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Regional News and Information

BN has seven regions that provide a vital local focus to BN's members and activities. To find out about news and events in your region please visit one of our regional pages:

Regional News

News and information about BN's regions
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Northampton And Whittlesford Eastern Events

Now we are into the New Year i would like to Focus primarily on two events this January
Firstly; Northampton Sun Group Swim on Sunday 5th January. This is a long running event in the Eastern Region making its debut as an event way back in 1982 (38 years ago).
The club is a friendly haven to relax or swim. It has excellent facilites, with a Swedish Sauna, Russian Steam room and Turkish Hot rooms.
So why not pop down and join in to sample the great facilities and a warm friendly welcome. At Northampton Sun Group Swim;
Secondly; I want to draw your attention to the Whittlesford Clothing Optional Dining Event.
On Saturday 25th January this event will be the first British Naturism dining event in Cambridgeshire. The meal is 3 course, so why not be one of the first naked diners in Cambridgeshire.
Located in Whittlesford village hall about a mile from Duxford air museum. There is a Holiday inn and train station both within 10 minutes drive from the village Hall.The A505 and M11 are both within 15 minutes drive away.
If you have friends or family who may want to join in for their first time naturist experience, this is a great event to invite them too as it is clothing optional for any aspiring naturist guests who maybe shy at first.
Here are the Essential Details;
In news of another event The Nude Murder Mystery in Oxfordshire has sold out!
If you would like to see your event/s featured or you have some naturist news that would be relevant to the Eastern Region Members, you can contact me on;
Andy Gilmour;  easternpro@bn.org.uk
 Cathy Bromley;  easternsecretary@bn.org.uk
As editors of this webpage.
 

Eastern Region Naturist Walking Events 2020

BN Eastern Region Naturist Walks 2020
Enjoy walking? Then why not join in some of our naturist walks in the Beds-Bucks-Herts Borders area in the coming months:
Wilstone, Hertfordshire, on Friday 20 March 2020, 1.00pm to 5.00pm. The walk is on flat terrain, starting at the village Wilstone and walking along sections of the Grand Union Canal (Aylesbury Arm) towards Aylesbury. We then turn away from the Canal returning through tree covered footpaths and open countryside towards Long Marston and then south to Wilstone. Distance 8 miles.
Tring, Hertfordshire, on  Friday 24 April 2020, 12.30pm to 4.00pm. The walk has a couple of fairly steep inclines near the beginning of the route while the remainder of the route is mainly flat passing through several woods and open countryside. The circular route follows part of The Ridgeway before branching off across open fields and woodland to join the Chiltern Way and then through High Scrubs before heading back to the start point. Distance 9 miles. The start/finish point is accessible by train to Tring Station on the London Euston to Milton Keynes Central line with pre-arranged pick up from the station to the start. 
Aston Abbotts, Buckinghamshire, on Friday 15 May 2020, 12.30pm to 5.30pm. The walk is mainly flat with some low level hills passing through grassland, agricultural fields and open countryside. The circular route follows a network of public footpaths through part of the Vale of Aylesbury before heading back to the start point across more open countryside. Distance 9 miles.
North Marston, Buckinghamshire, on Sunday 21 June 2020 (World Naked Hiking Day) 1.00pm to 5.30pm. The walk is mainly flat, with some low to moderate hills, passing through grassland, agricultural fields and open countryside, with stunning views of Aylesbury Vale, the Chilterns and North Buckinghamshire from the top of Quainton Hill. Although the hill is long, with a good path, it is not too steep. The circular route follows a network of public footpaths including Matthew’s Way, Midshires Way, Swan’s Way and the North Buckinghamshire Way before heading back to the start point across open countryside. Distance 7 miles.
Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, on Friday 17 July 2020, 12.30pm to 4.30pm. The walk is mainly through open country and some woodland, along mostly flat terrain with some slight to moderate hills. The circular route starts near the village of Great Missenden and follows a network of public footpaths through the Misbourne Valley and parts of the Chiltern Hills. Distance 8 miles. The start/finish point is accessible by train to Great Missenden Station on the Chiltern Line (London Marylebone to Aylesbury Vale Parkway via Amersham) with pre-arranged pick up from the station 
These events are being organised through British Naturism Eastern Region in association with the Milton Keynes Naturist Meet and Greet Group. They are open to all members of British Naturism and other (walking) groups; anyone new to naturism, or naturist walking is welcome too. For further information, or to book onto any of these walks, please contact John Gelder, Walks Coordinator, via email: easternwalks@bn.org.uk or send a personal message via BN Members’ website, giving your name, email address, mobile phone number and membership status. Details of the meeting point and other information will be provided when your booking is confirmed.
Why naked walks?
Many people enjoy walking, whether by themselves, with friends or family. Its lovely to see the wonderful countryside and enjoy the open and natural environment. It’s also good for our health! As naturists, perhaps you’ve had the thought of doing it naked? If so, it can be quite a challenge to have the confidence to do it by yourself. Joining a naturist group walk removes some of those concerns and enables you to enjoy the social nudity associated with a naturist walk, in a safe environment with others. We provide all walkers with information on what to expect and are happy to answer your questions. One of the questions often asked is have we ever encountered any difficulties with members of the public who don’t agree with what we are doing? No, never! We do cover up in certain circumstances and have the back-up of the recent College of Policing Guidance that confirms it is perfectly legal for naturists to be naked in public. Naturism is a wonderful lifestyle – you wouldn’t be reading this if you thought otherwise – but we all need to do what we can to promote and encourage the normalisation and acceptance of public nudity by others and naked walking is one way of doing this. It may even encourage others or give them the confidence to join us! See you on one of our forthcoming walks!
Thinking of organising your own naturist group walk?
 If you have experience of planning local walks through open countryside; perhaps for yourself, family or friends; have you ever thought it would be good to organise one for naturists? Perhaps you have but never got around to it or were unsure how to approach it, then why not join us on one of our planned walks or a recce? You will have the opportunity to see how we organise them, talk to the walk leader and walk coordinator, and of course those attending the walk. Now is the perfect time to be planning your walks for the new year. John Gelder, BN Eastern Region Walks Coordinator, is very happy to talk with BN Members in the region who would like to organise local naturist walks. He can provide information, advice and guidance to prospective walk leaders/coordinators and sign off walks on behalf of the BN Eastern Region. This is to ensure that walks undertaken in the name of BN meet some basic criteria to ensure they are safe and comply with BN’s public liability insurance requirements. John can be contacted via email: easternwalks@bn.org.uk or through a personal message on the BN Members’ website. Why not plan a walk for World Naked Hiking Day, held annually on the 21 June, the day of the summer solstice? A day when outdoor enthusiasts everywhere celebrate the longest day of the year in their birthday suit.
Article by John Gelder
 

Notes for the Editor
Photos have permissions given by all subjects for inclusion in BN open communications Links to BN Calendar
https://www.bn.org.uk/calendar/event/5693-wilstone-naturist-walk/
https://www.bn.org.uk/calendar/event/5694-tring-naturist-walk/
https://www.bn.org.uk/calendar/event/5695-aston-abbotts-naturist-walk/
https://www.bn.org.uk/calendar/event/5696-north-marston-naturist-walk/
https://www.bn.org.uk/calendar/event/5697-great-missenden-naturist-walk/
 
 
 
 

Looking Forward to 2020 in London and the South East

2019 will soon be behind us, but 2020 already promises to be a great year for naturism in London and the South East!
As the year draws to a close it’s a good time to look forward at all of the opportunities that we’ll have to meet together as naturists next year - for some of us this will a chance to continue our enjoyment of social nudity, and for others the first step on their journey
Established naturist clubs and swims will continue to be at the heart of naturism in our region - we’re lucky to have well-established naturist clubs from the Isle of Wight to Dover. Although all clubs will have their own policies, many of them will welcome you for day or longer visits. Contact details for all BN member clubs are published in each edition of the BN magazine, or you can find them in the Places section of the BN website
We are also lucky to have a number of naturist swims that take place across our region every month in Southampton, Portsmouth, Ewell, Central London, Eastbourne and Dover. Swims can be a great introduction to naturism if you are just starting out, so why not head along to your local swim in the New Year? You’ll also find details of all swims listed in the BN magazine or in the Places section of the website. Special mention must go to the swim in Alton in Hampshire - after more than 20 years the last swim will take place on 05 January 2020. We’re looking for an alternative venue, but it would be great to see as many naturists as possible support the final swim at the current venue
For the hardiest naturists amongst us, beach visits, walks and enjoying the outdoors will continue throughout the year and we are lucky to have many established naturist beaches throughout the region. Head to the Places section of the website for a listing. Our beaches include the ‘official’ beaches at Brighton and Leysdown to places with a long-established tradition of naturist use like Fairlight Glen (featuring in the picture of your correspondent at the bottom of this article!)
2020 will also see a number of one-off naturist events, so now is a good time to update you on some of what we have planned so you can start planning your diary!
Taking the lead from other BN regions, naked dining will be coming to London and the South East in the New Year:   
We’re teaming up with the Eastern Region on Saturday 08 February for an evening cruise on the River Lea from Ware - with fish and chips laid on. You can book your place using the BN Events site, or follow this Link
In March, we’ll be taking over the Blue Lion pub in Central London for lunch on Sunday 01 March. Tickets for the lunch are also available via BN Events, or follow this Link
Looking further ahead, in the west of our region we have arranged a naturist evening at the Mill Arms in Dunbridge, close to Romsey on Friday 14 August. We hope to have tickets on sale for this early in the New Year, but we’ll have our own private room and bar for the evening, a two course meal and skittles!
We are very lucky to have two established naturist walking groups that operate in our region. The fantastic Stark Trekkers hold monthly walks throughout the year. All of their events and details of how to join are listed on the Regional Calendar. The Naturist Ramblers group also holds frequent walks between April and October - often attracting more than 30 walkers to experience clothes-free walking on a variety of different routes. You’ll find more details of their walks and how to join them on their Website
We also have a range of other events for you to enjoy in 2020:
On Thursday 26 March we will be heading to Hollywood Bowl in Ashford for an evening of ten-pin bowling. This follows a successful event in Tunbridge Wells earlier this year - and we hope to organise another bowling evening in Basingstoke later in 2020. Tickets for the Ashford event are already on sale at BN Events via this Link - your ticket will include a drink and a buffet as well as the bowling
For a truly unique experience, we’ve teamed up with the East Sussex Llama Park to organise an evening event on Thursday 11 June. This will give you the chance to walk with Llamas and to find out more about the llama park before sitting down to a three-course meal. The venue is really family-freindly, so why not bring your children (or grandchildren!) along for the evening. Tickets are available via BN Events or via this Link
We are also very proud to be hosting a family meet-up at Max’s Garden between 07 and 09 August. This will be open to families with children under 18 only and great opportunity to meet other naturist families in a relaxed setting. Tickets are available via BN Events or via this Link
And finally, we’re pleased that two higher profile events will be held in our region next year:
Between 22 and 25 May BN will host the first ever Freedom Festival outside Lewes in West Sussex. This will be a relaxed festival with a focus on body positivity. Tickets are already on sale for this event - head to BN Events, or follow this Link
On Saturday 20 June BN will be working together with the British Heart Foundation and Painshill Park in Surrey to host the Naked Heart Walk. This is a unique event to raise funds for the BHF through a naked sponsored walk. Painshill is a stunning landscape garden close to London - what better way to enjoy it than by joining a naked walk to raise money for charity at the height of summer? You can find our more information about this event by following this Link. It could also be the perfect ‘excuse’ for any of your friends who have been thinking about joining a naturist event to get involved!
Hopefully there will something here to interest most people - whether you are an experienced naturist or taking your first steps in our wonderful lifestyle
We’re working on new ideas all the time, so if there is something that you’d like to see that we haven’t thought of then please do let me know - jon.williams@bn.org.uk
 
 

2020 A Year of Visionary Events!

2020 Let's dive right in!
 
Where will 2020 take us?
We will certainly have plenty of choice with a variety of options at our disposal so we needn’t have a vacant weekend with nothing to do – we are more likely to have Nothing on! Now is the time to plan your Naturist year ahead…visit  North West News Online
Whether it be one of the national BN events you would like to book or you might fancy a visit to one of our region’s ten landed clubs and nine swim venues, (some of which include spas), many will be staging plenty of official Great British Skinny Dip events throughout the year. Browse the north west calendar for naked rambles, naked dining, naked bike rides, a naked garden visit to the Dorothy Clive gardens, a naked boat trip on the Shropshire union canal, naked yoga in Birmingham, naked camping at Windermere in July followed by a ‘families’ event at Liverpool Sun & Air - led by the BN families officer. The choice has never been better!
Just Announced - The BHF charity links up with British Naturism!
Read all about it  We are exploring all possibilities for staging a North West Beach skinny dip on midsummer’s day linked to fund raising for the British Heart Foundation. Watch this space for the announcement of the designated beach! We will also be looking at linking more new events to the Charity.
NW 2020 Events selling fast!
The Blackpool weekend  February 28th – March 2nd  is a ‘circus’ themed weekend and still available but selling out fast! There are a few rooms left but please be sure to grab one soon to avoid disappointment. The price includes the Sandcastle swim which can be booked separately or book both as a package.
Stoke Waterworld – Our biggest event of the year! Now booking and expected to sell out once again.  April 4th 6 -8 pm.  Waterworld,  Festival Park,  Stoke-on-Trent.
Wigton Swim
The regular second-Saturday-of-the-month swim at Wigton, Cumbria  recently celebrated its first birthday. When it began, the local paper helped publicise it and we recently invited the journalist who wrote the piece to  write about it again. The December swim raffle raised over £200 with wine donated by BN members.
Our 2020 vision nationally…
The national events season kicks off at Bournemouth with the 60’s weekend beginning  26th January, but there’s loads more to choose from including the flagship ‘Nudefest’ event –now on sale More details here. Our forward thinking BN events manager (Mark Walsh) is already planning events and booking venues for us to enjoy during 2021. We now have North West News online within the BN North West News Page which can be continually updated with regular, newsy material as supplied by members. There will also be a Newsletter dropping into your email inbox, if you have subscribed, with links to updated items within this online version.
Anyone wishing to update me or write about your club event or maybe write a promotional article for future publications, email: nwnewsletter@bn.org.uk
Ron (Editor, NW News).

 

Eastern Events From Mid December To End Of January

Hi Everyone
The rest of December is a busy month in terms of Naturist swims.We have several.Firstly; we have an evening Swim at Club Naturel  in mid Norfolk;
 
Next, we have a popular evening swim near the Chiltern Hills in Watford;
 
So next along; just 5 days before Christmas day; is an afternoon swim at Club Naturel;
 
Getting ever closer to Christmas there is a Saturday afternoon swim in Mildenhall, Suffolk. With the opportunity to go back to a members home with a Takeawy after a good swim workout and Sauna. This is a monthly swim; close to Cambridge;
 
Ok, so you have had your Christmas dinner, you hit the shops on Boxing day and now you just want to relax; perhaps in a hot tub, a sauna and a swim. Here is the solution; an evening swim again at Club Naturel;
 
And so into January 2020;
We have the return of the very popular  Saturday evening swim and fun at the Oasis Beach Pool Swim in Bedford. The previous one was attended by many people;
 
Now we come to one of our longest running events. Northampton Sun Group Swim has been established since 1982.
This Gem of a swim is looking to the future and welcomes new people to experience its facilities and meet with the regulars.that attend; The swim is an early evening event. Put this in your diary!
 
The Next event is something all you lovers of Poirot, Midsomer Murders and Miss Marple will be interested in. It is a Nude Murder Mystery in Oxfordshire. The Plot Thickens;
 
Our next event is near to the end of January. Organised by Ian Beeby our Eastern Region Vice Chairman. Ian's event is a Clothes Optional Dining event. The reason for this is so that aspiring naturists can attend. However if you wish to remain naked throughout the evening that is perfectly fine too. The Clothes Optional Dining is located in the village of Whittlesford, Cambridgeshire. The venue is the Memorial Village Hall and is around 1 mile from Duxford Air Museum; There is a Holiday inn Hotel and train station very close by too.
So December and January are full of events for you to feast on..
Andy

NAKED IN THE ASYLUM AGAIN... the revolution goes on!!

In the last few years I think there's been nothing short of a revolution for naturists in Britain and BN has been at the forefront. 
It all started just over ten years ago with the first Nudefest which has grown and grown. Then we have had Alton Towers which just a few years ago was nearly cancelled through lack of numbers but now sells out. Dunoon with the Gathering, Bournemouth and Nudestock are just a few of the many other events that we now have to choose from. Over the last few years the regions have been taking up the baton and none has been more prominent than the Eastern Region. 
Eastern Region have organised countless naked dining events at different venues in the last two years and have then branched out into vineyard visits, museum events and coming up soon a murder mystery and gin tasting. The latter two by the way are separate events because as we all know crime and alcohol are a lethal mix!!
The latest regional event was a Christmas Dinner at the Three Counties Asylum near Hitchin. At least that's what it used to be called in less enlightened days. It's now part of the Bannatyne Leisure empire and called The Orchard and is next to their health spa. The buildings, from the Victorian era, are stunning and the restaurant is in what was the chapel. Apparently there was a real scandal there some years ago when the resident vicar married someone forty years younger. The Orchard is a great place for a meal with good hosts, decent food and most importantly in December well heated. Once again the event was a sell out and the lesson to learn with our regional events is book early. At the time of writing in early December the Murder Mystery event is also sold out with a waiting list. As usual we had a fiendish quiz and this time with a Christmas theme. Here's some samples- Do you know what Michael Barratt's real name is who sang Merry Christmas Everyone? And what's Japan's favourite Christmas meal? Who had a hit with Insanity over Christmas? Finally, what animal brings Christmas gifts in Syria? Answers below:
Robert who has organised most of these naked dining events is to be hugely congratulated for his efforts. During the evening Nigel Bromley was presented with a gift of thanks after his five years as regional representative in BN. He leaves the post with the region in a flourishing state.
Quiz answers: Shaking Stevens, KFC, Madness and camel.
Article and Photography  by Andy P






South West Region Diary 2020

What’s happening in the South West Region in 2020
 
Here’s a taste of what’s to come next year, just brief details so far but certainly a lot is being organised, you may want to “save the dates” on your 2020 calendar.
But before we get carried away into the New Year, take a look at the Regional calendar to see how the Nudie Dudies are celebrating Christmas and welcome you to join them.
 
South West Region Meeting
The Annual South West Region meeting will be held at The Bear Inn, High Street, Street, Somerset BA16 0EF on Saturday afternoon 4th April commencing at 3pm.
All BN members having attended the meeting, will be able to enjoy a swim and sauna as guests of  the Larches Naturist Swimming Club at their monthly swim from 5.30 - 6.30pm, just a short walking distance away, before returning to the Bear Inn for dinner at 7pm.
The meeting and the dinner at the Bear Inn will be clothed as we do not have exclusive use.
To register attendance and receive full details please email Graham Holland, Regional Secretary  graham.holland@bn.org.uk
SW Region Rally Weekend
We will return again to Lower Poulza Post near Bude over the summer weekend of 19th -21st June, this relaxing weekend allows us to celebrate the summer solstice on a working farm campsite where burgers, sausages, chops reared on the farm can be enjoyed cooked on the Bath-b-que, mouth watering!
Nudefest
Returns to Thorney Lakes, Somerset from 6th - 13th July. Nudefest is the biggest Naturist festival in the UK - a week-long event located in the beautiful Somerset countryside. Bookings are already open, full details from the nudefest website.
Women’s Body Positive Day - Devon 2nd May
For naturists it's never too late to be thinking and planning for the next UK summer!
Here in the South West we have another Women's Body Positive Day planned for 2 May 2020. The location will be in the Devon countryside near Honiton.
 
More details of events to follow in the New Year, don’t forget to send in your events for next year as they unfold to be added to the diary and you can add then to the SW calendar.
Merry Christmas
Julia, SW Editor

Walking With John Gelder In The Eastern Region

In the article below, John Gelder talks about walking as a Naturist in the Eastern Region.
John is our Eastern Region Walks Coordinator. John is an experienced walker and is planning a program of walking events for next year.
John is open and Friendly and welcomes new or experienced walkers to his events.
If you would like to join with John on one of his walks you can contact him at easternwalks@bn.org.uk
Andy
 
Eastern Region Naked Walking

Why Naked Walks?
Many people enjoy walking, whether by themselves, with friends or family. It’s lovely to see the wonderful countryside and enjoy the open and natural environment. It’s also good for our health! As naturists, perhaps you’ve had the thought of doing it naked? If so, it can be quite a challenge to have the confidence to do it by yourself. Joining a naturist group walk removes some of those concerns and enables you to enjoy the social nudity associated with a naturist walk, in a safe environment with others. We provide all walkers with information, advice and guidance on what to expect and are happy to answer your questions.
One of the questions often asked is have we ever encountered any difficulties with members of the public who don’t agree with what we are doing? No, never! We do cover up in certain circumstances and have the back-up of the recent College of Policing Guidance that confirms it is perfectly legal for naturists to be naked in public.
Naturism is a wonderful lifestyle – you wouldn’t be reading this if you thought otherwise – but we all need to do what we can to promote and encourage the normalisation and acceptance of public nudity by others and naked walking is one way of doing this. It may even encourage others or give them the confidence to join us!

Thinking of organising your own naturist group walk?
If you have experience of planning local walks through open countryside; perhaps for yourself, family or friends; have you ever thought it would be good to organise one for naturists? Perhaps you have but never got around to it or were unsure how to approach it, then why not get in touch and perhaps join us on a forthcoming recce? You will have the opportunity to see how we organise them, talk to the walk leader and walk coordinator.

BN Eastern Region Walks Coordinator
The BN Eastern Regional Committee has recently appointed John Gelder as its Walks Coordinator. He is a member of BN and an experienced walk leader and coordinator. He currently coordinates our walks in the Milton Keynes/Beds/Bucks/Herts border area of the region and lives in Chesham.
John’s role is to encourage others in the region to organise local naturist walks; provide information, advice and guidance to walk leaders/coordinators and to sign off walks on behalf of the BN Eastern Region. This is to ensure that walks undertaken in the name of BN meet some basic criteria to ensure they are safe and comply with BN’s public liability insurance requirements.
John is currently preparing further information and guidance for those thinking of leading/coordinating naturist walks and is very happy to talk with BN Members in the region who would like to organise local naturist walks. He can be contacted via email: easternwalks@bn.org.uk or through his profile page on the BN website.
As we move into winter, this is the perfect time to be planning your walks for next year; a recce does not need to be done naked if the weather is too cold …. although John did recce a walk naked in February this year – on the hottest February day since records began. He also did a recce when Storm Eric hit the UK earlier in the year (fully clothed on this occasion!).
Why not plan a walk for World Naked Hiking Day, held annually on the 21 June, the day of the summer solstice? A day when outdoor enthusiasts everywhere celebrate the longest day of the year in their birthday suit.
By John Gelder
 
Photo of walkers has had permissions given by all subjects for inclusion in BN  communications.
 


North West News Update

Latest from the North West Region
We now have North West News online within the BN North West News Page which can be continually updated with regular newsy material as supplied by members. There will also be a Newsletter dropping into your email inbox, if you have subscribed, with links to updated items within this online version. Anyone wishing to update me can do so by emailing me at: nwnewsletter@bn.org.uk
Should you wish to quickly view forthcoming Swim dates etc or write articles about your club or an event for publication, you can now do so and these can be viewed via This link.
 
Trending….
Blackpool selling fast!
The Blackpool weekend is still available but selling out fast! There are a few rooms left but please be sure to grab one soon to avoid disappointment. Follow this link to book. The dates are February 28th – March 2nd
Campaigns on the BN Website
All three active promotional campaigns - GBSD, Women in Naturism and the Just one person campaign - are now well catered for on dedicated pages within BN Website .
More media exposure for the Wigton swim!
When the nude Saturday afternoon swim at Wigton was confirmed as a regular event, the local paper sent intrepid reporter Roger Lytollis along to meet swimmers and get the scoop. As the swim approached its first anniversary BN decided to invite Roger to write about the swim again - and he did, as you can read here. Local papers are always looking for interesting - dare we say, unusual, stories. We hope that other clubs and swims will consider raising their profile and their attendances in this
way…
The Party of the Year?
British Naturism ran a fantastic event at Alton Towers a few weeks ago - amazingly our thirteenth such weekend. Coming to the North West for a entire weekend of social nudity is the thing to do! You can read all about it AND book for next year…
Our 2020 Vision…
We’re already looking forward to fantastic events and gatherings in the North West in 2020, including a night at Waterworld waterpark, Stoke in April, a riverboat party on the Shropshire Union canal in May, a rural retreat near Windermere in July and a families event at Liverpool in August. Find all the details at www.bnevents.co.uk
 
…and follow this link for all events in the region, including all the regular swims. See you there! https://www.bn.org.uk/regions/northwest/
Amended swim dates
·        Due to repair work at the Northgate Arena, the Wirralnats Chester weekly swim has now been postponed until the 4th January. Their belated Xmas pool party will now be on the 11th January. Advance bookings only. ·        The Worsley North West Naturist’s final swim of 2019 will be on the 21st December and will incorporate their Xmas party. View North West News online
   Ron (Editor, NW News) 
 

Women's Body Positive Day - Devon 2 May 2020

For naturists it's never too late to be thinking and planning for the next UK summer!
Here in the South West we have another Women's Body Positive Day planned for 2 May 2020. The location will be in the Devon countryside near Honiton (close to the Waterloo - Exeter railway line) where the clothing-optional programme invites us to recognise the wonderful way in which our unique bodies work with us. The day will include yoga, life drawing, craft, home-cooked food and sauna in a welcoming ladies-only environment.
Booking is open now on the BN Events website.

Nudefest News

Even though all may seem to have been quiet on the Nudefest front, those who have visited the Nudefest section of the BN Events website will have noticed that booking is due to go live at the beginning of December.
The Nudefest Team's crystal balls have actually been working overtime to try to predict how many visitors we are likely to have in 2020, how much tent space they will need, how many toilets and, of course, the all-important weather (there are some much more experienced crystal balls in Exeter for that, though!).
The programme will include the regular sessions of craft, yoga, morning runs, to name but a few. We are expecting to expand the use of 'Area 52' which made its debut in 2019 and, as ever, will be working hard to improve Nudefest for all visitors.
To whet your appetites we can let you know that we have visited the Fleet Air Arm to confirm details of a visit during Nudefest, and they have also offered us the opportunity to have a buffet meal under the wings of Concorde!
We are also expecting to have a retuen visit from the mobile climbing wall which proved popular in 2019.
We'll keep you posted here on the Forum and on the Nudefest website when it reappears for the 2020 event about the developing programme and we look forward to welcoming as many of you as possible to Thorney Lakes Campsite in the Somerset countryside from 7 to 13 July 2020.
Nudefest website: nudefest.co.uk
BOOKING NOW OPEN!!

A North West GBSD Outreach

Expanding GBSD in the North West and beyond!
Ever thought you could possibly make a difference by volunteering to help and always wanted to get involved with helping British Naturism move forward in our region? If so there are lots of venues out there that haven’t yet been approached to hold naked swimming sessions in their swimming pools. If we don’t knock on doors they won’t open! There are currently too few volunteers attempting to expand and create within a region  that stretches from Birmingham to the Borders and from Macclesfield to Millom!
Although The GBSD campaign is flourishing and now an all year round campaign,, we really need more people to help out throughout all of our region and beyond, probing for new venues here and there, asking local pools or lidos if they can accommodate us for a Great British Skinny Dip event and eventually encouraging venues into welcoming us on a monthly basis. If you feel you can make a difference in the region, you will have enormous back up support and find Team GBSD inspirational to work with, as I have found myself.
Interested, but not confident enough to make an approach? Then we will support you all the way by making the official ground breaking initial contact until you want to become involved. Have you seen a sparsely populated swimming pool recently? Then why not ask about turning this quiet period, which most venues have, into a Naturist session. That’s exactly how the Wigton swim was created – A venue run by Trustees with a cash shortage will always listen to alternative ways of raising cash and the Wigton Trustees certainly have no regrets. Alternatively, if you want to pass on to me a suggested venue and don’t wish to get involved, then please do so. I will check out all suggestions and follow all leads.
View North West News online
Ron (Campaigns Task Force)
Email: campaigns@bn.org.uk
 

Spectrum Naturist Club - Birmingham

Spectrum Naturist Club – A weekly swim gem!
Having a business rendezvous in Birmingham, we decided to take the chance to visit the superbly rated Spectrum swim, a club based on the south side of Birmingham and one we hadn’t covered previously. The club meets every Saturday evening in the Morris Centre which is the leisure facility for NHS staff at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Transport to the site is excellent. The University Railway station on the Cross City line is a mere 500 metres away, and a free car park is a similar distance away. For anyone with special needs there’s a disabled car park opposite the Morris Centre. The site is also well served by buses.
On arrival we were met by friendly members of the club and relieved of a mere £5.00 each for the evening. We were shown around and discovered the Centre has a 22 metre pool, two saunas, two squash courts and a large gym. We could be naked everywhere except in the gym. Along the end of a corridor we discovered what is known as the dance studio. This is an important room for the club which becomes a social hub where free refreshments are available at every meeting.
On one Saturday a month the room is used for a naked yoga session and on another tai chi. On a further evening the club has a social evening with a different food theme. Examples have been strawberries and cream, Italian, casseroles and Mexican evening. We were told these evenings are always popular and for an addition entrance charge of three pounds each, sounds like great value too!
We asked about the membership and ambitions of the club and we were told the club has over 150 members and lately more ladies have joined with their partners, although like most clubs, men are in the majority. The weekly attendance varies between 30 and on a busy night 60. The club does not discriminate. We asked if visitors could just turn up at the door and were informed the membership secretary needed to be contacted first. This is due to an agreement with the Centre Management. The one thing the club misses which was available at their previous venue, now demolished, is a steam room. The club are hoping this will be a project for the Centre in time.
The club keeps in touch with its members by email and a monthly newsletter. They also have a presence on Facebook.
Originally the Centre was apprehensive about the club advertising its presence outside the naturist community. The Great British Skinny Dip proved to be a small breakthrough as the club were allowed to advertise the event within the Centre. Not only was that evening a success, there is now a permanent poster about the club on the Centre notice board. There was also a short article about naturism in the Birmingham Evening Mail, which included a mention of the club.
We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Spectrum and will return at the first opportunity to this super friendly club. If you’d like to visit you will find the club details at www.spectrumclub.org.uk and in the listing inside the BN magazine and on the BN website.
View North West News online
Ron & Elizabeth.
 

 

Some snippets from the October Regional Meeting.

The autumn regional meeting took place today and was held at the Commercial Pub in Chapeltown, North Sheffield. Those who have been attending these meetings for some time will recall that we’ve been here before and some of us had a meal after the meeting on previous occasions. This tradition continued today and we enjoyed a meal and a natter. I can recommend the steak and ale pie with a heavy portion of meat crammed into the pie dish.
We first discovered this pub after being recommended by one of the lifeguards at the Chapeltown Baths a couple of miles away – we’d gone there after hearing a new swim was to start there. These days the swim has relocated and the site of the old baths was a cleared site when I last saw it.
At our meeting today members heard of four events taking place next year in the region. First up is Nudestock, the week long flagship event at Candy Farm (May 22nd to 29th) which starts before the late May Bank Holiday and continues through to the following Friday. Also at Candy Farm is the BN Families’ Weekend from the 26th to 28th June. Details for this are still under consideration. There will be more on this weekend as we get news.
For the other events, one is the now annual charity event Bare All for Polar Bears at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster. (July 11th) Further details for this can be found on the calendar pages of the website. A week after this is the visit to the Burrows Gardens near Derby (July 18th). Again details are on the calendar.
One point which was made early on at the meeting was the success enjoyed at the International Swimming Gala where a very creditable joint 6th place in the overall medal table would have been achieved by the Leeds Naturist Group had they been competing as an individual nation. Brian from LNG also told us that his club had donated £1000 towards the provision of a hoist for disabled swimmers at their Bramley Baths home.
A special vote of thanks goes to YSS for offering to host the March meeting next year.

Wigton Swim's 1st Anniversary

Happy Birthday Wigton! 
Yes, the Wigton Naturist swim, which is now a permanent monthly Great British Skinny Dip, is almost 12 months old and still going strong. The locals are now supporting this swim in their numbers, taking over the initiative, which was well supported initially by the many friends we have in the North West and Saner regions. The swim still offers amazing value at just £5 per person - please bring I.D. for your first visit.
The inaugural trial swim was held on the 10th of November 2018 and attracted 53 Naturist from all over the North of England and Scotland. On the approach to the first event, expertly written press releases were distributed from the BN Commercial office, which led to Radio interviews for myself as promoter and a superbly positive interview with Roger Lytolliss from Newsquest in December. The article printed in the Cumbrian News and Star was inspirational and helped to propel the swim positively into 2019.
I have recently spoken to Roger and asked him if he would be interested in covering the anniversary with a follow up article, he is currently writing the report after I updated him on the progress made, with attendances now in the 20’s replacing the ‘clothed swims’ which attracted only half a dozen at best.
I must say a huge ‘thank you’ to everyone who supported this venture, without your assistance it would have been almost impossible. We hope to see you again on the 9th November when we will be attempting to take in the Wigton GBSD from 2 till 4 pm followed by the Poulton Naturist swim & Spa on the same evening from 7 till 9 pm.
View North West News online
Ron  (Campaigns Task Force)

What’s On in London and the South East

As memories of summer fade and we look back on some great times you might think that opportunities to enjoy social nudity are also on the wane - but you’d be wrong!
There are still plenty of opportunities to enjoy naturism over the autumn and winter months in London and the South-East, and we’re already working on some exciting plans for Spring and Summer 2020
If swimming is your thing, then why not come along to one of the regular swims we hold across the region - naturist swimming is a great way to discover the freedom of clothes-free recreation, once you’ve tried it once wearing a swimming costume will always seem like a chore!
We hold regular swims in London,  Eastbourne, Ewell, Southampton and Alton - you’ll be sure of a warm welcome at all these
If you prefer your naturism a little more ‘free-range’ our friends in Stark Trekkers will be holding walks throughout the autumn and winter months. We have the freedom to enjoy the great outdoors naked, and a naturist walk is a great opportunity to experience this from a different perspective, with some great company thrown in!
We’ll continue to hold naked Yoga sessions every week throughout the year in London - there are beginners classes and sessions for those with more experience, so there is something for everyone
We also have an exciting programme of one-off events planned for the next few months - check back here for more information but we’re planning opportunities for naked dining in the heart of central London, monthly social opportunities to meet other naturists if you are new to social nudity and want to find out more and even a boat trip
To hear more about all of these events, and to get the latest information first why not Join Us
We’re also working hard with a major national charity to bring you some unique naked events in 2020 - which could be the perfect ‘excuse’ to try naturism for the first time or to get naked in a new location whilst raising money for a very good cause. Watch this space!
If you want to know more about anything we’re doing - or if you an idea for a naturist event that you’d like us to promote or help you organise do get in touch - jon.williams@bn.org.uk
 

 
 
 

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