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The Forum Live - interviewing Laurent Luft

I'm looking forward to talking once again to Laurent Luft from FFN, Fédération Française de Naturisme, the French equivalent of BN.
In fact, it's more than that as Laurent is involved at a local level with a club in Paris and the International Naturist Federation (INF). He's a busy man.
I'll be finding out how things are going with each of those organisations and hear more about the work Laurent does. As the picture shows, Laurent organised a series of naked visits to the Hyperrealism exhibition recently and was delighted to welcome over 1000 naked people, many of them of a younger age and many trying social nudity for the first time. We'll hear more about that too.
Join us on Monday 16 Jan at 7:30pm, via the BN shop

First GBSD of the year...

The Great British Skinny Dip (GBSD) is a British Naturism outreach project which aims to:
Encourage acceptance and participation in Naturism across the nation and beyond Promote greater understanding of Naturism and Social Nudity Promote the benefits of Naturism including body confidence and wellbeing Raise funds for our charity partner British Heart Foundation As we enter our eighth year of the campaign, we are looking forward to smashing all records - for the number of venues, the number of dippers and the amount raised. 
Last year we counted over 100 events with many venues hosting naked swimming sessions for the first time. Many of them are doing it again - keep an eye on the GBSD calendar and sign up for the newsletter at the foot of each page on the GBSD website for more info!
You'll see some events already listed and first up, this coming Sunday is the skinny dip in Northampton, hosted by the Northampton Sun Group. Never tried it before? Now's your chance - you're assured of a warm welcome, and you'll wonder why you ever wore a swimming costume in the first place...

The Forum Live - interviewing Star Resorts

We start the new year with a 'special' ... an actually 'live' Forum Live, direct from Gran Canaria, next Monday 9 January. I'll be talking to Martijn and Richard and their staff about the two resorts they operate on the island; Petit Hotel Natura and Artika Natura. Hopefully, we'll show you around too.
Martijn and Richard are well-known to Naturists everywhere as the operators of Gran Hotel Natura in Fuerteventura, which sadly closed a few years ago despite having become one of the world's most popular nude holiday destinations. We'll reminisce about that too.
Join me at 19:30 GMT on Monday 9 January via the BN shop
The Forum Live and all 'Community' online events are free to members of BN and overseas Naturist Federations. If you are not a member, you can join here
In the meantime, you can read about Petit Hotel Natura in the latest BN magazine (log in required) in an article written by Sarah and Mark, who also provided this news story's picture - thanks!

The Guardian - Portrait of the Year

The Guardian announced its 'Portraits of the Year' shortly after Christmas, and what do you know, there's a 'nudist' (their phrase, not mine) one included. It also features props to hide anything Great Aunt Maud might need the smelling salts for - also their choice, not ours.
We can't reproduce the image owing to copyright issues but we've selected that we can use that features John and Donna who appear in the image and who took part in a feature in the late summer.
Donna has previously been British Naturism's Women in Naturism campaign co-ordinator. Donna told BN, 'We were very pleased to see that one of Fabio’s images of us made it into this selection. Goodness knows what the very many illustrious people also featured, felt about ‘rubbing newsprint shoulders’ with a couple of naked non-entities!  It was an interesting day, being the hottest one we had last year and try as we might we couldn’t get Fabio to strip off, despite him melting visibly!'

Nudefest 2023 - now on sale!

...and we're back, in a new year and looking forward to some new, wonderful, uplifting, exhilarating clothes-free experiences. If you are reading this and have never done it, there's never been a better time...
And you don't have to wait to get started - British Naturism's flagship week-long, activity-packed festival week is now open for booking. It takes place in Somerset from the 3rd to the 9th of July. 
Nudefest combines an incredible line-up of daytime activities with nighttime entertainment in multiple on-site venues. There's always something to do, and something new, and at the heart of it is our great British Naturism community. 

Over 9,000 people can't be wrong...!

Over the last ten years we have seen tremendous growth in the acceptance of Naturism, and that has come from standing together.  Whether or not you feel that you have personally contributed to that, you will have made a difference if you have been a paid-up member of British Naturism. We acknowledged that the current financial situation and rising prices could mean that many of even our most ardent supporters may have to forgo some of the things they love. To me, the peace, joy and friendship that can be found in Naturism at very little cost is something to cling to in these challenging times.
However, it's turned out to be another good year for British Naturism and with around ten days of the year remaining we're extremely close to seeing an increase in our numbers once again. If you are not a member - or know someone who isn't - you can help us by joining today. 
British Naturism is a very active organisation, run by volunteers, where we all work together to make life better for all Naturists across the UK. We have a huge event programme, run a website with masses of information for existing Naturists and newcomers, maintain a high profile in the media to keep Naturism in the public eye, produce a quarterly magazine with news, views, features and articles on Naturism both at home and abroad, support and promote Naturist clubs, swims and other venues, engage in research projects to show the outside world how attitudes are changing.  We are well aware that what members want from their national organisation differs from person to person.  We maintain such a broad scope so that everybody can feel they are deriving personal benefit from at least one area, while contributing to the promotion of something that we all value.
If you prioritise benefits, the 25% discount that membership grants to event bookings immediately pays for itself.  For myself, I joined British Naturism because I believe that self-acceptance through Naturism can make the world a better place for many people.
 
If you believe, like me, that being naked is normal and we should be free to be nude in a variety of circumstances and environments without fear of discrimination or aggression
If you believe, like me, that the educating the general public about the benefits of wholesome clothes-free recreation is important for progress
If you believe, like me, that more places for Naturism need to created, and existing ones protected
If you believe, like me, that Naturism is stronger when the community works together
 
...then please consider joining us, or renewing your membership, or encouraging someone new to become part of it, and being part of our future.
 
You can rejoin right here and now.
Thank you
 
Mark Bass
President of British Naturism

Now on Sale! Naked Heart Walk at RSPB Rainham

...and we're underway. Having asked you to save the date for various BN/BHF Naked Heart Walks in 2023, we pleased to announce that you can now book your tickets for our walk in Essex for Sunday 23rd July!
Our Naked Heart Walks are fabulous days out BUT are intended to raise money for British Heart Foundation's valuable work. There are two ticket prices therefore:
Pay £15 to participate and pledge to raise £50 for BHF, or
Pay £25 to participate which sum includes a donation to BHF of £10
This year, to encourage even greater numbers of walkers, the walks will be clothes-optional.
 
Image: Tony O'Brien

Keep Busy with BN!

Even though things slow down as Christmas is upon us, you can still get wonderful things from the UK's national Naturist organisation ... there is plenty going on within our community, on- and off-line, including plenty of free content:
Join in our online events - from yoga to a pub quiz night, and interviews to fitness classes.  Check out the calendar of regional events and swims Raise money for our national charity, British Heart Foundation, at a Great British Skinny Dip or Naked Heart Walk Read over one hundred articles on our news pages about a wide variety of Naturist and Naturist-related subjects Visit goodtimes.bn.org.uk and discover how amazing and vibrant our community is checkout the volunteering pages on the BN website. If you're logged in you can jump straight to the current opportunities on offer Learn about our many campaigns, including inspiring, first-person stories from Women in Naturism Follow us on social media - we're active on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter Sign up for our regular newsletters and get information straight to your inbox The members' side of our website (login required) is chock-full of interesting stuff. Naturists from the UK and beyond are currently discussing and debating a variety of topics - not all related to Naturism - and finding information, viewing event and other images, reading blogs and more.  It also contains a variety of interesting and useful downloads including full copies of BN Magazine back to 2004! It all comes free as part of a British Naturism annual subscription.

Seeking a New Home for The Gathering – Can You Help?

As BN members know, The Gathering is a wildly popular annual Naturist event in Scotland. This year, it drew more than 100 guests - not just regulars but also newbies. One of its star attractions is the famous “Burns in the Buff Supper”, where guests and haggis are piped into the dining room.
We’re unable to return to the same venue for the 2023 bash - and this is where you come in!  Can you suggest other suitable venues? If so, please get in touch.
Let’s make sure this Naturist gem finds a new home for 2023!

Silent auction raises thousands for British Heart Foundation

We're indebted to nude cruise operator Bare Necessities Tour and Travel for the incredibly generous donation of a cabin for two people on next February's Caribbean cruise Return to Bare-adise.
We were delighted to offer it as the prize for a silent auction at our recent Alton Towers event and even more delighted when Andrew and Amanda bid close to the value of the cabin ($7500).
It gets better. Andrew and Amanda said:
We got married on Tuesday 6th December and we saw the auction for the cruise and thought what a lovely honeymoon it would make for us. On that basis we decided that if we did not win the prize at the auction we would simply book the trip anyway. The British Heart Foundation is Amanda’s favourite charity as her father was one of the very early heart transplant patients and enjoyed quite a full life following the operation. With both of those factors in mind we decided to offer pretty much the full cost of the booking which is what we were prepared to pay as the money would go to BHF (A double bonus for us). So thank you so much for providing this opportunity.
Kat Whitmire from Bare Necessities said:
We’re so very happy the auction was such a success and very happy to have been a part of it!
Emily Lyle from British Heart Foundation said:
We are so grateful to Bare Necessities and to Andrew and Amanda for this incredible donation for our charity. Your generosity will enable us to fund more research into heart and circulatory diseases. 
Research we’ve funded has shown that technology developed using artificial intelligence can identify people who are potentially at high risk of a fatal heart attack at least five years before it strikes. Other cutting-edge research we fund explores using stem cell ‘patches’ to heal heart tissue. We fund research that aims to translate scientific findings from the laboratory into advances in human health in the form of new treatments that reach people in hospitals and homes across the UK. Our research brings hope to the 7.6 million people living with these conditions, thank you for giving them the best gift.
 

Photo-call: Powderham Castle

Regular readers may recall a photoshoot that took place at Surrey's Painshill Park (pictured) in advance of the first BN/BHF Naked Heart Walk in 2020. It gave us a great head start and no doubt contributed to the eventual success of the event - even if it did take longer to actually happen because of the pandemic!
We're going to do it again, and this time in advance of the Naked Heart Walk at Devon's Powderham Castle and we need a good mix of volunteers to bare all on what is likely to be a chilly Winter day, probably in January.
If you can help, or would like more information, please get in touch. Thanks!

A Spa Road Trip

In the Winter issue of BN Magazine readers will discover a large feature on European spas, where the default - unlike in this country - is nudity. Hurrah! Here is an extract, written by regular spa-ers, and BN members, Derek and Karen.
Our planned two-week holiday at Grottamiranda in Puglia, Italy was postponed from 2020 to 2021, and then again to 2022 owing to COVID restrictions, but, finally, we were able to visit this June. Having retired early at Easter, we decided that rather than flying, we would take advantage of not having to rush back to work and turn our holiday into a road trip, sightseeing and visiting some spas on the way down, and collecting some wine on the way home.
After a brief stop in Reims, we arrived in Switzerland for city breaks in Bern, Lucerne and Zurich (don’t miss the Lindt factory tour with unlimited chocolate tasting), all beautiful old towns to walk around. Bern has the great free outdoor textile Marzili Lido complex, which apparently has separate men’s and women’s sections for nude sunbathing, although we didn’t look for these, being a couple; and strong swimmers can brave the river Aare and float downstream round the city in the strong current. Close to Marzili we visited the Hammam & Spa Oktogon which gets its name from being built on the octagonal base of the City’s first gas boiler dating back to the 19th Century – it has a central pool with a 13 metre domed roof and galleries for rest areas in an Arabic style.
It has a curious set up from a Naturist perspective in that swimsuits are not allowed, but you are required to wear a hammam sheet in the steam room, pool and relaxation areas, though not in the areas for scrubbing, soaping or rasul, and in practice the sheets float up in the pool to reveal all anyway. The experience follows a numbered route that takes you through a traditional hammam ritual, starting with a herbal steam room to open the pores, then a room to scrub your skin with a Kese exfoliating glove; relaxation in the pool; a second, hotter, herbal steam room; a room to soap your body; and finishing by relaxing on hot stones. We paid extra for the treatment to follow this where you cover your body with the soothing mud, then relax in a steam bath, before showers above wash you clean. Massages are also available. Finally there is a rest area with free tea and water, plus a pricey delicatessen for light bites. Overall a very relaxing experience.
When we stayed in Lucerne we took a day trip via a boat across the lake to Weggis and then a cable car (expensive) to the top of Mount Rigi and the Mineralbad & Spa Rigi Kaltbad. The spa is a stunning, modern architectural textile pool complex, with an outdoor infinity pool that has an amazing alpine vista, and a downstairs spa area, but unfortunately only the sauna is Naturist, not the steam room, flotation pool or relaxation area. We booked a package which included a couple’s massage. Whilst limited from a Naturist perspective, we felt this was well worth the visit when taking into account the journey and the view.
After leaving Zurich, we crossed over into Germany, driving through the Black Forest to Baden Baden. From a previous visit to the area, we recommend a side trip to Badenparadies Schwarzwald at Lake Titisee, with 6 pools and 12 saunas.
The highlight of Baden Baden is its two spas – the famous Friedrichsbad and Caracalla Therme. Friedrichsbad is a Naturist Roman-Irish bath, following a 17-stage ritual where your body is gently warmed-up, soaped, brushed (soap and brushing currently suspended due to COVID restrictions), steamed and then gently cooled-down in pools, the highlight of which is the beautiful central domed pool room; before you dry off, apply body lotion and move to the rest area for tea, all of which takes 2 – 3 hours. This all takes place in an iconic Renaissance style building, with two symmetrical wings containing the baths, meeting in the central pool. Whilst there used to be certain days when men and women were separated, one wing for each, although still with the ability to join together in the middle, when we visited one wing was closed and currently all sessions are mixed.
By contrast, a three minute walk away is Caracalla Therme, a modern, textile swimming pool complex with a large Naturist spa, for an additional cost, which has a good range of saunas and steam rooms, a jacuzzi, rest areas and an outdoor sunbathing terrace. The spa area is accessed via a spiral staircase from the main pool area and as you enter there is shelving for you to leave your swimsuits. Baden Baden should be on the Naturist spa bucket list for the opportunity to experience these two completely different spas.
We then travelled North of Munich to Therme Erding which claims to be the largest sauna paradise in the world, with multiple indoor and outside saunas, ranging from the intimate Rose Pavilion that seats about eight, through to huge saunas like the Russian Banja that can seat over 100. Each of the saunas has a different theme, with a full aufguss programme, perhaps the most unusual being the sauna with a bread oven. There are also steam rooms, together with a huge indoor pool, with swim-up bars open all day, that extends into an outdoor pool and lazy river. Erding can also be used as a base to explore the local area which has plenty to offer – on this or previous trips we have visited Munich; Dachau; Regensburg on the Danube, a UNESCO world heritage medieval city, where we had lunch in Wurstkuchl, the world’s oldest restaurant which has been serving sausages since 1146; and two of “mad” King Ludwig’s famous castles - Herrenchiemsee New Palace, modelled on Versailles and Neuschwanstein Castle, which featured in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Suitably refreshed, we then began the rest of our journey down to Puglia, driving through Austria and staying at Hotel Gruenauerhof in Wals near Salzburg, which has a modern Naturist spa with two saunas, a steam room, relaxation area and sun terrace above its textile pool, and its own farm ensuring excellent produce for its restaurant.
 
Image credit: Carolus Thermen 

The Forum Live - British Naturism events!

Next Monday (19 December)  in the last (sorry!) Forum Live of the year, I'll have the pleasure of the company of my colleague, Mark Walsh, BN's events manager. I'll be talking to him about the huge range of highly successful events we've hosted this year and hear about all of those we can look forward to in what already promises to be a fantastic 2023!
Join the session on the night via the BN shop.

BN234 - Winter 2022

The Winter issue of our members’ magazine is now out!
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 NKD – How one family’s first trip turned out to be a Naturist joy for parents and kids A Stocking Full of Baubles: A roundup of the fun stuff BN members have been up to lately British Heart Foundation - an update on our charity partnership - and venues for 2023! Naturism and Mental Health, Part 6: – The Value of Play Women in Naturism – converts Amanda and Sarah tell their stories  The Ipsos survey finds 6.75 million Naturists in the UK! In travel, we talk naked spas – and some other gorgeous holidays to consider BN234 will soon be landing on the doormats of members of British Naturism who can also access a downloadable digital copy now. There's even a topic open for you to share your views with other members.
Our quarterly magazine is just one of the many benefits a BN membership provides. If you’re not a member yet, why not make today the day you join us? 

All I want for Christmas...

If you're looking for something special for the Naturist in your life this Christmas then check out the BN shop. 
You'll find a variety of items including clothing - sweatshirts, hoodies, t-shirts, beanie hats and caps - beach towels, mugs, doormats, car stickers, drinks bottles, aprons, mousemats, tea towels - and even gift vouchers.
What's more, BN members get a 15% discount on everything!
Visit the BN shop today!

BN/BHF Naked Heart Walks - save the dates!

We hosted three highly successful Naked Heart Walks in collaboration with our charity partner, British Heart Foundation, in 2022. The programme is already bigger and better for 2023!
More details will be announced as soon as we can - including how to buy tickets - but we wanted to let you know about the terrific events being organised so that you can plan to attend - and raise valuable funds.
 
Powderham Castle, Devon (pictured) - 20 May
Cross Morecambe Bay - 11 June
Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens, Sussex - 17 June
Himalayan Garden and Sculpture Park, Yorkshire - 1 July
RSPB Rainham Marshes, Essex - 23 July
Knebworth House, Hertfordshire - 10 August
 
We're also talking to plenty of other locations AND are still on the hunt for more venues and so if there is a sparkling venue where you live that would be ideal for fund raising walk, please let us know!
 

Does Naturism help your mental health? Part Six

Here’s the sixth part of our article by BN member Sheila Maycock on Naturism and Mental Health.
Read the previous articles on this website - Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four and Part Five
The Value of Play
Having fun is good for our Mental Health, in fact it’s so good for us it could almost be classified as a health intervention in its own right. Fun isn’t an activity, but an attitude and an emotion. Fun isn’t a waste of time. Many of our most treasured memories are of when we were having fun. 
We know loneliness and stress causes hormonal changes in our body that make us more susceptible to illness and disease. Trauma interferes with being able to play. It impacts our well-being socially, emotionally, and in the development of our brain. Having fun, feeling relaxed and socially connected builds our immune system as well as our self-belief. It increases the brain's production of endorphins, those feel-good chemicals that relieve pain, reduce stress and enhance nervous system regulation, supporting physical and mental health. Laughter positively impacts your stress response, heart rate and blood pressure.
...And the Naturists I’ve met certainly know how to have fun! Maybe it’s easier to allow yourself to relax and enjoy the moment in the accepting and non-judgmental atmosphere created when Naturists get together?
Play is a child’s “work” - the way they learn about the world: exploration, imagination and figuring out our relationship to the world around us. The make-believe world that develops through imaginative play enables a child to enter another world psychologically and work out their responses in a safe place. Experiencing play in a safe environment creates fresh neural pathways. It is energising, relaxing, refreshing, a change of routine. 
When play is alongside other people we can lose ourselves in the moment. Time flies. That’s an important aspect of play being fun. Whilst you can have fun on your own, a sense of connectedness with others and of that shared enjoyable experience, as well as observing others smiling and laughing, all enhances our own fun. 
Don’t get me wrong, work can also be beneficial to our mental health. Achievements, targets and  productivity are all of benefit to our psychological wellbeing if recognised and celebrated and if we can overcome our infamous British reserve and avoid missing opportunities to build our self-esteem. The downside of a strong work ethic is that it may drive an agenda of having to prove oneself, of not being good enough or of any value unless those successes are attained. Often work cannot be playful. Accuracy, accountability and getting things right is important. I want the person who is servicing the brakes on my car or building an extension on my house to be skilled and professional, not have a playful moment with my vehicle or brickwork! 
There is a huge place for play in our lives and for many people it is a missing piece of the psychological puzzle. Fun is not just for kids. Naturism offers us opportunities for fun, intrinsically challenging our social and cultural norms. Living a Naturist lifestyle can be playful in itself by engaging our rebellious side, breaking the boring rules of conforming to what is viewed as a responsible adult. British Naturism has led the way in clarifying that nudity is not against the law in the UK, supporting the concept of safe unclothed play within the non-sexual atmosphere of social nudity.
How joyous it was to play at Nudefest! Throwing paint at total strangers and becoming covered in multicoloured splats of joy; making enormous bubbles with a couple of sticks, a piece of cleverly knotted string and the magic bubble mix; seeing others laughing; jamming in the Magic teapot … play can utilise hard earned skills such as those developed by musicians and be fun too. What delight we all felt as we giggled and messed about - like children. My neural pathways were buzzing!! 
So, I encourage you to grasp every chance to have fun, especially naked. Make the most of what BN offers to enjoy playful moments with others. Do more of what makes you smile and laugh. Take large and small opportunities to play: Alton Towers; NKD; naked cruises; skinny dipping; kick through the autumn leaves. Restoring our capacity to play is an essential element of learning how to recover from trauma and enhance our wellbeing.

Sheila Maycock 
MBACP

Accredited Therapist (and BN Member) 

The Forum Live - Ask the Executive

The next quarterly Ask the Executive session will take place Monday week, 12 December 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, including and update from Partnerships Officer, Lachlan Robertson with an opportunity for a discussion.
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 questions in advance, and we will take these first. Subject to time constraints we will take questions on the night as well. 
If you have a question, please send it to headoffice@bn.org.uk
Join the session here
  
Photo by Marius Oprea on Unsplash 

The Forum Live - interviewing Ian Munt

Next Monday, 5th December, I will have the pleasure of talking to Ian Munt, BN's recently-appointed volunteer Sports officer.
By day, Ian  holds a senior role within a large corporation, setting up programmes; building risk assessments, developing policies and training programmes, and engaging with stakeholders in the UK, Europe and Asia. Six months into the role he has attended and helped with National and international sporting events, most recently the INF Swimming Gala in Belgrade, Serbia.
Come and learn about the variety of Naturist sports, their strategic importance to British Naturism and the plans that Ian has for tournaments in 2023 and beyond. He is particularly keen to encourage more people to take part and for venues to offer to host events.
Join the session on the night via the BN shop

The Forum Live - interviewing Aleksandra Karpowicz

Next Monday, 28th November I am delighted to announce that our guest on the ever-popular Forum Live will be Aleksandra Karpowicz.
Aleksandra is an award-winning artist based in London, working with video, photography, and performance. We became aware of her recently when she asked us to help find willing nude models for her latest work, They Knew No Storms. Many of you answered the call and reported back on a wonderful, uplifting experience. 
In her art, Aleksandra explores themes of relationship to body, psychology, sexuality, and identity, and how those aspects of human nature are expressed and oppressed in our society and politics.
A great diversity of over 600 people from a range of social backgrounds, genders, sexuality, and ages appear in her work. She often performs and models for her own art, exposing struggles and personal journeys of healing. She sees her art as an empowering platform of expression for herself and the communities she works with.
I'll be talking to Aleksandra about her life and her work and we'll see some clips of her work too including 'Body as Home' 
Join the session on Monday night from the BN shop

Great performance by team GB at the 50th INF -EuNat International Swimming Gala

‘This year marks a big milestone for the INF, celebrating 50 years, and boy did Team BN rise to the occasion, with a team of 12 swimmers, aged 10 to 73,’ writes BN Sports Officer, Ian Munt.
Team BN flew in to Belgrade in force from Luton and were escorted by Goran Filipović Fića (President of Naturist Organisation of Serbia (NOS)) to our hotel which was only 30 minutes away. An early night followed dinner.
60 athletes from eight nations congregated after breakfast, pleasantly smiling and greeting each other, though doubtless eyeing each other up looking for weaknesses. After a wonderful 20-minute walk alongside the Danube which shrouded in a wonderful mist, we arrived at our venue, a superb 50-metre pool, exclusively ours for the day.
After an opening ceremony by the INF and NOS we were introduced to the 12 officials and judges from the Serbian Swimming association.
…and the event began; we cheered loudly and Team BN scooped its first Gold Medal won by Isla, the youngest competitor at the gala.  12 events and 28 heats later team BN had hauled in 16 Gold, nine Silver and four Bronze medals. Sadly we did not have enough female swimmers to enable us to field a team for the relays but in the spirit of the games we put a team together to make up the numbers in the pool which was received positively.
After lunch (which was enjoyed poolside) and the medal ceremony, the pool was opened for us to have a leisurely swim. I did a 50 metre breast stroke just to see if I could (I made it eventually)!
Back at the hotel after another walk by the Danube, most of us relaxed in the hotel’s spa where we were permitted to use the facilities naked. The sauna and steam room were a welcome stop before the Gala dinner.
The only attire required for the fantastic buffet dinner was a towel and a pair of flipflops after which the President of NOS and the INF began the prize giving ceremony. Each nation received a poster as a memento of the 50th INF Swimming Gala and then it came down to the trophies. I am proud to say that Team GB came second overall - a huge well done to all the swimmers who put up a valiant fight. There was dancing,  and the wine flowed in a friendly atmosphere.
The following morning, we were treated to a guided tour of Serbia by the NOS president who had an incredible knowledge of Serbia’s History. From 14th Century castles to a 21st century shopping mall, he gave us a fantastic tour. It was an incredible weekend hosted by a wonderful country and federation.
If you enjoy swimming and you would like to Swim for Team BN all you need to do is take part in the BN National Swimming Gala which will be held in May 2023, keep an eye out for details.  Any questions you have please contact me by email sports@bn.org.uk or @Ian_and_Sharon via the members area of the website.

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
 

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