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Fig Leaf Villas - opening again!

Fig Leaf Villas was founded in 2008 by Brits (and BN members) Quee and her then husband Cliff.  The area of Messini in the Peloponnese was chosen for the rich wealth of beaches, beautiful nature and easily accessed famous ancient sites, such as Olympia and Ancient Messini.  The exact location was chosen for its very gorgeous view of the sea and the Taygetos Mountains beyond, and for its rural setting that also allows easy access to all the best tavernas, beaches and places to go.
A swimming pool was added in 2009, plus a pool bar and a petanque piste. The villas soon became popular particularly with British and Dutch guests, though there have been guests from many parts of the world.
Fig Leaf Villas is known for being very peaceful and laid-back, in a stunning situation with views, and yet a cheery time can be enjoyed with other guests around the bar as well. To maintain this atmosphere, the villas are reserved for adults over the age of 16.
In 2017 Quee and Cliff went their separate ways and the villas are now run by Quee.
Under her guidance the villas and the grounds have been lovingly improved and cared for, and the many returning guests always enjoy seeing these changes.
Then came the Covid years of 2020 and 2021 which were particularly hard for all holiday resorts. Mainly as a result of this, at the beginning of 2022 Quee decided to semi-retire and only open to past guests. Thus she closed her website and removed the villas from the internet where possible.
However, this winter has been spent upgrading the basement apartment which is now going to be offered for rental.  A wonderful yoga shala (gazebo) has also been added and Fig Leaf Villas will re-open to the general public with the choice of three self-catering villas. One is a detached house and the other two are apartments. The house and the smaller apartment sleep two and the large basement apartment sleeps up to four.
Quee will also be offering back massages and Indian head massage this summer, and, when time permits, her very popular meze meals. 
She is delighted to have the chance to welcome many of you back, and to meet those of you who haven't visited before. Find more information at figleafvillas.net

Get Set for Summer...

...and beat the price rise!
Unfortunately, it’s not always possible to be naked, but the BN Shop is here to help you show your support for Naturism for those times when clothes are required.
Our suppliers often talk to us about the irony of making clothes for Naturists, but the fact is that our range of t-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies are a great way to let others know about your membership of BN with some subtle (and not so subtle!) messages about Naturism.
But you’ll be glad to know that the BN Shop is not all about clothing!
We also offer products featuring the same colours and designs for use throughout your home – from our popular ‘Naturists may be seen beyond this point’ doormats to our reliable ‘Nothing’s better’ ceramic mugs.
With the weather warming up, and with beach days and skinny dips approaching, you might also want to check out our range of beach towels or invest in our best selling item, the ‘You can leave your hat on’ baseball cap – perfect for keeping the sun out of your eyes!
You can order all of our products online for home delivery, and we’ll also have products available for purchase at Nudefest and our other large national events.
We’ve worked really hard over the last year to maintain our product and shipping prices, but we’re now having to look again at our prices to reflect some of the cost increases that our suppliers have passed onto us. As such, we’ll be reviewing our prices which might result in some price increases from the start of May.
Why not grab a bargain now! Remember that BN members get a 15% discount!

Naked Education - new series starts tonight on Channel 4

The new educational television series, “Naked Education” debuts on Channel 4 this evening. This prime time, pre-watershed programme pushes people to confront their bodies.  We all have one, most of us are unhappy with it, but once you look past the social media filters you see enormous diversity in people’s bodies and that none of us are worthless. The programme also pushes people to embrace their own nudity, let go of their hang ups and discover the joy of just being alive.
Those who practise Naturism can already tell you the peace and self-respect that can be found in being naked and the mental health benefits of nudity have been proven in many studies.  We hope that this program will spur people to give it a go, whether that be spending time naked in their home, going skinning dipping or even going to a nude event.
It goes without saying that British Naturism have supported the production company, Betty TV, throughout.  We have been able to share our experience and advice, provide locations for some of the activities, and many of those featured in the series are members of British Naturism.
If the idea of nudity makes you curious but nervous, watch the show. You will probably find that your nerves go away and that you decide to reclaim your own body. We only get one, don’t see it go to waste.
The series debuts on Channel 4 at 20:00, Tuesday 4th April and will be available on All 4 after that.  The trailer can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgXHzg0AMUI

New Naked Heart Walk announced! Fonthill Estate, Wiltshire

We're delighted to announce yet another Naked Heart Walk in conjunction with British Heart Foundation!
This one takes place at the home of Lord Margadale, at Fonthill, near Chicklade in Wiltshire on Saturday 15 July.
It also provides a bigger challenge than other Naked Heart Walks with a 7km walk, though a shorter walk will be available.
Lord Margadale said:
‘The British Heart Foundation is a wonderful charity doing amazing things to help fund research into heart disease and we are proud to be hosting what promises to be an amazing fundraising event in our beautiful countryside.’ 
Find out more and book your place now!
Find out more about Naked Heart Walks and sign up for other walks taking place around the country

Have you booked for Nudefest?

Come and join the hundreds of people who already have! It's our flagship summer event; a week of camping, daytime activities and night time entertainment plus the company of like-minded people. 
Created in 2007, the festival has grown massively over the years from a small (ish) event catering for enthusiasts to the kind of festival that everyone wants to go to!
It takes place in Somerset from the 3rd to the 9th of July - see you there!
Find out more and book your place!

Boys in the Buff - clothes-optional in Edinburgh!

Regular readers will know about this show, produced by BN member Richard. We Naturists might be ahead of the curve, but we love being entertained - especially when we can enjoy the show without clothes. Following performances in London, Richard is taking Boys in the Buff to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2023, with not one, but TWO clothing optional performances, on 15th and 22nd August.
Q. What's it all about?
A. Have you ever felt judged for not having the right body shape? Not eating the right foods or going to the gym? Our Photoshopped world is not always kind to our feelings of self-worth. Diana and her boys sing, dance and tell stories about self-confidence, body image, and society’s unreasonably high expectations on our appearance. They share personal stories and dare each other to reveal more of themselves as the show progresses. You will leave with a song in your heart, and share a few laughs along the way.
Book your tickets here - there's a topic on the BN members' forum with discussion and a video too.

News from GBSD and NHW...

Another grey day up here in the North West, but there’s lots of good news to brighten it!
Briefly, this year’s GBSD (Great British Skinny Dip) calendar continues to grow, the first NHW (Naked Heart Walk) of 2023 was a smashing – and interesting – success, and you’ll have a chance to quiz the hard-working British Naturism/British Heart Foundation team making it all happen next week...
First, the GBSD events. I’ve just checked the calendar and I see that there are dips most weekends in the coming months, and a nice mixture of pool and beach events. Two return venues have now added swims:
Kerensa Cottage on July 15 and August 11
Oxnat’s Dip at Didcot Wave Pool on July 29 and September 23
Yes, it’s hard to think about immersing yourself in outdoor water right now; I’m an open water swimmer and I haven’t even dared try out my new wetsuit! But Spring is coming, and now’s the time not only to book your nudie swims but also to find lots of additional suitable venues for them, especially if there is not much happening down your way.
Now, about those Naked Heart Walks:
The first one of 2023 took place on March 26 at Adlington Hall and Gardens. Sixteen walkers arrived to brave the cool breezes. There were more newbies than regular Naturists! And although the event was clothing-optional, as are all the NHWs this year, everyone stripped off. The new-to-Naturism walkers are now looking for other opportunities to walk clothes-free. And, fantastically, the event raised £280 for the BHF.
After this “unanticipated experience,” we're urging all of you to find more local spots for such taster events. If you have something in mind, give your regional organiser a shout!
And, of course, this was just the first walk of many over coming months. Find out more  at nakedheartwalk.org.uk
Finally, in case you didn’t know this: These skinny dips and walks don’t just happen out of the blue. They’re lovingly and meticulously planned for and arranged by a hard-working group of BN and BHF people. Many of them will be appearing at the 3 April Forum Live to tell you what they’ve been up to, what they’re planning and what you can do to help. Be sure to tune in!

Not What They Expected - an open day at Springwood

Springwood Sun Club, near Colchester, has many walkers pass by our entrance gate, mostly from the local village (writes Janina Newman). So we put up a notice advertising an Open Day under the banner, “See what's inside a Naturist Club”. We also wrote a short article for the village magazine and put a post on the village Facebook page. It was promoted as a local awareness day but the message soon spread further afield. We were delighted to receive 50 bookings (40 of whom turned up) so extended it to over two days to accommodate as many people as possible who were eager to have their curiosity satisfied. Interestingly, they were mostly couples and more women than men. 
The Open Day was deliberately textile-only (well, it was a wet and cold weekend in March), and booking in advance was a requirement. They received two emails about the arrangements and the benefits of Naturism, and were given a copy of the colourful 2023 BN Guide on arrival. The itinerary was a short talk, Q&A and tour of the club facilities. The grounds were much bigger than most people had expected. One of the Facebook posts had said “we are not ready for a nudist camp”, but many visitors were surprised to learn the site has been here since 1958 - and that Naturists are just ordinary people, not a fictitious breed of supermodels, and that the club is a clean, modern, pleasant and safe environment. We’re not sure who enjoyed it the most, the members who did an excellent job in showing people around, or the visitors who discovered a whole new world right on their doorstep.
Janina Newman

The Forum Live - British Heart Foundation - an update

Next Monday's Forum Live (3rd April) will be dedicated to our partnership with our charity of the year, British Heart Foundation with a particular focus on the events we are running including Naked Heart Walks and Great British Skinny Dips.
Working on these events is an ever-growing team of BHF staff and BN volunteers from all around the UK and we're excited about the possibilities not only for super events in fabulous places (like Powderham Castle - which we've used for this item's picture) but also the potential for introducing new people to Naturism and BN.
Come and find out what's on, what's planned and how you can get involved - maybe by suggesting a venue, hosting an event, helping on the day or with promotion, or just walking or swimming to raise money.
Join the session on the evening from the BN shop

Newbies flock to Adlington Gardens

Incredible! For the very first time for me as an organiser, ‘seasoned Naturists’ were outnumbered by ‘new to Naturism’ visitors. Some travelling over 100 miles to fulfil a promise to bare all for charity following an offer of sponsorship from their employers.
Our Naked Heart Walk at Adlington Hall and Gardens was the first of the year and being a ‘clothes optional’ event with a cool breeze on the day - some began the walk wearing clothes, but quickly removed them when feeling comfortable. Within an hour they were quizzing me about other opportunities to walk naked, with some saying they would be attending the Himalayan Gardens Naked Heart Walk.   
With the venue being up for sale, a low key Naked Heart Walk had been arranged with only a few weeks’ notice, but 16 walkers raised £280 - which included a donation of £50 on the day - for our partner charity, British Heart Foundation.
My thanks to colleague John Rodgers who discovered this fantastic venue a few years ago - we certainly didn’t anticipate this event becoming an ideal choice for the more adventurous members of society wishing to experience Naturism for the very first time!
So following this unanticipated experience we surely must replicate this by providing more local venues for these ‘low key’ taster events? If you have anywhere in mind, why not approach your regional organiser? Find yours here.
There are more Naked Heart Walks in the diary - find out what it’s all about at nakedheartwalk.org.uk
Ron O’Hare (NW Organiser)

 

The Forum Live debate - publicly-visible Naturist events

In the Forum Live Debate next week (Monday 27 March) we will think about the benefits and challenges of Naturist events that are visible to the public.  I’m sure we would all like to sit out naked in public parks with friends and enjoy a picnic when the weather is nice, so we will discuss the topic.  Are you likely to be challenged?  Is this a good way to normalise nudity?  Are there considerations that should be made? Is the fact that nudity is lawful the most important determinant?

I know this is a topic that many have different views on, so this will be a great opportunity to come together and collate those thoughts and see if there is a consensus.  So if this is something you are passionate about, or would just like to do, join us and let your voice be heard.
Join the session on the night from the BN shop

Monthly ladies-only sessions at Club Naturel

Club Naturel, based in Norfolk, decided to encourage more ladies to try Naturism and enjoy the freedom their members find in it. They offered two ‘Ladies-Only, Clothing-Optional’ Great British Skinny Dip sessions at their swim, one in the afternoon and one in the evening, catering for all ages. The club’s age range is from 20s to 80s and they meet at a private-hire pool a few miles from Attleborough, near Norwich.
The feedback was very positive, and all were enthusiastic for similar events to happen again. Many felt there was a different atmosphere than at their usual mixed swimming events. One guest commented: “It did make a difference being ladies only, and as much as I like the mixed sessions, I would definitely do this again. It’s not common for a women-only group to be together in a social setting, unless it’s with a limited circle of friends you’ve known for some time. So, meeting and talking to new people in a women-only social group is unusual. There was an additional layer of relaxation and understanding that’s not present in a mixed gender setting."
Whether we like it or not, in our every- day lives we are subconsciously influenced by societal pressures in the way we look and dress, what we talk about and how we express and articulate our thoughts and feelings. In a ladies-only Naturist setting many of those pressures stay outside, where we leave our clothes, so we felt far more at ease in talking about our personal experiences and women’s issues in general. As a social group it felt very inclusive.
As a result, Club Naturel will be holding a regular Ladies Only, Clothes Optional swim on the first Friday of every month in a privately owned pool near Norwich in Norfolk. They welcome both experienced Naturists and those who have always wanted to give it a try. Facilities include a heated indoor pool, jacuzzi, sauna, showers, changing cubicles and toilet. Swim session are for two hours, from 8 - 10 pm, and will cost £5 for club members and £7 for non-members, payable in cash on entry.
The dates are: 7th April, 5th May, 2nd June, 7th July, 4th August, and 1st September
So, if you think this is for you, or you have a female friend who may be interested in coming along, please let them know. Attendance is limited to 20 ladies per session, so you will need to book ahead. For further information and bookings please get in touch via email to clubnaturelevents@gmail.com and one of Club Naturel’s female committee members will reply.
 
Image: Sskips (and yes, that's not Norfolk...)
 

Victoria Bateman Takes on Amazon – and Wins!

Many of you tuned in to last Monday’s The Forum Live to hear Victoria Bateman’s fascinating discussion of her new book, Naked Feminism. BN’s 100-strong welcoming audience gave Victoria a boost, she said, after a day in which Amazon Ads banned the book and she received unpleasant social media messages. Here’s what happened:
Amazon Ads refused to advertise the book (though it was available to buy on the website). This prompted a tweet from Victoria: Amazon Ads have BANNED my new book #NakedFeminism on the basis that the cover is - apparently - "sexually suggestive". Does my body make my words less worthy? Challenging the idea that women must choose between their bodies and their brains is, ironically, the point of the book.
To Amazon Ads, Victoria wrote: “Why are you afraid of my breasts? Best wishes, Victoria.”
It’s not clear what induced the company to change its mind, but Victoria tweeted today: VICTORY! Amazon Ads have now reversed their decision to ban my new book from being advertised on Amazon. Thank you to everyone for your support in this fight against the #CultofFemaleModesty.
She also thanked Telegraph education editor Louisa Clarence-Smith, who took up Victoria’s cause in an article published yesterday: #NakedFeminism has been set free! An enormous thank you to @LouisaClarence for breaking the story and for your support in overturning the Amazon Ad ban.
What to make of all this? Well, it’s censorship.  Not to launch into a rant, but considering the amount of sexual content available everywhere in today’s society, online and offline, it makes no sense for Amazon to refuse to advertise Victoria’s serious academic work because the book jacket has bare breasts on it.
The point is: Who does this censorship protect? Anyone offended by the sight of a naked woman won’t buy the book. Ironically, as noted, the book was freely available on Amazon’s website – it just wasn’t advertised. So anyone who wanted to buy the book could do so freely anyway.
And a larger question for us Naturists: After all the years of trying to explain to the public that naked bodies are not always “sexually suggestive”, is there more we can do to make our case?  Or is Amazon Ads’ ridiculous decision just a storm in a teacup?

A new BN member club - in North Wales

It’s not that long since we saw the birth of a WhatsApp based N&W Outreach group grow to reach member club status of British Naturism, writes NW regional organiser, Ron O'Hare. After a frustrating crawl out of the Covid related restrictions, the growth of the club was amazing, but no doubt their policy of welcoming everyone through the door without applying a gender balance, was the key to its success, suddenly every member could attend an event that was organised - whether it be a group visit to a club or a GBSD at a local pool or Lido. Single people in the region were soon onboard.
And now we are pleased to announce another new Naturist club - North Wales Naturists have secured permission from the owners to use a venue to host some of their activities and camping weekends in Halkyn, Flintshire. The activity site there has purpose built showers and toilets, running water and electric hook up points. The 47-acre wood is privately owned, in a totally secluded space within an area of outstanding natural beauty. It's just a short drive from the town of Mold and city of Chester.  
Club Organiser Adam Davies says…
NWNS aims to provide a host of activities for the benefit of all genuine Naturists and welcome everyone to join them in making this venture a success. We already have good numbers booked in for our first event, 'Into the Woods' on April 1st 2023 and would like to invite further people to join in. The first camp is set for a post Easter break in mid-April and we hope we can get the numbers up to make it a success for you.
Information on all current planned events can be found at https://nwnsevents.wixsite.com/nwns
 
Photo by Catrin Ellis on Unsplash

A summer of sport...

'I don’t know about you but I can’t wait to get back outside and feel the sun and breeze on my skin!' says British Naturism 's new Sports Officer, Ian Munt.
We have lots going on this year and there is more planned, none of which would be possible without the help and support of volunteers in BN and our member clubs, and so a huge thanks from me to everyone involved. I am still looking for regional sports officers, so if you have some spare time and would like to help, please contact me for a chat.
National Swimming Gala Saturday 22 April, Hertfordshire
The British Naturism Swimming Gala is open to British Naturism Members and guests from British Naturism Member Clubs.
Whilst it is run as a competition it is also a fun place to allow members to have a try and challenge themselves. There is always a great atmosphere. You do not have to be a competitive swimmer to take part. The majority of races are two lengths of the 25m pool and there are categories for ages from under 10 to over 75, including some team relays.
National Pétanque Tournament Saturday 29 April - Sunday 30 April, Norfolk
This year our National Tournament will be hosted by Broadland Sun Association near Norwich. As with the gala, this event is also the qualifier for the INF International event held in early September. Our tournament is open to all and requires a team of two. All BN members or members of a BN Member Club are welcome to participate. Play starts on Friday with the final on Sunday. Come and enjoy a full weekend of activity and entertainment including live music!
Anyone for Miniten?
After a hiatus from BN’s events Miniten is back! Miniten (Mini-Tennis) was devised in the 1930s by Naturist Douglas Ogden, a Manchester businessman with an interest in sporting activities, who drew up the original rules of the game. In 1966 a group of Naturist enthusiasts in the south of England set out to formalise these rules. Eventually the aim was achieved and The Amateur Miniten Association of Great Britain (AminA) was formally constituted as the controlling body. The game is virtually the same as tennis but the court is only 1/3 the size and the racket is replaced with a wooden bat called a “Thug”.
Block your diaries for this year’s Miniten National competition on Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th July at the Naturist Foundation (Kent), coinciding with the first weekend of Wimbledon! The competition is open to all and the format will be Mixed doubles. Details to be announced at the beginning April.
Sports Taster Sessions for Beginners
Have you ever wanted to play Miniten or Pétanque but have shied away because you're not sure how to play, or worried it’s too competitive? Well, worry no more. With the support of BN member clubs around the country, we have arranged taster days, so that all BN members and members of BN clubs can go along and try the sports and make new friends.
At the time of writing the following clubs have committed to holding events:
Pétanque - TANDO, Northumberland (8 April), Valley Club, Yorkshire (10 June)
Miniten - Naturist Foundation, Kent (14 May), Diogenes, Buckinghamshire (24 June)
Find details of how to book, and see what other facilities may be available, and keep an eye out for announcements of more taster days. We hope you will enjoy having a go, and that it will encourage you to join in the National events; there are all levels of play, and you could also find yourself representing the UK at the International Pétanque tournament!
Sport in the News
JOG ON! I am currently working with regions to host 5k runs. We are discussing them with venues and hope to have a couple of events this year - keep checking the website for further information.
WALK ON! We have a new walks coordinator in YEM region; a big welcome to Sarah White who has been prepping walks through the Winter. Sarah has been walking from the Yorkshire Sun Society and has some great routes planned; the club will also make a great base for anyone who wishes to travel further afield for a walk. Day visitors are welcome to camp, bring a caravan or motorhome, and they also have a static caravan to rent.
BN Member Clubs
Do you have sports competitions or fun days which are open to all BN members? Let me know and I will help to promote them. Contact me too if there are other sports that you would like to participate in.
 

 
Image - thanks to Yak El-Drouble

The BN National Swimming Gala

Our annual event takes place soon - have you booked your place?
The venue is the Woodside Leisure Centre in Watford, Herts and is an 8-lane short-course competition pool featuring starting blocks and electronic timing. There is a café that will be open during the gala.
Registration for races is done on the night – but tickets must be purchased by entrants in advance.
The British Naturism Swimming Gala is open to British Naturism Members and guests from British Naturism Member Clubs.
Competing in this gala could mean your are selected to swim in the INF Swimming Gala later in the year and represent your country!
More information and ticketing details can be found in the BN shop (log in required)

Can you join a photoshoot?

Hot on the heels of the launch of our new Naked Heart Walk website, we're on the hunt for people to help us promote two of them to the world!
Last weekend, a band of intrepid Naturists braved the unseasonal weather and produced a set of publicity images for the Naked Heart Walk at Powderham Castle. That's one of them at the top of this article. Thanks to everyone for turning up and for Tim Linter for taking the pictures!
Next, we want to cover (uncover?) Bishampton and Himalayan Gardens Naked Heart Walks. 
Our Watersedge, Bishampton shoot will be on 16th April 2pm - free admission - for 1 hour at least.
Our Himalayan Gardens shoot will be on 17th May at 5pm - free admission - for 1 hour at least.
If you can offer to participate, please make contact with the organiser (it's the same organiser for both events)
Thanks!

Launching our NEW Naked Heart Walks website!

Our website dedicated to all things Naked Heart Walks is now live at nakedheartwalk.org.uk!
It includes information and Frequently Asked Questions about the Naked Heart Walk initiative and how they will raise funds for our partner charity British Heart Foundation. There's a link to the tickets site where you can find out more about the individual walks and participate. 
For those that want to spread the word further, there's a set of downloadable cartoons for publicity and social media use, and a sign up to our regular newsletter.
We've already got SEVEN Naked Heart Walks on sale, including one in a few days time at Adlington Gardens, Cheshire on 26th March.
Got a suitable venue in mind? Let us know!
Want to join our team of volunteer organisers? Let us know that too! You'll find contact information on the new website.
 
 

BN Windermere weekend - booking now!

It's becoming a staple of the British Naturism year - a two night back-to-nature camping break including meditation, walks, skinny dips and live music.
Fellfoot Wood is a working woodland and is stunningly beautiful. It is two minutes from the National Trust's Fell Foot Park and the banks of Windermere. We'll take it over for a weekend once again in June 2023.
It will be a laid-back affair with a focus on nature, wellness and natural healing - plus there will be live entertainment too. Naked fell walks and skinny dips in local tarns come as standard!
Book your place in the BN shop

The Forum Live - interviewing Victoria Bateman

I'm excited to be welcoming Victoria to the Forum Live next Monday 20 March, for her second appearance, this time following the recent publication of her new book Naked Feminism - Breaking the Cult of Female Modesty. Our previous session turned out to be one of the most popular - and definitely one of the most stimulating. 
Victoria is an academic economist and Fellow at the University of Cambridge, and she’s also known for using her body in art and protest, whether to challenge assumptions and stigma about women’s bodies, to confront sexism in economics, or to fight Brexit.
She has posed nude for artists including Anthony Connolly, with nude portraits displayed at the Mall Galleries in 2014 and 2019, and has given naked performances at, amongst others, the Dartington literary festival and the Cambridge Juncton theatre.
She believes that academics should not only embrace the power of words but should also push social boundaries in order to reveal and confront practices and policies that are harmful and unnecessary. Freedom is the theme that unites much of her work and her utopia is a world in which every woman is free to do what she wants with her own body. 
Members of British Naturism and those of other Naturist federations can join the session on the night via the BN shop at 19:30.
Not a member? click here to join online!
 
In the latest issue of BN magazine (BN235 - Spring 2023) BN member Sheila Maycock reviewed Victoria's new book which we publish here for your information:
A common question in British Naturism is ‘why do women find it more challenging to engage in social nudity and Naturist activities?’. This book provides 300+ pages of reasons. Widely researched with 30 pages of academic references it charts an historical perspective, necessarily with a broad brush encompassing continents and countries, centuries and societies.  It explores how the cult of female modesty has impacted the lives of women and continues to do so. The causes are recognised and collated. The dangers such as lack of access to education, forced and child marriage, genital cutting, rape or the threat of rape as an instrument of war, restricting access to paid work or freedom of movement, intimate partner violence or lack of choice regarding fertility are documented in gloomy detail. The secret battle between puritanical feminists and naked feminists is revealed.
The book tells the story of when, how and why societies became obsessed with women’s bodily modesty, exploring the many adverse consequences that have resulted. The author not only utilises her considerable brain and academic expertise to produce the detail of how the nude became rude but also puts her own naked body out there, personally courting the disapprobation which she documents as the female lot across the centuries and across the globe. You just need to have a quick look at Twitter for a few examples.
This is not a call to arms for every woman to be a nudist. It is, however, about respecting every woman, regardless of what she chooses to wear or how she chooses to live her life, including her sex life. It is a call for societal change to end slut shaming, whorephobia and change the mindset of those who consider women’s uncovered bodies “a disruptive force in wider society”. To ensure that every woman has choice, poverty must be tackled alongside the modesty cult. The influence of trafficking and modern slavery is explored as much in relation to domestic labour or care work as in the perhaps more expected realm of sex workers. A dearth of resources leaves women with fewer choices and opportunities and ties them to exploitable occupations.
Outside of Islamic society it may be easier to object to compulsory hijabs, virginity testing and honour killings. Naked Feminism makes us aware of the insidious effect of the cult of female modesty within all religion: Christianity, starting at Eve and blaming womankind for the sins of men, to the newly emerging Evangelical purity culture; Judaism with gender segregation on the rise; Neo-Confucianism with its radical seclusion for women. Whilst religion is often blamed for repressing women, many other factors are charted. Biology, matrilineal or patrilineal kinship, geography, economics, property rights and their link to patriarchy, warfare, politics, population pressure and sociology are all shown to play a significant and for me, thought provoking, part.
Naked Feminism is an economic tome written by an economist with research interests in economic growth from an historical perspective. She’s a very impressive scholar. Yet it is by no means a dry academic text. What impresses me is the breadth of her exploration of the topic combining academic expertise with passion and skill.  Each time I looked at it, I found something new and intriguing in it. There is some repetition of themes, which attest to the breadth of the authors knowledge and  the wealth of material to which she refers.
What may be missing and what I would find interesting is a wider appreciation of the psychological and emotional impact of the modesty cult on women’s lives and mental health.
However I find the economists’ view fascinating, informative and enlightening, helping to question my own norms and world view alongside national and international customs as they constrain female lives.
This book saddens, shocks and alarms whilst revolutionising the way we think about and value women. Ms Bateman traces dualisms of many kinds: Madonna versus whore, respectable versus disgraced, chaste versus unholy, hot versus slutty. These are the kinds of conceptual structures around which moral values play out, and they are essential to understanding what nudity means to us and the influence that the cult of female modesty has on all societies.
Little escapes her wrath; raunch culture where value is only held by the ‘hot and sexy’ with women as prime culprits, putting others down to ensure their own position. The control and criminalisation, bullying and condemnation of sexuality and reproduction. Victim blaming is challenged as a construct of a society that bases its’ value and respect for a woman solely on her bodily modesty. Feminists too are held to account for problematising women who monetise their bodies and for judgmentally buying into the modesty cult. Campaigners are urged to embrace ‘My body, my choice’ in terms of ensuring that all women have choices and that women who may choose to monetise their bodies have the same rights and respect as those who monetise their brain. There seems a long road to travel towards the end of women being viewed as ‘sex objects’ and in changing the way we as a society judge women, rather than changing (and restricting) women’s behaviour.
Naked Feminism calls on the reader to be more tolerant of the choices made by individual women, ‘whether that is to don a veil, to sit topless on the beach, to uncover their hair, or to strip for money’. I sincerely hope this book will be a catalyst for change at governmental level as well as at a personal level so that systemic change can better support the ability of women to make real choices about their lives, livelihoods, relationships and their body - naked or not.
Naked Feminism - Breaking the Cult of Female Modesty by Victoria Bateman, was published by Polity on March 10 2023.
 



 
 

M&S: Love Your Boobs

It might be a publicity campaign aimed at selling more bras, but kudos to Marks & Spencer for celebrating the diversity of the nude body by using unexpurgated body casts.
Read the story here https://corporate.marksandspencer.com/media/press-releases/ms-unveils-love-your-boobs-art-installation-londons-south-bank.
'As the nation’s leading bra retailer, with 2000 expert bra fitters fitting more than 900,000 customers every year, M&S commissioned the installation to normalise the uniqueness of boobs and encourage people to show them some TLC with a bra fit ... the unique installation features the chests of 16 M&S colleagues including that of a woman who underwent mastectomy surgery and another who had a prophylactic mastectomy and reconstructive surgery to lower the chances of getting breast cancer due to family history.'

I'm a Naturist! Tell 'Just One Person'

The more that people know about Naturism, the better things will be for Naturists and Naturist places. Many people don’t know that they know a Naturist and assume that we are still that fringe minority on the edges of society. We understand the individual fears, possible complications and desire for an easy life, but we want to encourage you to help Naturism in the UK to become normal. While it remains hidden and misguided, incorrect ideas about Naturism will continue.
It’s daunting, but our campaign encourages you not to stress. We've been asking you to tell Just One Person and that experience may give you the courage to tell a lot more. People have found it easy to pick someone who would not be judgemental. A good place to start is to talk in a low-key way about a skinny dip on holiday or Naturist beach you ‘found’. Many people get a positive or sympathetic reaction. Feedback says that you will feel better having told someone – it may actually be a relief!
As Naturists we are in danger of killing this natural life choice by fear. We need to talk about it for it to survive and be prepared to acknowledge the pursuit that enriches our lives. Don’t know what to say? Download the ‘How to talk about Naturism’ factsheet from the BN website.
Here are some more experiences from our members as posted on the BN forum... Read more here
Currently enjoying holiday at CHM Montalivet. Just had a text conversation with some friends back home asking: “Which resort are you at exactly?” So I sent them the link to the CHM website. Can add them to the list of friends who know!
Well, quite a week! Talking to a friend a few days ago, the topic of Naturism cropped up. She was not really surprised when I told her that I was a Naturist, and was quite interested, and open to the idea of trying it! This evening, we arranged to go for a wild swim, and I told her that I didn't own a cossie. This didn't put her off, and indeed, it wasn't long before her own cossie was hanging on a riverside branch! We had a lovely evening and a return visit is on the cards soon.
I was walking the dog in our local park yesterday evening when I met a lady who is also one of the regulars in the park. We always talk and I was asking about her day, and she asked about mine. I told her that I had been to the beach and it was a Naturist one and had a lovely time. ‘Oh,’ she said, ‘you look like a Naturist!’ (Do we look different?) She went on to say how much she missed swimming in the sea. Just then her daughter, who I have never met before, arrived with her dog. ‘This is Paul.”, her mother said. ‘He's a Naturist you know.’ It will not be long until all the dog walkers know!
I told two people separately at a Friends (Quaker) meeting house I sometimes go to. Both just accepted it without question or surprise within the context of our discussion, other than a brief bit about the resources saved in washing clothes. Of course, Friends have some history with nudity, mainly as a form of protest or activism in the early days.
I was at a craft fair today selling my wood-turning items including pens which were on display and three people picked up my ‘Get Naked’ inscribed pen. I told them I had made that one as I am a Naturist - no bad reactions from any of them.
I retired a year ago and yesterday met up with my old boss for the first time since. Inevitably the question of what I have been up to in retirement came up. So I explained that I was a Naturist and have taken up the volunteer role of Assistant Warden at Sunfolk and consequently spend a regular amount of time doing that. She wasn’t fazed at all and was interested in what attracted me to it and we had a good discussion about demographics and why women may be less represented in social nudity.
I was talking to a colleague before our shift and she asked me if I'd been away. I told her I'd been to Euronat, a big Naturist resort on the Atlantic coast in France. Her response was ’Wow, I'd love to go on a Naturist holiday. Hang on a sec, you do mean nudity, not a nature holiday doing bird watching?’ I assured her that this was exactly what I meant and she told me that she and her mum had often joked about a nudist holiday as nudity was so common in their house. Hopefully I've sown the seed ...

New Naked Heart Walk announced!

Naked Heart Walks are sponsored walks taking place in stunning locations aimed at raising awareness of the exhilarating feelings that come with being without clothes and the wonderful accepting, non-judgemental, fun community you become part of - and at the same time raising funds for our charity partner, British Heart Foundation.
These walks are not just for Naturists, so please spread the word. To make it easier for newcomers to join in, the walks will be clothes-optional - although we expect many who are clothed at the start not to be by the end!
Today we are pleased to announce our seventh Naked Heart Walk for 2023 - at Leonardslee Gardens, West Sussex. Tickets are on sale now.
We're also hosting a photoshoot on 25 March aimed at getting some sparkling images for promotion.
Get ready to shed your clothes and raise money at:
Find details of all the Naked Heart Walks and buy tickets
Other locations already on sale are:
Adlington Hall, Cheshire - 26 March
Powderham Castle, Devon - 20 May
Cross Morecambe Bay, Lancashire - 11 June
The Himalayan Garden and Sculpture Park, Ripon, Yorkshire - 1 July
RSPB Rainham Marshes, Essex - 23 July
Watersedge, Bishampton, Worcestershire - 23 July
...and there are more to come, watch this space! It's also not too late to make suggestions for other venues - we'd particularly like to see fundraising walks in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England. Anyone?
 
Photo credit - Richard Bloom

Calling all Resourceful Nudies to the Morecambe Bay Naturist Club!

For those of you who may have been tempted to join a landed Naturist club but put off a decision out of concerns about high fees – delay no more!
Morecambe Bay Naturist Club sits on a 10-acre woodland site, “Silverglades,” near Lancaster, in Lancashire. the Club say: “We are a back-to-basics camping site, which means we do not have services such as gas, electric or mains water. Nor do we have fancy buildings, pools, saunas, hook-ups for caravans, or any permanent buildings.”
What they do have, however, is a basic clubhouse, a BBQ area, and “lots of nature to enjoy.” And what they’d love to see is lots of self-sufficient Naturists enjoying it!
MBNC ‘s minimalism means that its annual fees are amazingly low: £55 for single people, £70 for couples and families. The club welcomes everyone equally, and there are no waiting lists. Drop by for an initial visit: If you like what you see, you can sign up for membership, which runs from April to March.
You’ll find lots of gorgeous photos and information on the club’s website
For additional info on joining, BN members can access a topic on the forum: https://www.bn.org.uk/forums/topic/31590-landed-club-seeks-new-members-singlescouplesfamilies/#comment-592146

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