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News and articles about BN and the wonderful world of Naturism
Do you know somebody whose contribution to the cause of Naturism has been exceptional and whom you think BN should recognise by the award of a Certificate of Merit?
The Executive Committee welcomes nomination for certificates of merit from members. Certificates are usually awarded at the AGM, and in order to allow the EC to give proper consideration to nominations we're asking for these no later than 15 July.  
Nominees don't have to be members - indeed certificates have in the past been awarded to people outside BN whose contribution has been considered exceptional.  And the nominee could be a single person or a group, such as a club, couple, team or company.
Click here for the nomination form (log in required) - do read the guidance notes carefully.  Please note that all nominations are confidential and should not be published on the forum or elsewhere.
 
Image: Mark Bass
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...
 
Bigger events happening later in the year:
June 7-9 YBN Sports Weekend South.
June 7-10 Highland Walking Weekend
June 8 Alnwick Garden Visit
June 14-23 Rosslyn Glamping & Camping
June 17-23 Nudefest
June 22 Stirling jail lock in & dining
June 26-30 Montenegro Games without Borders
June 28-30 Weekend Getaway North Wales
July 9 Day visit to Steep Holm Island
July 12-14 Windermere Camping Break
July 13-14 Norton Lakes Weekend
July 13 River Forth Boat Trip
July 13 Bo’ness Motor Museum
July 19-21 YBN Sports Weekend North
July 27 Boat Trip around Farne Island.
July 27 Cardiff’s Naked Dine Cruise
July 29-4 Aug Summer Camp North Wales
Aug 4-11 New Quay Summer Camp
Aug 9-11 Loch Lomond Sports Weekend
Aug 9-11 International Petanque Tournament
Aug 15-19 Everybody Festival
Aug 31-7 Sept  Magnolias Natura Group Holiday
Sept 6-15 Rosslyn Glamping & Camping Week
Sept 12-16 60th Jamboree
Oct 4-7 Sherwood Forest Cabin Share
Oct 25-27 INF Swim Gala, France
Nov 15-18 Luxury Spa Break Amsterdam
Nov 19-26 NatRam Walk, Fuerteventura
 
INF -FNI/EUNAT
Naked Dining
Naked Heart Walks
Sports Events
Swims & Waterparks
Walks & Hikes
 
The Big Quiz
May 31
A friendly quiz to test your knowledge, knowing the weight of a cow could be useful!
NI Online
 
WSC Swim
May 31
A swim in Chepstow plus sauna & steam room.
Monmouthshire
 
Club Naturel
May 31
A private pool with hot tub and sauna.
Norfolk
 
Watford Swim
May 31
Join us at our Friday night swim, open to all naturists, new or seasoned!
Hertfordshire
 
Naked Pub Night
May 31
Join us at our virtual bar to socialise with like-minded naturists
Irish Naturist Association Online
 
Wild Water GBSD
June 1
Wild swimming in the River Ribble. NOT a BN event so not covered by BN insurance.
Lancashire
 
Skinny Dip Nottingham
June 1
GBSD synchronised skinny dip with donation to BHF.
Nottinghamshire
 
Little Brickhill / Woburn Walk
June 1
A circular 7 mile, early afternoon walk.
Bedfordshire
 
Lancashire Sun GBSD
June 1
Join us for the synchronised skinny dip.
Lancashire
 
Sunnybroom Swim
June 1
Swims are scheduled for the first Saturday of the month.
Aberdeenshire
 
TROC Monthly Swim & Gym
June 1
NEW date, only for this month.
Tyne & Wear
 
Wirral Nats. Chester Swim
June 1
A family friendly swim with ample facilities and free parking.
Cheshire West & Chester
 
South Forest Swim Edwinstowe
June 1
Twice monthly early evening swim.
Nottinghamshire
 
Spectrum Swim
June 1
Not only swim & sauna but also refreshments, yoga, themed food evenings, gym etc. etc.!
West Midlands
 
Cambridge GBSD
June 1
Run by the Cambridge Outdoor Club with pool, clubhouse, kitchen, Boules court.
Cambridgeshire
 
Spielplatz GBSD
June 1
Opening their doors to guests and a great chance to visit one of the UK’s oldest clubs
Hertfordshire
 
Brockenhurst GBSD
June 1
A fun day at the Naturist Foundation with café, sauna, Miniten, Petanque, bar & more.
Kent
 
MSNC GBSD
June 1
Swim at Bury St Edmunds with sauna & steam room.
Suffolk
 
Slapton Sands
June 1
A GBSD beach day!
Devon
 
BN NW Petanque Event
June 2
Whether you play or just spectate, a fabulous day is in store with a village fete atmosphere.
Lancashire
 
Cardiff Coffee Group Meet Up
June 2
Join us for a drink, chat and enjoy arts & crafts for a laugh.
South Glamorgan
 
Noah’s Ark Swim
June 2
Early evening swim and club offers a range of weekly activities.
Surrey
 
Forth Naturists at Haddington
June 2
Family friendly swim with pools, sauna, steam room, sports hall and refreshments.
East Lothian
 
Notts. Sun Club GBSD
June 2
Some overnight availability for tents, trailer tent, motor homes and a trailer tent for hire.
Nottinghamshire
 
Arundel Lido GBSD
June 2
A great skinny dip followed by a BBQ.
West Sussex
 
Plymouth Swim
June 3
Monthly Monday evening swim at Plympton Pool, lane swimming or just socialising.
Devon
 
Natram Walk New Forest
June 4
A 12 mile ramble around the New Forest, exploring heaths, glades & WW2 relics.
Hampshire
 
Beason Tarn Walk & Skinny Dip
June 4
A double event with Shap Lido, annual Naked Walk as part of the GBSD.
Cumbria
 
Shap Lido GBSD
June 4
Open air swimming at its best.
Cumbria
 
Bristol Swim
June 5
A GBSD Wednesday swim.
Bristol
 
Manchester Male Swim
June 6
Weekly swim for all men regardless of sexuality or difference, over 18 only if you can swim.
Manchester
 
Highland Walking Weekend
June 7 to 10
A walk to suit most abilities from strolls to multi-Munro epics, plus wild swimming.
Perthshire
 
Steeple Clayton Walk
June 7
A 7 to 8 mile circular walk through the Vale of Aylesbury.
Buckinghamshire
 
Club Naturel
June 7
A private pool with hot tub and sauna.
Norfolk
 
Manchester World Naked Bike Ride
June 7
Assemble in All Saints Park at 6 for a 7pm start.
Manchester
 
The Big Quiz
June 7
A friendly quiz to test your knowledge, knowing the weight of a cow could be useful!
NI Online
 
WSC Swim
June 7
A swim in Chepstow plus sauna & steam room.
Monmouthshire
 
Ladies Only Swim
June 7
Clothes optional in a private pool with hot tub and sauna.
Norfolk
 
Watford Swim
June 7
Join us at our Friday night swim, open to all naturists, new or seasoned!
Hertfordshire
 
Naked Pub Night
June 7
Join us at our virtual bar to socialise with like-minded naturists
Irish Naturist Association Online
 
Bunkhouse Weekend in Wales
June 8 to 10
A Welsh cottage in the Cambrian Mountains, with kitchen & showers but no fridge.
Ceredigion
 
Breast Cancer Fundraising Walk
June 8
Clothes optional walk over part of the Cuckoo Trail for 6 miles.
East Sussex
 
Burrows Garden Visit
June 8
Book in advance for best prices.
Derbyshire
 
Wigton Swim
June 8
A GBSD 2 hour monthly swim at the Wigton Pool.
Cumbria
 
Sleaford Swim
June 8
Small pool, gym, squash courts, sauna & steam room.
Lincolnshire
 
Spectrum Swim
June 8
Not only a GBSD swim & sauna but also refreshments, yoga, themed food evenings, gym etc. etc.!
West Midlands
 
Wirral Nats. Chester Swim
June 8
A family friendly swim with ample facilities and free parking.
Cheshire West & Chester
 
Alnwick Garden Visit
June 8
Wander around this lovely garden with its amazing water features.
Northumberland
 
Bircotes Swim
June 8
Swim, socialise in the sauna or play table tennis or badminton at this GBSD event.
Yorkshire
 
Yorks & E.Mids Walks
June 9
A 7.5-mile walk, undulating with 3 moderate hills, and stunning views of the Yorkshire Wolds.
Yorkshire
 
Rydale Club Swim
June 9
Fortnightly swim, 3 to 5, at Malton, with a 25m pool and sauna.
Yorkshire
 
Noah’s Ark Swim
June 9
Early evening swim and club offers a range of weekly activities.
Surrey
 
Scotney Castle Gardens
June 9
Our third visit to these romantic gardens.
Kent
 
Northampton Swim
June 9
Two pools, sauna, steam room, plunge pool & Turkish hot rooms.
Northamptonshire
 
Withington Pool
June 9
A return visit to this beautiful Edwardian pool, complete with stained glass windows and sauna.
Manchester
 
Potteries Swim
June 9
Swim and relax in a friendly environment; over 18 only.
Staffordshire
 
BN / NatRam Walk
June 11
An 11 mile walk, shorter one available, on the chalk downs above Salisbury.
Wiltshire
 
Ladies GBSD & Spa Day
June 11
Enjoy the pool, hot tub and sauna with female masseur available.
Lancashire
 
Shaftesbury Lido Swim
June 11
Heated outdoor pool, refurbished with equipment upgraded.
Dorset
 
Visit to Houghton Lodge Gardens
June 12
Turn up and experience this delightful mixture of formal plantings & more natural settings.
Hampshire
 
Visit to the Dorothy Clive Gardens
June 12
Clothing optional evening visit, with refreshments available in the pavilion or bring your own.
Shropshire
 
Bristol Swim
June 12
Weekly swim at the Jubilee Pool
Bristol
 
INF Fun Sports & Social Weekend
June 13 – 16
Join other naturist from all over the world in this 52nd event.
Croatia
 
BN/Natram Walk
June 13
An 11 mile, or shorter, walk through gentle countryside, with a pub meal at the end.
Hampshire
 
Naked Dining & Skittles
June 13
Drive or train or even stay overnight, at the Mill Arms in Dunbridge.
Hampshire
 
Manchester Male Swim
June 13
Weekly swim for all men regardless of sexuality or difference, over 18 only if you can swim.
Manchester
 
Rosslyn Glamping & Camping
June 14 – 23
A clothing optional week, hire one of our huts or the boat or bring your own motorhome or tent.
Norfolk
 
Nettlebed Walk
June 14
A 7 mile circular walk through the west end of the Chilterns.
Oxfordshire
 
The Big Quiz
June 14
A friendly quiz to test your knowledge, knowing the weight of a cow could be useful!
NI Online
 
WSC Swim
June 14
A swim in Chepstow plus sauna & steam room.
Monmouthshire
 
Club Naturel Swim
June 14
A regular Friday swim in a private hire pool with hot tub and sauna
Norfolk
 
Watford Swim
June 14
Join us at our Friday night swim, open to all naturists, new or seasoned!
Hertfordshire
 
Naked Pub Night
June 14
Join us at our virtual bar to socialise with like-minded naturists
Irish Naturist Association Online
 
Petersfield Open Air Pool
June 14
GBSD event at this heated pool, with café and a BBQ.
Hampshire
 
GBSD Kerensa Cottage
June 15
A private pool & garden with collection for BHF.
Somerset
 
Sports Taster Day
June 15
Learn how to play Miniten & Boules plus enjoy all the great facilities at LSAS.
Merseyside
 
Sports Taster Day
June 15
Learn how to play Boules, have a few games & meet new friends at this well appointed club.
Yorkshire
 
MSNC Swim
June 15
A regular swim with sauna & steam room.
Suffolk
 
Spectrum Swim
June 15
Not only swim & sauna but also refreshments, yoga, themed food evenings, gym etc. etc.!
West Midlands
 
Leonardslee Gardens Walk
June 15
Naked Heart Walk raising funds for BHF. A buggy to the valley for those with accessibility issues.
West Sussex
 
Wirral Nats. Chester Swim
June 15
A family friendly swim with ample facilities and free parking.
Cheshire West & Chester
 
South Forest Swim
June 15
Family friendly GBSD swim with pool, flume, sauna & jacuzzi.
Nottinghamshire
 
Southampton Swim
June 15
Family friendly swim.
Hampshire
 
Peterborough Lido GBSD
June 15
A wonderful example of a 1930’s Lido with 3 heated pools, please pre-book.
Cambridgeshire
 
Studland Beach Day
June 16
Bring a picnic and enjoy the day on this fantastic beach.
Dorset
 
Nudie Dudie GBSD Swim
June 16
Please confirm attendance with the organiser.
South Glamorgan
 
Noah’s Ark Swim
June 16
Early evening swim and club offers a range of weekly activities.
Surrey
 
Forth Swim at Haddington
June 16
Family friendly swim with sauna, steam room, sports hall and refreshments.
East Lothian
 
South Wales Meet & Greet
June 16
Clothed event, meet for a chat & a pint or even a meal.
South Glamorgan
 
 
My thanks to David Smith for putting the list together... 
 
Photo by Hansjörg Keller on Unsplash
British Naturism has a fantastic job opportunity available at Sunfolk in St Albans - we are looking for a Housekeeper to join our team at Sunfolk.
The ideal candidate would be someone who lives close to Sunfolk, working with the Events Manager and Wardens.
Main Duties and responsibilities – cleanliness and upkeep of the buildings and associated camping accommodation.
This is a paid, part-time 6 month fixed-term contract with the opportunity for renewal.
Hours: 10 hours per week (max 15 hours a week)
If you have an interest in Naturism and enjoy working as part of a team, then this job could be for you.
Contact Tracey Major, General Secretary to find out more about this paid job opportunity or send your CV to:
general.secretary@bn.org.uk
Closing date for applications - Monday 10th June 2024
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, we aim to educate and inspire. We highlight the experiences, challenges, and triumphs of women in Naturism. Promoting body acceptance and self love, we explore how women across the planet have shed their clothes and freed up their minds, leading them toward a more fulfilling life in all areas; one that no longer keeps them restricted - emotionally, mentally, physically, and in all other ways.
This month, Helen interviews Steph McManus, a nurse from New Zealand and body freedom advocate. After a nude photoshoot, which Steph did in an effort to confront her own body image in the wake of an eating disorder, she discovered what it meant to her to be without clothes. It transformed her life and she describes nudity as her medicine, and she now wants to bring her revelations to as many people as she can. Careful with the language she uses, Steph says nudity can be a 'healing tool', and avoids refering to any label that she feels could alienate the very people that it will help the most.
The BN Women in Focus podcast will be available on Saturday 1 June on the following platforms: 
https://open.spotify.com/show/6HtAQzJKLzJenc3Jjm9W3O
https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/d0d17b7b-51c3-4caa-b890-9c8355289c9f/women-in-focus
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/women-in-focus/id1717263257
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1Y4MelgLcBpA89zbKw7m_UW3xT4_1WZ6
The Summer issue of our members' magazine is out now!
As always, it’s chock-full of news, information, listings and fully illustrated features and articles.
Contents include:
All the events you can look forward to and a round-up of everything that’s been happening – including the fantastic BN National Swim Gala BN’s 60th: How it all began, what we’ve achieved, and birthday greetings from around the world! #TheNakedTruth: the opportunities and challenges of social media Why don’t all Naturists join BN? A new campaign Women in Naturism – and a report on the Ladies-Only holiday in Fuerteventura Certificates of Merit 2024: Who’s your hero? Sports Round-up: All the latest on BN’s sports activities In travel, we talk Thailand, Southern Europe, Mexico…and lots more. BN240 will soon be landing on the doormats of members of British Naturism who can also download a digital version. There's even a topic open for you to share your views with other members (log in required).
The Great British Skinny Dip, British Naturism’s outreach project run in partnership with the British Heart Foundation,  is in full swing now, with well over 500 skinny dips listed. Our press release went down a storm with plenty of newspapers, radio stations, listings and news websites talking about it. On 16 May alone I did 13 local BBC radio interviews in one day with other members of the team taking on others and the attention lasted a period of days. Some of the media outlets decided to send a reporter to a dip. We also took the opportunity to broadcast an encouragement for readers/listeners to make suggestions for more venues in their area, and even to consider hosting one themselves. We will keep the profile high as the summer progresses and so look out for more! BN members can find links to stories and interviews on the members forum.
GBSD/NHW team leader Ron O’Hare came up with the fantastic idea for the ‘Great British Synchronised Skinny Dip’ (GBSSD) - a single day when a number of venues will host individual dips, with our being able to report a HUGE (we hope) aggregate number of costume-free swimmers. This year’s GBSSD takes place this Saturday, 1 June and here are the venues participating, with links to more information.
Dive in!
 
Sunnybroom Swim
Aberdeenshire
 
TROC Monthly Swim & Gym
Tyne & Wear
 
Wild Water GBSD
Wild swimming in the River Ribble. 
Lancashire
 
Lancashire Sun GBSD
Lancashire
 
Wirral Nats
Chester
 
Nottingham Sun Club
Nottinghamshire
 
South Forest Swim Edwinstowe
Nottinghamshire
 
Spectrum Swim
West Midlands
 
Cambridge GBSD
Cambridgeshire
 
MSNC GBSD
Suffolk
 
Spielplatz GBSD
Hertfordshire
 
Brockenhurst GBSD
Kent
 
Slapton Sands
Devon
Regular website visitors will know the great news that Shaftesbury Town Council run their own skinny-dipping sessions at the local Lido - Dorset's only Lido.
Welcoming local and visiting Naturists and those wanting to try skinny dipping for the first time, the 29C water provides a warm swim, whatever the weather is doing.  As the Lido website says, 'For those who may not have considered this type of swim before, there are many benefits to it. Not only can it help to improve self-esteem but it also gives you a sense of freedom, makes you feel closer to nature and allows your skin to breathe.' We couldn't put it better ourselves!
The naked swims take place on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday evenings, between season opening on May 25th and season close which is usually in the first week of September, but may be later according to weather and other factors. 
The first skinny dip of the year takes place tomorrow, 28 May. Free hot and cold drinks are available poolside.
Booking online via the Lido website (where you will also find more information, times, prices etc.) 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.
There are at least three great Naturist opportunities to enjoy in Northumberland this summer. 

On the 8th June, back by popular demand, is a visit to Alnwick Gardens (pictured). Enjoy the original Harry Potter backdrop as you meander naturally naked through the gardens. Take care in the Poison garden in case any of Professor Sprout’s repotted Mandrakes are lurking. Refresh yourself in the garden water features. 
On the 27th July, get your clothes off and your sea-legs on and sail along the Northumberland coast around the Farne Islands. Keep an eye out for sea birds, seals and maybe even merfolk.   Over the weekend of 24th-26th August the most northerly naturist festival will be held at TANDO. Expect fireworks, music and light shows or just enjoy the festival vibe, naturally nude.  If you can't make the event, then why not contact TANDO for a trial visit or to book a short break there?
There will be no The Forum Live on Monday as it's a Bank Holiday, but we'll be back the following week with the next quarterly Ask the Executive session on Monday week, 3 June at 7:30pm.
It's a chance for members to meet and ask questions of British Naturism's Executive Committee and hear from officers and other volunteer role holders.
It's open to all British Naturism members and is expected to last an hour. Questions for the Directors and Executive Committee members on any relevant subject will be welcome.
To help us manage the session and to provide the best possible answers we would welcome your questions in advance.
If you have a question, please send it to headoffice@bn.org.uk
Join the session here
  
Photo by Marius Oprea on Unsplash 
Over the past year we have been redeveloping Sunfolk and we are so close to completion now that we can taste it.  The old building has been replaced by a new facility, the grounds have been completely redesigned and electrified and the green of the new lawns is starting to come through.  We are close, but we are not there yet!
We reopen on the 28th June and before that there are countless small tasks to still complete.  This is your chance to get involved on site and help out.  Not only will this give you the chance to get a sneak preview before the doors open, but it will also mean that you are contributing to the legacy of British Naturism.
There are work parties running throughout June, but we are also running some BIG weekenders:
1st-3rd June
7th-9th June
15th-16th June
You do not need to be a labourer or master craftsman to join these weekends, all you need is a willingness to help.  Things to be done include:
Woodland clean and burn
Planting of outstanding greenery
Car park gravelling
Jet washing
Cleaning
DIY
Swimming pool work
The work parties will, of course, be Naturist apart from safety equipment, we will provide lunch and staying over may be possible for people wanting to work through the whole weekend.
If you want to join us, all you need to do is drop an email to sunfolk-workparty@bn.org.uk telling us the days you will join us and any other requirements.  See you there!
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...
 
Bigger events happening later in the year:
June 7-9 YBN Sports Weekend South.
June 7-10 Highland Walking Weekend
June 8 Alnwick Garden Visit
June 13 Dunbridge Naked Dining & Skittles
June 17-23 Nudefest
June 22 Stirling jail lock in & dining
July 12-14 Windermere Camping Break
July 13 River Forth Boat Trip
July 19-21 YBN Sports Weekend North
July 27 Naturist Boat Trip around Farne Island.
July 27 Cardiff’s Naked Dine Cruise
Aug 9-11 Loch Lomond Sports Weekend
Aug 9-11 International Petanque Tournament
Aug 15-19 Everybody Festival
Aug 31-7 Sept  Magnolias Natura Group Holiday
Sept 12-16 60th Jamboree
Octo 25-27 INF Swim Gala, France
Nov 15-18 Luxury Spa Break Amsterdam
Nov 19-26 NatRam Walk, Fuerteventura
 
INF -FNI/EUNAT
Naked Dining
Naked Heart Walks
Sports Events
Swims & Waterparks
Walks & Hikes
 
 
The Big Quiz
May 24
A friendly quiz to test your knowledge, knowing the weight of a cow could be useful!
NI Online
 
WSC Swim
May 24
A swim in Chepstow plus sauna & steam room.
Monmouthshire
 
Club Naturel
May 24
A private pool with hot tub and sauna.
Norfolk
 
Watford Swim
May 24
Join us at our Friday night swim, open to all naturists, new or seasoned!
Hertfordshire
 
Naked Pub Night
May 24
Join us at our virtual bar to socialise with like-minded naturists
Irish Naturist Association Online
 
Natram Walk
May 25
An 11 mile stroll, shorter version available, across the Hoo Peninsular, plus a chance to swim.
Kent
 
Horningsea Walk
May 25
A 6 mile walk on flat terrain and crosses the Quy Fen.
Cambridgeshire
 
TANDO BBQ
May 25
Join us for a BBQ, with camping possible and caravan hire.
Tyne & Wear
 
Sleaford Swim
May 25
Afternoon swim plus gym, squash court, sauna & steam room.
Lincolnshire
 
Worsley Swim
May 25
Family friendly with pool for swimming, warm small pools for socialising & sauna & steam room.
Greater Manchester
 
Spectrum Swim
May 25
Not only swim & sauna but also refreshments, yoga, themed food evenings, gym etc. etc.!
West Midlands
 
Wirral Nats. Chester Swim
May 25
A family friendly swim with ample facilities and free parking.
Cheshire West & Chester
 
Southampton Swim
May 25
Family friendly swim.
Hampshire
 
Splashdown Water Park
May 25
A swim at the South’s biggest water park in Poole, MUST BOOK IN ADVANCE.
Dorset
 
NW Region Miniten
May 26
Matches are doubles, men’s, ladies & mixed & visitors & spectators welcome.
Merseyside
 
Rydale Club Swim
May 26
Fortnightly swim, 3 to 5, at Malton, with a 25m pool and sauna.
Yorkshire
 
Noah’s Ark Swim
May 26
Early evening swim and club offers a range of weekly activities.
Surrey
 
Prested Hall Swim
May 26
Evening swim with sauna, steam room, loungers, garden area & licenced bistro.
Essex
 
Potteries Swim
May 26
Swim and relax in a friendly environment; over 18 only.
Staffordshire
 
Shaftsbury Lido Swim
May 28
Upgraded equipment in this heated outdoor pool, twice monthly in summer.
Dorset
 
Bristol Swim
May 29
Weekly Wednesday swim.
Bristol
 
Natram Walk
May 30
A 12 mile, or shorter, stroll on the South Downs near Lewes.
East Sussex
 
Manchester Male Swim
May 30
Weekly swim for all men regardless of sexuality or difference, over 18 only if you can swim.
Manchester
 
The Big Quiz
May 31
A friendly quiz to test your knowledge, knowing the weight of a cow could be useful!
NI Online
 
WSC Swim
May 31
A swim in Chepstow plus sauna & steam room.
Monmouthshire
 
Club Naturel
May 31
A private pool with hot tub and sauna.
Norfolk
 
Watford Swim
May 31
Join us at our Friday night swim, open to all naturists, new or seasoned!
Hertfordshire
 
Naked Pub Night
May 31
Join us at our virtual bar to socialise with like-minded naturists
Irish Naturist Association Online
 
Wild Water GBSD
June 1
Wild swimming in the River Ribble. 
Lancashire
 
Skinny Dip Nottingham
June 1
GBSD synchronised skinny dip with donation to BHF.
Nottinghamshire
 
Little Brickhill / Woburn Walk
June 1
A circular 7 mile, early afternoon walk.
Bedfordshire
 
Lancashire Sun GBSD
June 1
Join us for the synchronised skinny dip.
Lancashire
 
Sunnybroom Swim
June 1
Swims are scheduled for the first Saturday of the month.
Aberdeenshire
 
TROC Monthly Swim & Gym
June 1
NEW date, only for this month.
Tyne & Wear
 
Wirral Nats. Chester Swim
June 1
A family friendly swim with ample facilities and free parking.
Cheshire West & Chester
 
South Forest Swim Edwinstowe
June 1
Twice monthly early evening swim.
Nottinghamshire
 
Spectrum Swim
June 1
Not only swim & sauna but also refreshments, yoga, themed food evenings, gym etc. etc.!
West Midlands
 
Cambridge GBSD
June 1
Run by the Cambridge Outdoor Club with pool, clubhouse, kitchen, Boules court.
Cambridgeshire
 
Spielplatz GBSD
June 1
Opening their doors to guests and a great chance to visit one of the UK’s oldest clubs
Hertfordshire
 
Brockenhurst GBSD
June 1
A fun day at the Naturist Foundation with café, sauna, Miniten, Petanque, bar & more.
Kent
 
MSNC GBSD
June 1
Swim at Bury St Edmunds with sauna & steam room.
Suffolk
 
Naked Bike Ride
June 2
World Naked Bike Ride, assemble at Oxpens Meadow at 2 for a 3pm start.
Oxfordshire
 
BN NW Petanque Event
June 2
Whether you play or just spectate, a fabulous day is in store with a village fete atmosphere.
Lancashire
 
Cardiff Coffee Group Meet Up
June 2
Join us for a drink, chat and enjoy arts & crafts for a laugh.
South Glamorgan
 
Noah’s Ark Swim
June 2
Early evening swim and club offers a range of weekly activities.
Surrey
 
Forth Naturists at Haddington
June 2
Family friendly swim with pools, sauna, steam room, sports hall and refreshments.
East Lothian
 
Notts. Sun Club GBSD
June 2
Some overnight availability for tents, trailer tent, motor homes and a trailer tent for hire.
Nottinghamshire
 
Arundel Lido GBSD
June 2
A great skinny dip followed by a BBQ.
West Sussex
 
Plymouth Swim
June 3
Monthly Monday evening swim at Plympton Pool, lane swimming or just socialising.
Devon
 
Natram Walk New Forest
June 4
A 12 mile ramble around the New Forest, exploring heaths, glades & WW2 relics.
Hampshire
 
Beason Tarn Walk & Skinny Dip
June 4
A double event with Shap Lido, annual Naked Walk as part of the GBSD.
Cumbria
 
Shap Lido GBSD
June 4
Open air swimming at its best.
Cumbria
 
Bristol SwimS
June 5
A GBSD Wednesday swim.
Bristol
 
Manchester Male Swim
June 6
Weekly swim for all men regardless of sexuality or difference, over 18 only if you can swim.
Manchester
 
Highland Walking Weekend
June 7 to 10
A walk to suit most abilities from strolls to multi-Munro epics, plus wild swimming.
Perthshire
 
Steeple Clayton Walk
June 7
A 7 to 8 mile circular walk through the Vale of Aylesbury.
Buckinghamshire
 
Club Naturel
June 7
A private pool with hot tub and sauna.
Norfolk
 
Manchester World Naked Bike Ride
June 7
Assemble in All Saints Park at 6 for a 7pm start.
Manchester
 
The Big Quiz
June 7
A friendly quiz to test your knowledge, knowing the weight of a cow could be useful!
NI Online
 
WSC Swim
June 7
A swim in Chepstow plus sauna & steam room.
Monmouthshire
 
Ladies Only Swim
June 7
Clothes optional in a private pool with hot tub and sauna.
Norfolk
 
Watford Swim
June 7
Join us at our Friday night swim, open to all naturists, new or seasoned!
Hertfordshire
 
Naked Pub Night
June 7
Join us at our virtual bar to socialise with like-minded naturists
Irish Naturist Association Online
 
Bunkhouse Weekend in Wales
June 8 to 10
A Welsh cottage in the Cambrian Mountains, with kitchen & showers but no fridge.
Ceredigion
 
Breast Cancer Fundraising Walk
June 8
Clothes optional walk over part of the Cuckoo Trail for 6 miles.
East Sussex
 
Burrows Garden Visit
June 8
Book in advance for best prices.
Derbyshire
 
Wigton Swim
June 8
A GBSD 2 hour monthly swim at the Wigton Pool.
Cumbria
 
Sleaford Swim
June 8
Small pool, gym, squash courts, sauna & steam room.
Lincolnshire
 
Spectrum Swim
June 8
Not only a GBSD swim & sauna but also refreshments, yoga, themed food evenings, gym etc. etc.!
West Midlands
 
Wirral Nats. Chester Swim
June 8
A family friendly swim with ample facilities and free parking.
Cheshire West & Chester
 
Alnwick Garden Visit
June 8
Wander around this lovely garden with its amazing water features.
Northumberland
 
Bircotes Swim
June 8
Swim, socialise in the sauna or play table tennis or badminton at this GBSD event.
Yorkshire
 
Yorks & E.Mids Walks
June 9
A 7.5-mile walk, undulating with 3 moderate hills, and stunning views of the Yorkshire Wolds.
Yorkshire
 
Rydale Club Swim
June 9
Fortnightly swim, 3 to 5, at Malton, with a 25m pool and sauna.
Yorkshire
 
Noah’s Ark Swim
June 9
Early evening swim and club offers a range of weekly activities.
Surrey
 
Scotney Castle Gardens
June 9
Our third visit to these romantic gardens.
Kent
 
Northampton Swim
June 9
Two pools, sauna, steam room, plunge pool & Turkish hot rooms.
Northamptonshire
 
Withington Pool
June 9
A return visit to this beautiful Edwardian pool complete with stained glass windows and sauna.
Manchester
 
Potteries Swim
June 9
Swim and relax in a friendly environment; over 18 only.
Staffordshire
 
My thanks to David Smith for putting the list together... 
 
Photo by Hansjörg Keller on Unsplash
There's (almost) a week's worth of Naturist events happening in BN's LASER (London and South East region) in a couple of week's time. It also gives those travelling from around the country to Nudefest, the opportunity to take in some great adventures on the way!
June 11
BN/NatRam walk, Grovely Woods This is an 11-mile walk on the chalk downs and woods above Salisbury. (There’ll also be a shorter option available on the day). The walk is open to NatRam and BN members.
June 12
If you’re up for more walking, why not stroll through the lovely Houghton Lodge Gardens near Stockbridge in Hampshire? You’ll encounter formal plantings, more natural settings, and direct access to the banks of the River Test. The gardens welcome nudies from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. Sadly, the tea room won’t be open – but feel free to bring noshes!
June 13
The BN/NatRams are at it again today, with an 11-mile walk (shorter option available) through the Hampshire countryside, starting at Dunbridge.
All that walking will work up an appetite, which you can satisfy at this evening’s naked dinner and skittles at the Mill Arms in Dunbridge. The venue opens to nudies at 5 p.m., and you can even book a room for June 12 and 13, including a full breakfast!
June 14
Here’s something for you swimmers. Petersfield Open Air Swimming Pool in Hampshire is having a Great British Skinny Dip. Even better, the pool is heated to 27 degrees (always welcome in our changeable climate!), and there’s a café serving hot and cold drinks and snacks and a BBQ.
June 15
It's the second time we've visited Leonardslee Gardens, near Horsham, Surrey for a Naked Heart Walk (pictured). It’s a walk of up to 5k, mostly in a picturesque valley with a string of lakes. The café will be open.
It’s not strictly in the LASER Region, but it’s in the general vicinity, there is also the Naked Southampton Swim at the Oaklands Community Pool. This is the last dip before the summer break, so if you’re in the area, jump in!
 
Image: Simon Berriman
It’s done! The first British Naturism/British Heart Foundation Naked Heart Walk of 2024 was completed on Saturday 18th May and it was a total success, writes organiser Keith Bowman. 
We all gathered in the beautiful gardens of Powderham Castle on the banks of the River Exe in Glorious Devon, nestled amongst the famous Rolling Hills.  The weather on arrival was amazing and suggested a repeat of the lovely warm sunshine of last year.  After checking-in, the 75 participants, all keen to get going, set off on the walk around the beautiful gardens decorated with masses of colourful rhododendrons and azaleas in full bloom. It was wonderful. 
The sunshine continued for a couple of hours, sufficient time for most walkers to complete the course, before a few rumbles of thunder could be heard in the distance and then the heavens opened, dumping their full load all at once.  Some of us were drenched but we didn’t mind and in fact found it rather exhilarating.
A few of us took a scrumptious Afternoon Tea in the castle with sandwiches, cakes, scones, cream and jam together with unlimited tea or coffee.  Yum Yum! All in all, this was a fantastic day for all concerned and more importantly, together, we raised in excess of £1,000 for The British Heart Foundation. An amazing effort and my thanks go to everyone involved as we all look forward to more such events to come.

We're definitely into the 'home straight' now with the Sunfolk redevelopment project, and can't wait to share the improvements we have made with BN members and other Naturists when the site re-opens on 28 June
The donations that many members have made in response to our 'big donation' campaign have been really generous, and will make a real difference to the experience we can offer our visitors - these donations have allowed to purchase a whole range of large and small items, from tea spoons through to a steel fire bowl that will site at the centre of a new fire pit area
Some members and supporters have asked whether there are still products available as part of this campaign, and I'm pleased to confirm that there are still a few items where it would be really helpful to receive donations - if people would like to contribute in this way
We've updated the donation listings on the BN Shop website, to include some new items - these include cycle stands, additional trees and plants, and bedding for our glamping pods
However, if you were interested in making a relatively low-cost donation, we'd like to make a specific shout out for the 20mm gravel we will use to finish our car park and fire pit area - just £9 will buy enough to cover one square metre!
https://shop.bn.org.uk/collections/sunfolk-the-big-donation?page=1
https://shop.bn.org.uk/collections/sunfolk-the-big-donation/products/car-park-surface

Thanks so much for your continued generosity and support for the redevelopment project, it has made such a big difference 
 
Throughout this week we have been supporting Mental Health Awareness Week 2024 by considering the different ways Naturism promotes good mental health.  On this, the final day we look at the aspect that many might consider the most important, namely the principles upon which Naturism is based.  Naturism is about respect, respect for ourselves and respect for others.  It is founded upon family values, the belief that we should support one another, make EVERYBODY feel welcome and ensure that nobody is left to suffer.  Part of the family values approach involves supporting youth, and the mental health issues faced by young people are why this is the most important.
One in five young women aged 16-24 self-harm, a number that has tripled over a 15-year period (The Lancet Psychiatry).  Suicide is the leading cause of death in men aged 20-34, accounting for over a quarter of fatalities (Office of National Statistics).  Body confidence among young people has deteriorated over time, with 5.6% of women aged 17-19 suffering Body Dysmorphic Disorder (NHS).
23% of 16–24-year-olds describe themselves as Naturist or nudist and over half have participated in activities such as skinny dipping, nude sunbathing or visiting a Naturist beach/resort.  Speaking to those people at events, we continually hear about the confidence and peace they find in the Naturist environment and the benefits it has for their mental health.
If you are one of the group suffering traumatic mental health issues, do please try joining the group that has tried Naturism.  We can’t guarantee that it will fix all your problems, but accepting doing something different could be the first step to a better life.
Earlier in the week we discussed physical exercise as part of the Mental Health Awareness Week 2024 theme of “Movement”.  Naturism also provides a great link to exercises that directly tackle mental wellbeing.  Yoga, meditation, and massage tackle both physical and mental matters and are sometimes done nude even outside Naturist circles.  Yoga, for example, works better nude for the purely practical reasons of flexibility, removing restrictions that irritate the skin and unbalance temperature regulation across the body helps meditation by eliminating the distractions.  All three are usually a part of Naturist festivals, yoga retreats are commonplace, and we even established Naked Fitness to started running online naked yoga classes during COVID when people were trapped in their homes and their mental health was really suffering.  Yoga and meditation are also the pinnacle of the attitude of calm and respect, they are by definition activities that are done quietly to eliminate stress.
If you are looking to try something like yoga for the first time, a Naturist festival is the best place to try.  The yoga becomes part of a greater whole with the same objectives of encouraging calmness, and Naturist yoga is usually cheaper than the commercial options because it is so embedded in Naturism.  The EveryBody festival  in particular is designed to be a back-to-nature, mindful experience that supports body positivity and strong mental health.
Hopefully we will see you there.
 
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 encountered that often and prefer to keep to themselves.  Other groups suffer much greater discrimination.  Homophobia made the lives of the LGBTQ+ community miserable, even dangerous, for decades.  Transphobia persists even today.  Alternative subcultures are targeted as seen in the death of goth, Sophie Lancaster.  Even racism still appears to be ingrained in much of society.
The tragedy here is that there are no justifiable grounds for such discrimination.  A person’s characteristics affect themselves and don’t usually affect the wellbeing of others, and yet we see discrimination occur when some people object to others making different decisions and in the worst cases for the enjoyment of causing hurt.  It is for this reason that British Naturism worked so closely with the Law Commission during the review of Hate Crime legislation and Hate Speech.  Although no additional protections were recommended by the Commission at that time, existing protections weren’t eroded as we and others collated evidence of the impact of hatred.
British Naturism is committed to standing up for equality and ensuring that all are welcome and treated equally.  Many members of the LGBTQ+ community join the organisation because they feel at home and find a peace at Naturist events that they often don’t feel elsewhere.  The core values of Naturism are respect and protecting the characteristics of those around us and are one of the reasons that Naturism has such a positive impact on the mental wellbeing of so many people.  So, if you are looking for a community that will accept you and welcome you as you are, this is the place.
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...
 
Bigger events to keep an eye out for:
June 7-9 YBN Sports Weekend South.
June 7-10 Highland Walking Weekend
June 8 Alnwick Garden Visit
June 17-23 Nudefest
July 12-14 Windermere Camping Break
July 13 River Forth Boat Trip
July 19-21 YBN Sports Weekend North
July 27 Naturist Boat Trip around Farne Island.
Aug 9-11 Loch Lomond Sports Weekend
Aug 9-11 International Petanque Tournament
Aug 15-19 Everybody Festival
Aug 31-7 Sept  Magnolias Natura Group Holiday
Sept 12-16 60th Jamboree
Octo 25-27 INF Swim Gala, France
Nov 15-18 Luxury Spa Break Amsterdam
Nov 19-26 NatRam Walk, Fuerteventura
 
INF -FNI/EUNAT
Naked Dining
Naked Heart Walks
Sports Events
Swims & Waterparks
Walks & Hikes
 
Camping Weekend
May 17 – 20
Enjoy camping at a lovely site with toilets, showers and polytunnel if inclement weather.
West Glamorgan
 
Club Naturel
May 17
A private pool with hot tub and sauna.
Norfolk
 
The Big Quiz
May 17
A friendly quiz to test your knowledge, knowing the weight of a cow could be useful!
NI Online
 
WSC Swim
May 17
A swim in Chepstow plus sauna & steam room.
Monmouthshire
 
Ladies Only Swim
May 17
Clothes optional swim in a private pool with hot tub and sauna.
Norfolk
 
Watford Swim
May 17
Join us at our Friday night swim, open to all naturists, new or seasoned!
Hertfordshire
 
Naked Pub Night
May 17
Join us at our virtual bar to socialise with like-minded naturists
Irish Naturist Association Online
 
Meditation & Well Being
May 18
Meditation, yoga & well being day retreat with experienced teachers from the BN online sessions.
Merseyside
 
Stark Trekkers
May 18
8 mile walk through the Brede Valley.  Lambing season so please no dogs.
East Sussex
 
Naked Heart Walk
May 18
Clothing optional, 3 mile circular walk around the beautiful gardens of Powderham Castle Estate.
Devon
 
MNSC Swim
May 18
Swim with sauna & steam room at Bury St Edmunds.
Suffolk
 
Spectrum Swim
May 18
Not only swim & sauna but also refreshments, yoga, themed food evenings, gym etc. etc.!
West Midlands
 
Wirral Nats. Chester Swim
May 18
A family friendly swim with ample facilities and free parking.
Cheshire West & Chester
 
South Forest Swim, Edwinstowe
May 18
Family swim at this indoor complex complete with flume, sauna & jacuzzi.
Nottinghamshire
 
5K Naked Run
May 19
A run around our 53 acre site then enjoy the facilities of pool, sauna, café and bar.
Kent
 
Sports Taster Day
May 19
Try Miniten & Boules taster fun day hosted by BN’s sports officer Ian Munt.
Kent
 
Naked Walk
May 19
A 5 mile circular walk, completely flat and with stunning views.
Yorkshire
 
Nudie Dudie Swim
May 19
Afternoon swim at Llantwit Major Leisure Centre.
South Glamorgan
 
Noah’s Ark Swim
May 19
Early evening swim and club offers a range of weekly activities.
Surrey
 
Forth Naturists Swim at Haddington
May 19
Family friendly swim with sauna, steam room, sports hall and café.
East Lothian
 
South Wales Meet & Greet
May 19
Join us for a meal, please pre book, at this CLOTHED event.
South Glamorgan
 
Stowmarket Walk
May 21
A 9 mile circular walk over mostly flat terrain.
Suffolk
 
Natram Walk
May 22
A 12 mile walk, a shorter version available, for a mixture of downland & riverside scenery.
West Sussex
 
Bristol Swim
May 22
Weekly Wednesday swim.
Bristol
 
Manchester Male Swim
May 23
Weekly swim for all men regardless of sexuality or difference, over 18 only if you can swim.
Manchester
 
Nudestock
May 24- June 2
Art, live music, yoga, meditation, signing, paint throwing, bingo, karaoke, quiz etc.
South Yorkshire
 
The Big Quiz
May 24
A friendly quiz to test your knowledge, knowing the weight of a cow could be useful!
NI Online
 
WSC Swim
May 24
A swim in Chepstow plus sauna & steam room.
Monmouthshire
 
Club Naturel
May 24
A private pool with hot tub and sauna.
Norfolk
 
Watford Swim
May 24
Join us at our Friday night swim, open to all naturists, new or seasoned!
Hertfordshire
 
Naked Pub Night
May 24
Join us at our virtual bar to socialise with like-minded naturists
Irish Naturist Association Online
 
Natram Walk
May 25
An 11 mile stroll, shorter version available, across the Hoo Peninsular, plus a chance to swim.
Kent
 
Horningsea Walk
May 25
A 6 mile walk on flat terrain and crosses the Quy Fen.
Cambridgeshire
 
TANDO BBQ
May 25
Join us for a BBQ, with camping possible and caravan hire.
Tyne & Wear
 
Sleaford Swim
May 25
Afternoon swim plus gym, squash court, sauna & steam room.
Lincolnshire
 
Worsley Swim
May 25
Family friendly with pool for swimming, warm small pools for socialising & sauna & steam room.
Greater Manchester
 
Spectrum Swim
May 25
Not only swim & sauna but also refreshments, yoga, themed food evenings, gym etc. etc.!
West Midlands
 
Wirral Nats. Chester Swim
May 25
A family friendly swim with ample facilities and free parking.
Cheshire West & Chester
 
Southampton Swim
May 25
Family friendly swim.
Hampshire
 
Splashdown Water Park
May 25
A swim at the South’s biggest water park in Poole, MUST BOOK IN ADVANCE.
Dorset
 
NW Region Miniten
May 26
Matches are doubles, men’s, ladies & mixed & visitors & spectators welcome.
Merseyside
 
Rydale Club Swim
May 26
Fortnightly swim, 3 to 5, at Malton, with a 25m pool and sauna.
Yorkshire
 
Noah’s Ark Swim
May 26
Early evening swim and club offers a range of weekly activities.
Surrey
 
Prested Hall Swim
May 26
Evening swim with sauna, steam room, loungers, garden area & licenced bistro.
Essex
 
Potteries Swim
May 26
Swim and relax in a friendly environment; over 18 only.
Staffordshire
 
Bristol Swim
May 29
Weekly Wednesday swim.
Bristol
 
Natram Walk
May 30
A 12 mile, or shorter, stroll on the South Downs near Lewes.
East Sussex
 
Manchester Male Swim
May 30
Weekly swim for all men regardless of sexuality or difference, over 18 only if you can swim.
Manchester
 
The Big Quiz
May 31
A friendly quiz to test your knowledge, knowing the weight of a cow could be useful!
NI Online
 
WSC Swim
May 31
A swim in Chepstow plus sauna & steam room.
Monmouthshire
 
Club Naturel
May 31
A private pool with hot tub and sauna.
Norfolk
 
Watford Swim
May 31
Join us at our Friday night swim, open to all naturists, new or seasoned!
Hertfordshire
 
Naked Pub Night
May 31
Join us at our virtual bar to socialise with like-minded naturists
Irish Naturist Association Online
 
Wild Water GBSD
June 1
Wild swimming in the River Ribble. NOT a BN event so not covered by BN insurance.
Lancashire
 
Skinny Dip Nottingham
June 1
GBSD synchronised skinny dip with donation to BHF.
Nottinghamshire
 
Little Brickhill / Woburn Walk
June 1
A circular 7 mile, early afternoon walk.
Bedfordshire
 
Lancashire Sun GBSD
June 1
Join us for the synchronised skinny dip.
Lancashire
 
Sunnybroom Swim
June 1
Swims are scheduled for the first Saturday of the month.
Aberdeenshire
 
TROC Monthly Swim & Gym
June 1
NEW date, only for this month.
Tyne & Wear
 
Wirral Nats. Chester Swim
June 1
A family friendly swim with ample facilities and free parking.
Cheshire West & Chester
 
South Forest Swim Edwinstowe
June 1
Twice monthly early evening swim.
Nottinghamshire
 
Spectrum Swim
June 1
Not only swim & sauna but also refreshments, yoga, themed food evenings, gym etc. etc.!
West Midlands
 
Naked Bike Ride
June 2
World Naked Bike Ride, assemble at 2 for a 3pm start.
Oxfordshire
 
BN NW Petanque Event
June 2
Whether you play or just spectate, a fabulous day is in store with a village fete atmosphere.
Lancashire
 
Cardiff Coffee Group Meet Up
June 2
Join us for a drink, chat and enjoy arts & crafts for a laugh.
South Glamorgan
 
Noah’s Ark Swim
June 2
Early evening swim and club offers a range of weekly activities.
Surrey
 
Forth Naturists at Haddington
June 2
Family friendly swim with pools, sauna, steam room, sports hall and refreshments.
East Lothian
 
 
My thanks to David Smith for putting the list together... 
 
Photo by Hansjörg Keller on Unsplash
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 mental health benefits are a key reason that Naturists continually try to reconnect with the natural world and the longstanding international definition of Naturism states that:
"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".
The redevelopment of our own facility, British Naturism: Sunfolk, has been done to minimise environmental impact and create an experience that is sympathetic with the natural beauty of the place.  If you are looking for a contained way to be naked and reconnect, the site will reopen at the end of June and we would be glad to welcome you.  If you are looking for an opportunity to really get back to basics, our Windermere Woodland Weekend in July provides the opportunity for wild camping, free hiking and skinny dipping.
Regardless of whether you choose to engage with a British Naturism activity, we implore you to take your clothes off and reconnect with nature in some way.  You will be surprised how much it relaxes you and will help you to release tensions that you might not have even known were there.  The earth is remarkable, do try to experience it first-hand.
Our first Naked Heart Walk of 2024, in partnership with British Heart Foundation takes place this Saturday, 18 May.
Powderham Castle is a stunning location (I mean, just look at the picture) and of the sort of place that at some time over BN's 60 years. at which we might only have dreamed of enjoying naked, but the Earl of Devon and his team were up for it and here we are returning for the second summer.
It's not too late to book and join 100+ others exploring the grounds without clothes, and raising funds for our charity of the year. There's even  an optional cream tea (cream, then jam, being Devon) in the castle itself, and yes, you can take that nude too. What a life!
The walk itself is clothes-optional to encourage as many people as possible to come along and so it's a great opportunity to invite friends to see what they are missing. We're certain that few people will still be dressed by the end!
Check out all the Naked Heart Walks already arranged for 2024 - and if you know of another suitable location, let us know!
 

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 is far more worth in discussing the different views and recognising the diversity in opinions than trying to be prescriptive.  The INF are also considering Naturist values for similar reasons, so it is good if we as individuals can form our own thoughts alongside that.
Join me on the night over in the BN shop
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.  It would also be hilarious and a chance to break the humdrum of your own week.  If you prefer to keep your body painting to a controlled Naturist environment, there will be theme days at Nudefest this year so all the excuses to paint yourself that you could possibly wish for.
Even though you are painting rather than wearing green, you could still raise a bit of sponsorship if you wanted and details of the initiative can be found here.
Grab this opportunity to do something different and do some good at the same time.
 
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 Coach and Kent National Player Steve Wells. The sight of all those teams competing in the newly developed playing area, surrounded by beautiful bluebell woods, was delightful.
Rivals included regulars as well as many players who had never competed before. Skill levels varied, but everyone enjoyed the games. It was great to see same-gender teams playing after BN petitioned the International Naturist Federation to allow this. It makes the sport truly inclusive!
This wasn’t a knockout competition but a Swiss-style round-robin, allowing everyone to play at least seven games over the two days. Saturday’s five-game play was followed  by a relaxing French-themed naked music evening brilliantly DJ’d by one the residents.
Sunday started with clear blue sky and an ensemble of eager competitors. The morning sped by, and the results were in for the Final. The lanes were opened, and the large piste prepared, with all competitors seated around the playing court to watch the incredibly close game.
Carole and Karl took the much-deserved win and Broadlands Plate, and runners-up Susan and Edd received the Blackthorns Shield.  Paul and Karen took third followed by Marrion and Phil in fourth. James and Helen were great sports and took home the wooden spoon.
Team BN won the Club Shield, with hosts Brocken Hurst in second place. Third place went to Springwood, followed by Suntreckers, Heritage, Arcadians, Broadlands and Blackthorns.
A big shout-out to all the volunteers from Brocken Hurst and BN whose hard work made this such a memorable event!
Feeling inspired to give Pétanque a go next year? Why not practice at one of the Sport Taster events arranged throughout the year. Visit the BN events website for more details

 
Image: ARB
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 social activity.  Shedding our clothes also causes us to be less defensive.  Most Naturists say that they find people far more friendly and open at Naturist events than other gatherings.  Sitting out in the sunshine with a drink helps us to relax so even if we don’t talk about specific problems, we do find ourselves being drawn into a supportive community.  As we move into summer, there are a lot of opportunities to be involved in social nudity in the months ahead, and many of them are listed on our calendar.  People often worry about going to an event if they don’t have somebody to go with because there is nothing more lonely than a crowd if people don’t talk to you.  Those who have taken the step and gone regardless will tell you they needn’t have worried as the community goes out of its way to welcome newcomers and ensure that people don’t feel isolated.
Therefore, if you are looking for a chance to make friends and spend time with others in a supportive environment, try a Naturist event.  You will be surprised how welcoming it is and how good it makes you feel.
 
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 participation in Naturism leads to long-term positive body image and higher self-esteem.
The theme of Mental Health Awareness Week 2024 is “Movement”.  Movement and exercise are crucial for our mental health, but so many of us struggle to move enough.  Exercise has been a central feature of Naturism since the philosophy first existed.  Indeed, the word “gymnasium” derives from the Ancient Greek word “gymnos” meaning naked or nude.  These days there are many ways to exercise naked.  Many naked swims are held every week around the country, and you can find many opportunities on the Great British Skinning Dip website if you want to give it a try.  Many other sports take place at clubs and events and include badminton, volleyball, rounders, squash, petanque, and miniten.  If you want to try naked sport for the first time there are lots of opportunities at our summer festivals such as Nudefest and EveryBody.  Finally, naked hiking or “free hiking” is the cheapest thing you can possibly do and British Naturism members will be organising many walks through the summer.
Naturism can have a positive effect and make your life that little bit better, we hope you give it a try.
 

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