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Sadly, many of the mental health challenges we all encounter are man-made and should be avoidable.  Things like money and the pressure of life affect us all.  But perhaps the saddest factor is that so many are targeted by prejudice and discrimination, purely because of the way they live their lives.  Naturists occasionally suffer discrimination, and this is probably the reason that despite the IPSOS survey of 2022 telling us that there are nearly 7 million Naturists in the UK, Naturists are not

We like to bring you news stories of forthcoming events - it spreads the word, encourages more people to book and shows just how vibrant the Naturist scene is in the UK. However - I'm happy to say - there are far too many to promote them all individually and so here is a complete list of all the events happening over just the next couple of weeks and big events taking place later. Enjoy! And don't forget that we are always looking for reports on great gatherings for the magazine and elsewhere...

As we continue to look at how Naturism can support our mental health as part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2024, we look at the word from which Naturism draws its name, “nature”.  Research shows that nature is crucial for our mental and physical health and our relationship with nature significantly contributes to good mental health and well-being.  70% of UK adults agree that being close to nature improves their mood, and 49% say that being close to nature helps them to cope with stress.  The

Next week in The Forum Live Debate we will discuss the values that define Naturism for us personally and as a community.  The international definition of Naturism is older than I am and has stood the test of time, but inevitably lacks the depth to reflect all that we see in Naturism.  Having a clear idea of what Naturism means will help us to share the philosophy with others.  At the same time we should recognise that different people have different perceptions and different priorities, so there

As part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2024, the Mental Health Foundation are running a “Wear it Green” initiative to raise both awareness and funds.  Wearing clothes of any colour might seem anathema to Naturists, but if there is one thing Naturists like doing, it is wearing body paint!  Why not take this opportunity to paint yourself green and start conversations about why you have done it.  This would be a fantastic opportunity to talk about Naturism and the crucial issue of mental health.  

A record 26 teams from eight clubs battled it out at the May 3-6 British Naturism/ Naturist Foundation Pétanque Nationals at Brocken Hurst, writes BN Sports Officer Ian Munt. It was a weekend to remember, as players vied to win the coveted Broadlands Plate and BN Club Shield. Competition day began in glorious sunshine. With registration complete, order of play handed out and the opening ceremony over, play began, umpired by Steve Paton and yours truly, heavily supported by Pétanque England

Through Mental Health Awareness Week 2024 we are considering how Naturism can have a positive effect our mental health.  When we are anxious, we can feel a lot better after just letting it out.  Experts say that talking can provide stress relief, and can lighten the load of our concerns, and people suffering anxiety or depression often find talking to someone so helpful that they wish they'd done it a lot sooner. Although Naturism can be practised alone, for most people, Naturism is a very

Through Mental Health Awareness Week 2024 we will discuss how Naturism can have a positive effect our mental health.  Mental health challenges often run deep, are complicated and we shouldn’t pretend that Naturism is a magic solution for all our problems.  However, Naturism is a cheap and simple way to take a step in the right direction.  Research has shown that spending even short periods of times naked with others improves body appreciation and reduces social anxiety, while ongoing participati

The Bristol Naked Swim on Wednesday 15th May will be a women's swim with the aim of increased inclusivity and participation of under represented groups Bristol Naked Swim are an established Naturist swim group that meets every Wednesday evening at Jubilee swimming pool in South Bristol. New member Collette Brydon is running these sessions as she cares deeply about inviting more people into nudist spaces safely and comfortably. Collette has often found herself to be the only woman in Na

We like to bring you news stories of forthcoming events - it spreads the word, encourages more people to book and shows just how vibrant the Naturist scene is in the UK. However - I'm happy to say - there are far too many to promote them all individually and so here is a complete list of all the events happening over just the next couple of weeks and big events taking place later. Enjoy! And don't forget that we are always looking for reports on great gatherings for the magazine and elsewhere...

It's not just thrown together, you know - following this story posted yesterday, please join me on Monday 13 May when my guest will be BN's Events Manager, Mark Walsh. We'll talk through all the events that BN is hosting, bring you as up to date as we can with the activity programmes, tell you about the venues - which includes a new one for 2024 - and, for those who have not been to any of them before (or even any Naturist event) what to expect. We'll have the usual Q&A session too so t

Two cases in the last couple of months have highlighted the value of being a BN Member and the work done over the years by the BN legal Team in clarifying the law in relation to nudity in public. There is, however, still some way to go in order for that information to reach all police officers, writes BN Vice Chair, Colin Ratcliff One member had four separate visits from Gloucestershire police officers regarding standing just outside his house to smoke while naked (not a recommended activit

As we shake off our winter doldrums, it’s time to check out – and book - four fabulous upcoming British Naturism events. There’s one per month, starting in June with Nudefest and ending in September with BN’s 60th birthday Jamboree.   Nudefest: June 17-23 Attention! The ever-popular bash returns to Thorney Lakes in Somerset, but this year it’s in June, not July, to avoid clashing with Glastonbury. Nudefest fuses an amazing lineup of daytime activities with nightly entertainment ac

No show tonight because of the Bank Holiday, but we'll see you next week!

In 2018, the College of Policing published guidance on the handling of reports of public nudity to assist police officers and call handlers in taking actions that were consistent with Crown Prosecution Service guidelines and the law, so that those participating in lawful nudity did not suffer negative effects if there were reports.  British Naturism, alongside other Naturists, were instrumental in formulating that guidance and it remains arguably the most crucial achievement of British Naturism

We like to bring you news stories of forthcoming events - it spreads the word, encourages more people to book and shows just how vibrant the Naturist scene is in the UK. However - I'm happy to say - there are far too many to promote them all individually and so here is a complete list of all the events happening over just the next couple of weeks and big events taking place later. Enjoy! And don't forget that we are always looking for reports on great gatherings for the magazine and elsewhere...

We are very excited to announce the appointment of British Naturism’s new Equality and Diversity Officer, Simon Hill. We should pause a moment to consider the change that Simon’s appointment represents.  Simon was one of several people to formally express interest in the role, reflecting the growing enthusiasm of members for making significant contributions through volunteering.  Perhaps more significant is the nature of the role as that reflects the appetite across our membership to priori

Join host Helen Berriman, BN's Women's Officer, for a new episode of the podcast from British Naturism, dedicated to celebrating and empowering women in the Naturist community. Our podcast is created by women for women, although we warmly invite men to join us and listen as well. In each episode, we delve into insightful conversations, exploring various aspects of Naturism through the lens of womens' experiences. Whether you are a seasoned Naturist, new to the way of life or just intrigued,

2024 is looking a very good year for Naturist facilities with new opportunities in both England and Scotland.  South of the border, the redevelopment of British Naturism: Sunfolk is nearing completion and preparing to reopen for the summer. The breaking news is the establishment of a new Naturist club in the heart of Scotland.  The Central Sun Club is a ten-acre site accessible from Edinburgh and Glasgow that really showcases the natural beauty of Scotland, including a small lake.  For the momen

We like to bring you news stories of forthcoming events - it spreads the word, encourages more people to book and shows just how vibrant the Naturist scene is in the UK. However - I'm happy to say - there are far too many to promote them all individually and so here is a complete list of all the events happening over just the next couple of weeks and big events taking place later. Enjoy! And don't forget that we are always looking for reports on great gatherings for the magazine and elsewhere...

Over 120 people turned up on Saturday, 20 April, for the 2024 British Naturism National Swimming Gala, and it was quite an evening. Around 90 swimmers battled it out through some 70 races. It was my partner Dave’s third gala and – let me get the kudos out of the way – he did very well. “It was a fantastic evening with record numbers attending,” says BN Sports Director Ian Munt. A big shout-out to “the 21 volunteers who supported us during the evening and made the event run so well.” Th

The BN North West Regional Team are pleased to announce an informal, open Zoom chat to launch our fantastic season of unfolding events on May 1st. Whether you wish to discuss club events - such as open days - sports events, Great British Skinny Dips and Naked Heart Walks, swimsand walks in the North West region - the choice is yours! We will discuss the success of the new Withington Swim and any others that you choose to mention. There will be no set Agenda, but we will attempt to cover all

Hosted and supported by our friends at The Naturist Foundation, the tournament takes place from May 3rd to May 6th 2024. It will be a full weekend of entertainment alongside the play. All members of British Naturism and of British Naturism member clubs are welcome to play in doubles teams, of any combination of genders. Don’t worry if you are on your own, we’ll find someone for you to form a team with. Everyone will get to play at least five games. Supporters and visitors are also welc

Today we observe Earth Day 2024, which has the theme of Planet vs Plastics.  Naturism is closely associated with natural living, it is even in the name!  The long-standing international definition of Naturism states: "Naturism is a way of life in harmony with nature characterised by the practice of communal nudity with the intention of encouraging self-respect, respect for others and for the environment". To reflect on this synergy, we will use The Forum Live Debate next week to discus

Help Linda (your south-east Wales BN Rep) make history as we launch our first Dine Naked Cruise in Cardiff on 27th July 2024, setting sail at 7pm. We will sail aboard the all weather Seren-Y-Bae for a 3 hour naked cruise around Cardiff Bay taking in the evening views before gently cruising along either The River Taff or The River Ely. The evening cruise will include an excellent buffet, music and a dance floor and then who knows what other fun activities: those who have been to the Car