of popular days out in beautiful and well known gardens. Naturism in the North East is growing in popularity and it’s wonderful to have a new event in such a stunning location for people to enjoy.”
Naturism is perfectly legal and British Naturism has over 9,000 members with events in waterparks, campsites, hotels and art galleries in the UK.
The Duchess of Northumberland said “We are quite sure the naturists will have a marvellous time. There is so much to see and do, although they may have to be a little careful strolling through the Poison Garden! Our culture needs to move towards a healthy sense of body acceptance and the natural environment of The Garden will be both mindful and liberating. Let’s hope the weather is kind!”
Naturists from British Naturism will be visiting The Garden in the evening of 13 July and will have full access to The Garden including over 50 swinging chairs in the Taihaku Cherry Orchard, The Ornamental Lake, The Poison Garden, Bamboo Maze, Ornamental Garden, The Grand Cascade and enjoy homemade food and fresh coffee in The Pavilion Kitchen.
Nudefest - Britain’s biggest Naturist Festival!
8th - 15th July 2019, Somerset
Nudefest returns to Somerset this summer and will welcome around 500 Naturists from across the UK and abroad. 2019 marks the 13th Nudefest and it grows bigger and better every year. For the third year running, Thorney Lakes Caravan and Camping Site, near Langport, Somerset is the venue.
The Thorney Lakes campsite becomes a Naturist resort for the duration and many newcomers to this wonderful world are expected to join those that have been enjoying clothes-free leisure time for decades.
Across the week, Nudefest guests can choose from a huge range of over 100 varied activities including exercise classes and workshops; sports tournaments, health and well-being sessions; arts and crafts; music including a daily choir meeting and a drum workshop; archery, rifle and clay pigeon shooting; dance classes; and body painting. We’ll also be visited by a local morris side and enjoy a bird of prey demonstration.
We’ll be taking our guests off the site too and making nude visits to Michelney Manor, The Cider Brandy Farm, the East Somerset Steam Railway, countryside walks and for a horse-drawn cart ride ending with a boat trip.
There is entertainment every evening with quizzes, karaoke, discos and live bands, fire walking, astronomy and a bat walk.
Local athletes are welcomed to complete with Nudefest guests in a 5K or 10K run that takes place on the Saturday morning. Bored of trudging the same old pavements? Come and run at Nudefest - and make sure you DO forget your kit. Please register at www.nudefest.co.uk.
Organiser Nigel Pinkstone said:
‘If you have never been to a naturist event consider coming along to Nudefest - it’s the highlight of the year for many of our guests. It’s impossible to describe the fun we have and the euphoric feeling that comes with being part of a like-minded community. Naturism is a growing activity in the UK with more and more people discovering how wonderful it is to spend time without their clothes. Come and join them - you won’t regret it!
A ‘Meet the Media’ session will be held on Tuesday 9th July at 10am and various guests will be on hand to chat and discuss naturism and the festival in general. Photography will be possible. Media people who wish to attend will be made welcome. Please let us know in advance if would like to come
nudefest.co.uk; email info@nudefest.co.uk; follow us on Twitter: @nudefest_bn
ENDS
Notes to Editors
• For any further information please contact organiser Nigel Pinkstone info@nudefest.co.uk
• Pictures and Nudefest logo available here
• British Naturism (BN) is the UK’s officially recognised Naturist organisation. It exists to support and unite Naturists around the UK and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2014, although its predecessors were in existence since the 1930s. www.bn.org.uk
• Amongst the aims of BN are to campaign for more places to be made available for Naturism and to protect Naturists against discrimination and Victorian attitudes to the human body. www.bn.org.uk/campaigning/index
• Fact - in law, there is no offence of nudity. The Sexual Offences Act 2003 specifically excludes Naturism. Over the years the authorities have often ignored that and used other, irrelevant legislation to penalise law-abiding Naturists and it has caused problems. Recent, BN’s legal team convinced the Police about what the law actually says and persuaded them to implement better training. www.bn.org.uk/policing
• In Naturist places it soon becomes apparent to everyone that there is no such thing as a perfect body and that we are all normal. That’s truly liberating. And despite the perceptions, giggles and fear about being naked with others you don’t feel exposed, vulnerable, judged or stared at. It takes minutes for it to become completely normal.
• There’s more going on in the UK than people think. In the UK, there are over 100 sun clubs, swim clubs and holiday resorts and many beaches used regularly by Naturists. Events - big and small - happen across the nation, throughout the year. Membership of BN is around 9,000 people with many more being members of clubs affiliated to BN. www.bn.org.uk/activities/placestogo
• Naturism is good for you! Naturists report improvements in well-being, stress, chronic illness, self-esteem and body image. It’s also a sensible choice of dress when the weather is warm. Naturists are normal people. The only difference between activities inside and outside of Naturism is the dress code and Science proved it in 2017. We run the Great British Skinny Dip each year to raise awareness of the many health benefits of a nude lifestyle - and encourage people to give it a go
• It is a fallacy to believe that naked children are any more at risk in a Naturist environment. Unaccompanied children are not permitted in Naturist places and the community spirit that pervades ensures that a watchful eye is present. Despite the perception, there are far fewer problems in Naturism than in more “public” places where children and adults mix. Mindful of the need to be aware of child safeguarding issues, however, BN have a robust child safeguarding policy.
The Great British Skinny Dip returns to the UK this July for a month-long bonanza of clothes-free swimming opportunities for everyone. Now in its fourth year, the Great British Skinny Dip is a campaign from British Naturism to raise awareness of the health benefits of nudity.
Even in the enlightened 21st Century, simple human nudity can still be the subject of taboos, prejudice and fear, but studies have shown that spending time naked, especially with others, can make us happier.
Participation in Naturism is on the rise with British Naturism reporting a 5% increase in membership and a 10% increase in new members. Swimming pools all around the country are hired for nude swimming sessions every week and they are hugely popular.
Follow this link to find the map of skinny dip events already scheduled - and keep checking back - we’re adding new ones all the time. https://www.greatbritishskinnydip.co.uk/uk-events-map/
Spokesman Andrew Welch said:
People who regularly shed their clothes know that the benefits include improved well-being, reduced stress and an increase in body confidence. It’s also liberating and a lot of fun! Millions of people worldwide have discovered this simple antidote to the stresses of modern life and we want to encourage more people to experience it.
Got an idea for a venue? Let us know!
ENDS
Contact
For general enquiries about Naturism and the Great British Skinny Dip:Andrew Welch skinnydip@greatbritishskinnydip.co.uk; 07774 955138
For individual information about a particular dip or a request to attend please make contact with the event organisers
Find images and GBSD logo for media projects here
Notes to Editors
• British Naturism (BN) is the UK’s officially recognised Naturist organisation. It exists to support and unite Naturists around the UK and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2014, although its predecessors were in existence since the 1930s. www.bn.org.uk
• The Great British Skinny Dip is a campaign run by British Naturism aimed at raising awareness of the health and well-being benefits of nudity. Venues, groups and individuals are encouraged to create skinny dipping events in a variety of locations. Some are well used for skinny dipping, some are new.
• Amongst the aims of BN are to campaign for more places to be made available for Naturism and to protect Naturists against discrimination and Victorian attitudes to the human body. www.bn.org.uk/campaigning/index
• Fact - in law, there is no offence of nudity. The Sexual Offences Act 2003 specifically excludes Naturism. Over the years the authorities have often ignored that and used other, irrelevant legislation to penalise law-abiding Naturists and it has caused problems. Recent, BN’s legal team convinced the Police about what the law actually says and persuaded them to implement better training. www.bn.org.uk/policing
• In Naturist places it soon becomes apparent to everyone that there is no such thing as a perfect body and that we are all normal. That’s truly liberating. And despite the perceptions, giggles and fear about being naked with others you don’t feel exposed, vulnerable, judged or stared at. It takes only minutes for it to become completely normal.
• There’s more going on in the UK than people think. In the UK, there are over 100 sun clubs, swim clubs and holiday resorts and many beaches used regularly by Naturists. Events - big and small - happen across the nation, throughout the year. Membership of BN is around 9,000 people with many more being members of clubs affiliated to BN. www.bn.org.uk/activities/placestogo
• Naturism is good for you! Naturists report improvements in well-being, stress, chronic illness, self-esteem and body image. It’s also a sensible choice of dress when the weather is warm. Naturists are normal people. The only difference between activities inside and outside of Naturism is the dress code.
• It is a fallacy to believe that naked children are any more at risk in a Naturist environment. Unaccompanied children are not permitted in Naturist places and the community spirit that pervades ensures that a watchful eye is present. Despite the perception, there are far fewer problems in Naturism than in more “public” places where children and adults mix. Mindful of the need to be aware of child safeguarding issues, BN have a robust child safeguarding policy.
A NATURIST swimming club in Leicestershire is running a month-long campaign to encourage more women to try clothes-free swimming.
Desford Swim is running a “Women Go Free” month during May and June, in which women wanting to test the waters of nude swimming can join in for free with the group’s regular mixed-gender clothes-free swimming sessions every Sunday morning.
Women will be able to swim for free on four Sundays – May 12, 19, 26 and June 2.
The campaign is aimed at giving woman of all ages – who are historically under-represented in naturist activities – the chance to experience the freedom of swimming without clothes in the safe, friendly, welcoming spirit of the club, free of charge.
Desford Swim club secretary Carol said: “Clothes-free swimming is one of the most wonderfully liberating and empowering activities, and it really is suitable for anyone and everyone.
“We would love to have more women of all ages join us at the club, to experience it for themselves, and this campaign is a chance to try it out.
“A lot of people find that taking part in activities such as swimming without clothes really does wonders to boost body confidence and self-esteem.”
Desford Swim has use of a warm, clear pool, along with badminton and table tennis facilities.
Carol added: “We are a warm, family-friendly, positive club with a shared enjoyment of the simple pleasures of naturist swimming.
“It is a wonderful way to start a Sunday morning and we are always happy to welcome new faces – if you’re not wearing anything else, make sure you wear a smile.”
For more information contact Desford Swim on 07762 732601 or email: info@desfordswim.co.uk
Please forgive the cheesy title of this article, but it is a direct quote from BBC 1's Have I Got News for You TV show where last week, the guest publication in the 'Missing Words' round was our very own BN Magazine. It didn't come as a surprise - we'd been approached by the Beeb some weeks before and signed a licence to allow them permission to use it on the initial programme and repeats, including on other channels that they sell their programmes to.
So, yes, inevitably, there were giggles and given the calibre of the guests, rather puerile 'jokes' (including Ian Hislop's quote in our headline) but you can't argue with raising awareness of Naturism in the UK to 8 million viewers.
Fuerteventura is the oldest island of the Canaries, the second largest, and the quietest of the major islands. It is a favourite destination for naturists from all over Europe and boasts a beach for every day of the year with supposedly 365 of them - no I have not explored them all! - from vast stretches of 8 miles of Cofete’s empty beach to tiny coves. Naturism is practiced on most beaches out of the towns, so you will be spoilt for the right beach for you and lots of opportunities for naked walking. The beaches on the west can experience the might of the Atlantic so care is needed swimming from them.
The name Fuerteventura means ‘strong wind’ and on occasions it can live up to that with north easterlies helping cool the island. If your thing is festivals then Fuerty is the place for you with every town having lots of them.
It is an island of two halves. The northern half mainly visited by British and Irish tourists and with lots of ex-pat residents, the south of island is mainly German and Scandinavia visitors.
My love of the island goes back to 2001 when I first stayed in El Cotillo on North West of island in a small apartment block north of the fishing village, right on the beach and at that time only had electricity from a generator and water which came in by truck. Only word to describe it was PARADISE. El Cotillo is now growing from being a sleepy village into having a good number of apartment blocks, hotel and lots of good restaurants and bars. The lagoons to the north of village are protected from the worst of the Atlantic waves by an off shore reef which means that at most times swimming is very safe and one of the lagoons recently renamed El Concha is a huge horseshoe of soft white sand and shared with many textile day trippers. I love to walk over naked and swim in the deserted lagoon in the morning, why bother with a shower?
I have travelled the island extensively. My norm is to hire a car, although it’s not necessary as the island has a very good and cheap bus service, although note that the timekeeping is excellent at the start of a run but if there are few stops on route the driver speeds on so if you are hoping to board at an intermediate point - arrive early! The roads are very good having had vast sums of EU money spent on them and reasonably quiet from motorways to twisting hair-raising mountain passes.
The main town in the north is Corralejo, now very much holiday apartments and hotels and sports a vast array of shops (not for me), restaurants - the best in my opinion is Avenida a steak and fish restaurant favoured by the locals, there is always a queue, no booking tables here but don’t be tempted with a starter as you will need a doggy bag for your main course. There is lots of night life as well and just outside the town is the huge dunes beach running for miles into the distance.
Caleta resort halfway down island is not my choice is more of a Blackpool (no offence to Blackpool!) complete with its MacDonald’s. Certainly not a naturist friendly beach. The centre of the island is mountainous with many extinct volcanoes, some tremendous roads and interesting towns, my favourite being Pajara a real provincial town with lovely gardens and superb rural hotel and restaurant Casa Isaitas opposite the car park. You enter to a lovely courtyard and local dishes produced by Pela, the owner, an ideal place for lunch and siesta.
German visitors in the south of the island I believe goes back to WW2 when there was a German submarine base at Ajuy, and you can still explore the caves where they used so dock the subs. The resorts of Costa Calma and Jandia have many large hotels fronting onto miles and miles of white sand beaches and majority of users are naturist. The standard of the hotels in the main are very good. My personal favourite is Magic Life which has a naturist pool and spa area and is sheltered from the wind and on the cliff overlooking the beach. I prefer beaches and it’s one drawback that you need to be a mountain goat to climb the steps! Further on you have the town of Morro Jable a fishing port and real town, I have stayed there and it is only couple hundred metres along beach to the naturists’ area. For the adventurous you can explore over the mountain pass to Cofete and the fascinating Villa Winter, supposedly a German radio and control post and then plastic surgery hospital for escaping war criminals, with an old airfield close by all very possible.
However with all the island has to offer I still head back to El Cotillo every Sept to my bit of PARADISE and meet up with friends returning there year after year. They all know Falkirkdan my nom-de-plume on the BN and Fuerteventura forums and we enjoy the ritual of afternoon tea and biscuits on our lagoon beach. I refuse to tell you the name of accommodation for even as a regular I am having to pencil book two years in advance.
I am happy to answer your questions - but beware Feurty is addictive!
Danny Callaghan
SANER Regional Co-ordinator
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!
Saturday, 13th April saw British Naturism return to one of its most popular swimming venues, Waterworld in Stoke. Naturists have been visiting Waterworld for over 20 years, and it is easy to see why. Waterworld is one of the best water parks in the UK and are always fantastic hosts. The staff are friendly and the café open for when people need a brief break from the many, exciting slides.
It is a sign of how naturism in the UK is growing right now, that this weekend welcomed the largest number of members that the event has seen in quite a number of visits. It was particularly pleasing to see so many new members, many of them young couples, who are discovering that naturism can provide a break from the humdrum of everyday life.
One young woman, Hannah, having recently joined with her husband, commented that they were looking for a new distraction that they could enjoy together. Their first experience at Waterworld was so positive that they are already looking at what other British Naturism events are coming up over the summer so they can become more involved.
Meanwhile Mary, having been introduced to Naturism by her daughter, explained that their family had never been particularly concerned about nudity growing up. Mary credited this open approach as being responsible for the confidence that her own children had achieved and their success now that they are themselves adults. She observed that the naturist environment promotes a level of respectful conversation that many people are missing from their lives and would encourage people to try it.
With summer ahead of us, now is definitely the time to look at trying a naturist event. Afterwards, you will probably wonder why you have not always been doing it.
Mark Bass
I’m sitting on the tarmac at Schiphol airport, waiting for the conga line of passengers to hurry up and take their seats. There’s a younger man to the left of me, clowning about on his phone. To the right of me, there is a joker, cracking puns to his friend and giving off a strong aroma of the local horticulture. I’m stuck in the middle of the usual pre-flight scuffles with the sad reality of going back to work after a sublime weekend with some of the YBN at Zuiver Spa in Amsterdam (“Zuiver” means “pure” in Dutch). This was a jointly organised by BN and Chalfont Holidays and was the first trip exclusively for YBN. About 20 people came, including several familiar faces, and some that had chosen this trip as their first foray into social Naturism.
The weekend began with a light dusting of snow in Aberdeen and a few inches elsewhere in the UK. Luckily, my flight was only delayed by an hour, and the power of Chalfont Holidays meant that their emergency helpline came in very useful for some of us that were rerouted due to the bad weather. Zuiver Spa is a short taxi ride from the airport. The complex has a a spa and hotel, and gym and tennis club. The complex is not Naturist, but nudity is mandatory within the spa itself and wearing only a dressing gown and flip flops in the hotel is acceptable. The room I shared was perhaps a little basic, but perfectly comfortable for the two nights and had everything we needed. The focus at Zuiver is very much on the spa: in the UK, Zuiver’s equivalent would be a big hotel with luxurious rooms, a fancy steak restaurant, a pool and maybe a small steam room. Zuiver realigns this balance somewhat.
Friday afternoon was spent in the spa while waiting for the others to arrive. I arrived with Thomas and Alan, and quickly lost them as we all went off to explore - it’s huge! The spa has a large heated pool that extends outside. On the inside, there are many saunas, a steam room, steam baths, a caldarium, showers, and the restaurant. Upstairs is a bar and lots of comfy chairs if you want to take a break from the heat! There's a sunbathing lawn with plenty loungers outside (not a popular choice given the time of year), a big jacuzzi tub that had room for all of us and even more sauna rooms. The saunas all have a defining characteristic. The Finnish sauna is the warmest at 80 degrees, and you can experience the löyly ritual, where steam is released as water is sprayed onto the hot stones in the centre of the room. The music sauna has ... you can guess. I was expecting an angelic choir to help me relax in there but I got a Daft Punk CD instead. The colour therapy sauna has lights that make it feel like a disco in very slow motion, and the infrared sauna is like sitting on a wooden bench and pointing heaters at your naked body. The whole spa has mandatory nudity, except the bar and the restaurant, where you must be wearing a dressing gown and flip flops. There was a noticeable spectrum of ages, genders and nationalities. Zuiver attracts a much younger crowd than is typically found at Naturist events in the UK, and sometimes the women outnumber the men. Being close to the airport, it's no surprise that a mix of nationalities are present, including a Japanese woman that could outlast any of us in the Finnish sauna, French couples enjoying a romantic weekend away, and an angry German that objected to the jacuzzi tub being still for too long. You get the feeling that nudity is not a new experience for most visitors to Zuiver. Everybody seems totally at ease, nudity is just part and parcel of being at a spa, whereas for many British Naturists, nudity can be the primary reason for being at an event, swim or club.
The group had all arrived by evening, and leaders Mark and Pam had organised a meal at a nearby restaurant, which helped to break the ice. We enjoyed our food and the restaurant’s own pesto, which, despite appearances, did not have hallucinogenic properties.
Clearly the spa had already had good effects on me, as I managed to sleep in until after 9am on Saturday morning. Breakfast was continental style - don't expect a fry up here! We spent all day in the spa. I enjoyed a massage that was much more thorough than I was used to - my masseuse became well acquainted with my vertebra and I left feeling much less tense and slightly dizzy. At a UK leisure centre, you might be served a damp chicken burger, fries and Diet Coke for £7.99. At Zuiver, wellbeing is a focus, and the restaurant served a salad and deli meat buffet. Even paying for your food is relaxing: there's a clever wristband that you use to enter the spa, which is scanned whenever you buy food and drink – no need to carry cash! In the afternoon, some of us went to a towel ritual (Aufguss) in the Finnish sauna, which was the defining moment for Zuiver. A towel master poured water and oils (peppermint, almond, eucalyptus) and then wafted the hot air around the room with a towel in a series of well-practiced moves. It's like watching the ribbon dancers at the Olympics. The room got progressively hotter. Half way through, everybody got honey to rub over their body before returning for another round of towel waving to sweat off the sticky stuff. You'll have to take my word that it's more pleasant than it sounds, and this ritual became a highlight for the YBN. Later in the afternoon, we enjoyed the more serene ritual of listening to singing bowls in the colour therapy sauna. This time, the sauna master used a mallet to strike metallic bowls that vibrated and produced a humming sound. The combined noise and the lights made for an unusual but very calming experience. We filled the rest of the afternoon in the spa. I found myself daydreaming even more than I usually do. Time is easily lost in Zuiver and every effort is made to ensure that visitors leave as relaxed as possible!
We went into Amsterdam to explore on Saturday evening. We were joined for dinner by two members of the Dutch YBN equivalent. Chatting to them revealed that the two young Naturist groups face similar problems, and I'm hopeful that in the post-Brexit UK (whatever the outcome) the YBN will be able to join forces with European groups to promote Naturism in young people. After dinner we went for an eye-opening wander around Amsterdam. Some of the streets are like walking past a lot of Ann Summers shops with live mannequins! We landed in a bar filled with arcade machines and enjoyed a bit of Pacman and drinks. After another wander (more mannequins), we found another bar and commandeered a sofa. Naturism is something that brings a sense of identity and close association with other people. Our clothes had been reluctantly put on back at Zuiver, but underneath we were the people that enjoy the unique positive benefits of social nudity.
Sunday morning was predictably late. The sun was out, and we spent a lot more time in the big outdoor jacuzzi in between visits to the warmer rooms inside. We said our goodbyes concluding that the first YBN trip to Zuiver had been a success and that we should have another trip later in the year! I’m really excited to see more people join YBN through trips, watch them build friendships and become more confident in sharing the delights of Naturism.
Ed Shearer
Photo supplied by Spa Zuiver
There is another opportunity to join a group and travel to Spa Zuiver in Amsterdam, from 20th to 23rd September. For details of this fabulous trip and other BN Events, click here
British Naturism has existed for over 50 years, and organised naturism in the UK for double that. For all that time, naturism has been based on the family values of respect, inclusivity and friendship. A recent internal survey of what people value most about naturism revealed friendship to be the clear winner, with nudity featuring surprisingly low down the list.
A culture of respect, inclusivity and friendship does not occur purely by chance. British Naturism works continuously to promote the family values that make people feel at home, and it is often said by newcomers just how relaxed everyone is in a nude environment. A question often asked by those who have not tried naturism is whether it is appropriate for children. The answer is a clear yes. Young children don’t differentiate between clothed and unclothed. Our 2016 “Children Deserve Better” report (http://www.bn.org.uk/children) identified a host of emotional, cultural and physical challenges that we face through our lives. Many are a direct consequence of modern culture, and the report summarises evidence that the wholesome body attitude learned as a naturist can help us become more rounded and respectful people as we grow so we enjoy greater confidence and health through our lives.
A second common question from adults tempted to try naturism is whether they themselves will feel safe and be treated well. The question is understandable, we all fear the unknown, and trying naturism for the first time might be intimidating. But there is nothing to fear. The family values and community spirit of British Naturism means we watch out for each other, especially newcomers, to make sure everybody feels comfortable.
We must also concern ourselves with the safety of vulnerable adults. In the same way we wouldn’t want to exclude young families, we must accommodate and protect members who, whether through age or for other reasons, need extra help. Health or personal issues can leave individuals vulnerable at any time in our lives, and we as a community are committed to both welcoming and supporting them.
Collectively, this means that British Naturism prioritises ensuring the safety of all who participate, especially children and the vulnerable, so we can benefit from naturism throughout our lives. The question is: How do we achieve safety?
Safeguarding Procedures
Like all family organisations, British Naturism makes safety the highest priority. Achieving safety means first recognising risk and then acting to minimise it. Our Safeguarding Procedures are amongst the best there are. Our Procedures are reviewed annually and subject to a major revision when new challenges arise. The world changes and a policy that was effective five years ago might be inadequate now due to new circumstances. Vigilance is key. Our Safeguarding Procedures are prepared with the assistance of consultants from police child-safeguarding backgrounds, align with best practice of safeguarding authorities and we consult agencies such as the NSPCC and the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) to ensure our Procedures are the best they can possibly be. We are currently undertaking a major review to replace our existing Child Safeguarding Policy with a more expansive policy that properly encompasses vulnerable adults and bullying so we have thorough procedures to safeguard members throughout their lives.
Verification of Members
Our ability to check members is what sets us above nearly every other organisation. As a paid membership organisation, we are able to ensure that individuals with a record of historical misconduct are not admitted. Our checking procedures are multi-layered and go on behind the scenes, so although you will not see them taking place, new members can be assured that they are joining a safe environment. Even events that allow individuals who are not already members to attend require proof of identity and advance notice of participation to allow checks to be made. Our rigorous commitment to safety makes our events unique compared to nearly any other park, or beach, or swim in a local pool where people can attend anonymously. It means British Naturism events are arguably the safest places you and your family can be.
Stewarding of Events
Although background checks can pick up past misconduct, a good question is what happens if somebody misbehaves for the first time? The answer is simple: Stewards. All British Naturism events have stewards on hand who can be easily recognised by their orange BN lanyards with name badges. These volunteers are members of long standing, who have been reference-checked to show they are reliable at what they do. The most common activity of stewards is to make new members feel welcome and ensure everybody has a good time. But they are also the people to turn to if there is a problem, and they provide eyes on the ground to make sure everybody is safe. On top of our own stewards and venue staff, we work with local police forces so they know that our events are taking place and can react quickly if we need assistance. It is not uncommon to see officers drop by our outdoor events, much as you would at other festivals, such is the strength of the relationship we build with local police.
Working with Venues
Most British Naturism events use public venues, which will of course have their own safeguarding procedures. Rather than replace the venue policy, our policy is applied on top, meaning that there is a double lock on safety procedures, backed up by risk assessments tailored to individual events. It is no coincidence that venues welcome British Naturism events. There are venues that we have been using for over 27 years without incident, demonstrating how keen venues are to welcome us back as friendly and responsible customers.
Photographic Documentation
All people like to take photographs of their holidays and days out, but this is where naturism differs from most social activities. Partly due to mutual respect, partly for safety, but partly because naturism encourages a simpler life, personal photography is not allowed at any of our events. We have a trained and vetted British Naturism photography team to document the atmosphere of our events. The BN photographers are bound by very strict rules meaning that they need permission to include people in an image, and British Naturism requires expressed permission from any recognisable individual before publishing an image. More importantly, any image featuring a child must have written, parental consent obtained in advance, and not contain anything that could be even close to being considered indecent. We want people to relax and enjoy naturism, and our procedures make it so.
Naturism is a Participation Activity
A final misconception is that some individuals might attend naturist events because they want to look at naked people. The reality of naturism is rather different, and not something that people understand until they try it. Firstly, we should say that British Naturism has never allowed spectators at its events: you are either involved or not there, the only exception being an associated family member at a competitive sporting event. But the bigger truth is that when you join the naturist community, the body matters less. Eroticism in nudity is driven by tease and taboo, the temptation of what is hinted at. Once we are stripped bare, that vanishes. Everybody expects their first naturist experience to be awkward because they think when they are naked people might stare at them. In fact, nobody does, and within seconds you forget that you are naked. You engage people by looking them in the eye, and you relate to their character, rather than musing on their fashion choices. This is the simple joy of naturism, why there is so much respect and why it just does not work as a spectator event.
So, in summary, naturist events are a low-risk environment - our places are far safer for children than many other places they go. If you are unsure about naturism, you should just try it. You will never be given more respect for you as a person, you and your family will never feel safer and you will have a great, relaxing time.
French sculptor Augustine Rodin was a naturist! Well that's my guess anyway after reading one of his quotes and seeing his masterpiece “The Kiss”. Rodin said, “Man's naked form belongs to no particular moment in history; it is eternal, and can be looked upon with joy by all the people of all ages”. He had a great way to describe his art..... “I choose a block of marble and cut off whatever I don't need”.
BN Eastern Region's Nigel, Baz and Wendy heard about the Kiss and Tell Exhibition in Ipswich and then negotiated and organised our visit. The four-ton slab of marble that makes up The Kiss is certainly a wonderful centrepiece but there was far more to our sell out visit than that. The exhibition is in the magnificent Christchurch Mansion in the centre of Ipswich. It's a 500 year old Tudor building which contains a permanent art exhibition including paintings by Gainsborough and Constable. We were able to wander around the huge building with surprises around every corner in terms of history and art. Some rooms recreated different times in history with costumes, furniture and artefacts. There were some excellent examples of intricately carved Tudor panelling in other rooms.
On arrival we were split into two groups of 30. Whilst one group explored, the other were given a tour and talk by curator Emma. Her pride in the exhibition and passion for her subject was inspiring. She gave us real insight into not only the background of the sculpture but also of Rodin and how a small museum managed to loan such a prestigious piece. The Kiss was commissioned in 1904 by an American who lived in Lewes called Edward Warren. He stipulated that the man's genitals must be complete! For several years it was kept in his stables. Then in 1914 it was loaned to the council for display in the Town Hall. A local head mistress, Miss Fowler-Tutt, was appalled and successfully campaigned to have it covered from public view. She thought that it might be too sexually exciting for soldiers billeted in the area. Naturists today recognise that sort of puritanism still exists. Later during the evening a number of us tried to recreate “The Kiss” for a photograph. It wasn't as easy as I thought and maybe some of us chaps did lack a little in physique compared to the original!
Both Emma and Saskia (the museum events organiser) were lovely hosts and clearly not concerned at having 60 naturists on site. Happily, they didn't feel the need to erect elaborate screening and put up curtains, even though we were in the middle of a public park with a footpath just outside one window. Baz and Wendy helped the day go well by laying on refreshments and arranging for Springwood Naturist Club in Colchester to have an Open Day to coincide with the visit.
The two subjects, Francesca and Paulo, portrayed in “The Kiss” are from Dante's Inferno. Francesca's husband Giovanni caught his wife with his younger brother Paulo and killed them both.
We spoke to many BN members at the time and all were delighted with the evening. Wandering round the rooms lends itself to a different kind of social interaction unlike when we have dining events and mainly speak to those around us. It is rare for a naturist event to be held in a British museum /gallery. Hopefully other museums will open their doors to us in future.
Andy Wyman
Thanks to Pauline and Stephen Skippins for the photos
Forty Naturists are looking forward to a fish and chip cruise on canal boat from Norbury Wharf on Thursday 4th April. It’s the first trip of its kind in BN’s North West region.
As with many of our more unusual events, it sold out quickly proving again that modern Naturism is definitely not all about sunbathing by the pool!. Most guests are local but we expect plenty of people from further afield to take advantage of the opportunity.
It has been a pleasure to deal with the people from Norbury Wharf who gave a positive response to the request for our booking - it’s what we’re finding with most venues these days!
We’re looking forward to a great evening!
21 of us, British and French in almost equal number, gathered together in the dining room of Landhaus Lührmann in Austria for the The BN Winter Activity Group Holiday. There was the hum of two languages and another Parliamentary Brexit deal looming in the air, but we were standing and chatting, united by naturism.
Outside the snow came down hard during the week, perfect for the skiers and we were also blessed with bright Spring sunshine. This year half our party chose downhill skiing, while the rest experienced a mixture of cross-country skiing, walking, the spectacular mountain scenery, the picturesque village of Schladming, the fresh air, company of like-minded people, entertainment and, of course, the sauna, steam room and pool in the hotel’s own spa.
The hotel was completely naturist for the whole week - any activity could be done naked, including dining. Every day the group came together for the sumptuous breakfast buffet before getting ‘kitted up’ and being transported to the slopes; competent skiers took off, others took lessons, some went into Kulm to join the cross-country tracks, or to Schladming to shop, or stayed at base to relax in the facilities of the spa. A few even went for the ‘snow shoe’ option a couple of mornings for a snow hike. Later in the week, five of us ventured out to Therme Amadé spa 45 minutes away at Altermarkt where we immersed ourselves in hot tubs, pools and 10 different sauna infusions. A further group of us went again one evening to ‘spa under the stars’, as some of the heated pools are outside. This was a delightful and restful experience, calming minds and soothing aching muscles.
During the week we enjoyed the fun of a horse and sleigh ride, two wine tastings in the Lührmann family’s own cellar with specially chosen wine, hosted by the family son, Hans Georg. Granny Lührmann, Rosina, cooked three course dinners of high quality traditional Austrian fare every evening, which was gratefully received by the hungry ensemble who gathered to eat and discuss their day as well as planning for the next. Many attended Sheryn’s aquaerobics and stretch sessions in the late afternoons, so popular that additional sessions were added. Others relaxed in the sauna and steam rooms, and all joined Andrew’s after dinner evening quizzes, as well as other entertainment including an impromptu life drawing session run by one of our party, Jim. On the final night a music intro quiz led by Andrew fuelled frenetic singing and dancing, everyone joined in as much as they felt able to, the women took to the floor demonstrating a wonderful rendition of ‘YMCA’ whilst French and English partnered up to ‘rock around the clock’. All in all it was an exuberant way to finish our week.
It was difficult to believe that many of us had not even met just eight days before. Language barriers had been overcome, shared activities had been enjoyed and naturism had united us all.
Find all the other BN Members' holidays for 2019 here
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