News and Articles

Press Release: New Year, new nudists

Press Release: New Year, new nudists

Naturism in the 21st century is being increasingly driven by the internet, thanks to social media such as Facebook and Twitter and niche websites such as Naked Vegan Cooking (www.nakedvegancooking.com)
This phenomenon is explored in a documentary called ‘My Daughter, the Teenage Nudist’ to be broadcast on Thursday January 12.
British Naturism are delighted to have been fully involved with this excellent film. We worked closely throughout 2011 with ZKK, the production company, helping them to find people and places to show how social nudity is becoming much more common - even if in a more casual way - and amongst younger people.
BN’s commercial manager, Andrew Welch, said: “We were happy to help out with a film that really gives an insight into the new naturist world. Social nudity is not just for people of a certain age group and young people like the stars of this film, Molly, Alex and Daryl, are taking it to places where traditional naturism has rarely been and challenging conventional thought.
“Our recent survey, conducted for us by Ipsos Mori, showed that around 3.7 million people in the United Kingdom consider themselves to be naturists.
‘My Daughter, the Teenage Nudist’ goes out on Channel 4 at 10pm on Thursday January 12.
Mollie, Alex and Daryl are all available for interview
- ENDS - Contacts: BN Commercial Manager Andrew Welch: Tel - 01753 481527/07774 955138 commercial.manager@bn.org.uk Notes for Editors
British Naturism (BN) is the UK’s officially recognised naturist organisation. It exists to support and unite naturists around the UK and will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2014, although its predecessors were in existence since the 1930s. A survey conducted in the autumn of 2011 by Ipsos Mori shows that there are 3.7 million naturists in the 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. Fact – in law, there is no offence of nudity. Various pieces of legislation and common law are often mentioned in connection with naturism but they are not relevant. In the UK, there are over 130 sun clubs, swim clubs and holiday resorts and many “officially designated” naturist beaches, with many others used regularly by naturists. Membership of BN is around 10,500 people with many more being members of clubs affiliated to BN. There are also thousands of UK naturists who enjoy holidays and beaches in the UK and abroad without being members of recognised naturist organisations. YBN (Young British Naturists) has a membership of young men and women between the ages of 18 and 30 who get together at clubs and beaches many weekends. They represent the UK at the International Naturist Federation (INF) Youth Rally held annually 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 of abuse in a naturist environment. In addition, 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, code of practice, and a Child Safeguarding sub-committee that meets regularly and runs workshops on the subject, sometimes to groups from outside the naturist world. For the media, there is a dedicated “Media Centre” at https://www.bn.org.uk/media, which contains useful information for those wishing to write about naturism or to feature this wonderful world in their publications or programmes

Nearly 4 million naturists in the UK

Nearly 4 million naturists in the UK

Ten years ago BN employed GfK NOP to conduct a poll to find out what people’s attitudes really were and how many naturists there really are. That information has been invaluable to support our campaigning work but it was getting too old to be useful. We decided to engage Ipsos MORI to repeat the exercise.
The survey was conducted during 23rd – 29th September 2011 via Capibus, Ipsos-MORI’s weekly face-to-face in-home interviews, using computer laptops. Ipsos MORI uses a form of random location sampling and 159 different sampling points were used. The sample comprised of 2,033 respondents aged 15 or over. It is interesting to compare how the numbers have changed but it can’t tell us how things are changing now. The time interval, over ten years, is too large for that. Questions and methods have changed so some care is required when making comparisons.
A lot of work is going to be needed to analyse these results properly but I can provide a summary:
Q1. Experience of Naturism
The differences compared to 2001 have altered a little. A lower percentage of people have experienced nude sunbathing (10% in 2011 compared to 14% in 2001) or swimming (22% in 2011 compared to 24% in 2001) but a higher percentage have been to a British clothes-optional beach, resort or club (10% in 2011 compared to 7% in 2001). The figures are arguably a lot higher than many people would believe. It may only be one person in ten (10%) that has been to a naturist beach, resort or club in the United Kingdom but more than one in ten (12%) has been to a foreign naturist beach, one in ten (10%) has sunbathed nude and one in five (22%) has swum nude.
Q2. Opinion of naturists
The wording of this question was changed, on the advice of the polling company, but some loose comparisons can be made. Just over eight in ten people (82%) state that naturists are harmless, 5% say that they are sensible. Fewer than one in ten (9%) thinks that we are disgusting and only one in a hundred (1%) considers naturists to be criminal. That is similar to 2001 when 2% said “criminal” and 7% “disgusting”.
Q3. Encountering naturists on the beach
Around the same percentage (1%) would go naked themselves and more (5%) would be alarmed and keep well away than was the case ten years ago (2%) but the changes are small. Only one in a hundred (1%) would call the police.
Q4. Suitability of places for Naturism
There have been large changes for the worse. The proportion of the population stating that naturism should be legal in back gardens (38% in 2011, 66% in 2001), at certain times in public swimming pools (10% 2011 vs. 35% 2001), quiet areas of public parks (5% in 2011 vs. 10% in 2001), and designated areas (42% in 2011 vs. 69% in 2001) have all fallen considerably.
Q5. Are you a naturist or nudist?
6% of the people in the UK consider themselves to be a naturist or nudist. That is almost one person in 17. To put it another way, on the average 50-seater coach you would expect to find three people who consider themselves to be a naturist or nudist. In 2010, the population of the UK was about 62 million so there are now roughly 3.7 million naturists in the UK. We can honestly say that there are nearly four million naturists in the UK, a big increase compared to ten years ago. The percentage of naturists in 2001 was 2%, compared to 4% in 2005, with 2% considering themselves nudists.
Society is becoming more polarised. There are many more naturists but a lot fewer people are happy for naturism to be practised in public places. Both of those changes were expected but we did not expect them to be so large. Unfortunately, despite naturism becoming a lot more popular and despite considerable progress on the legal front, the prudification of society is becoming a serious problem.
Malcolm Boura

My child wants to be a Naturist. What do I do?

My child wants to be a Naturist. What do I do?

You only have to open a newspaper or turn on the television to be exposed to unrealistic and unachievable images of the human body. This can have a major negative influence on a child’s sense of wellbeing and self-confidence.
Figures show that eating disorders and body image issues are on the rise; unfortunately children can believe that the images that they see in the media are what their body should look like. And it can have devastating effects upon them.
It is not easy for a child to grow up in a world with false expectation; Naturism dissipates this misguided view and allows a child to see what the true naked form looks like and to accept and appreciate their own body.
Naturism provides a platform for well adjusted, happy and balanced young adults; at the same time as having fun in a safe and secure environment!
These are just some of the reasons why British Naturism, its members and millions of Naturists around the world think that our way of living is positive and a beneficial way of life!
Hopefully with this article we can help you understand why your child wants to become part of a Naturist organisation.
Naturist children are happy, well-adjusted and safe
Children don’t care if they are wearing clothes or not, in fact they often prefer not to! It is adults that make them get dressed. Starting with a life in Naturism they grow up with a better understanding of what will happen to their bodies with time and they learn to enjoy a relaxed outdoor lifestyle.
Typical Naturist places tend to have entry requirements and secure gates, making the inside a far safer environment than the outside.
So what is YBN and British Naturism…?
Young British Naturists (YBN) is the youth group of British Naturism.
British Naturism (BN) is the UK's internationally-recognised organisation for Naturists in the UK. We are a membership organisation that is comprised of mainly families; we provide a variety of services for our members, as well as working to promote Naturism in wider society and to campaign against the threats to our lifestyle.
We are a self-funding organisation, approaching our 50th birthday, earning most of our revenue from membership fees and donations; occasionally we obtain grants from the International Naturist Federation (INF) to whom we are affiliated.
Naturism is accepted and practised by 3.7 million people in the UK. (Survey conducted by Ipsos Mori in the autumn of 2011)
YBN helps provide a safe environment for youngsters to enjoy inexpensive holidays and weekends, with like-minded people.
We have over 10,000 members and there are in excess of 100 Naturist clubs throughout the UK. There are also activities such as organised Naturist swims at other venues in the UK. Naturism is practised by millions of people around the world.
‘Where do you normally go to be naked?’
Almost all of our events take place in very safe and sometimes secluded environments such as Naturist Clubs, beaches and hired venues. We go to places where nakidity is appreciated and accepted as normal and customary. We use venues that are used to catering for families; we come into contact with other Naturists from all over the world, with all sorts of beliefs; therefore a Naturist environment can be extremely beneficial and educational to a child in allowing them to understand and appreciate different cultures.
‘Why do you want to be naked?’
For many reasons- because we and millions of other people all around the world believe that it’s good for you!
It promotes positive body image as there is no such thing as the perfect body and we are all unique. Both physical and mental health is improved with the benefits of sunshine and fresh air.
‘What motivates your child to want to be a part of a Naturist community?’
Purely and simply, for the same reasons as everyone else that is part of the Naturist community!
It is not always a question that can be easily answered in a short sentence; your child could be motivated to overcome their fears and their confidence issues around their own body. Or to just simply enjoying being naked in a safe environment!
Why do we want them at YBN? - ‘Why do you want to see my child naked?’
We don’t want to ‘see’ anyone naked so to speak; we do however want to see everyone happy and healthy. We want to give everyone the opportunity to reap the benefits of Naturism in the most safe and welcoming environment.
At all of our events being naked is optional, and there is never any pressure to join in and strip off, as Naturism is about feeling comfortable.
‘Why do you want to be in the presence of naked people?’
It’s not about being with naked people as such; it’s about being in an environment where you can practise Naturism and feel comfortable as well being able to reap all of the health benefits that Naturism provides. It is extremely beneficial to be in the presence of other people who don’t judge you; it can be not only provide a greater sense of well being, but it can also be invigorating and enlightening to a person.
‘What policies do you have in place to protect my child or other people…?’
We have many policies and procedures in place to protect everyone in and around our care.
British Naturism’s child protection policy and safeguarding of vulnerable adults policy is one of the most comprehensive and detailed in the country; with outside guidance and approval by the NSPCC and other experts in that field. Our leading child safeguarding officer is also the president of our organisation, and a caring mother. Our organisation is predominantly a family organisation.
In fact many of the parents within British Naturism are teachers, solicitors, nurses, doctors, social workers and child care workers themselves, and most of all - very caring and protective parents!
A Naturist environment is a safe, happy and healthy environment for a child to be a part of.

Key Facts about Naturism…
Naturism is normal
It’s just ordinary people choosing not to wear clothes when the weather and the circumstances are appropriate. Our activities are no different from what most people do in their leisure time, other than the dress code. We’re not anti-clothes; we just know that they are not always essential. It’s also a lot of fun!
Everyone was born naked
…and yet now anyone wanting to return to that natural state is treated with at best, mild amusement and at worst, suspicion. Being naked isn’t obscene, provocative, ridiculous, eccentric, shameful or immodest. Being ‘naked as nature intended’ is a perfectly normal desire. Nudism promotes wholeness of the body, rather than setting aside parts of the body as unwholesome and shameful.
Naturism is good for you
It promotes positive body image; there is no such thing as the perfect body! We are all unique; Naturism allows for acceptance of the human form no matter what shape, size or creed of the person. Both physical and mental health is improved with the benefits of sunshine and fresh air; research suggests that exposure to the sun increases the body’s synthesis of vitamin D. This is vital for calcium absorption and the strengthening of the immune system; exposure to the sun is especially beneficial for younger people for the growth of strong bones.
Naturism provides a relaxing and de-stressing environment with friendly and comfortable community spirit.
Most sunbathers wear very little more than we do. Swimsuits are pointless – why get dressed to get wet?
Naturism has wider benefits too – such as teenage pregnancy rates and abortion rates are lower in countries with a more relaxed attitude to nudity.
Naturism is not about sex
It’s Naturism – not voyeurism!
Naturists are not asexual, however despite what certain public attitude may be; a gathering of naked people does not make for a sexually charged environment.
In-fact a Naturist environment is the least sexually charged environment that a person can be in “Nudity per se cannot be sexually suggestive when it is habitual and customary”.
Sexuality is a matter of intent rather than state of dress.
Naturism is very popular
Millions of people in the UK and even more throughout the world have discovered this wonderful way of life. There are thousands of holiday resorts and other places serving the community. Plenty of people skinny-dip, go topless on beaches and spend time naked at home.
Mankind started off naked, and the naked human form used to be celebrated. It was only the constraints that were put on society in the 1400’s that made us feel ashamed about our body. Society has evolved as a whole however the same shameful and outdated attitude towards the naked human form has been carried forward through time.
The benefits of our membership include such things as;

· Four (quarterly) issues of our magazine delivered to your door

· Access to the BN and YBN members’ forum, to keep up with friends and information etc
· Many events – some for members only, others with discounts on entry
· Meeting like-minded people and the sense of belonging to a vibrant community education
· Help overcoming misunderstandings and prejudice
· General advice and support on issues that affect a naturist's daily life,
· providing a point of contact and information for enquiries, liaising with government and other authorities
· Sharing with and learning from Naturist organisations in other countries
· Discounts on some items in the BN shop
· The BN holiday advice service
· A photo ID/membership card – proven to be useful in establishing your credentials with Authority figures, especially in times of trouble. An INF card – essential for access to some naturist places, discounts offered in others
· The BN e-zine – keeping you up to date with news in between issues of the magazine Summary
We are not asking you to leave your teenager in our care, - far from it. We would much rather that you came along and tried for yourself. We would love you to experience the normal, natural lifestyle that millions of people round the world live.
What we are asking for though is that if your child expresses an interest in a Naturist way of life, you let them explore that. Chances are it’s an opportunity that they will give thanks to you for the rest of their lives.
Remember you are welcome too!
BN Contacts of people and other parents to talk to…
Head Office
Post: British Naturism, 30 - 32 Wycliffe Road, Northampton, NN1 5JF
email: headoffice@bn.org.uk
Telephone: 01604 620361
Fax: 01604 230176
YBN Team
team@ybn.org.uk
BN Child Safeguarding Officer (president of British Naturism)
Angela Russell - president@bn.org.uk
Telephone: 02476 511781
Below on the comments, please could you add your positive experiences and views in respect to how naturism has changed your view;
as a parent, and how it’s benefited your child...
Or did you come to Naturism without your parents? please tell us below…

Under 18?

Under 18?

If you are aged 14-17 you will need your parent/guardian’s permission to join in with any part of YBN; this includes coming along to our events and having full access to the YBN message board. You would need full permission that is signed on a youth consent form; especially if you want to take part in any of BN’s youth group events & activities. Your parent/guardian is more than welcome to come along with you to our events, as your legal guardian.
When you are 18 you can join as a full member, but until then some-one has to be responsible for you.
Are your parent’s members of a Naturist club…?
Yes…
Great, then they have probably heard of YBN, and should be happy if you want to join us. There is no reason why you can’t come along to our events either with them or with their consent.
No - but I can ask them if I can join YBN…
Well there’s no time like the present to ask them… Hopefully they have heard of British Naturism and the fantastic reputation that we have as the country’s leading Naturist organisation. They can look on our website to find out any information that they need and to possibly answer any questions that they may have. We have comprehensive guides regarding Naturism and youth. They can also email our child safeguarding team or our Youth Officer to discuss things further.
No - I don't want to ask them...
There really is no need to be worried or nervous about telling people or about anyone finding out that you enjoy being naked or that you are a Naturist.
You never know; your parents have probably been to a Naturist beach, club or even an event in the past and will be happy that you now want to go too.
After all; there’s no harm in asking them! We are a family organisation!
If your parents are not aware and you don't want to ask them for their permission though, then you can’t join and become a youth member. This would not prevent you from coming to meet us at our public meet-ups, like the Naturist beach days we go to in the summer as it would be at in a public space; just a group of people chilling at the beach!
But if your parents know and are happy to give permission, then great! We encourage you to be honest with your parents and inform them of where you are going and who you are going to meet.
You may encourage them to contact me direct if they have any concerns or issues – I am happy to discuss any aspects of Naturism with your parents and hopefully dispel any concerns that they may have.
Daryl
BN Youth Officer (YBN)

Erections and Naturism

Erections and Naturism

In terms of your concerns about erections, you are not the first to be worried about this; nor will you be the last. I hope that I am able to put your mind at rest with the following information.
I have been a Naturist for a long time and YBN has many members that are completely new to Naturism and to being naked socially. Nearly all of the members have shown the same concern about getting an erection when they first joined. However when it comes to the crunch of making the step into 'public' nudity there is absolutely nothing to worry about!
It is quite normal that guys’ hormones can be a little wild when they are going through puberty and soon after. It is perfectly natural for your body to react in ways that you have no control over, without any reason or warning… It can be a worrying time, full of confusion and doubt.
The thing to remember when you are in a naturist environment is that although there are lots of naked bodies, it is not sexual in any way. But if when you are naked and feel that you may be getting aroused then you just need to make an effort to cover it up; you can wrap a towel around yourself or roll on your front etc; it is not acceptable to walk around with an erection.
But don't get too hung up on this issue, it really is nothing to worry about! The thought and worry will go away as soon as you arrive and strip off with everyone else!
Naturism is a great way to feel accepted and to become comfortable with your own body image; most members have found that by coming to Naturist events both their overall confidence and their positivity towards their own body image has increased. Naturists are very accepting people; they see people for who they are and not what they look like. It’s not about what ‘brand’ or ‘badge’ you are wearing; it is all about you as a person.
Rest assured though, you are not alone with your initial concerns! After all; the majority of us have felt those same concerns and had those same anxieties. Like most new things; the thought of trying something often creates much more anxiety than at the actual experience itself!!
I hope this helps and if you have any further questions about this or YBN & Naturism in general please do not hesitate to ask.
BN Youth Officer (YBN)

Dame Helen Mirren named "Naturist of the Year"

Dame Helen Mirren named "Naturist of the Year"

British Naturism, the UK’s internationally recognised body for organised naturism, has awarded leading British actress, Dame Helen Mirren, the title of “Naturist of the Year”. Miss Mirren was presented with an engraved rose bowl to mark the award. Dame Helen was selected from a number of well-known celebrities who have made their love of a naturist lifestyle public.
Mick Ayers, Chairman of British Naturism, said:
“Naturism in this country is thriving and there are hundreds of thousands of UK people enjoying naturist beaches, clubs, swims and resorts, both here and abroad and yet it is often portrayed as an eccentric activity pursued by a tiny minority. So, when one of Britain’s best loved and successful actresses is happy to talk openly about her love of naturism, it helps our cause no end. I am delighted that we have been able to say thanks, by making this award.”
Dame Helen Mirren said:
“Many thanks to British Naturism for this great honour. I do believe in naturism and am my happiest on a nude beach with people of all ages and races!”
Date: June 2004

Puberty and Naturism

Puberty and Naturism

Puberty is a name for the time when you start to change from a child to an adult. Puberty is normal and it happens to everyone. You may be looking forward to puberty, or dreading it! Or you may feel both ways about it! You’ll go through a lot of changes, but you will still be YOU, just with some important differences. Try to think of it as one of the great adventures of your life, because it is.
In terms of Naturism when you are going through puberty; there is nothing to worry about or to be embarrassed about. After all we have all been there! We understand that the changes in your body occur at different times for different people; we also understand that it can be a very confusing time for you.
When the hormones are ‘raging’ and you may feel uncomfortable with your body Naturism is a great way to be comfortable those changes. It allows you to feel accepted and to become happier with your own body; most members have found that by coming to Naturist events both their overall confidence and their positivity towards their own body image has increased.
We understand that you may have worries about what your body is going to do without any warning!
Boys - if you get an erection, don’t worry about it! It’s perfectly normal! We know that sometimes you just don’t have any control over what’s going on! Just cover yourself with a towel or roll onto your front, no-one is going to pass any comment or judgement towards you; it’s nothing to be embarrassed about.
Girls – You may be concerned about the changes in the shape of your body; you don’t need to be embarrassed about it! Everything that is happening is completely normal and no-one is looking at you. You may have concerns about getting your period in a Naturist environment; again this is nothing to worry about or to be embarrassed about! If you have any concerns about this then it is fine to wear bikini bottoms.
The thing to remember is that everyone’s body shape is different; even when you have gone through puberty your body is going to be completely different to someone else’s. Naturism provides a realist view of the body; it allows you to accept that the way you look is normal.
Under 18?
I hope this helps and if you have any further questions about this or YBN & Naturism in general please do not hesitate to ask.
Daryl
BN Youth Officer (YBN)

Youth Body Image

Youth Body Image

If you have concerns about your body image then you are just the same as nearly everyone else before they tried Naturism. You are certainly not the first to be worried about your body shape or size or the way that you look in general; nor will you be the last. I hope that I will be able to put your mind at rest with the following information.
I have been a Naturist for a long time; YBN has many members that are completely new to both Naturism and being naked in a social setting. Prior to coming to a Naturist setting many people worry about their shapes and sizes, religions and creed, any marks or scars that they may have on their body, tattoos, their menstrual cycles, disabilities, and whole host of other things! However; when it comes to the crunch of making their step into 'public' nudity they all have absolutely nothing to worry about.
Naturism is a great way to feel accepted and to become comfortable with your own body; most members have found that by coming to Naturist events both their overall confidence and their positivity towards their own body image has increased. Naturists are very accepting people; they see people for who they are and not what they look like. It’s not about what ‘brand’ or ‘badge’ you are wearing; it is all about you as a person.
Rest assured though, you are not alone with your initial concerns! After all; the majority of us have felt those same concerns and had those same anxieties. Like most new things; the thought of trying something often creates much more anxiety than at the actual experience itself!!
If at all when you are at an event you feel self-conscious then you are more than welcome to put something on or around you, in order to make you feel more comfortable. No-one will ever force you to take your clothes off! Naturism is all about comfort and being happy.
I hope that this helps and if you have any further questions about this or YBN or just Naturism in general please do not hesitate to ask.
BN Youth Officer (YBN)

YBN’s great nude summer of 2011

YBN’s great nude summer of 2011

Youthful energy driving us on!
This summer we have been here there and everywhere, travelling around the country having fun in different places.
Many clubs have invited us to join in with their summer festivities and allowed us to host YBN weekends; as always, we have to choose only a few of them to attend, this year being Manchester, Heritage, Nottingham, Spielplatz, and Ashdene, while we also have the volleyball tournament to look forward to in a few weeks.
We’ve partied with fancy dress discos in our best Hawaiian outfits at Heritage and showed the active sporty members how to play volleyball once again at their home grounds; we had an amazing UV-glow party in the evening at Spielplatz which got the dance floor lit up with multi-coloured UV paints and their very own DJ Mark’s famous music keeping everyone awake and dancing until the early hours... and we sunbathed at Manchester, using the extremely hot weather which we booked especially for the occasion!
YBN co-hosted the Great British Skinny Dip event at Spielplatz this year whilst having our weekend festivities, showing the club our great energetic spirit whilst bringing along many youngsters who were new to naturism and the idea of public and social ‘nakidity’, which was a great success for all.
We have also been hosting facilities and dedicating a lot of our time to an enthusiastic film crew from ZKK, a London-based documentary production company. We’ve been working with them for a new documentary aimed at advertising and normalising naturism and ‘nakidity’, especially among the youth of our country. Working with an award winning director, not only YBN but other clubs and individuals have been working together and along-side one another to help make this hour-long documentary into a huge success, with content that we want, in the way that we want it said.
The documentary should be shown on Channel 4 in the early part of next year and we are very hopeful that it will not only re-educate people in the way we would like things to be said about our way of life and common beliefs; we also hope that it will entice many more teens and youngsters to our friendly and family-orientated world of YBN, showing the country that there is somewhere to go and a community to join to enjoy a naked way of life!

Colourful continental fun at the INF Youth Rally 2011

Colourful continental fun at the INF Youth Rally 2011

This year’s INF rally was held in a stunningly beautiful naturist club in the south of France.
Being June and given what the weather man had told us all, who would have thought it would rain all week, yet be the hottest day of the year in most other federations’ countries? Nevertheless, fun was had by all and even more friends were made this time round.
The theme for the week was ‘create’ with classes on drawing, music and massage. Anyone was free to join in with the activities and take advantage of the sessions organised for everyone. I think the most popular activity for YBN was the walk through the hills. Despite the clouds and rain, the club was still a place of beauty with amazing scenery, complemented by the river running below and, may I add, an incredibly cold river!
This still didn’t get in the way of water based games, though; braving it, we got involved, as points mean prizes – one problem, though; I think the French missed out on that saying as I saw no prizes!
Body painting was also the highlight activity for many. I can see why the French chose the theme they did... Some of the things they were able to paint were amazing! Daryl was left sporting a scarily realistic eye on his chest, along with a red pair of shorts. Then, we had a problem...what to do with all of the left-over paint?? The children within us thought that a paint fight on the beach would be a great idea! What a mess we all made, but everyone brave (or stupid!) enough to join in had a blast! Red, blue, yellow, green, a bit of sand sticking and lots of giggles later, we all grouped together and made a run for the river! Guess what... Green paint isn’t so easy to get off! Then it was into the showers and time to warm everyone up for the evening.
In the evenings, everyone enjoyed a beach party and flower-power theme party. What a trek to the party, though... A long walk up a steep hill later, we were ready for the music to start and dancing go on throughout the night.
As usual, YBN sat with the Dutch JNFN group but were pleased to welcome other nationalities to our group, too.
A big ‘thank you’ to the French for yet another great youth rally. I honestly feel as though we were all able to make new friends this year and build even stronger networks with other young naturists round Europe.
I look forward to next year’s rally which should be returning to Italy – I can’t wait to party again with our international friends.
Leah

Hectic weekend at Heritage

Hectic weekend at Heritage

We arrived to a warm welcome from the people at Heritage who helped us sign in before we desperately requested to know the direction of the bathroom – after an epic journey of all of 45 minutes!
Once all the tents were up, we headed to the pavilion for a night of karaoke. A lot of the crowd from YBN and the club were already up there. The drinks and conversation started to flow, with a few brave souls volunteering to sing (some being put up by “friends”). Soon there was an excellent rendition of ‘Man, I feel like a woman’ by Paul to the giggles of his adoring fans. As the evening developed, I ended up getting on stage as a supporting act! With the karaoke wrapped up, the YBNers expected to have to quieten down but that was not what the club had in mind. We all heard a shout of “everyone in the pool!!”; everyone looked round surprised then whipped off their clothes and dived in. An impromptu game of water volleyball which turned into water polo.
The next day we all got up to a lovely breakfast provided by the club. Throughout the day, there were various activities organised, ranging from water volleyball to steam room sessions and a trip to the shops to get food and drinks, which turned into a massive hunt for provisions for the glow disco in the evening. Upon returning we had volleyball games on the go and a slippery pole over the swimming pool for a Gladiator-style duel.
After a lovely evening meal provided by the club, all the YBNers ran off to prepare their outfits for the glow disco with the whole group drawing glow paint on each other – some were more skilled than others.
Heritage had put a massive effort into preparing the glow disco area and the whole club got in to the spirit of the evening. Plenty of drinking and dancing followed until the disco came to a close with a group of YBNers heading to the steam room to finish the night off with a bang. We piled in to sit down and watch our glow paint spill off (which we promise, we did clean up!) before everyone jumped in the shower, then headed back to the steam room for a impromptu karaoke session singing ‘The lion sleeps tonight...’Sunday was the volleyball victory day for YBN! Headline news, as YBN beat Heritage for once! Heritage put a massive effort into an amazing weekend and we all very much appreciated it. A big ‘thank you’ to the club and everyone who helped organise it.
Vicky

A bouncy birthday party at Telford

A bouncy birthday party at Telford

Once again, our lovely friends at Telford Naturist Club helped get the summer off to a great start – and this time for an extra special reason, our 10th birthday.
We always love going to Telford, getting a warm welcome from the club and really enjoying ourselves. For the special celebrations we’d invited lots of ex-members and people who had helped to make YBN a success – and so there were people of all ages. It was great to meet past friends and, as usual, people enjoying their first YBN event.
Friday night saw everyone catching up, with the drinks flowing from Telford’s famously cheap bar, well into the early hours. As usual, most awoke after a couple of hours’ sleep, with sore heads but memories of a good night. Whilst some were lazing in the sun after a filling fried breakfast provided by the club, others were getting childishly excited about the arrival of the bouncy castle! After a few high energy games of dodgeball and some low energy games of shuffle board, some bright spark joked that it would a good idea to squeeze washing up liquid on the bouncy castle and fill it with water. That bright spark had the best idea of the summer!
Who would have thought that 30 YBNers on a bouncy castle, with that many bubbles, slipping and sliding all over the place, would bring so much amusement....What a great ice-breaker for some of the new members!
With all of us dressed for the School Disco, DJ Shaun got the party started. Short skirts, freckles and pig-tails flocked to the dance floor to be met by shorts, un-tucked shirts and ties wrapped round foreheads. The dancing was questionable, but fun!
Sunday was a lazy day and we must say thank you to everyone who attended, organised and helped make YBN’s birthday such a great success. Here’s to the next 10 years!

10 years of YBN - 2010

10 years of YBN - 2010

It’s hard to believe that YBN is ten years old already!
What started out as a way of meeting a few other young naturists has turned into something much bigger, writes Ben Rose.
It doesn’t seem that long ago that the first flyer was being sent out asking if anyone would be interested in joining a naturist group for young people – a group which didn’t have a name or any real plan as to how we were going to develop. The idea was that we would get as many people on board and, between us, maybe we could come up with a few ideas. This seemed to work as we received a dozen or so replies back and a few months later, our first meeting was held at a venue just outside London. From that point on, it became apparent that there was a need for such a group and this – combined with a trip to the International Naturist Federation youth rally – gave us renewed enthusiasm to progress and try to take things forward.
That first trip to the INF youth rally really opened our eyes. Whilst the UK was represented by only Tracey and I, there were 50-plus people from the Netherlands, more than that from Germany as well as people from France, Norway, Denmark and other countries. The rally gave us the opportunity to speak and listen to people from other youth federations which had been going a lot longer than us, picking up hints as to what worked for them – some of these are still used to this day!
Back in the UK, things were starting to gain some momentum and although we weren’t using the internet as much as we do now, a network of people was beginning to build, allowing us to hold our first YBN weekend at TARA.
From there, things grew and grew and from that first event with 12 of us attending, we have held visits to clubs with over 45 YBN members and we even held the INF rally ourselves at Broadlands two years ago.
The main way in which YBN members can communicate with each other is on our own private message board. Similar to the BN forum, it means that we can plan events, add photos that have been taken and chat with other members – the latter being particularly useful in the colder months when it isn’t possible for everyone to get together as easily. The number of registered members on the board currently stands at 139 though this doesn’t take into account couples and many more people have reached the grand old age of 30 and are no longer able to attend YBN events (though there is an XYBN group for those aged 30-plus).
Although we didn’t have message boards when we first started, it became apparent that the group would only flourish if we embraced the internet and also used email as opposed to letters. This meant that information could be sent a lot faster and the message boards created a community that people could really feel part of. This is particularly important to YBN and we have always done our best to include anyone who attends a meeting, never putting pressure on people to undress, allowing them to take things at their own pace. This sense of community and understanding has meant that members have brought friends or family to some events who, whilst not ‘naturist’ in the card-carrying sense, at least go away with a better understanding of what naturism is and the type of people (normal, we hope!) that practise it.
Similarly, we try to get involved with the clubs that we visit and not only enjoy sitting in the bar chatting to members of the various clubs but also challenging the club to some sort of competitive activity as well, usually volleyball. We are always aware that we are guests but like to think that we have something to add to a venue and here I must thank all those places that have allowed YBN to host an event in the past ten years. Without being able to visit these clubs, it is difficult to see how we could have grown to the extent that we have.
YBN is only as good as its members and a massive ‘thank you’ to all who have attended events. We have seen people from South Africa, Australia, America and Holland join YBN and attend the events and through them and our members’ praise on other online communities, interest in the group is growing all the time. It would be great to see more people coming along to one of the meetings that we hold and hopefully this summer will see some of those YBN’ers who haven’t yet managed to get to a weekend break that duck. We are, of course, always looking to recruit more people and continue to use our website and word of mouth as much as possible to promote the group and British Naturism as a whole!!
The success of YBN over the past ten years is also great news for British Naturism as our members have moved on to take various posts on the EC. This helps give a different take on things and also introduces people to the workings of the organization a lot earlier, potentially making them more likely to hold other posts in the future. Not only that but when presenting an image to the media or prospective members, British Naturism is able to say quite confidently that naturism is popular amongst young people, contrary to the ‘Carry On’ image we are trying to move away from.
Here’s to another ten years of YBN. Although I’m in my final year now and won’t be there to see for myself, I’m sure the group will continue to grow in popularity and carry on making the great strides that it already has, both for young naturists in the UK and for British Naturism.
I couldn’t go without saying ‘thank you’ to some people who have particularly helped me with YBN over the years – Tracey, my long-suffering partner who allowed me to talk endlessly about ideas and for coming with me to events, even though I know you hate camping! Colin Pickett and Ian Green, without your lifts to and fro, I’d never have gotten anywhere. Thanks to Debbie and Joel for taking on the YBN mantle and doing such an amazing job and to Leah Thomas for continuing that good work now.

Single, female and a naturist

Single, female and a naturist

New member Emma James discovers a wonderful world of new friends
I’ve been comfortable with the human body for many years but never really felt able to explore naturism as a way of life, hoping in the decade or so I’ve been a single parent that I might one day find a partner who would be keen to explore naturism with me.
Being single held me back from joining BN, my perception being that I’d be happier joining as part of a couple. Where’s the joy in going on holiday on your own? There’s merit but it’s decidedly more fun in company not to mention cheaper, thanks to those dratted single supplements!
In September this year, I planned a short break with my then-Partner at the wonderful Waterhouse in Scotland (www.waterhousekbt.co.uk) with fine dining and golf also on the menu – but said man skipped off, leaving me once again single, still a female and, having sent off my application form for British Naturism, a burgeoning official naturist.
When I was growing up, we had a garden big enough to sunbathe in without worrying about the neighbours; in my current house, there’s absolutely no way. I’ve spent time on naturist beaches and my poor eighteen-year-old son despairs at the lack of clothing on display in the house first thing in the morning.
It was no surprise to him, or my daughter, when I became a member of BN. I wish I’d joined years ago; then they, too, could have enjoyed spending time at my local sun club, Diogenes.
Diogenes is a large manor house in Buckinghamshire, set in six acres of beautiful grounds, run by the members for the members. There’s a regular programme of social events and it’s become part of my life, along with the people.
To my surprise, the naturist community couldn’t have been more welcoming or accepting, although I’m not your archetypal applicant.
As a member of British Naturism, I’m entitled to post on the BN forum which I did by way of introduction and I’m slowly getting to know members of the community locally and nationally.
I learnt of Diogenes (www.diogenessunclub.co.uk) where I’m delighted to say, I was recently accepted.
The application process requires you to meet with 12 committee members on a one-to-one basis so they can get to know you – not, as I imagined in my nightmare scenario, a scene whereby I was sitting in a chair opposite a long trestle table with twelve people firing questions at me, but altogether more relaxed chats, sometimes clothed, sometimes not. As any naturist will tell you, it’s entirely weather-dependent!
In common with the BN Forums, people have been very friendly and welcoming, despite my irrepressible nature and boundless energy. “You’re very enthusiastic” commented one club member with a grin.
I’m naturally very sporty so I’ve been availing myself of the amazing facilities at Diogenes. The 60ft heated outdoor pool has been the main focus of my attention with one-hour stretches being clocked up on a regular basis. “You’ll get thrown out for being too fit” commented another member.
The exquisite heated indoor pool, with its wonderful tiling and large canvas paintings, has also been a focus, along with “boules in the buff” as I tweet on a regular basis. I’d never played boules before Diogenes and what a great game it is – social, strategic, competitive and the heart of Diogenes, along with Miniten which I’ve yet to try.
I’m very glad that being single didn’t continue to hold me back from becoming part of such a vibrant, friendly, relaxed community and if you’re in the same position, I’d suggest you too take the plunge, join BN and find your local club.
There’s a world of like-minded people out there, happy to extend a welcome to you as they have to me.
My world is undoubtedly a richer place since becoming a naturist and I know that this, along with sailing which I’ve recently taken up, will be very much part of my future irrespective of whether anyone is brave enough to walk alongside me – they wouldn’t keep up anyway...
See you at the BN Alton Towers weekend!

Parallels in Censorship

Parallels in Censorship

I am a proud new member of British Naturism! And here is my story of why. Until fairly recently I hadn’t thought of British Naturism as a cause that might be relevant to me, as something I might actively vote through membership to support. I have, though, quite naturally and spontaneously for many years enjoyed the liberating feeling of being naked in nature, mainly during my many years of travel abroad. The desire to actively support BN as a cause has come about through my own personal experiences of increasingly prohibitive and censorious attitudes to the body, and the extent to which I now see this infringing upon my personal choices. BN information about censorship and briefing papers such as “The Health and Wellbeing of Young People” on the BN website really spoke to my own experiences, and gave me a feeling of being aligned with the aims of the group.
A six-month spell living in Berlin in 2007 really sealed it for me as a naturist. Entering the sauna in my local health club I encountered a naked man. Assuming it must be ‘men's day’ I promptly left for a swim instead. Only on the third occasion of this happening did I realise it was quite normal to be naked in a mixed-sex sauna in Germany! I happily settled into this new paradigm, so different from the body self-consciousness of my Catholic school upbringing. After all, it seems ridiculous to cover opening and detoxifying sweat glands with synthetic, chemical-based fabrics. Also, walking in forests such as the Grunewald I really enjoyed the sight of whole naturist families – parents and young children – happily hiking along. This expression of naturism particularly touched me, speaking as it did of a loving ease, naturalness and innocence of being – so striking by its absence in the world we have in general created.
Leaving Berlin, I settled in London and was hit by the contrasting attitudes to nudity. At the London Fields Lido and Hampstead pools I have longed to strip off and plunge refreshingly naked into the water as I did so often in Berlin and elsewhere. I spent some time looking on the Internet for a naturist area but apart from the men's area at Hampstead was unable to find anything obvious or designated where I could turn up alone and feel safe to strip off. For reasons of both health (vitamin D intake) and indeed civil liberty, I have felt somewhat aggrieved at this infringement upon my right to choose to be naked. Especially as I, like so many Londoners, have no access to a garden, where I might at the very least exercise this right in private. Even if I did have this private facility though, I feel that what is being discussed here is nothing less than a national public health issue. To cultivate collective health and wellbeing – physically, spiritually and mentally – there is I believe a pressing need in the UK to create an intelligent and considered public sphere for the expression, experience of and dialogue about, the naked human form.
Parallel to my journey into naturism I have for many years been studying and practising Tantra. Tantra is an ancient spiritual discipline no different in its origins to any yoga, Buddhist or meditation class you might find in your local community centre. Because various forms of Tantra incorporate sexual practices though, it is subject to much misunderstanding and misrepresentation. There are many different kinds of Tantra and many different ways to practise it. A genuine Tantra practice is a discipline that involves regular yoga and meditation-style practices, enhancing our capacity to feel aliveness, and cultivating an approach to life rooted in consciousness. Consciousness means that we see life more deeply: we understand ourselves to not be separate from or different to that which surrounds us, and so act with greater integrity towards our fellow beings and the world in general. I have studied mainly neo-Tantra – an evolvement of original Tantra teachings to forms suitable for the western practitioner. These teachings generally place an emphasis on Red Tantra, which includes the cultivation of sexual energy within the context of meditation and breathing practices that increase consciousness.
Put in simple terms, in the West we have been taught for generations that heaven is above us, and hell is down below. For salvation and all that is good, look up; for all that is dirty, sinful and shameful, look down. As pointed out in the BN paper Health and Wellbeing of Young people this leads to shaming euphemisms such as ‘naughty bits’. How sad that this should be the way in which so many conceive of the generator of new life, our sex and reproductive organs. An open approach to sexuality and the body is taboo to varying degrees in much of the West, and particularly so in the collective psyche and attitudes of the UK. It is interesting however to note that the original Polynesian and South Pacific origin of the word ‘tabu’ actually refers to that which is sacred: the application of a taboo actually designating that which is holy. However, it is how we choose to exercise a taboo that has massively varying consequences.
Because something is designated sacred and holy, do we give it a special and thoughtful place in our collective consciousness? Or do we seek to banish, prohibit and outlaw that which is taboo from the public realm? Our society and lawful structures seem to labour under a collective misapprehension of how to approach the taboo. Instead of creating a sacred space for our life force as expressed through the amazing wonder that is our body and sexuality, the force of our law seeks instead to banish that which is most precious from the public realm. The consequences of this are well stated in the BN paper cited above when it states:
“There are thousands of censors, official and unofficial, but there is absolutely nobody with responsibility for combating harmful censorship. Censorship mainly serves to restrict the content of the mainstream media but it does little to restrict the availability of pornography, poor role models or erroneous information.”
The practices of neo-Tantra have evolved in ways that address the circumstances and the collective attitudes towards the body and sexuality prevalent in the West. Tantra is not about sex. It is about how we awaken the energy and aliveness of our spirit, the joyfulness of our being. How we drop into being completely our natural selves without censorship, and without falling into automatic and unquestioned patterns of behaviour that may no longer serve us. And most of all, Tantra is about how to do this fully with consciousness and awareness: in integrity within the context of our relationships with ourselves, our families, fellow beings and the rest of the world.
The experience of ‘energy’ is central to an understanding of Tantra. You may be familiar with concepts of energy through having seen diagrams of the energy centres known as the chakra system, or perhaps you have experienced acupuncture, tai chi or chi gung which all work with the energy body. This may all seem a bit esoteric (or potty!) if they are concepts you are not familiar with…
But the expansion of energy is something that naturists experience every day!!!
In fact from my perspective as a Tantra practitioner, it seems clear that the experience of an expanded energy body is fundamental to the benefits that naturists receive from the experience. A seasoned naturist said to me something like "I can't say what it is about naturism I love. But I just feel so alive, so good about it, I don't know why - but I just do". Tantra and its teachings about energy can help us to understand why this is so. All feelings such as meanness, separation and depression have a tendency to express themselves as a contraction of the energy body. Our energy body quite literally shrinks away from the world, contracting to hide in a safe place deep in the core of our body where no one else can reach it. When we feel open and loving on the other hand, our energy body tends to expand outwards to reach and meet other people. Imagine an open and loving person that you know and think how ‘big’ they feel when they enter the room. How their presence and warmth often announces itself even before we shake their hands. This is the expanded energy body in action! Through our energy body love reaches outwards to meet the other, fear on the other hand contracts energy deep within and away from the other.
Through the act of taking our clothes off, and interacting communally in this way, we tend to stimulate an opening of the energy body. Where collectively we contract and hide away behind clothes, protecting ourselves from what may seem a fearful and chaotic world, the fact of coming together openly in our nakedness tends to have the opposite effect. It encourages the energy body to expand and to open. Stimulated by the sun, fresh air and especially contact with nature and each other, our energy body is encouraged to come out of hiding and to fully meet the world. So a naturist meeting between people can feel much more open, alive and positive than the alternative! And as naturists will know, this is not about sex as some ‘textiles' will perceive naturism to be. It is simply about feeling more alive and connected with the wholeness of our being. You don't have to believe what I am saying about energy, Tantra is not a religion and does not ask for belief. It is an experiential path that asks you simply to notice and observe your experiences, and to draw your own conclusions.
I now work with people offering experiential Tantra work. Most of the one-to-one work that I offer is conducted nude. Because of the taboos of our society, the area where people have contracted most through guilt and shame is generally around the sex centre. My work deliberately includes sexuality in the context of a healing, learning, pleasurable and often transformative experience. The techniques that I draw on incorporate tantric practices utilising breath, movement, sound, meditation and touch. I am also interested in and teach how our capacity to be creative and to play contributes to our overall sense of health and wellbeing. People who come to me may feel that something in their aliveness, naturalness and capacity to feel 'whole' has been blocked. I support them on a creative journey of discovery to move beyond their current conditioning and experience.
Tantra shows us our sexuality not as something isolated and separate, but as a natural and integrated part of a healthy whole. It is probably easiest to understand if you think of receiving a regular massage, during which the whole of our body is treated to healing and attention with the exception of one or three triangular bits depending if you are male or female! There are many studies that show how touch, contact and the feeling of being seen and appreciated are essential to our general health and wellbeing. Yet many people grow up with their whole being appreciated and validated, with the notable exception and exclusion of their sexuality. Mirrors for young persons, in particular when learning about their sexuality, will often come - if at all - in distorted forms through pornography or playground rumour. Using the tools of Tantra, I work with adults of all ages and genders to help them address and move past the consequences of these unhealthy, yet shockingly prevalent attitudes to sex and the body in society.
A final note on censorship - I used to freely advertise my work within the context of health and holistic therapeutic listings through a few popular free sites on the Internet. Recently and without warning, myself and other Tantra practitioners have found their adverts being removed. The only place I can now promote my work on these same sites (if at all), is in sections reserved for prostitutes. It is true that much of what masquerades as Tantra on the Internet is little more than a euphemism for sex services. These misrepresentations are a distortion in the absence of widespread knowledge or understanding about Tantra, set within the context of societal wide prohibitive attitudes to the body and sexuality. These distortions have absolutely nothing to do with Tantra as an authentic path of disciplined learning and growth.
Similarly, the naked body in itself is not about sex, it is simply the naked body in all its natural and wonderful beauty! But somewhere between pornography and 'page 3', the naked body and sex as portrayed in the public sphere has largely become corrupted and corrupting. It is against this backdrop that interests such as Tantra and naturism - which seek to be either body- or sex- (in the case of Tantra) positive - become tainted with suspicion and fear. This has nothing to do with naturism or Tantra at all, and has everything to do with the fears and prejudices of a society that has collectively forgotten how to simply honour and be a person naturally and at ease in the body.
Thus I find myself signing up to the BN cause as I find so many parallels between BN values and that which I promote through my Tantra practice. In fact the potential for body-positive experiences through both Tantra and naturism are so numerous that a cross-fertilisation of ideas, discussion, participation and membership between the two communities seems to me to be a very fertile endeavour. Because naturism has been so misrepresented in various ways in the UK, it has taken me some time to really get to the truth of it. I hope that fellow members of BN will apply the same consideration and take time to understand the real truth of Tantra.
I will be happy to answer questions anyone may have in the BN forums! And I look forward to my participation in BN, particularly the proposed London naturist swim - that gets my vote for sure, and I'm sure many people from the Tantra community will be eager to come along with me!
Visit my new website at www.tantra4tigers.com.
Cathryn Jiggens
Tantra practitioner

Your first YBN event

Your first YBN event

Everyone is new to Naturism when they try socialising naked/nude for the first time; so don't worry,- we've all been there!
When you attend your first Naturist event or swim there may be a few things worth knowing beforehand, just so you feel a little more at ease...
Obviously you don't need to bring swimwear or any specific clothing with you and clothing is normally not permitted to be worn in certain areas at events or at certain times. (We do make exceptions for ladies when necessary where bikini bottoms are allowed to be worn at certain times of the month).
If you are staying overnight at an event (camping or otherwise) then it might be sensible to bring something warm in-case you get cold! We don't enforce nakidity and being nude; but if you do wish to join in at our events then it is customary to do without such garments.
A towel is the one item that we as Naturists tend to have with us at all times; this is for whatever reason it might come in handy, such as sitting on etc. Otherwise there is little else you need to know... it's just a normal event, but without clothes!
At our YBN weekend events in the summer we tend to use tents to sleep in (certainly not in the winter!!!), as camping keeps the cost down and makes for a nice and cheap event for all! Living the Naturist way of life, it makes it easy! No-one cares what you look like when you crawl of bed in the morning...
So for camping all you would normally need is;
Essential Items
- a tent - (unless you are sharing some-one else's),
- sleeping stuff - (sleeping bag or duvet, roll matt or air-bed etc),
- plate/bowl and cutlery - (most of the time not needed, but just in-case)
- a towel - (sometimes 2 towels is a good idea,- one to lay on and one to dry with!)
Non essential Items
- alcoholic drinks (over 18) - (as some clubs don't have a bar to buy them from!)
- munchies and drinks for midnight snacks - (you might get hungry at night?)
- a torch, pillows - (just to be more comfortable)
- iPod and speakers etc, - (so we can all enjoy your music)
- Sports equipment, inflatables or games…
- a BBQ - (if you’ve got one)
You can bring almost anything you like to make you comfortable, apart from camera’s and the obvious illegal items such as drugs etc.
I hope this helps and if you have any further questions about YBN or Naturism in general please do not hesitate to ask...
Daryl
BN Youth Officer (YBN)

Nothing to hide

Nothing to hide

“Don’t be scared,” says regular BN contributor Roni Fine, “telling people you are a naturist doesn’t lead you to be outcast by friends and family.”
Ask a company for the best form of advertising and the answer will invariably be “word of mouth”. If you want a plumber or decorator, don’t you always ask around first, hoping someone be recommended? You can always pick a firm out of Yellow Pages but you don’t know what they are like first hand. So what is the best way of getting across that naturists are “normal” people and not the perverted characters some publications and production companies like to portray?
Us standing up and announcing to anyone who will listen that we are naturists!! That’s how we will get the message across!
Even before becoming Public Relations Officer for Blackthorns (and using every opportunity to mention the club!), I wasn’t afraid to declare my pastime. I wouldn’t be doing anything I was ashamed of, so it came naturally to me to talk about it. Which is probably why I became PRO - it isn’t a job you can do if you wish to remain anonymous!
I have had nothing but good responses whenever it has come up in conversation, and I didn’t keep it from my family, friends, or work colleagues.
I recently had a “temp” working in my office for a day and Blackthorns came up in conversation, and when she said she hadn’t heard of it, I explained what it was. She was really interested and couldn’t stop saying how surprised she was that I was a naturist.
I’m afraid many have the wrong impression of the sort of people naturists are, and though I’m no spring chicken, she, like many others, still thought naturists were all a lot older than myself! Just by telling people of the age range and the fact that there are families taking part causes them to view it differently. It is sad that they think naturist clubs are only full of very old people, plus undesirables, and rewarding to change their minds and leave them pleasantly surprised that I do it and so do other “normal” people!
I was delighted to tell her everything and hope she does tell the rest of her office where she works, and anywhere else she goes, for that matter!!
We want to get this knowledge to non-naturists in order to make the majority, not the minority, able to admit what we are. And we can do it for free!
The more people declare it, the more normal it will be considered, and when it gets to the stage where people find it boring, we will have reached our goal and be able to practise naturism without the worries of “what if someone finds out?” hanging over us.
Gone will be the need to hide it from employers and colleagues for fear of sacking or ridicule. Gone will be the need to put off family visits without explaining where you have gone instead. Gone will be the worry that children might leak it to their friends and the parents be disgusted. What freedom for your conscience!! Just imagine it!! Your tension headache will be dissolved without the need for soluble aspirin!
Rick is another naturist keen to make it clear that naturism is an acceptable pastime: “I feel very comfortable telling friends that I have taken up naturism, as does my wife. So much so that when we are seeing friends who don’t know, there almost seems to be a race as to who can tell them first! I have not had a negative reaction from any of them. A few just nod and smile and change the subject, but most show a keen interest.”
He explains that he has told some people he meets through work and their response is similar. As for family, he says, “Some family members have been the hardest to tell, though I am not sure why. My only ever negative reaction was from my octogenarian brother-in-law who saw me on a programme I did for Channel 4. It surprised him and he said he was disgusted, but we have never discussed it since and he still speaks to me!” Maybe it just came as a surprise to him that it featured you – after all, what was he doing watching it in the first place if nudity disgusts him so? Ah, now there’s a thought!
Martin is another like-minded naturist who openly admits, “I even feel like shouting it from the rooftops! However, one has to be realistic and practical, picking what one perceives to be the best time to tell any given individual about one’s involvement, as one is trying to make folk sympathetic to the cause and bad timing could have exactly the opposite effect.”
Martin has connections with local churches where he lives and says he always gets a polite hearing, but wonders if they fully understand the concept of naturism. However a local church published his account of his nudist holiday in Croatia in their parish magazine. This brought only one negative response. “A Christian lady who clearly did not approve seemed to think nudist resorts were veritable dens of vice. However, I am persistent in informing her that many Christians are in fact, practising naturists, too, and venues and clubs have strict codes of conduct and are carefully regulated, especially due to the presence of youngsters.”
Quite rightly so, Martin, and did you point out that this isn’t always the case with other clubs and popular places that young people and families attend, so we can argue that naturist clubs are actually safer than public places? Now there’s another thought!
Martin used to ask his neighbour to keep an eye on his house when away at naturist functions and felt it unfair not to explain his absences, so he asked her to guess and she tried, “Butlins”. When he explained the truth it was his turn to be surprised, as she told him she had practised naturism on holiday at Cap d’Agde! “One never knows just what can transpire when one reveals that one is a naturist!” concluded Martin. They certainly had something to chat about over the garden fence after that weekend of revelations!
But even Martin feels it might be unwise to publicise naturist interests when in employment that involves young people, and is concerned it could lead to dismissal, but admitted he had not been a practising naturist until his retirement, so he could not be sure of the consequences had he made it common knowledge.
This is a common misconception, as Dave and Funky would vouch for. I was thrilled when they joined our club and told us they worked in a school and that the school and pupils knew of their naturism interest and, guess what – they didn’t get the sack!
I asked Dave if he had met any problems when he let it be known that he and his wife brought their young daughter to Blackthorns. He said that they had been naturists for several years, and it was only on joining BN and reading the magazine that they realised there were issues at all! “My wife and I are both employed in a school environment. I teach Religious Education and my wife heads up the Outdoor Education department. Some of our colleagues and many of our pupils are aware of our lifestyle and we have met with almost no adverse reactions – perhaps a little snigger from one or two boys, but generally speaking just mild interest and acceptance. Sometimes questions are posed as diverse as – “The Garden of Eden – so did God intend us to wear clothes?” to “Is it okay if we go skinny-dipping during PE?”
“The perception of a link between naturism and sex can also be a problem. I know this has been said many times before, but it is an important point. Working with children today quite rightly means that teachers must maintain a lifestyle free from conflict with the law. However, if our lifestyle were more openly discussed it would enable others to more fully understand it. A huge benefit to society could be gained here, because many of our teenagers only see nudity when accessing inappropriate literature or websites. This has had the effect of making many of them extremely self-conscious about their bodies, and lack of self-esteem, or worse, has been the result of comparing themselves to models. If naturist nudity were more widely accepted it would give a much more accurate view of life and the diversity of our bodies. Overall, I suppose some of our colleagues think we are just bonkers! Should other teachers who are naturists tell their colleagues and students? That has to be an individual choice, but the more that do, the more chance we have of gaining greater public understanding and support.”
Ah, but might they have thought you were bonkers anyway, Dave?! That, we will never know!
I also spoke to Claudette, a long-standing member of Blackthorns who for years told very few people that she and her husband were naturists. “I used to be quite open about belonging to a naturist club, and my son used to speak about it at school when he was quite little. In fact, his teacher called me in one day to discuss the fact that he drew stick-men pictures with no clothes on, and I was happy to explain it was because he spent weekends with naked people and it was perfectly natural for him to draw them without the obligatory skirt or trousers. His teacher wasn’t sure what to say, but was satisfied with the straightforward explanation. However, in more recent years I have worked for a well known supermarket and felt that the younger members of staff might have found ridicule in the knowledge that I took my clothes off. I didn’t want to risk that, so I didn’t mention it. It just didn’t come up in conversation.”
She did confide in one close colleague and then it wasn’t mentioned again, but it didn’t alter the friendship. Someone also discovered her secret when she answered the phone one day to a colleague needing to pass a message to another member. She had to explain why she answered the phone at the club! Again, it didn’t alter things, but wasn’t discussed either. It was only on retirement that she finally opened up about it. “When I admitted where I went at weekends they said, ‘Oh yes, we already knew!’ and to think I thought they had no idea!” No one cared enough to question her and, though it would have been nice to have them more interested, at least it proved she wasn’t regarded as perverted or made an outcast. She now talks about it far more freely and as you can see, is proud to be quoted and photographed! Claudette is out of the closet and into the sunshine with a more relaxed attitude, and is ready to spread the word that naturism is a delightful and relaxing pastime, and she has made many good friends whilst doing so.
So come on, everyone, please make a conscious effort to talk about naturism whenever and wherever you can. Our image has improved vastly in the last few years and it can only get better. Secrecy does so much harm for naturism, so we need to speak up and educate people that what we do is harmless and actually rather nice! It all boils down to the fact that if you are doing something in secret, it is viewed as something that must be shameful!
People’s minds go into overdrive and think up all sorts of scenarios, but we all know to view our club grounds on a sunny day would prove rather boring in reality - naked bodies, yes, but all pretty motionless save for the walk to the pool or ice-cream kiosk (yes we have an ice-cream kiosk at Blackthorns – doesn’t every club?)
Please, please speak up for the sake of all naturists and inform people that you are one and find, yes, that they would never have guessed and yes, that they are pleasantly surprised!! Do be sure to mention BN and perhaps for them to get in touch for their nearest club. You might be surprised how many reconsider and want to join in - encourage them to shed their nerves, inhibitions and clothes and find some relaxation and quality time in a lovely peaceful, friendly, safe environment for all the family.

Ladies, come on in – naturism will change your life!

Ladies, come on in – naturism will change your life!

At Nudefest2009 a ladies-only session entitled “Women in Naturism” was held, in which experiences were shared, and thoughts and observations on the issues affecting women in naturism discussed. The women present told of how naturism had changed their lives, and the discussion turned to how to persuade more women to look beyond the ingrained cultural and societal attitudes to nudity and appearance and discover how good naturism can make them feel. Naturist women spreading the word about what they get out of it was a popular suggestion, and Nudefest guest Pam Neate offered to write the following for BN:
When I was a little girl, my doctor told my Mum that she dressed me in far too many clothes! As an adult, I used to be embarrassed taking all my clothes off to get into the bath! How things have changed!
When my husband and I got together about 20 years ago, he loved being naked around the house. I soon enjoyed the experience myself. Hugh had always wanted to be naked outside the house. One day, whilst on holiday in Cornwall, we walked along the beach at Carlyon Bay and came to a sign which read, "Beyond this sign, you may see naked people". While we were reading it, a man walked up to us, naked (we always call him our angel now), and said to us, "Do come and take off your clothes. See how you like it". There was no pressure, but without him we often wonder if we would have had the courage.
Well, Hugh was very enthusiastic, took off his clothes then wandered about. I took my clothes off, slowly, then lay flat on the sand - a bit like the Windmill Theatre (it's all right as long as you don't move!) Eventually, Hugh asked me to go for a little walk with him amongst the greenery at the back of the beach. I forced myself to go with him, but found I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We felt like Adam and Eve! It was such a life-changing experience. I asked if we could go back the next day!
After arriving home from our holiday, we decided to contact our local naturist club. As a postlady, I knew we had one. I had heard someone saying, "I've got mail for the nudist club today", and everyone had chuckled. Finding it was another matter. To cut a long story short, we found the telephone number and made arrangements to visit for the day. Even with the address, it was difficult to find. We spent the day at TARA, and enjoyed ourselves so much that we wanted to become members immediately. The then owners Ann and Dave would not let us join, but told us to go home and think about it. If we still felt the same the next day, then we could join, which we did, and we have never looked back.
We had felt very nervous the night before we went to TARA. We felt very apprehensive, and wondered if we would see anyone we knew. Being now seasoned naturists (for about 12 years), we can hardly believe we were so nervous. It is a most relaxing way of life, and completely natural. We just wish the weather was warmer, so that we could be naked more often. We have a secluded back garden, and when the sun comes out we garden naked and sunbathe. What a difference it has made to my life. Being naked has "freed me up" and made me a more natural person.
Pam’s ten reasons to be a naturist:
1. The feeling of total freedom (clothes can be very restricting).
2. The body's temperature is able to work better (you can feel colder wearing a few clothes than wearing none at all).
3. A feeling of confidence and comfort (I feel much more confident naked than with clothes. Clothes tend to pull you in and push you out in very unnatural, uncomfortable ways).
4. There is a greater tolerance and acceptance amongst naturists, whatever people's size and shape.
5. Naturists are very friendly. They have nothing to hide. Clothes seem to add big barriers. You are what you are, not what you wear!
6. It is a healthy way of life, not only physically, but also mentally.
7. It is a very safe environment, especially for children. Everyone keeps an eye out for them.
8. Naturists are well behaved and clear up after themselves. (Did you see the litter left at Stonehenge after the summer solstice?)
9. Being a naturist is a natural way of de-stressing your life, and helps with relaxation.
10. Seeing so many naked bodies makes you realise how natural life can, and should, be. Our culture cannot seem to separate nakedness from sex. There wouldn't be so many sex crimes if all people were naturists. I have shed a lot of layers of man-made problems in the shedding of my clothes!
Pam Neate

Naturism is not a spectator sport

Naturism is not a spectator sport

Roni Fine asks: “Can clothes be a choice?”
How many times have you been caught up in the old argument amongst naturists regarding whether places should be naturistonly or clothes-optional? Would it attract the voyeurs or entice the hesitant person to take part? In an ideal world, it shouldn’t matter who is clothed and who isn’t, but we are not there yet!
Which side of the argument do you take and have you considered it from all angles?
Public beaches that allocate us a sectionwhere we can undress, without being marched off to the local police station because someone stopped to look and then got embarrassed by what they saw, are very pleasant. What better pastime than to laze on the sand, take a leisurely naked walk, fresh air caressing the skin, to the water’s edge? Ah, but some beaches attract the local “meerkats” and the tranquillity is broken by their antics. The few, but nuisance, rogue males who haunt the dunes and pop up and down peering at naturists have been reported to actually position themselves within close proximity to others, even families, and do things to themselves that I think should only be done in private!
This behaviour gives true naturists a bad reputation and frightens away many a reluctant female when her partner had been keen for her to try it out. If naturist beaches attract the “wrong sort” of person, who is taking the opportunity to view the human body with a little more enthusiasm than seems comfortable, then maybe they should not be allowed to share the same areas. We need to protect these beaches, as the local councils will decide to close them to naturism for the slightest of reasons. Even the police can seem to be ignorant of the law and tend to think removing the naturist is the easy option, as not many of us dare to fight back.
Holiday destinations, especially in warmer climes, are popular but beware of the more liberal-minded resorts that permit quite extraordinary antics on the beach! I am not totally against such behaviour, but we advertise naturism as a safe family lifestyle and a non-sexual nudity, so it harms our reputation to have swingers and promiscuous behaviour taking place under the guise of naturism. Let’s segregate ourselves from them for our own protection.
Naturist swimming events at public pools seem to work best when they involve membership, as I often hear open events are overcrowded with men, especially those that make women feel uncomfortable as they seem to be there to look rather than swim. Naturist women don’t object to men; it’s only their behaviour that might worry them, not their presence.
I believe clubs are the best place to practise our lifestyle, as they provide uswith a safe and comfortable atmosphere.
Where else can you strip naked and feel at total ease? We are all there for the same reason and the correct one: to relax in a naked state without upsetting or offending a single soul. It follows then, that no one should be upsetting or offending us either! We are in the age of “equality”, are we not?
I am sure we are like many clubs in that we encourage people to attend Blackthorns hoping they will gain confidence and understand why we do it, but if they flatly refuse to try, then why would they want to continue attending? I’ve heard many say they don’t object to us being naked, but it is not for them. But why would we accept this? You don’t join a golf club and walk round the green dragging a set of golf clubs, but never using them! You walk elsewhere.
You don’t join a weight-watchers group and go along each week munching away on pizza, chocolate cake and ice cream whilst watching the others step on the scales trying hard not to be tempted by these tasty foods! You go to a restaurant.
Naturism is not a spectator sport and though I don’t want to appear paranoid, I feel uncomfortable if people turn up to watch us rather than join in. I would question their intentions. Wouldn’t you?
We get quite a few men with reluctant partners and these men are the ones who wish it was a clothes-optional club, so that they could bring their partner and she need not undress and I do understand that. But, (and there is nearly always a “but”, isn’t there?), this is a situation that can easily get out of hand.
Don’t forget, whilst both sexes might not object to a few clothed women attending, clothed men do not seem to be so readily accepted by either sex.
With today’s equality acts governing all aspects of our lives, if we allow men to bring non-naturist women then we could not refuse women bringing non-naturist men, and how comfortable would we be with them sat on our patio, gleefully enjoying the view? We have to remember we can no longer legally make exceptions. We have to treat everyone the same!
We couldn’t say it’s all right for couples to be clothes-optional, but not allow single people the same choice so we could be inundated with clothed males: again, I am drawing on my experience of membership requests at Blackthorns. We have few single women join, but many single men and a fair amount of single men apply who seem to want to view rather than participate. (If any of you are long-standing BN members you might recall my article campaigning for the acceptance of single men, so please don’t think I am anti!) I am all for anyone joining, just so long as they are naturist-orientated and not thrill seekers!
Try as I might to accept it, I know I feel uncomfortable if there are clothed people amongst us, and my ability to relax is disturbed by those who do not understand naturism and whose views are reflected on their judgmental faces.
It isn’t that we don’t sympathise with nervous prospective members, and we give them ample time and understanding and a little privacy to try it out at their own pace, and very often they take to it and wish afterwards that they had done it sooner!
Strangely enough, it is often the clothed person who feels out of place if they attend on a particularly sunny day when everyone else is naked! If that doesn’t make them undress, then maybe nothing will!
We also welcome friends and relatives to evening socials when we are dressed and always hope they see the normality of naturists and overcome their initial doubts and fears!
We make allowances for the children, as they are brought to the club by their parents; all we ask is that they are encouraged to enjoy the freedom that this lifestyle brings and most of them do. It is then for them to decide if they wish to join in their own right, as naturists, when they turn eighteen.
Like it or not, we have to be realistic and accept that there are always the few proverbial rotten apples in the barrel and there will always be people who try to join clubs for the wrong reasons.
The erratic British weather is another consideration. Isn’t it funny how many times we are asked, “Isn’t it cold in the winter?”, but we mustn’t take it for granted that they know what we do, as it is usually done behind closed doors! I am not of the old brigade that insisted members stripped on entering the gate and remained undressed until they left, whatever the weather!
People’s tolerance of temperature varies and whilst some are wearing jumpers when others are in t-shirts we would expect them to undress when the sun is shining and temperatures are in the eighties! Likewise, when people insist they cannot undress as they are fair-skinned and burn easily, we point out they need not sit in direct sunlight, but can enjoy their nakedness under the shade of tree or parasol. To sit in the sun fully clothed, complaining of the heat seems a little weird in a naturist environment.
So do you really feel there is a need for naturism to become clothes-optional?
Please think about the consequences!

"I'm New To This, Me!"

"I'm New To This, Me!"

Roni Fine gives a beginner’s guide to naturism
So you’ve decided to become a naturist, now what? Is it that simple - you take your clothes off and that’s it? Well, yes, in principle that’s all you need to do, but there is a whole lot more out there to make naturism an enjoyable way of life.
To be reading this you have obviously got as far as joining BN, or know someone who has, and that is a good way of sourcing information. You can find details of clubs and swims, days out and holiday destinations. Next, you decide to head off to one of these places, but what does this involve? Do you just turn up? What is expected of you? If I had to write a naturist law, I would say, “Do not do anything to upset or offend another person.” But isn’t that a good rule for any community?
There is social etiquette, as in any way of life, but first of all, relax! Naturism is all about the feel good factor, so don’t get stressed out worrying how you are to do it! Just be yourself, only, when it is warm enough, remove your clothes. It is as simple as that - well, okay, there might be a few unwritten rules
It can seem a little daunting to undress in front of perfect strangers – and if it is your first time, no one is going to force you until you are ready - take your time and feel comfortable. Once you are with a group of naked people, you often feel the odd one out if dressed. Once you strip off, you feel one of the crowd and it feels completely normal! You can generally choose where to undress - not necessarily with an audience! It is best to choose clothing that is easy to deal with, so as not to attract attention to yourself - something simple that pulls off and on with little effort. T-shirt and shorts for the men. A simple sun-dress for the ladies. Women often feel very exposed when first going naked, so it can be a good idea to wear a sarong. You can very simply loosen and drop the sarong as you sit down and tie it again as you get up, without drawing attention to yourself. You will soon be able to get up and walk without even thinking of replacing it.
Don’t worry that you will no longer have the need to buy a new dress – sorry, gentlemen, but when your lady says she has nothing to wear, she isn’t joking! Naturist venues mainly involve evening socials to be clothed events, as handling food or each other on the dance floor is generally considered to be best carried out fully clothed.
You might well be wondering where to look and thinking it will be embarrassing to be close to other people when undressed. Don’t fret - it will be easier than you imagine. There is far more eye contact between naturists and perhaps this concentrates the mind on the conversation, as it is often said how friendly and approachable naturists are. It is obvious etiquette not to stare at people, but as always, “Do unto others as you wish to be done by” stands fast.
The biggest fear of taking part as a naturist is usually the person’s own lack of self-esteem. They think their body is not good enough to be seen. Am I right? Is that what you have been thinking? That it is all right for those who are slim, trim and toned, beautifully tanned and attractive? Well, think again! Naturists are not that small a section of the population, we are a whole cross-section of all shapes and sizes, from all backgrounds and of all ages: a thoroughly mixed bunch of people, so yes, you too can be a naturist! Do not worry that you have a body problem that might stop you from being unclothed, as the naturist community is the one place that is totally accepting and you will not find prejudice or ridicule. I have witnessed this and been told directly by people with artificial limbs, mastectomies, cellulite and scars.
What I hear time and again is that naturism is a great leveller, by which people mean that once the clothing identity is removed, we see the real person and take more notice of their true self - their attitude, their intelligence, their friendliness, their sense of humour and their feelings. Gone is the need to dress to impress and hide behind a false persona.
People often worry about the effect naturism has on children, but it is the children who love to be free of clothing and it is only the grown-ups who finally make them feel ashamed of their bodies. By raising children in a naturist community you will be raising them with fewer hang-ups and greater understanding of their peers.
And no white bits! What could possibly persuade you to be a naturist more than having no white bits?! Bodies look best when they have an all-over colour! But don’t worry if you are a redhead and burn easily - naturism isn’t just about getting a suntan, it is about being natural and feeling good, and you can do that in the shade, too!
Many men are genuinely worried that they might suffer a natural reaction to an attractive female, but they soon appreciate that we are dealing with non-sexual nudity and it is the addition of clothing that adds the sexual connotation. Having said that, it is a good idea to carry a towel. It can be held in front of your body if you feel rather exposed, and it also provides you with something to do with your hands when standing around, initially feeling very much on show. You will soon feel totally at ease and just drape it over your arm or shoulder. Of course, it is a compulsory accessory for every naturist as it is etiquette, for obvious reasons, to sit on your own towel when using communal seating.
Ladies, you might wonder what to do when you have a period and the answer is simple – wear whatever is comfortable for you. Of course, it would soon be noticed in most clubs if you never uncovered, as the majority are not clothes- optional. You do need to have the intention to be naturist whenever possible. This leads to another frequently asked question: “What do you do when it gets cold?” The answer to this is more obvious than people imagine: we get dressed! It is strange how people still think naturists remain naked whatever the weather, and I always explain that we are naturists, not masochists! What you will find is that you need to carry something warm but easy to slip on, as the temperature in this country changes, like the…er…weather!
There are many jokes about what to do with your money and keys, as you have no pockets, and there are no prizes for realising that the female half of a couple always ends up with everything in her handbag – but isn’t that always the case, anywhere? It goes almost without saying that cooking, especially barbecueing, is best done wearing an apron, if only to dispel those silly jokes about cooking the wrong sausage, but also to protect oneself from spitting fat!
Body piercings and tattoos are often a cause for concern. I have never heard of objections to tattoos - just the occasional cringe at the thought of the pain involved in obtaining them! I believe nipple jewellery is generally accepted, but some clubs frown on genital piercings, especially if they are not discreet, so it might be wise to make enquiries before turning up fully adorned.
Naturism can mean different things to different people and you need to decide what the right path is for you. Some people are happy to throw off their clothes when home alone or in the privacy of their own secluded garden (lucky things!), and this is enough for them, but others want to be part of a community and use naturism to meet like-minded individuals. This can open up a whole new world to you, full of new friends and activities linking you with people all over the country, indeed, the world.
For some, naturism is more of an outdoor pastime and they find somewhere to walk off the beaten track. You need to carry some instant clothing to ensure a quick cover-up, but the worry of meeting someone who objects does rather spoil the tranquillity of the moment. Hence people visit beaches that have been set aside, although some involve a hike to reach them, so you must be fit! However nice these designated beaches are, the other problem I must warn you of is that they are still public and there is the chance of people attending for the wrong reason. I am, of course, referring to the presence of ‘meerkats’. If you have ever watched a nature programme about these animals, you will instantly recognise the similarity between them and the rogue males who bob up and down in the sand-dunes to view naked bodies. When behaviour gets beyond that which can be ignored it needs reporting. Regrettably, naturists are loath to do this for fear of local people and council officials using these incidents to close these beaches to them. We don’t want these people polluting our beaches either, so please report them to the police or get advice from BN. Please don’t think all single males are prone to this behaviour - it is a minority group. There is safety in numbers, so place yourself near others and you will find true naturists are a friendly group and that it is easy to engage in conversation. You will soon have someone to watch over your belongings whilst you wander down to the water’s edge.
If a trip to the beach is too far to be worthwhile as the weather might have changed before you get there, then a club is your best bet. You might not have the waves lapping and the sand under your feet, but you will find yourself in a friendly, relaxed, comfortable and safe atmosphere. Does that sound like I am biased towards clubs? Well, maybe I am, because I love what I have at Blackthorns and I don’t deny it! But I also love to visit the Welsh Morfa Dyffryn beach. I will put up with the slight possibility of ‘meerkats’ for the beauty of the sea and sand and if I lived closer, I would be there every weekend. I’ve said it before and I will say it again, by joining a club you are instantly in a safe, secluded environment where everyone is there for the right purpose and this creates a relaxed atmosphere, enabling you to get on with feeling good! Most clubs consist of a pool and sunbathing lawns and a good social scene, with dances and gatherings as well as sporting facilities, which can be for fun or competition. By belonging to CCBN you can join teams and compete against other clubs.
A lot of people discover naturism when holidaying abroad and finding themselves on a naturist beach by accident - or so they say! Perhaps it is their way of trying it out without admitting that it has been their lifelong wish!
There are a growing number of classy holiday destinations for naturists, whether at naturist hotels, near naturist beaches or at a proper naturist complex where you can literally remain undressed day and night for the whole of your stay, whether on the beach, at the bar, in the restaurant or at the supermarket. There is a whole world of naturism to discover out there.
Well, there you are - all set to face the naturist population with pride and confidence. Now I must dash out and buy a new towel as I have just realised that I haven`t any to go with my new red shoes. Oh, and I need a red hat, too…or should I get purple? Oh dear! I just have NOTHING to wear!

“It’s the way you tell ‘em!”

“It’s the way you tell ‘em!”

In your enthusiasm to introduce people to the naturist lifestyle you may need to pause and think of how you are going to portray it, as those first few words could make the difference between attraction and repulsion.
So often I have heard the question, “Why would I want to do that?” and that can mean a lengthy explanation, so let’s get the explanation in first and they won’t need to ask!
Example 1:
“I go somewhere where we all take our clothes off and lie in the sun, play sports or swim in the pool in the nude.” This usually raises the big question, “Why?”
Example 2:
“After a long day at work in the summer, whilst you are on your way home in the car, stuck in the traffic, picture me on my way to my club where I will be able to jump into a pool which will be refreshing, invigorating and relaxing. I will climb out and leisurely dry myself before lounging in the sun with a drink at my side and in the company of other relaxed, contented people. I will let my skin safely soak up the much-needed vitamin D and totally unwind after a day at work. We will enjoy pleasant conversation until the sun goes down. All this and the total freedom of being naked, too.”
Famous comedian Frank Carson wasn’t wrong when he said, “It’s the way I tell ’em!” It’s all in the delivery. If you describe the sensation first and the way to achieve it second, the listener is already wanting it and will lap it up. It’s marketing!
This is what the famous M&S ads have achieved. They describe a quite ordinary meal in such a way that we are salivating at the mere thought of it. We can copy this method, “This is no ordinary way to relax - this is the naturist way to relax.” We can make it sound so much more special than everyone else’s!
When someone asks me where I go at the weekend I don’t just say, “I go to a naturist club and take my clothes off.” What does that tell them? The bare facts, yes! But it does nothing to sell naturism, or Blackthorns, in fact it runs the risk of their thinking that I’m ‘one of those strange people’, and I don’t want them to think that, at least, not because of naturism!
What I say is: “I belong to a club that is set in 15 acres of woodland. It’s a beautiful natural setting that is full of birdsong and wildlife. There are many types of trees and in spring the floor is a carpet of primroses and violets, followed by masses of bluebells. There is always the chance to spot muntjac or roe-deer that frequent the wood and so many types of birds to look out for and identify. Their songs are so beautiful. You might never hear anything like it if you live in a built-up area. It is such a relaxing place to be and I’m sure it is a help to lose some of the stresses of life and gives me a complete break. It’s like having a mini-holiday right on my doorstep! We have a pool and patio that catch the sunshine all through the day, right until the last rays are setting in the distance.
We have a communal barbecue where we cook our own food and dine together, drinking and talking until late in the evening. Families and children are included and we are of all ages and backgrounds, making an interesting group of people that can evoke conversation that you might never find elsewhere. In conversation and discussion, we are all equals, sharing laughter and friendship. We also have many sporting facilities, so we can be as active as we wish or merely soak up the sunshine - all of which is made even more comfortable by the fact that we remove the constrictions of clothing and are totally free to the world. It’s a great place to be.”
There, weren’t you lapping all that up and then, had you not been reading BN, only at the end would you have realised that we take our clothes off. Before that, not a mention of nudity or naturism, but the impression of a comfortable relaxed atmosphere - one of which who wouldn’t want to be part?
If you don’t have a club like Blackthorns to describe you can still use your experiences, be they at a beach, swim or holiday resort. Describe your holiday with great emphasis on every aspect you think that particular listener would be keen on, whether it is a lovely beach, beautiful scenery, long walks or the nearest golf course. If you attend a swim enlarge on the friendly atmosphere and the health and fitness aspect, followed by the social side of belonging to a group of like-minded people.
Paint a picture that is so good that everyone wants some of it and then throw in the naturist factor! Leaving the nudity bit to last takes away its importance and hopefully helps people to accept that it is a natural part of our life and not the only part.
Once this aspect has been mentioned, keep the attention by describing the feeling of invigoration and freedom. Ask if they have watched the television programme How to Look Good Naked. Most know of it as once the word ‘naked’ is used people will watch! Isn`t it amazing that the one subject they find repulsive in reality is the one they find compulsive television viewing! The expression used to describe the final photo shoot by the ladies who have found the courage to strip for it is “liberating”. Almost all have said that nudity was their biggest fear and, once done, they have found the strength to face the world and anything it might throw at them. And to think we are doing this all the time!
Of course, there will be some who still suspect nudity equals sexual activity, and that is to be expected of some narrow-minded individuals who only see naked bodies depicted in that way. It isn’t really their fault that they are suspicious, but we must try to explain the difference and it is our open attitude that will guide them to accept that our social nudity is of a non-sexual nature.
Explain that because everyone is naked it becomes the norm and no longer attracts the attention that it would in the high street. In fact it is the newcomer, still fully dressed, that gets noticed. As for any sexual attraction, just point out that it is the addition of clothing that evokes these feelings. Partial clothing of the body is far more of a tease - you only have to look at the relevant magazines for examples of that. I always tell people that, if they should come and look at the naked bodies lying around the pool, they would soon find it boring as they are quite inactive and all pretty much alike. People are not behaving competitively nor parading or preening themselves, but are relaxed and at ease with each other. Remind people that this is how it is at any naturist beach or swim. If they want a bit more activity, then promote Nudefest2008 or the Alton Towers weekends! Ensure they realise naturism covers all ages and interests, including sports for which they need only join BN and a whole new world is open to them! A lot of people don`t realise that naturism can be so much more than merely removing one’s clothes!
Be prepared for people to say they couldn’t do this because they are overweight, unattractive, have scars, cellulite or whatever else they can think of to blame. Be ready to explain that they are not too overweight, or anything else, as naturism is accepting of all shapes and sizes. Be careful you don’t sound like you are agreeing with them on this one, merely explaining that whatever they are, and however they feel, they are perfectly able to participate and will not be judged. Whilst reminding them that naturism is about body acceptance and not body beautiful, be careful you do not imply they are not! Show them your copy of BN or direct them to the website to prove we are just everyday normal people and not all super-model types. Try to convey the confidence boost we can feel simply by finding the strength to shed our clothes and inhibitions, and the feel-good factor it brings with it. I try to explain the feeling by relating it to the wondrous relief we get when kicking off a pair of shoes after a long, hard day, but you get this feeling all over when you shed your clothes!
Have a reply ready for when people ask why you are a naturist, so that it sounds spontaneous but truthful. Think hard - why do you do this? The simple answer I give is that it feels nice. I remind people that I do it to feel good - not to be seen, not to upset or shock, not to push the boundaries of the law, not to demand my rights as a citizen, simply because it feels nice. I then go on to explain why I attend a club to do this. I know it isn’t against the law to be naked in public (and it is always worth stating that), but I still prefer to be somewhere I feel comfortable and safe in the knowledge that no one is going to be upset. Personally, I think I gain respect by saying I don’t wish to cause offence. I don’t want to provoke a confrontation and, whether we like it or not, the majority of the public are just not ready for us - yet! Let’s get them used to our being naked in certain places first, take away the shock aspect of it and educate them that we are just ordinary people. If we show them respect by doing this in recognised places, be it clubs, allocated beaches or private gardens, they will show us respect in return. With a gradual approach we might soon be able to openly sunbathe nude in public parks as they do on the continent. First, we need to take away the fear people have of us because, let’s face it, their reaction is usually down to being afraid - what other reason is there for them to object to seeing a body without clothes? Personally, I would be much more afraid of encountering a masked man, a “hoodie”, or other threatening-looking person in a lonely spot, than a naked man!
Whatever your long-term views, we must wean the public on to naturism gradually so that they accept it. If we try to do too much too quickly, they will not want to listen but will vote against it every time. As the Ashanti people in Ghana told Baden-Powell, “Softly, softly catchee monkey!”

Nothing makes you feel better!

Nothing makes you feel better!

Roni Fine talks to naturists about body image.
Going to a wedding, an interview, a party or a first date? These occasions usually involve worrying about what to wear! We want to create a good first impression. Image! It's an important thing and not just with clothes but with our whole bodies. The fashion industry has indoctrinated us with what the right look is and which size and shape we must be.
Most of this is an impossible ambition and many people suffer from eating disorders and depression along the way. This can be a problem for all of us at some point in our lives unless we are wise enough to be at peace with ourselves - accepting of, and comfortable with, what we are. You know what I'm going to say: that last bit refers to naturists!
How important is the visual image and how much relies on our attitude, body language and what we actually say? Can we still make friends and influence people when we have no clothes to hide behind? I think we make more effort with eye contact and communication. We use our natural instincts, many of which have been forgotten over the years.
It also seems that people who are reticent to uncover in public find the naturist community the one place they are able to do so, knowing they will not be laughed at or have cruel remarks voiced out loud. It is very sad that they should suffer people's bad manners on top of what might have already been traumatic times in their lives.
One of a couple who joined Blackthorns had had a leg amputated after a motor-bike accident and the couple told us how they had been to beaches and heard hurtful comments. They had put an end to this by joining a naturist club, where they knew they would be accepted by all. Indeed, on their very first visit to Blackthorns he felt so comfortable that he was able to remove his artificial leg and use our pool.
Ray and Marnie told me how they met up with an old friend at an event. Ray recalled, "We went over to say hello, having not seen her for a year. Later the same day I happened to stop and talk to her again – it was not until I saw her for the second time that I noticed that she'd had a mastectomy!" That says it all! They spoke to the person - not her body, not her breasts!
And just as losing a breast must be traumatic for a woman, so must losing a testicle for a man. Andrew had testicular cancer 20 years ago, at the age of 26. "I have found that being a naturist has helped me not to worry about body image and actually be proud of my body, even though I now have only one testicle," he says. Andrew has noticed how naturists are all so tolerant: "Whether or not you have an operation or disfigurement, you are treated with respect from understanding fellow-naturists. That has helped me through, and I now feel confident about my body."
Teenagers tell me they are more confident about themselves as a direct result of being brought up with the awareness and acceptance of people's bodies.
Leah is 18 and is pleased to have been raised this way. "As a naturist I take people for who they are, and not what they look like," she says. "When unclothed, no one is rich or poor, no one has good or bad fashion sense - people become equal." It is nice to think these youngsters stand a good chance of avoiding the worries of extreme dieting and body image issues.
I've chatted with women who admit they were worried about being seen undressed and feeling fat, but are glad they gave it a go and found they could brave the looks of others without being stared at, and they became relaxed with nudity and comfortable with themselves.
Someone who went through these worries is Andy, who admits it was her size that stopped her practising naturism when she really wanted to, until she saw sense, went to Studland Beach and took her clothes off! Andy admitted, "After many years of trying and largely failing to lose weight, I became resigned to the fact that I was never going to be sylph-like and decided to concentrate on being as fit as I could for my size." She was conscious of what others thought of her, but decided, "If they don't like it that's their problem – the sun and sea are there for us all and if they don't like the look of me they can just look away." But this didn't happen. "In fact, I found people far friendlier than on a textile beach, probably because the initial barriers had been broken down. We had something in common, so making conversation was easy." Taking that initial step has led to her feeling more confident, as she explains: " It might have even helped in my being successful in recent job interviews – the self-confidence I have gained in the last few years – not necessarily talking about naturism!" Her one regret? Waiting until she was over 40 before doing it! But she says, "I have given up being obsessed about losing weight. I try to eat sensibly, exercise and try to have a positive outlook on life." Sounds like good advice to me!
It isn't just women who have this concern about being overweight. Graham found he put on weight and developed rosacea, primarily as a result of a stressful time in his life. "It sapped my confidence," he explained, "I just didn't take care of myself any more and dressed so as not to be noticed, so I looked a mess!" It was when he visited a naturist club that he found people accepted him for himself, as he explains: "Being naked was the only time I didn't feel awkward about how I looked. Whenever I was dressed, my clothes felt wrong and I felt awful. When undressed, people talked to my face and I didn't feel they were noticing my bad skin, but my eyes, and for the first time I felt I was seen as a person. It was only when I had gained this renewed confidence that I was able to take control of my life, and with the help of a Channel Five programme, Diet Doctors, I have lost three stone and feel so much better for it. But I did that for myself, because I know I need to be healthy as well as happy!"
Naturism has many benefits, but if it can help us accept ourselves for what we are and not what we think we should be, then it is doing a grand job! If we are steered away from obsessive dieting and gain the confidence to take on a healthy lifestyle, then it is a bonus. Naturism seems to promote a more sociable environment and we all benefit from the friendship and support of others.
So if you are thinking you would like to go naked in the company of like- minded people, but daren't because you think people won't want to see your body, please throw off those doubts and give it a go, because we really don't care what you look like! The only thing we would like to see you wearing is a smile! Come and join us!

“You’re never too young to go clubbing!”

“You’re never too young to go clubbing!”

Roni Fine, regular BN contributor and PRO for Blackthorns, BN club of the year 2005, talks to families in naturism
The media and those new to naturism are often surprised by the numbers of young people and families that frequent the naturist venues around the UK - having mistakenly thought of it as the pastime of the elderly. But what better way of escaping the stress of modern life than to seek relaxation in a peaceful setting such as a naturist club? It encourages families to spend quality time together and unites all ages.
I love the Welsh naturist beach of Morfa Dyffryn, and the vast expanse of sea and sand enhance my feelings of total freedom, but it does not have the extra factors which I take for granted when attending Blackthorns. I find comfort in the fact that everyone around me is a friend, not a threat, and I can close my eyes and soak up the atmosphere without sneaking a worried look every time I hear footsteps.
I believe there are some who have a dislike of clubs, thinking they are run by packs of old fogeys on committees. This is certainly not the true picture! Yes, we have rules - but they are guidelines for the members and obviously someone has to implement them. The fact that we have a certain amount of exclusivity provides us with the very foundation of safety and security that people feel comfortable with.
I am pleased to be able to say that children make our club what it is and give far more to it than they perhaps realise. They are (on the whole!) a pleasure to have around. Where else would adults say that of youngsters? They are usually viewed as trouble, for fear of what mischief they might be up to. Instead, ours add some fun and family feelings for us all.
It transpires that all the adults keep a watchful eye over the children, and this creates a feeling of community spirit and peace of mind. The children gain extra freedom and the parents gain extra relaxation time! You just don’t get this in public parks or leisure centres where you can’t take your eyes off them for a moment. We generally tell children to beware of strangers, and adults are wary of helping a child for fear of retribution. In this often-wicked world nowhere is safe, but Blackthorns comes very close!
I spoke to some of our youngsters just recently and was delighted to hear such positive reactions to the question of whether it is beneficial being a member of a naturist club.
They were all in agreement that it has made them more confident in a variety of ways, and in this world of media attention to fashion and body image they have a lot to contend with. There are so many anorexic role models for them, and young girls, in particular, end up unwell in attempting to follow their example.
Of course, they still like to follow fashion trends, but they don’t seem as obsessed with their body shape and weight as is the general trend.
Annie (14) and Emma (15), who first attended at ages 10 and 11, said, "We thought it was really “cool” (N.B. to us oldies that means trendy and even exciting!) when we first came here, and seeing naked people didn’t worry us in the slightest!"
This is the general trend: children are far more accepting of the human body, and it is often the adults who introduce prejudices and worries. Emma told me, “I only wish we’d come here sooner.” Annie said, “Forming such close friendships here has taught me to make close friends, with both sexes, at school.” They actually said, without any prompting, that they felt like “one big family!” How nice is that?!
I was concerned that the children might be cutting themselves off from other close relationships only forged within school, but they insist that they have school life and club life, with home life being the in-between state. They even insist it doesn’t get in the way of their homework. I`m not sure how much homework actually gets done over the weekend at the club, but that would probably be the same if at home and something for the parents to sort out!!
Julia, mother of 5-year-old Ronnie, told me, “These kids of all ages just gel. I couldn’t let him have this freedom at home, and I certainly wouldn’t allow him in the park, as there is always the possibility of remnants of drug-taking and drinking, and I don’t want him mixing with the local lads as he gets older and getting caught up in their bad ways.” She also saw health benefits: “Ronnie could easily get overweight, and by being here he is getting far more exercise playing football and swimming, whereas if at home all weekend he would invariably end up in front of the telly or computer.”
Howard is father to Chloe (11) and Ross (16), and is positive that naturism is making them more confident in themselves and with others. “They grow up accepting nudity as natural,” he explains, “ - they don’t make a big thing of it and neither should adults. My daughter has the advantage of spending time with the older girls and has all the girlie chats and shopping expeditions with them that all little girls would love. I can’t imagine her having anything like the freedom she has if we were only at home.”
We have several families that can claim three generations as current members. Lee and Jane came to the club with their parents and are now bringing their son, Jamie (15). Lee says he thinks the reason naturist clubs work so well is that everyone is equal. “There are no barriers,” he says, “no one knows anyone before meeting here and then they are all part of the same thing.” When asked if he thought it was beneficial growing up in Blackthorns, he replied with a smile, ”I’ve loved it!” Lee spoke of the respect that others had pointed out: “The kids have respect for the adults here, and they talk to each other and mix with all ages. I’d avoid groups of teenagers on street corners myself, and I don’t want my son being part of that.”
Jamie agreed: “If I were spending my time at home, I would be watching films and playing computer games with my friends, but when I’m here I have the pool to use and can play sports whenever I want.” As his Mum, Jane, was quick to point out, “We could never afford to go out as often as a family, or play all the sports we do, if we had to pay each time at a public pool or sports centre. But here, we get it all year round at no extra cost. It’s great value for money!” Maybe because naturism has become second nature to her, Jane says, “I don’t view it as a naturist club first and sports and social club afterwards - it is just “the club” and it is all part of the package.”
She, like us all, takes it for granted that we have the extra comfort of being undressed when the temperature allows it. No big deal!
Often the youngsters go through a stage when they do become a little more self-conscious and remain dressed, but they all know the rule regarding the pool: absolutely no swimwear! It’s funny how they can then shed their towels and inhibitions without a second thought! We must remember that they are here because their parents bring them, and we therefore make allowances and let them dress as and when it suits them.
Teenagers often take a break from attending here if university or change of lifestyle dictates, but it is pleasing to see that they invariably drift back and rejoin, usually bringing a partner with them.
Naturism might be what brings us together, but I’m pleased to report it is then the family feeling that keeps us together and makes Blackthorns what it is - a good place to be. I’m sure it is the same for many a club, and I recommend that you join one today!!

My Daughter the Teenage Nudist

My Daughter the Teenage Nudist

Mollie and Alex are part of a growing group of teens and twentysomethings who are embracing the world of public nudity - a contemporary phenomenon that's been driven by Facebook as well as niche websites like The Naked Tea Party. They are on a quest to normalise nudity, question the media's obsession with the body beautiful, and encourage other young people to liberate themselves by simply going naked - in the streets, cafés or at art shows. The new nudists are keen to take the nudist lifestyle beyond the old fashioned naturist clubs. So why is this pastime increasing in popularity and what do the parents think about their child revealing all in the most public of places?
British Naturism are delighted to have been fully involved in this excellent film. We worked closely with production company ZKK over the Summer of 2011, helping them to find people and places. The documentary shows how attitudes to social and public nudity are changing, especially among younger people, who are finding it fun and enjoying the sense of freedom going without clothes brings and challenging the validity of cultural norms.
So, forget your hang-ups, forget what you mother said about "modesty" and treat yourself to a better life. There's a wonderful world of regular nudity out there just waiting for you - with events, holidays, online communities, magazines and more.
Come and join us, you have nothing to lose but your clothes - and everything to gain: membership information and online joining details.
Find Out More
What is Naturism Young British Naturists Big Days Out

New Website Launched for 2012

New Website Launched for 2012

Welcome to our new website for 2012.
Our new website, shop and members' community, have all been redesigned for 2012 to provide a new focal point both for BN members and everyone who is interested to find out more about Naturism. There are a number of areas of the site which have yet to be moved over to our new format but we will continue to work on these and further improve the new areas over the coming weeks.
If you have any comments or feedback on the new site then please use the contact us link at the bottom of every page.