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New Great British Skinny Dip at Petersfield

Guests at Monday night's The Forum Live were impressed by how many British Naturism/British Heart Foundation events have already been arranged for 2023. There are a few loose ends to tie up before we can tell you all about them and invite you to reserve your place, but we will do that soon.
One event that is booking now is a Great British Skinny Dip at Petersfield Open Air Pool in Hampshire on June 9th. It's a heated pool with a café onsite.
We're always encouraging you to think about venues in your area - and that's what happened here with a member making the first approach and then passing it onto to BN to do the rest when the response was positive. Thanks to everyone who has been involved thus far.
Please don't assume that a venue is going to say no, some do, but if we don't ask, we never know. Sometimes they lap it up - there were four successful Great British Skinny Dips at Peterborough Lido this summer and they recently chased us for our dates for 2023!
If you missed Monday night, you can view the slideshow in the Members' Area (log in required). And we're still happy to receive suggestions for more venues for Naked Heart Walks or Great British Skinny Dips!

The Forum Live - Down Under at Nude Up!

In July this year I had the pleasure of speaking to Mick Davie, President of the Australian Naturist Federation (ANF) who brought us up to date with activity and plans for Naturists and Naturism in Australia. They also launched a big new festival this year called Nude Up which, as our picture shows, included the incredible opportunity for naked hot-air ballooning.
It was such as success that they are running it again in 2023. Come and hear what's planned from organiser Josh, and about progress  being made generally in Australia.
The Forum Live is free and open to all BN members and members of other Naturist federations.
Join on the night via the BN shop

Five fantastic years on, the Wigton swim – still going strong!

'It’s hard to believe, but it’s exactly five years since the inaugural Naturist swim took place at the Wigton Pool, Cumbria' says Ron O'Hare.
As soon as the trial monthly swims were agreed following a suggestion from me to the pool that they consider hosting costume-free swims, BN sent out several press releases to the Cumbria newspaper editors and radio stations and in a very short time, I found myself talking about this new venture to several journalists and radio presenters throughout Cumbria.  Lift off time had arrived!   
Soon afterwards - a journalist from ‘Newsquest’ working for the Carlisle based newspaper, the ‘Cumbrian evening star’ was asking for an interview outside the baths, so I suggested that he joined us in the pool to talk to other Naturists – Roger obliged and a full page report in the newspaper followed. We counted 53 swimmers at that event - with incredible support from North West BN members.
The success led the management of the pool to realise they were missing a trick (and potential revenue) and decided to run the swim themselves. Result! One of the main aims of the Great British Skinny Dip is to grow the number of venues - and brilliant if we don't have to hire them ourselves.
Reduced attendances this Summer, owing to the swim coinciding with other summer events in the area, almost resulted In a cut in the swim duration from two hours to one, but after a short chat with the Manager, ninety minutes was agreed upon, with a marginally increased price to keep the event alive. This has been successful with 30 swimmers attending the October swim – now an official monthly GBSD event and listed on the new Great British Skinny Dip website.
If you know of any venues that could be the Wigton of the future - they don’t have to be in the North West region! We are all constantly seeking to expand.
Swim at Wigton today! Find details here
Ron O’Hare (NW Chair/Coordinator/PRO).
ron.ohare@bn.org.uk

The Forum Live - charity partnership update: British Heart Foundation

Next Monday, 14 November, at 7:30pm we'll be bringing you an update on the great work, activity and fundraising that has gone on this summer in connection with our charity partner British Heart Foundation. 
Come and hear from members of the BN/BHF team (which includes representatives of both) about the many Naked Heart Walks and Great British Skinny Dips and learn what's planned for 2023 - you'll be amazed!
We'll also be talking about how YOU can get involved and make a difference to both Naturism and heart disease.
Join us on the night via the BN shop
 

Generation Z: The Role of Nudity in Improving Mental Health

The findings of a recent national Ipsos poll on attitudes to Naturism show a growing enthusiasm for nude recreation amongst 16–24-year-olds, with 55% having participated in such activities as skinny dipping, nude sunbathing or visiting a Naturist beach/resort. Almost half (47%) of all 16–24-year-olds said they had been naked in the company of others in the past year (excluding partners, family, and healthcare settings), and 23% describe themselves as Naturist or nudist.  When similar statistics are examined in older age groups, they are much lower. For example, 4% of 45–75-year-olds describe themselves as Naturist or nudist and only 6% of 45–75-year-olds have been naked in the company of others in the past year.
Why are younger adults embracing Naturism and nude recreation more than their older counterparts and why does it matter?
To interpret these trends, it is important to understand who these young adults are and what their experience of the world has been so far. Young adults of 16-24 years old are often described as Generation Z. They are the first generation to have had access to the internet and portable devices from a young age, meaning that their entire experience of the world has been heavily influenced by social media.  Their actions have always been subject to the scrutiny of their friends and elders and their perception of the human body has always been through stylised imagery, social media filters and influencers.  They are also the generation who have suffered restrictions such as COVID-lockdowns at an age that we would normally be discovering our independence.  Kane, 20, says:
“Being chronically online, you start to lose touch with reality.  When all you see are people posting their workout videos you get a warped view on life, and start thinking "if they can do xyz or look like xyz so should I".”
The pressures to achieve a 'perfect body' leads to problems with self-image, having an impact on mental health that can be seen across healthcare.  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).  The most direct consequence of living online is the deterioration of body confidence and poor body image, with 5.6% of women aged 17-19 suffering Body Dysmorphic Disorder (NHS).  Kane’s own story is a typical example of this:
“Mental health and body image are always going to be inextricably linked and will influence each other.  I have faced problems with my body image due a variety of reasons, most namely dysphoria and my body not feeling like my own.  When my mental health started to decline, I developed an eating disorder and began self-harming in an attempt to feel ownership over my body.  This of course did not help my body image/ self-esteem, and that in turn did not help my mental health, leading to a downwards cycle where both declined.”
Poor mental health is having a devastating effect on young people.  Unfortunately, healthcare focuses on ‘treatment’ when things reach a crisis point, rather than early intervention, and for mental health issues, that is too late.
So, where does Naturism come in? Whilst simple nudity does not provide an instant fix to all of these challenges, there is evidence to show that it does help.  Published studies conducted with Professor Keon West have found that spending even short period 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.  In a world where even urgent healthcare is becoming increasingly difficult to access, it is no surprise that Generation Z are finding their own solutions and turning to social nudity as a way to nurture and protect their mental health.
It is these findings and challenges with regard to Generation Z that have led us to launch the EveryBody initiative.  EveryBody will create events tailored to Millennials and Generation Z and provide opportunities for young and not-so-young adults to try nude recreation in a safe, non-sexual environment with a firm emphasis on freedom, equality and body positivity.  The need and the demand for such opportunities are clear and we will do our best to provide them.
https://www.thisiseverybody.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/ThisIsEveryBody
https://www.instagram.com/everybodynaked/

Join us for your first Christmas lunch of the 2022 season!

Following our successful summer dining events at the Mill Arms, why not join BN for your first Christmas lunch of the 2022 season!
We’ve arranged to hire the private room at the Mill Arms in Hampshire for lunch on Saturday 19 November. The private room has its own bar and toilets, so it will be possible to be naked throughout the event if you wish. There is also a skittle alley if you’re feeling energetic!
Your ticket price will include choice of two or three courses from a set menu. This includes some seasonal options if you’re feeling festive, and other choices if it’s a bit too early in the year to be thinking about Christmas!
Find out more and book your place...
 
Photo by Todd Trapani on Unsplash

The Forum Live Debate - What is a Naturist?

A frequently discussed topic among long term Naturists is “What constitutes a Naturist?”.  Do you need to follow a very prescriptive set of rules or is simply considering yourself a Naturist enough?  That is precisely the question we will tackle this week in the Forum Live Debate, next Monday, 7 November.  We expect some strong opinions on this one!
Join us on the night via the BN shop

BN's online yoga - 5 classes a week!

Yogis!
How are we all doing? Nights are drawing in, getting a bit chillier, but we're still here for you! 
Missing some of your lovely faces as of late, hope I haven't offended you. Please do keep coming to classes and supporting us, I know life is back to normal for most but it would be a shame to loose this lovely community we have built online over the last 2 1/2 years.
Still 5 classes on each week for you to come to: 
Chair - seated or standing using your chair for support, suitable for all abilities. 
Vinyasa - Tuesdays, can be a challenging practice at times but suitable for most (as long as you can easily move from the ground up and down).
Yin - Wednesdays, mostly seated or lying down, a very slow but deep practice. Can be adapted to suit most people as we aren't getting up and down. Working deep into the body. 
Strong Vinyasa - Fridays, not suitable for complete beginners or those with mobility challenges as we are moving quite fast. Good physical workout.
Forest Yoga - Sundays - the class is taken by Tor, very accessible (if you come to chair Yoga this is a really good other class for you). Gentle movements and plenty of time to slow down and check in. Elements of meditation too. 
Don't forget about all of the other sessions on the naked fitness site too. I know money is tight for lots at the moment, but our classes are such good value compared to other wellness and fitness classes elsewhere! 
Hope to see you on our mats again soon,
Namaste x
Book now for all the above classes and other Naked Fitness (Fitness classes, meditation, Fitsteps, GroovX)

The Forum Live - an INF update

It's not just thrown together you know ... hot on the heels of today's other news about the INF congress, I'm delighted to tell you that next Monday, 31 October,  at 19:30 GMT, we'll be talking to newly-elected INF Vice-President, Edwin Kilby (L, in the picture) along with another member of the INF’s leadership team, Europe spokesperson Laurent Luft (R, in the picture) - who is becoming a regular on the Forum Live.
It’s an opportunity to find out more about the INF, the work currently going on to help it become more visible and effective, and the plans for next year. 
Join us on the night via the BN shop

INF 'on a positive course' after successful meeting in Luxembourg

The International Naturist Federation, of which British Naturism is a member, is on a “distinctly positive course” after its biennial World Congress held in Luxembourg last week, according to British Naturism’s International Director, Edwin Kilby.
The organisation, which marks its 70th anniversary next year, took a number of important decisions which will help it be more effective and visible. The anniversary will be celebrated at an event at Montalivet in France in September which will feature workshops and other meetings alongside more “fun” activities such as wine and oyster tastings.  A series of conferences – to be held in person and online – on topics affecting Naturism worldwide will be launched in Bonn in March.  And a working group will be established to examine the rules about membership of the organisation to see, among other things, how best to bring more Naturist voices within the INF’s embrace and make it more globally representative.
Edwin says that the Congress was the most harmonious and collegiate such meeting he had yet attended, with clear and encouraging signs emerging of a shared vision of how the Naturist federations should work together in future.  He thinks this is at least in part due to the success of the co-presidency shared by Stéphane Deschênes and Sieglinde Ivo, following Stéphane’s election last year.
The meeting also saw Edwin elected as one of the Vice-Presidents of the INF, a role which puts him in the influential position of Secretary – working closely alongside the two Presidents and the Treasurer as part of the leadership of the organisation, helping with arrangements for congresses, setting the agenda for meetings and, crucially, interpreting the INF’s statutes.
Edwin added, “I’m really looking forward to working as a team alongside Stéphane, Sieglinde, the rest of the committee and, of course, the Naturist federations.  If last week’s meeting is anything to go by, there’s a renewed willingness among the federations to work together to advance the organisation and – more importantly – worldwide Naturism.  It’s a really exciting time to be involved at this level.”
Asked about the impact on his work for BN, Edwin said, “I have a fair idea of the workload involved in the INF position.  And I’ve already been doing a lot of INF-related work alongside my BN work – I’m on a working group revising the statutes, for example, and I’ve been working pretty hard in the run-up to the Congress – so I think I know how to balance the demands.  But one thing I won’t be able to do is occupy the BN seat at INF meetings.  That could be an interesting opportunity for somebody.”
Image: Delegates at Luxembourg

Arnaoutchot - ici, c’est le paradis….

'A full disclosure at the outset,' writes Brian Curragh: we love Arna and have been coming here since 2011. This trip was our sixth visit but the first after a gap of five years - so we were really keen to see what has changed. The good news is that the changes are all to the positive and the site 
is as magical as before!’

For those of you who haven’t tried the French southwest coastline – you can look forward to a beach that is just under 230 kilometres long, stretching from fashionable Biarritz in the south right up to the Gironde estuary. A beach that long is never going to get crowded and provides almost unlimited opportunities to get that all over suntan in perfect seclusion. Apart from the four main Naturist resorts – Arna, La Jenny, Montalivet and Euronat – there are countless Naturist beaches, either official or generally accepted, but to be honest when you can be 100 meters from your nearest neighbour, who can tell what you are wearing or not! 
Arna (officially ‘Arnaoutchot’) itself is located in the Landes department which is home to the largest manmade forest in Western Europe – the 10,000 square kilometres almost entirely consist of tall maritime pine trees and Arna certainly has its share of them. They give the whole site a wonderfully peaceful air as they sway gently in the offshore breeze. Walking amongst them on the way to the sand dunes that separate the site from the beach is a great way to start any day. The weather at Arna is generally much better than the UK, but as the site is bordered by the Atlantic and with the Pyrenees to the south, it can be changeable. Our first week saw temperatures up in the mid 30s while during our last few days it was not wildly different from back home, with blustery showers. We also had an unbelievable thunderstorm at 4am one morning with torrential rain but by midday, you would not know it had ever happened. 
Arna have clearly invested since we last visited: there is a great deal of new accommodation which is a step away from the mobile home type and more closely resembles modern cabins, while at least one of the bathroom blocks has been replaced with a very smart facility. More new cabins were being delivered while we were there so the upgrade programme is definitely continuing. If you are looking for a stay that is more camping-orientated then the emplacements down near the beach are still there and were proving popular with campers and the caravan/camper van crowd. 
The site’s facilities are excellent with – in high season - three restaurants serving local specialities, fish and pizza alongside open air bar seating. Diners at the restaurants tended to dress for their evening meals which seems to the common approach at most French resorts but there were always plenty of naked bodies in the early evening around the bar area. The wonderful local menu restaurant, La Gourmand Landaises, appears to have dropped their 3-course menu du jour, which is a shame as we used to like the choices and it always seemed to be good value. There is a well-stocked mini supermarket that will supply you with everything you need. We tended to use this for anything we had missed and did most of our food shopping at the Carrefour in nearby Léon which is a very easy 15-minute drive away – and, unsurprisingly, much cheaper!

On the entertainment front, in high season there is something on most evenings from local bands through to soirée dansantes alongside entertainment aimed at children. There are also several excellent children’s areas spread throughout the site – with a new children’s water park just being commissioned as we were there. 
If the beach isn’t your thing, there are outdoor and indoor pools with top quality loungers, a huge pétanque area and the new Les Bassins d’Arna spa area which looks beautiful and includes a spa, a relaxation garden and four treatment rooms offering a vast range of treatments. 
We left the site on 1st July just as Arna was beginning to move up a gear - with the French school holidays only a week away, families were starting to appear and the animations programme was getting into full operation with activities most evenings in July and August; if you want a quiet time then avoid those months. 
The practicalities: we tend to fly into Biarritz with Ryanair from Stansted but there is no reason why you could not fly in via Bordeaux if that works for you better. Biarritz is a great little airport, and you can be outside with your luggage 30 minutes after touching down. All the car hire companies are there and provided you turn the right way onto the autoroute and don’t head for Spain as we once did, you will be at Arna an hour later. Technically you can’t check in until after 5pm but I don’t believe we have ever had an issue by arriving earlier. Apart from picking up your key, about the only other thing you might need to consider is hiring a bedlinen set if you haven’t brought your own. 
Check-out had also changed since our last visit. You can avoid a cleaning charge of something slightly over €100 by leaving your accommodation clean and tidy – basically as you would expect to find it yourself on arrival. Five years ago, you had to book an inspection by the cleaning team for the morning of departure – which was always a bit
of a hassle to get as late a slot as possible. Fortunately, this has all gone – you still leave your unit in a clean state, but the inspection happens after you have gone – so you can plan on packing up for 10am and still enjoy a leisurely breakfast. 
Even though you are all packed up at this point, you can still use all the site’s facilities until you have to drag yourself away. This time we went up to the pool and made good use of the loungers until lunchtime before using of one of the excellent shower blocks to get the suntan oil off and force ourselves to return to Biarritz Airport. 
In summary, Arna is a wonderfully professionally run and maintained resort with more pine trees than you will ever see elsewhere and a beach that seems to go on forever, giving you the chance to get back to nature and relax. You can take your clothes off as soon as you arrive and if you stay on site, you won’t need them until the day you head home. 
I saw a sign on one of our neighbours’ cabins: “Ici, c'est le paradis” - they’re not wrong, you know! 
arna.com

+33 (0)5 58 49 11 11 

Naturist swim in Dover relaunched!

Established over 45 years ago and in operation continuously until lockdown, Dover Naturist Swimming Club are delighted to announce the return of their weekly costume free swimming sessions.
The swim will take place at 8:30pm every Sunday at the new Dover Leisure Centre, Fitness Fields, Whitfield, Dover CT16 3FZ. Members will have the full use of the facilities including the pool, sauna and steam room. The swim is open to all on production a means of identification eg British Naturism membership card, driving licence etc. The cost is £7 per person plus a £15 per annum club membership fee. Tickets can be bought on the door
Dover Swim was created in 1979 and over the years has been a host to hundreds of Naturists at the old leisure centre in Townhall Street before the new centre was built.
 
Rod Baker, Dover Swim spokesman, said:
‘We’re delighted to restart the swim again post Covid at this purpose built facility. Our existing members will be joined by many newcomers who applied to joined the club during lockdown - it’s great that we can finally meet them. We would encourage anyone who has ever thought about what it is like to swim without a costume to come and try it out in a safe, non-judgemental environment that Naturism creates.’
 
Andrew Welch, National spokesman for British Naturism, said:
‘Interest in Naturism in the UK is growing like never before, with many people better understanding the health and well-being benefits of going without clothes. Swimming naked is one of the most exhilarating, life-affirming things you can do and always better in the company of like-minded people. An increasing number of venues are realising that hiring their spaces to Naturist groups is as lucrative as hiring to anyone else - and a lot more fun!’
 
Contacts:
Dover Naturist Swim
Rod Baker doverswim@hotmail.com; 07772 086757
 
British Naturism
Andrew Welch andrew.welch@bn.org.uk; 07774 955138

The Great British Skinny Dip - amazing autumn!

What with being on holiday in Italy (where I snuck in a cheeky skinny dip!), I hadn’t checked out the GBSD calendar for several weeks. When I did, I discovered there are events lined up well into December. Wouldn’t it be great if there could be, say, one giant, nationwide Boxing Day or New Year’s Day dip? A dream too far...?
Before we look at what’s coming up, a few thoughts:
First, the Wirral Naturist Club/GBSD Women Only, Clothing-Optional Skinny Dip on 29 October: Could I urge those of you in the North West to get the word out? Speaking as one of the organizers, we’d very much like this first effort to be a smashing success, and then to repeat it in the future. As the name implies, it's a great opportunity to bring friends who may be reluctant to strip straight away! 
Second, you’ll have seen from recent news (Location, location, er, location) that we’re on the hunt for venues to host skinny dips and Naked Heart Walks. Suggestions are coming in but please put your thinking caps on and let us know what you can come up with.
Now— besides the aforementioned women-only swim, here’s what else is lined up for the next few weeks. Remember, we’re doing this not only for the fun of swimming au naturel and to get more and more people involved in Naturism, but also to raise money for our charity partner British Heart Foundation!
Find details of all the following at greatbritishskinnydip.co.uk/events-calendar
 
October 22
Spectrum Swim, Birmingham - also taking place every Saturday in October and November and beyond
 
October 23
East Sussex Naturists, Seaford - also taking place every Sunday in October, November and beyond
 
November 12
Wigton GBSD, Cumbria
 
November 13
Northampton Sun Group, Northampton
 
November 26
Swim with Oxnat! Didcot
 
December 10
Wigton GBSD, Cumbria
 
December 11
Northampton Sun Group, Northampton
 
Remember to keep checking the Great British Skinny Dip website. You’ll find everything you need to know about organising, promoting and joining in, including social media tools, risk assessment forms and a complete fundraising kit. Don’t forget to sign up for the GBSD newsletter, and follow us on social media.
 

The Forum Live - interviewing Bare Necessities Tour and Travel

Bare Necessities Tour & Travel set sail in 1991 with 36 passengers on their first bare cruise and now, over thirty years later, they are  filling 3000 passenger ships! For over three decades, they have been working to break down the barriers against social nudity and make clothing-optional vacationing an acceptable option for all. They support the belief that sexuality is not a state of undress, but rather, a state of mind. The company has made strides in the acceptance of nude vacationing and their wide range of cruise charters are a testament to their success, whether it’s the annual Big Nude Boat or one of the luxury sailing yachts.
I'm delighted that Kat Whitmire (below, right) who has been sailing with Bare Necessities since 1997 and working in sales and customer service in the office in Austin, Texas, since 2010, will be our guest on Monday and happy to share all of her knowledge of bare cruising.
Join on the night on the BN events website
 
The Forum Live is for BN members and members of overseas federations only. Not a member? It's easy to join...
 

The Forum Live - 6.75 million Naturists in the UK - Ipsos Poll Discussion

Next Monday's Forum Live will be dedicated to one of our popular debate and discussion sessions - with a twist.
The twist is that we can't tell you what the subject will be. Sounds intriguing? Actually, it's quite exciting as we expect some important news to be announced tomorrow or Monday which we will all want to talk about.
If that news is delayed, then we'll revert to a more usual Forum Live debate session.
Whatever happens, you know you want to be there! Join us on Monday 17 October at 7:30 using the link over on the BN events website.
 
EDIT: As people have probably realised, the big news we were waiting for was the publication of the Ipsos survey that revealed 6.75 million Naturists/nudists in the UK, with a bias towards enthusiasm among younger adults.
My plan is to strike while the iron is hot and use this session to summarise the findings, take questions, and discuss as a group what these outcomes mean and how we can collectively respond to them to make Naturism more accessible and appealing to all. If you are interested in this topic and any aspect of British Naturism campaigning, do please join me.

Location, location, er, location...

We need your help!
If you know of any venues that would be perfect for a Naked Heart Walk or Great British Skinny Dip in your area which we could use to raise funds and awareness of our charity partner, British Heart Foundation, then please let us know! Members can post their ideas and suggestions on the forum (log in required).
The ideal spot for a walk would be a house and gardens or somewhere unique with a good amount of outside space for a walk between 2km and 6km. For the skinny dips it's any pool, lido or beach that could be a good spot and open to us approaching them.
Thank you for your help! 
We're also looking to boost the BN/BHF team - if you'd like to come to the next (Zoom) meeting without commitment and find out what we're up to and the tasks that need to be done, please let us know.
 

Support our advertisers!

Anyone who uses the internet regularly will know that you can't get away from people and companies trying to sell you things. There are some sites that feel like 99% advertising and 1% actual content. 
We also feature advertisements (although amongst some great content...) across the range of BN platforms but we want to encourage you to check them out. Advertising space is taken by Naturists for Naturists. Many are holiday resorts whose owners and managers had a torrid time during the pandemic with empty hotels, campgrounds and swimming pools.
Our friends will really appreciate you clicking on their adverts on this site and visiting their websites. We know they are all ready, willing and able to handle your enquiries about the holidays you may take in the future. 
Thanks to all of them for the financial support they give us which helps us in the furtherance of Naturism in the UK. 
If you are a potential advertiser, here are the details of how to advertise. 
 
Photo by Tânia Mousinho on Unsplash

Nudity, Eating and Disco – What Could be Better?

Join BN and the North West Outreach Group for a Naked Dine and Disco on 15th October at the charming Tithe Barn, a mid-18th Century house in Melling, Liverpool! For a mere £17.50 per person, you’ll feast on gourmet pie and peas and dance to the music of the fantastic “Harlequin Disco.”
Keen to build on its growing success, and a desire for members to keep in touch and socialise through the cooler months, The North and West Naturist Outreach Group are hosting a Naked Dine and Disco. 
Many attendees plan to make a weekend of it, with the opportunity of staying over at nearby Liverpool Sun and Air Society, who are providing food, including breakfasts throughout the weekend at very reasonable rates, and entertainment on the Friday evening. 
Book your tickets here!

What people are saying about BN

We're making great progress for Naturism and providing a wide range of services to Naturists - we're definitely enjoying goodtimes ... as are our members - here's what they have to say!
Become a member - or renew your membership - click here
The friendliness of everyone I've spoken to has been a major plus. I've made lifelong friends all around the country
The BN Magazine is very impressive
People are helpful if you need information
How quick my membership came was great, and I can use my membership card at a Naturist camp site as proof of ID. Brilliant!
I have really enjoyed the Zoom dances and Naked Fitness classes. I am very pleased, keep up the good work ... I'm enjoying the membership!
The general warmth and enthusiasm of members is wonderful. Also as someone who is new to Naturism and quite self conscious it is very nice to just be online occasionally with people who ‘get it’.
Everyone is so friendly and helpful.  It's been brilliant. So glad I joined, after many years of worrying about "coming out" as a Naturist.
I am impressed by the commitment to advocacy and awareness of Naturism in Britain and beyond.
Even if I only get to one or two in person events a year, I intend to stay a member because I can see the huge value in the great work the Exec and many members/volunteers are doing to promote Naturism and ensure there is positive change - even around just making sure that we don't lose spaces and slots for naked swims.
It is so friendly, people from all different backgrounds together with a shared interest.
The community are very welcoming and open to conversation.
I have been so wonderfully surprised just what a friendly organisation it is ! The forums have provided an excellent platform, where I have been able to reach out and meet so many like-minded people, make new friends, and, importantly, be able to keep up with news and find information so easily!
I’m grateful for the time and effort that all the volunteers that run BN put in. Thanks to all!
Easy to join and already booked Sunfolk at a significant discount.
BN has helped me to appreciate the range of Naturist places available in the UK, and how much more it is practised here than I had thought.
Really pleased you’re active in promoting and encouraging women to explore and feel ownership in a Naturist lifestyle. Great for equality and an understanding of naturism
Online events have been excellent including the Forum Live and I have done a couple of yoga sessions which I have really enjoyed. Also I have had my first trips to a Naturist campsite this summer because I joined BN - Sunfolk and also The Naturist Foundation. Both fabulous experiences.
I knew of the existence of BN and eventually decided to join to satisfy my curiosity about the organisation. Personally I’m very glad I did and don’t in any way regret paying my membership. I had no idea of how much support there is from the legal department, or of its existence. What a wonderful use of membership fees to support sticking up for us and supporting something that many non-Naturists think is illegal!
I appreciate the opportunity to comment if I want to on the BN surveys
The genuine friendliness of so many people I've chatted with.  I am totally comfortable being a member of BN. The annual subscription is worth every penny.
BN has exceeded expectations—information about events and meetings new members and making friends is brilliant
A more professional and efficient approach than I imagined it to be.
Great magazine packed with great info
I received a discount on entry to a Naturist resort in Spain because I was a BN member
Quality of live national events, fantastic. Response time from BN Head Office - very efficient
Sunfolk! Absolute gem of a place, so welcoming to me and the newbie friends I brought along
I am very satisfied being a member of BN and feel that I can learn a lot on how to promote Naturism in my own country, Denmark, and how to fulfil expectations from Danish members
BN is a friendly place to be and everyone gives great advice
The speed and efficiency of the joining process was great, and the website
Very good website, easy to navigate.
Excellent quarterly magazine

The Forum Live - interviewing the Freewilders

BN members and other Naturists eagerly followed the progress of the Freewilders - Colin, Sadie, Hannah and Neil - as they undertook a 1000 mile naked charity bike ride across the UK this summer, raising awareness and funds for Rewilding Britain and Mind. Sadie and Colin cycled from John O'Groats to Lands End with Hannah and Neil going the opposite way.
The rides attracted a great deal of media attention and much reaction from the public, both positive and negative.
We’ll hear all about it on Monday 10th October. Join the session on the night on the BN events website.

Want to show someone what BN's all about? Use our guide...

Our popular Guide to Naturism is a comprehensive booklet that contains everything anyone needs to know about Naturism. Use it to persuade your friends to join BN, your colleagues to give social nudity a try, or your local leisure centre to host a skinny dip.
Order copies - for free! - from the BN shop.
It’s also available as an online booklet, making it dead easy to send it to anyone you like! Got someone in mind? Ok, here's the link:
https://shop.bn.org.uk/pages/guide-to-naturism 
 

 
 

Southampton Swim re-starts...

We are pleased to confirm that the British Naturism-run Oaklands Swim in Southampton will start again on Saturday 15th October  2022 at 7:30 - 9:30pm
No need to book - pay on the door, but please bring ID. The cost is £7 - cash only.
Find details of the venue here and for any queries, please contact alana.mackenzie@bn.org.uk

The Forum Live - Ask the Executive

Postponed from 19 September, the quarterly Ask the Executive session will now take place next Monday, 3 October at 7:30pm.
It's a chance for members to meet and ask questions of British Naturism's Executive Committee. and is 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 questions in advance, and we will take these first. Subject to time constraints we will take questions on the night as well. 
Taking place the day after the BN AGM, it will also offer the chance for a continuation of any discussions curtailed owing to time pressures during the AGM and an opportunity for discussion/debrief of the main points of that meeting.
If you have a question, please send it to headoffice@bn.org.uk
Join the session here
  
Photo by Marius Oprea on Unsplash 

The BN AGM - don't forget to register and to vote!

The British Naturism Annual General Meeting takes place this coming Sunday, 2 October. It will be held on Zoom and so it's easy for everyone to attend. 
Find the details including how to register over on our events website (log in required)
All members are eligible to vote on the various motions, including proposed changes to membership fees.
Find out how to do that and record your choices on the BN members' forum (log in required)

Hole Park - Naked Heart Walk

By Philip Baker
The first Naked Heart Walk was perhaps a bigger enterprise than my small team had expected, but we and Hannah from British Heart Foundation (BHF) achieved an astounding success. For 2022 we wanted something nearer home, that would allow us an afternoon event – many had travelled quite long distances last year – and would provide a way to get everyone together after the main event. Hole Park, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the Weald (along with Scotney Castle that we visited in July), fitted the bill perfectly.
I had been to Hole Park a few times over the last twenty years and I when I was there I always wished to be naked, but I wrote without any expectations. Surprisingly they were very receptive expressing the idea of inclusion no matter our beliefs. I just discovered that this is a fundamental value of the Historic Houses Association, of which Hole Park is a member and its owner the Chairman.
That many of their cafe staff are under 18’s and would require parental consent to be exposed to naked visitors was not a barrier – there just would be no staff on the day and we were left to our own devices.
I was delighted when we were given a dedicated car park and so able to leave our clothes in our cars, saving us managing a bag drop and changing area. Catering could also be provided and it seemed entirely in keeping that we had afternoon tea.
Thirty one people bought tickets and raised over £4,500. Kent BHF sent us a raffle prize, so at a couple of days notice two members of the team amassed another dozen prizes and made over £100.
Luckily the sun came out as the walk was formally started as our wet weather plan would probably have been to squeeze into the historic ice house in the woods. This is a listed 18th century building just 11 feet in diameter! Ice scraped from the ponds a few yards away would last many months if packed well.
The 2 km walk passed by sights such as a tree trunk carved with climbing bears and a towering Wellingtonia. There are many ancient trees in the grounds, to be seen on the Woodland Trusts Ancient Tree Inventory, including a tree I had not heard of – the bird cherry - which is relatively rare in southern England. It was thought to ward off the plague and the black berries were used to dye wool and the bark to colour fishing nets.
The abiding image of the day was of thirty naked people enjoying scones and cream in the picturesque Vinery and from the comments we know this was the highlight.
Last year I said never again. This year I am looking forward to finding somewhere new to do it all over again. Thanks to all who volunteered and to the BHF and Hole Park for making it possible.

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