Regional News and Information
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Regional News
News and information about BN's regions
🏳️🌈 YEM are pleased to announce that we will be taking part in Doncaster Pride. 🏳️⚧️
We will be taking part in the parade and have a stall on the field. We are also hoping to take part in some of the stage events after the parade.
If you would like to help out or take part in the parade please drop me a direct message on BN or comment below.
Our site is readily accessible by car, 3 miles from junction 28 of the M25, and by bus, No. 294 which terminates about one-and-a-quarter miles from the site (Noak Hill – Tees Drive). All the facilities are wheelchair friendly including the toilet.
We do charge £5 for entry to the club. Please contact Ken on 07960 109041 for the gate code.
Check out our website at: Oakwood Website link
😎 Than a naked weekend in Northumberland? 😎
📆 Saturday 27th to Sunday 28th July 📆
🏕️ Camping at TANDO ⛺
🏊♂️ During the day enjoy TANDO's new pool & facilities 🎾
🛥️ Saturday Evening: Farne Islands naked boat trip 🛥️
⛲ Sunday Evening: Naked Garden visit at Alnwick 🌳
😎 Maybe just pick a couple of the above? 😎
There are two walks; on Tuesday and Thursday at Grovely Woods, Stoford and at Dunbridge. Check the BN Calendar for details.
On Tuesday and Wednesday evenings there are visits to Houghton Lodge Gardens. See previous post to see the background but we will have full garden access on Tuesday and limited access on the Wednesday evening. No need book, just turn up on the evening and payment will be handled by the venue. Don’t forget, no food on sale so think about bringing your own picnic.
Naked swimming:Friday (1June) evening sees us return to the Petersfield Open Air Pool for our GBSD naked swimming. This is the first of three planned swims there this summer. As usual we will be raising funds for the British Heart Foundation at these events.
Hope to see many of you at these events.
I feel so stupid for not double-checking but as they say, it is what it is. If you know of any friends that were planning to come please make sure they are aware of the change.
Colin Taylor
5 minutes walking in nature improves mood, self-esteem, and relaxation. Frequent exposure to nature reduces anxiety and depression, while promoting a sense of wellbeing and fulfillment. Physcial activity in a green space can reduce stress and lowers cortisol levels by 15%.
What a wonderful description that is..... and of course walking naked adds to the feeling twice over.
We have two walks coming up organised by Mike Ryan and here are the details.
JULY 4TH Ashdown Forest
This is an 18km walk in Ashdown Forest and through the beautiful West Sussex coutryside. The walk is fairly level with only some minor hills and no major climbs. The walk will meet at 11:00am in Ashdown Forest Meeting location: Millbrook East Car Park, Ashdown Forest https://maps.app.goo.gl/D7Ftumn3DYqF6XXV8 What three words - specifies.caramel.snacks Postcode TN22 3HW(It may also be possible to pick up people from East Grinstead train station, depending on numbers. Please contact Mike Ryan before-hand to confirm)
Contact: Mike Ryan 07958 750139 Walk leader: Phil Harris 07711 640060
AUGUST 8TH Markbeech
We will be holding the next of the SE naturist walks in the Markbeech area on Thursday 8th August. (Markbeech is very roughly, halfway between Tunbridge Wells and East Grinstead)
Meeting location: TBC Contact: Mike Ryan 07958 750139 Walk leader: Phil Harris 07711 640060
As always, please ensure you bring enough water and snacks for the walk.
For those who are coming, we look forward to seeing you there. A reminder that food will not be available on this occasion so why not bring your own picnic? Hot and cold drinks will be available.
Sophie has advised: there are roadworks on the Stockbridge to Houghton road and also in Kings Somborne leading to sporadic road closures. The best way to get here on 11th June avoiding them: If coming from the North (Stockbridge) then make your way to Broughton and approach us from the south and follow the garden signs. If coming from the south (Romsey) turn left before you get to Kings Somborne and follow the garden signs.
Many thinks this is the best of all the UK rides. It's quite big with usually 500 plus riders and is quite safe with an excellent police escort. It ends at the naturist beach and has a half hour break on the sea front.
The AfterShow
We encourage you to do the ride and continue the fun, friendly atmosphere at the AfterShow. Non-riders are welcome too. The AfterShow is open to all fans of WNBR, Naked Cabaret, Phantom Peak and everyone else (over 18). Doors open at 18:00. The bar and food will be available. Warm up with some Life Drawing fun at 19:00, then the main show is at 20:00. (No admittance after 21:00.)
The main show features Naked Cabaret‘s MCs Alexis and comedian Fella along with Lady Gloria, soulful burlesque singer Laura Loops, JJ – the Mad Chattaa, hula-hooper extraordinaire and Keri Gold the award-winning acro-balancer, as seen on Britain’s Got Talent. Expect nudity! After the show, we’ll keep the music playing, so get up and dance.
There's also the odd tale of Bexhill's finishing school for ladies from the Nazi elite!!
Museum link
Link to Bexhill Museum visit
Contact philip.baker@bn.org.uk for further details
Tickets link
There will be a BBQ, dancing and fun events. I've visited Apollo several times in the past and it's a welcoming and well organised place. Their barbecues and dances are legendary and it will be a super fun event. There is limited camping space which must be pre booked via
Camping link
The confirmed dates of the swims are Tuesday:
28th May. 11th and 25th June 9th and 23rd July 13th and 27th August The details of the Naked Swim are as follows:
Time: 7pm - 8pm
Cost: £8
Age: 18+
Water temperature: 29C
Free hot and cold drinks available poolside
Free parking outside and in nearby Barton Hill car park.
Lido postcode is SP7 8DQ
Phone: 01747 853181
Booking: online at the Lido website is strongly advised, but people can take a chance and turn up on the day and if there are places available, they can pay on entry
https://www.shaftesbury-tc.gov.uk/services/lido/
Please support this swim, which is provided by the Town Council who run the Lido!
Further information.
Important upgrades to the heating and plant equipment at the Lido mean that the optimum water temperature of 29C should be more reliably maintained this summer than happened sometimes last season.
I went to the beach yesterday and also spoke to people in the area about problems caused by a landslip early in April at Folkestone Warren which lies to the west. Access to the beach from the east - from Samphire Hoe near Dover has always been available and for people arriving by car* it is probably the best option as there is plenty of parking space,albeit subject to charges.
*pedestrians can reach Samphire Hoe using the no 64 bus service from Dover alighting at Aycliffe Community Primary School. From there a footbridge leads across the A20 to a footpath and the tunnel to Samphire Hoe.
The restrictions imposed on public access to Folkestone Warren appear to have been lifted.One can drive past the Martello tower and leave one's vehicle in the small parking areas before walking about two miles to the beach. Seawall barriers blocking access for pedestrians have been removed. There remains access to the beach down cliff paths either from the cafe opposite Helena Road in Capel-le-Ferne or from the Royal Oak public house a quarter of a mile to the east but if there is a return to prolonged wet weather or if Kent County Council fail to send in contractors regularly to clear the brambles these paths may become difficult to use. A pair of secateurs in hand luggage may come in useful.
There is one proviso. The steps leading from the railway to the seawall have collapsed due to a small landslip. An alternative route is to turn right after crossing the pedestrian bridge over the railway and walk west towards Folkestone. After about 100 yards steps appear down to a dirt track which leads to the seawall.There you turn left and walk about a mile and half towards Dover till the seawall ends. Here there is a problem. The metal ladder installed by some kind people years ago is now in a shaky condition. The rope and metal handhold implanted in the chalkface have disappeared. The drop to the beach is too far for people to jump. The ladder remains in use but it is hazardous.
It is possible to walk from Folkestone along the beach but only at low tide. Signs have appeared in places warning of falling rocks and there is evidence of major rockfalls during the winter - but naturists were still in evidence on the beach during fine weather on May 11th.
See our calendar entry here
Join BN’s London and South East Regional team and the Naturist Ramblers as we return to the Mill Arms for an evening of dinner and skittles. 2 or 3 course menu options available.
We will have exclusive use of the function room at the pub. This is a fully self-contained area with its own bar and toilets which means that it will be possible to be naked throughout the event. Car parking is available behind the pub, but it is only two minutes’ walk from Dunbridge & Mottisfont Station, so why not leave the car at home and enjoy a few drinks!
The Mill Arms also has a small number of rooms above the function room which can be booked alongside your ticket for the dinner. These are available on 12 and 13 June and include a full breakfast. Our host at the pub is happy for guests to remain naked for breakfast should they wish.
Links to the events are:
June 14th 6:30pm - 8:30pm
July 13th 6:30pm - 8:30pm
August 16th 6:30 - 8:30pm
Mill Bank Sun Club is a camping and caravanning club without its own
permanent site. We hold rallies throughout the season with permission
of the landowners.
This year (2024) we’ll be using a new location near Hassocks in West
Sussex.
The club have been without a site for the 2023 season as we had to
vacate our previous location at Ashburnham near Battle. The field
there was very lovely with great Wealden views, a pub near by and it
was so very quiet and peaceful. Unfortunately the owner's family had
other plans for the property and along with others who also rented, we
had to leave.
Finding another site proved to be somewhat of a challenge. We lost
some members as a result but, who knows, they may well return. All
the committee members rallied around (pun intended) to find somewhere
new. One of the major problems was to find an actual land owner!
Many farms are rented and the owners are not local. The tenant
farmers are not permitted to allow campers without their landlords
permission and many did not want the agro of pursuing that. Sometimes
just finding the owner of a suitable field we’d spotted was
difficult too.
But hey! Seek and ye shall find or good things come to those who
wait...
Whilst browsing a naturist page on Facebook, I saw a reply to a post
by a woman who’d had a 'not so great day' on Brighton naturist
beach, where voyeuristic men had made her feel uncomfortable. David
replied to her offering the use of his field for sun bathing. I’m
not sure what happened regarding her taking up Davids offer, but I
decided to contact him about his field.
Through messenger we had a very fruitful conversation and David was
pretty keen for us to go and make use of his land. The land, it
turned out, is next to Davids garden centre ‘Garden Thyme’ and was
acquired along with it.
I arranged a convenient time to visit and went along with one of Mill
Bank’s other committee members Peter. Straight away we just knew
this was a great find as David was very welcoming and amiable.
The field is easily accessed through a wide gateway then through the
centre car park the ground is level and suitable for all types of
cars, caravans and motorhomes as well as tents of course.
It’s pretty secluded and set well back from the road. There’s the
main field where we can set up our camping units in the mown area in
which there are a few trees. The back of the field is densely wooded
and thick with brambles. There’s a small nook which will be great
for shelter on more blustery days and for campfires in the evenings.
The site will get the sun all day but there are trees for shade if
required. There’s a flushing toilet on site together with fresh
drinking water.
The garden centre, previously called Allwoods (as shown on Google
maps) has a very nice cafe called ‘Tea Thyme’. Only open during
centre opening times, for snacks, meals or indeed a full Sunday roast!
The location is ideal for short or longer stays and convenient for
naturist beaches at Brighton and Fairlight or as a stopover when using
the channel crossings.
Once we’ve held our club AGM which will be at the garden centre on
Sunday 14th April 2024. Starting at 14.00 for a walk around the site.
At 15.00 well go to the café for refreshments then at 16.00 we’ll
start the AGM once the customers have left.
Our camping fees are very reasonable with preferential rates for
members. All genuine naturists are welcome as members, visiting
campers or day visitors.
For any enquiries please contact our secretary Steve:
secretary@millbanksunclub.com
Kind Regards
Stewart Lomax
07944936572
Just Giving Link
Nothing On Events Link
This is the third year we are visiting the romantic gardens at Scotney Castle run by the National Trust. Parking is free after 5 p.m. and entrance is at the side away from the House. Details about the venue can be found at Scotney Castle | Kent | National Trust. Last year's photographs are in a members album on the BN site. Album link
Payment will be at the gate by card or cash (£12) - as this is a private event NT members do have to pay. Picnics are available to pre-order.- please email me for the bank details to make a transfer to the organisers - East Sussex Naturists - philip.baker@bn.org.uk.
If anyone wishes to visit the House (dressed) earlier than our event and are not NT members then I have arranged that you can use the entrance receipt to get into the naturist event without further payment. Non NT members prices are £4-50 for parking and £17 for entrance.
The Open Day will start at 11.00 until 16.00.
Please bring food for lunch and if the day is fine a BBQ will be available in the evening for you to prepare your own evening meal. A refrigerator will be available for the storage of perishable food.
The entrance fee for the day is £5 which will also entitle you to tea, coffee or, cordial plus a slice of cake.
If you wish to attend please reply to avonvaleken@gmail.com and we will forward your details to Avonvale you will need to provide photographic identification to gain entry.
Next Southampton Skinny Dip at Oaklands will be 25th May further details to follow along with news of swims at Durley and visits to Houghton Gardens etc look out for the emails
Abbot's Cliff access
Now Bruce one of our members has sent this information for potential visitors.
Naturists wishing to visit this beach can expect to find access from Folkestone difficult this year. Kentonline has published accounts and photographs of the land subsidence which has taken place nearby. The road to the car parking near the campsite is closed and it would appear that access on foot along the seawall may also be blocked.
Here's a link to an article and scary video footage.
Tree falling
With the inclement weather I have not visited the area yet this year; I will be able to tell you more when I have made an inspection visit. It is likely that access on foot down the path from the cliff top near the café at Capel-le-Ferne is possible. Some people will not appreciate the steep climb back.
Access from the car park at Samphire Hoe near Dover will be unaffected but some people complain about the long walk over rough terrain to get to the beach.
