Skip to content

News and Articles

News and articles about BN and the wonderful world of Naturism
Show all categories

The Forum Live - an update from British Naturism: Sunfolk

Next Monday (7th March) we invite you to join us on a return trip to British Naturism: Sunfolk, our site just outside London in Hertfordshire, and hear about the progress we are making since the acquisition in 2020.
We recently gained planning permission for a variety of changes and you'll learn how we are getting ready for the construction phase of the development plan, including funding and managing the project, and providing the opportunity for members to participate.
We'll also cover the events and other activities we've lined up for you this summer. Just want to put your tent up sometime? Great! We'll talk about how you do that too.
The Forum Live is free and exclusive to members of British Naturism and other Naturist federations - details on how to become a member and what you get can be found here.
Join our Monday night sessions here, via the BN shop
 

British Naturism - did you know we are a membership organisation?

If you are reading this it means you are already taking an interest in the activities of the UK’s Naturist organisation. Thank you!
You’ll already be aware of:
the range of fantastic events that we host across the country and the others we support and promote the work we do in educating the general public and people in authority to the fact that public nudity is a perfectly lawful activity in the UK (and the help we give to people and venues when this isn’t understood) the resources we provide to all those interested in social nudity including our annual guide to Naturism, our information leaflet for walkers and other Naturists in public areas, news stories on our website and information and links on our social media platforms - Facebook, Twitter and Instagram the research that we have commissioned which proves—scientifically—that Naturism is good for every body and leads to improvements in body image the online classes and sessions we run—over 100 a month—allowing Naturists to get together, be entertained and keep fit in mind and body without leaving home how hard we work to promote Naturism and body-positivity to the world, via the press, TV and radio, stands at exhibitions and projects like the Great British Skinny Dip opportunities to volunteer and gain satisfaction—and more!—from helping Naturism in the UK to thrive our acquisition of British Naturism: Sunfolk and our plans to create a centre of excellence for nude recreation It benefits all Naturists in the UK - but did you know that we rely on the annual subscriptions of our members to make all this happen?
It’s not all one way, our members receive many benefits including:
reduced price tickets on many events exclusive access to member-only events, with no extra charge for our online community sessions an information-packed magazine every quarter 24/7 access to our members’ forum with discussion topics, picture galleries and downloads the opportunity to apply for volunteering opportunities But, much more than that, BN membership is about being part of the wider Naturist scene. When you’re a BN member you know you’re a fundamental part of a community, helping to support the practice of Naturism, allowing it to thrive, open more doors and helping others realise the life-affirming benefits of social nudity.
And it costs less than £4 a month to join
Let me give you an example of what BN did for me during the endless COVID-19 lockdowns.
Although I’d been a BN member for some years, I hadn’t done anything with my membership and had pretty much given up on Naturism – mostly from inertia. But when COVID hit, everything changed.
I discovered BN’s online yoga class and community events, and they were just what I needed to keep me sane. They renewed my interest in being clothes-free and, when we could all emerge into the light, I ventured out to some Great British Skinny Dips. I’d forgotten how much fun it is to be naked!
And when BN asked for volunteers, I jumped at the chance. As a journalist, I can help spread the word about the joys and benefits of Naturism --  and the good work British Naturism does to promote and safeguard them. Not to mention the satisfaction of belonging to an organisation that’s focused on health, body positivity and friendliness.
Check out all the amazing things we’re doing at goodtimes.bn.org.uk!
So, if you are reading this and you’re not been a member, please put that right and come and be part of our fast-growing community. You can join online now!
 
Dugie
 
 

 
 

BN launches new online volunteering platform

British Naturism has launched a new online volunteering platform, called Volunteer Connect, designed to help members get more involved in volunteering within the organisation. 
Members can now create their very own Volunteering Profile in the volunteering pages of the Members Area (log in required)
My Volunteering Profile helps members register their interest in volunteering with BN.  It enables all those who currently volunteer, those who are interested in volunteering (who perhaps don’t yet know what they want to do) and those who would like to register with the Volunteer Bank to create and update their own profile.  Key features of My Volunteering Profile include:
My Personal Information (taken from the BN membership records so there’s no need to retype in information we already hold!) My Contact Preferences My Emergency Contact My Additional Support Needs (details of any disability or health condition that you would like us to know about so we can support you in, or make adjustments to, your volunteering role) My Volunteering Preferences – easy to complete tick boxes that show the the type of volunteering you would like to do the location where you would like to volunteer the activities you would like to be involved in your skills, knowledge and experience and an optional free text box where you can provide additional information. Organisers—volunteers appointed to national or regional roles with responsibility for planning, coordinating and/or organising activities, events and services—may browse all the profiles to identify potential volunteers with relevant skills and interests, and can then contact individuals who may be suitable for a particular volunteering opportunity.  
Data in My Volunteering Profile is held securely on the BN web server as part of our Volunteer Connect platform.  While some sensitive data is restricted to a small team of volunteer managers, most of the data in My Volunteering Profile will be available to organisers who may need to search for potential volunteers with the appropriate skills and interests.  Members can set their contact preferences and update their data at any time.
Our new Volunteer Connect platform is being developed and rolled out in phases that are planned to include:
integration of our current Volunteering Opportunities database with Volunteer Connect submission of online applications for volunteering opportunities management of the volunteer application process online listing any volunteer applications made in My Volunteering Profile listing current and previous volunteer roles in My Volunteering Profile matching of skills and interests between profiles and opportunities to highlight the most relevant opportunities to members matching of skills and interests between profiles and opportunities to assist organisers to identify potential volunteers the ability for volunteer managers to create and edit profiles for those members who do not go online. Creating your own Volunteering Profile will take less than two minutes to complete, or a little longer if you add content to any of the free text boxes.
John Gelder, Volunteering Officer

Does Naturism help your mental health? Part Three

Here’s the third part of our article by BN member Sheila Maycock on Naturism and Mental Health, followed by a first-person report from BN member Steff.
Read the previous articles on this website - Part One and Part Two
In Naturism what stands out initially is that people are not noticing, staring, judging or even bothered about what you look like. That’s liberating when the world as we have previously known it is constantly looking, criticising, comparing unfavourably to an unreal ideal, assessing issues such as who is better off - you or me?
This is not the type of noticing that is beneficial to our Mental Health. We live such busy lives, always planning, rushing off to the next thing without taking time out to reflect or consider. Even if we’re not that busy our mind gets over-occupied with worries about the future or concerns that we can actually do very little about and our minds get caught in a negative and unhealthy downward spiral.
In contrast ‘Taking Notice’ (or Mindfulness as it is sometimes called) is a discipline which means you start to deliberately take time to observe what is going on in the world around as well as your own internal responses to those events. You practice being present in the moment, savouring that instant in time, spotting the beautiful, interesting, fascinating, unusual or even weird stuff that goes on around us all the time.
The human brain is awesome and the truth is we only use a tiny part of it in our day to day lives. Most of the brain capacity that we are using is occupied with humdrum everyday stuff, running routine programmes that we don’t even really know we are doing or have to think about. And if our brain doesn’t deem something to be of significance to us—that we have assessed as important, dangerous, of value or interest—then our brain just filters it out. We don’t even see it and we are missing out on the chance to enjoy and appreciate what is going on around us, robbing us of the benefit of good and positive experiences and often over emphasising the negative stuff that comes our way. Finding joy in the minutiae of life: the glint of the sun on a raindrop, the feel of the breeze on your skin, the texture of a fallen tree, even the motes of dust floating in your house, can relax our busy brains for a moment, enough to reset, de-stress and refuel us for the next challenge life throws at us.
Taking note in this way is a step forward in strengthening our self-awareness and self-acceptance, which are things which Naturists have often developed through their experience of Naturism.
Mindfulness has become a new ‘thing’ so there are multiple pages online, courses springing up to teach the approach, and books and articles abounding about the topic. It is a way of focusing on this present moment and not letting our thoughts carry us off. In Mindfulness, attention is given to the now, the breath, the feeling of the ground beneath your feet, the air on your skin and it helps develop awareness of where unhelpful thought patterns may be leading us astray, replacing them with a new approach to appreciating the world in which we live. According to The New Economics Foundation (2008), Mindfulness is as effective as antidepressants in reducing the recurrence of depression.
Naturism provides a natural vehicle for this meditative practice. Being unclothed removes a mask to one’s self as well as others. We have already decided to be more authentic with little to hide from others. Now bolt on a new appreciation of the wealth of experience that surrounds us, that our brain just couldn’t see before because we had deemed it insignificant, and now our brain leaps to attention. Naturism’s immediacy of physical sensations assists in the appreciation of experiences such as the feeling of the water directly on your skin while swimming, the freedom of wandering around without the constraints of clothing. We remove a false self with our clothing and become more authentically who we are.
Sheila Maycock MBACP (Accred) Family Therapist
 
TRIGGER WARNING
At some point in their lives, most people a will have a brush with a mental health problem. It may be a form of depression, life circumstances, a chronic condition—or even caring for someone who has.
Everyone has their own battles and obstacles throughout life which can affect us all in different ways and I would like to share mine with you.
It was many years ago when I was diagnosed with a condition called Mixed Personality Disorder. That day, as I sat in the psychiatrist’s office, looking at the self-inflicted scars on my arms, the whole world around me went into a blur, like it wasn’t real, or as if they were talking about somebody else. Complete reality numbness. I felt completely isolated and different from the rest of the world, as if everybody I passed on the street could see me as if there were a big, bright spotlight shining down on me as I made my way home.
The doctor’s words continued to repeat over and over again in my head along with an intense feeling of fear. What will happen to me now? Will I have to live like this forever? Is there a way to control the constant state of anxiety and panic that I experience? The future crumbled and became a dark empty void, like a tunnel with no light, closing in around me.
In time I began to feel like I owed people something for the lack of visibility of my condition. They would usually only see me on my better days as I would isolate and hide myself away on the darker days: days when I would struggle to get out of bed, when I would be fighting the intense impulses to end my life, harm myself or battle the overwhelming feeling of sadness, despair, and self- loathing that no form of distraction would ever relinquish. Nobody sees those days, I hide them away behind the smiles, the jokes and silliness that I use as a form of cover or shield like it’s a different level of vulnerability, a weakness that must never be seen by anybody ever.
I’m lucky enough to have people around me, my doctors, my wife, and friends who all stand by me, but there can be a thousand people around and I would still feel alone. Trapped within my own thoughts, like a being in a mental prison, looking out and seeing everyone on the other side of the bars. 
My doctors are aware that I am a Naturist. We have talked about it a lot. I would describe to them how being in a Naturist environment made me feel—like I don’t have to hide anymore, how quickly a person’s confidence can rise to a balanced level in a Naturist setting, how we become human beings again without separation of social class that society seems to force upon us. They would remark on how I seemed to “spark into life” and project a “powerful aura of positivity and confidence” while speaking about Naturism, something in which is usually a rare trait to see in me.
When I discovered British Naturism, I finally found a place where differences were embraced, a place that accepted me for who I am and how I was made, a place I truly belonged. The doctors unanimously agreed that I continue the Naturism lifestyle and become more proactive within it, based on the positive effect that it had repeatedly shown on my mental wellbeing. In a way I guess that makes Naturism doctors’ orders for me.
The Covid outbreak had an impact on everyone in some way. People developed mental health conditions and people who already had them struggled even more. We were all suddenly trapped in our houses, could no longer socialise with our friends and family, something we all needed at this time, for some more so than ever. Many of us soon ran out of things to occupy our minds. Relying heavily on social media and television with its seemingly endless stream of updates reminding us of the frightening situation that we are all in. It gave us more time to think and overthink, the mind now working in overdrive which in itself is dangerous situation for anyone.
Watching the world from my window became harder each day. Missing friends, missing the beach and forests, missing nature, and the outdoors. Even the things I rarely do because the option had now been taken away from me. It felt like I was losing my identity and simply existing, the darker days became more frequent, and frightening filled with uncertainty and anxiety.
I found myself relying more and more on the British Naturism community as a form of escapism from the social media’s seemingly intentional toxicity. It became a safe haven, a covid-free environment and the online events worked as a great distraction and a means to remain connected to the community and lifestyle that I love, the lifestyle that creates such a positive impact on my mental health.
There are no real cures for many mental health conditions. Sometimes we just have to learn to live with it, adapt and evolve where possible. For me, Naturism and being a part of the Naturist community breaks through those mental prison bars and brings me back to life’s basics. It’s a reminder that no matter who you are regardless of wealth, class, status or even species, we’re all on this planet together. Naturism is truly is a place I will always call home. For those of you who are struggling out there, please remember, you’re not weak, you’re a warrior, you’re not soft, you’re a survivor. Don’t give up.
Steff
 

Steff Murdoch-Richards
 

Photo credit : Mark Bass

The Forum Live - interviewing Jason Hatherill - Magnolias Natura

Join me again next Monday (28 February) as I talk to Jason Hatherill, owner of the pre-eminent Naturist resort in the Canary Islands, Magnolias Natura.
Jason was born in the UK and was a teacher in the east end of London for 23 years.  In 2015 he moved to Gran Canaria in search of something different and a quieter life. In 2016 he became the owner and Director of Mareu Hoteles and leads a team of thirty staff in two holiday resorts one of which is Magnolias Natura - a nude resort since 2002. Jason believes in getting the basic things right – friendly staff, cleanliness, competitively priced accommodation set in attractive gardens with good quality food and beverages.  He is a member of British Naturism and has attended and enjoyed the Alton Towers event.
We'll hear more about the resort and its history, its facilities and why it - and Gran Canaria - make a great place for a Naturist holiday. We'll be treated to some images too.
All BN online 'community' events are open to all BN members and members of overseas federations. Join the session here.
If you're not a member, come and find out how to change that - and seriously enhance your life in the process!

Our 2022 guide to Naturism - OUT NOW!

Our popular Guide to Naturism has been updated for 2022 and is now available. It’s 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.
We’ll be sending copies to clubs and swims, and taking piles of them to events for you to take away. We have printed many thousands of them and you can order them - for free! - from the BN shop. It’s also available as an online booklet, making it dead easy to send a link to anyone you like!
Find it at shop.bn.org.uk/products/guide-to-naturism

Naked Dining in Oxford - book before it’s too late!

BN’s London and South East, and Eastern regions have got together to bring you a wonderful naked dining experience, on the 2nd March - a special evening of dining in convivial company, with cosy wood burning stoves.
The White House by Tap Social is a family friendly community cafe bar and kitchen, serving delicious locally sourced seasonal dishes, barista-made coffee and of course locally brewed craft beer. It is based in a historic grade 2 listed public house on the Abingdon Rd, south of Oxford, within easy reach of the centre and public transport if needed.
A two course meal, with vegan and gluten free options, is available for a set price of £23.
Find out more and book your place
 
Photo by Jay Wennington on Unsplash

North West Regional News – Events Galore!

After two long years of Covid inactivity, the North West Region is roaring back. Swims are almost fully operational and the BN North West committee wants to expand on them and other events “exponentially.”
Clubs will be opening their doors to visitors again in the Spring, aiming to attract more visits from those who found the desire during the Pandemic to enjoy practising Naturism locally. This new-found enthusiasm could help boost membership numbers for the clubs and British Naturism.
Diaries are already filling up with many dates for smaller events - including Summer swim sessions at the Shap Lido, club sports events, more new lido swims, beach days, and so on. We’re also connecting with National Events management for larger events such as the visit to Adlington Hall Gardens, which we hope to expand and accommodate the new North West ‘Naked Heart Walk’ for British Heart Foundation.
NW Club and Swim Events.
For the full list of North West Swims and other events visit the BN NW Calendar online on the BN Website. Among the many activities, you’ll find weekly swims in Manchester, Chester and Birmingham, and monthly swims in Wigton, Cumbria, Poulton (Lancs) and Worsley (Greater Manchester). All these are currently up and running. And for all the latest news from the North West Region, check out the North West pages on the BN website.
The Great British Skinny Dip.
The fantastic Great British Skinny Dip Campaign is getting more popular every year, and 2022 promises to be even bigger than before! We’ll again be supporting the British Heart Foundation. We’re on the hunt for venues to accommodate a dip, so if you have one in mind, please don’t hesitate to contact me.  Check out the new GBSD website.
Two new BN Clubs
Welcome to our two new BN member clubs! Wrekin View and the N&W Outreach club have come on board and we hope they can be represented on the NW committee.
The next Regional Meeting is an EGM - open to all BN members in the North West region, to be held via Zoom on Tuesday 15th March at 8 p.m. Find out more at https://www.bn.org.uk/calendar/event/6750-nw-region-egm/
Ron O’Hare (BN North West Regional Co-ordinator and Team GBSD).

Phil's Freezing Charity Swim - a great success!

BN member Phil Pool braved near-daily skinny dips in the teeth-chattering waters off Brighton through to New Year’s Eve to raise funds for the RNLI. BN caught up with him to find out how it went,’ writes BN ace reporter Dugie Eyton-Hughes.
Phil started winter sea swimming in the autumn of 2020 and continued through 2021. As the cold months approached, he wanted to continue but “knowing how hard it had been, I knew I’d need something to motivate me.”
That motivation came from hearing a report about a group of migrants having died at sea. Phil reflected on how terrible and terrifying their last moments will have been. He knew the RNLI rescued many people but can’t be there in time for everyone. “The idea grew in my mind about doing something to support them. At the same time Nigel Farage started making negative comments about the RNLI – and that made up my mind!”
Combining his support for the Lifeboats with the need to motivate himself, Phil decided to swim every day from the start of September through to New Year’s Eve. And, knowing that many people swim in the sea year-round in wetsuits, he decided to do it naked, counting on the novelty value to attract more attention and sponsorship.
All went well until he attended a family wedding in Dartmoor and moved his daily plunge to the River Dart. High up on the moor the water was crystal clear and very cold, but the swimming stunning. Two days later, he came down with Weil’s disease. Some antibiotics soon sorted that out and Phil lost only a day or two of swimming but he also had to take 10 days off when he tested positive for Covid. He also missed a couple of days when the sea was too rough even in the harbour. 
Phil originally hoped to raise around £250 for the RNLI in sponsorship from friends and family. In the end, having been interviewed twice on BBC local radio and Heart FM, and through the BN website, Facebook and Twitter, he attracted nearly £3,500, and counting. On the last day of his swims, Phil discovered that around 40 people had turned out to support him. “I came out of the water, to gentle applause, and while I stood there, naked but for swim socks, gloves and a woolly hat, I was photographed by several people including the RNLI’s media lead for the South East of England – quite chilly on New Year’s Eve!” 
Phil’s still swimming in the sea. He’s rightfully proud that he completed his challenge and, as a Naturist, did something positive that got media attention, “even if it was only in a small way.”

Way to go, Phil!

Putting the “nature” back into Naturism

Synergy with the natural world forms a key part of Naturism for many people.  Indeed, both British Naturism and the International Naturist Federation define Naturism as:
"Naturism is a way of life in harmony with nature characterised by the practice of communal nudity with the intention of encouraging self-respect, respect for others and for the environment."
At the same time, we know that caring for nature and the environment are key concerns for many young people, after all, they still have a long time to live in this world.
In The Forum Live Debate this month (Monday 21st February), we will discuss the symbiosis between Naturism and nature, including how we can tackle sustainability and environmental issues in a way that will make the world a better place and encourage young people to join our campaign.
 
Click here for the link to join us on the night...

Back garden Naturism - it's not a police matter!

BN is surprised by the many reports in the media today of a senior RAF officer being investigated by police and suspended by the military for being naked in a paddock at his home.
The reports contain no suggestion that there was any sexual element or intent to cause alarm or distress, and the facts as reported give no reason to suppose a police investigation was warranted.
We’ve said it before (It is perfectly legal to be naked in your garden - About BN - British Naturism) and we’ll say it again:  It is perfectly lawful for somebody to go naked in their garden.
The Sexual Offences Act 2003 was carefully worded to exclude Naturism. It is perfectly ok to take your clothes off to enjoy the sun and the breeze on your skin, or the life-affirming feeling of swimming without a costume. However, if you do so because you have the intention of causing ‘alarm and distress’ then it could be a criminal offence, though the onus is on the onlooker to prove the intent. Despite what many media reports suggest, merely being ‘offended’ is not enough to warrant a call to the authorities.
It follows that nudity is permissible in all public places…and why should it not be? It’s our natural state. It’s only social conditioning that tells us that certain parts of our body are - choose your own adjective: shameful, disgusting, sexual, offensive, ridiculous - and must therefore be hidden away. Sadly, that same conditioning has led people to conclude that a nude person, especially a man, must be up to no good. No-one, ever, children included, has been harmed by the sight of a naked person.
We’re aware of the sensitivities though. Many people never think to challenge what their parents and teachers taught them when they were very young. That social conditioning, the stigma and taboos are thus ingrained and it takes a lot to change attitudes. We’ve worked with the police and the number of arrests and cautions has plummeted, but still pockets of ignorance remain. 
Being neighbourly is desirable, and Naturists sunbathing in their back garden will generally choose a spot that isn’t too overlooked and will often speak to neighbours who can see into their garden to advise them they may catch a glimpse of naked flesh. Anecdotal evidence and long experience shows that most – but obviously not all - neighbours couldn’t care less!

The Forum Live - interviewing Lachlan Robertson, BN's Partnerships Officer

Next Monday (14 February) I will have the pleasure of talking to Lachlan Robertson, a BN member who has recently been appointed to a newly created rôle of Partnerships Officer, aimed at creating and maintaining strong, collaborative relationships with the outside world including government, police and other authorities, charities, and groups and organisations. 
Lachlan is a retired town planner, born in Scotland who has lived in southern England for nearly 40 years. Despite having been of a clothes free mindset since he was young, he was mostly introduced to Naturism through his interest in Art and working part-time as a life model. He is married to a bemused but very supportive partner and has three adult daughters who, apparently, are amused by their dad's interests on a regular basis.
We’ll hear more about the work he is doing on behalf of all Naturists and the results he hopes to achieve. Lachlan says, ‘My new role as BN's Partnerships Officer offers an opportunity to bring into Naturism my experience of persuading a skeptical public to accept unfamiliar things that need to be brought and welcomed into the world.'
Click here for the link to join us on the night...

British Naturism Sunfolk: Our Redevelopment Plans Get the Green Light!

Our site at Sunfolk received a very welcome (although slightly late!) 90th birthday present in late January in the form of approval for the planning application to redevelop and improve the site. This is great news for BN as an organisation, for the hundreds of Naturists who visit the site each year and for Sunfolk itself as it allows us to secure and update our facilities and to welcome visitors for years to come.
Approval took nearly a year—much longer than we had hoped. We had a lot of support from our neighbours, but the location of the site in green belt land, together with a long and complicated planning history, and some more technical concerns around drainage meant that we had to work through a lot of questions from the local authority. But now we can move ahead with the detail of planning the work we need to do. The benefits visitors will see as a result of the development can be summarised in four areas:
Accessibility – we’ll improve access to the site for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists with new parking and access routes. We’ll also upgrade the footpaths around the site and access to buildings to make access easier for all of our guests Accommodation – we’ll create new areas for tent camping with dedicated toilets and showers and build a new ‘glamping’ area with pods available to hire for one or more nights for those who want something more than a tent! Leisure and Recreation – we’ll add new facilities including a new sauna and hot tub, a pétanque piste, a sports court and a fitness trail around the perimeter of the site. We’ll also upgrade the barbecue area. Indoor space – we’ll increase the size of the clubhouse, and improve the facilities we are able to offer. Sliding glass doors will make allow light into the building and link it much more closely with outdoor spaces. We had planned to complete the redevelopment works between the 2021 and 2022 seasons, but now we are planning to start work in September of this year – allowing plenty of time to enjoy the existing facilities over the course of this summer. Focusing on the detailed construction design and planning, and identifying the suppliers who we will work with to deliver the redevelopment project is already underway.
Although we acquired Sunfolk on very generous terms from the Sun-Folk Society, and have been able to make some investments in the site since then, the redevelopment project will be very significant for our organisation and will undoubtedly be the single largest financial investment BN has ever made. We are confident from our experience over the last two years that there is a strong appetite for a venue with great access and good facilities, close to London and available to all Naturists on a ‘pay as you go’ basis and that investment in the site will provide financial and other benefits to BN in the future.
We have most – but not all – of the funding in place for the redevelopment already, and would welcome donations from members who would like to offer direct support to the project. Over this summer, you’ll have the opportunity to make an additional donation whilst you are booking your visit to the site, whilst you are visiting the BN Shop, or via our crowdfunding page. Your support for this important project will be most appreciated
We would also welcome longer-term support within funding for the redevelopment project. In line with this, we will be launching a ‘Sunfolk Development Bond’ within the next few months. This will offer members and others the opportunity to support the redevelopment project with an investment of £500 or more over three or five years, receiving an attractive rate of interest on their investment at the end of the period.We’ll share more details of this exciting opportunity soon.
There will also be plenty of opportunities to get involved in supporting the redevelopment more directly. Although most of the work at the site will be completed by professional contractors, we’d love to hear from members who would like to help out with more general tasks such as decorating, planting and groundworks. We’d also love to hear from members who might be able to offer assistance in more specialist areas such as:
Project management Financial planning and control Quantity surveying Services engineering Structural engineering Landscape architecture Ecological management Most importantly, we’d love to share the Sunfolk site with as many BN members as possible. We can’t bring the site to you, but it has great access close to the M25 and can easily reached by train or bus as well. We’ll be open for visitors from the start of April and you can book your visit online now. We’re also delighted to confirm that we won’t be increasing our prices for 2022.
We’ll be organising several different weekend events over the course of the summer such as a families weekend, a yoga and fitness weekend, and a life drawing weekend – or just join us to enjoy the sun when it’s shining and the pool, sauna and clubhouse when its not!
Jon Williams, BN Vice-Chair
sunfolk.bn.org.uk
 
Photo credit : Nirish

A fantastic Motown-themed weekend

After two years in the making, we finally were able to head to Detroit-on-Sea (Bournemouth) for our Motown themed weekend and it didn’t disappoint.
Friday night opened with the incredible Midnight Soul Sisters (pictured) with their authentic tribute to the girls of Motown – the dance floor was packed from start to finish.
It was great to see the community back together – our Bournemouth events attracts mainly couples, and there were lots of new faces as well many familiar. It was also great to see a few sun-club members getting together and booking en-masse.
Saturday you can always take at your own pace. Activities included calligraphy, virtual reality, meditation, fitness, quiz, aquarobics, squash(yes!) and many activities in the pool – there was always something to do!
The headline act, ‘Legends of Hitzville’ performed on Saturday night and were simply stunning with their tribute to The Drifters and the men of Motown – what a highlight to a great weekend.
A new three-night break for 2023 was announced at the event the ‘Decades of Dance’ weekend takes place at The Suncliff Hotel from the 27th – 30th Jan and will go on general sale March 1st.

Women in Naturism - Helen's story

Well, what a couple of years I’ve had! Pre-pandemic, I was an overweight, middle aged Retail Manager, vehemently against my husband's Naturism. The arrival of Covid into all of our lives had quite the impact on mine. During the first lockdown I was at home, having been furloughed and began cooking healthy meals and the weight began to drop off. The weather was glorious and feeling a little more confident, I bought a bikini and THAT was the start. Fast forward 20 months, I quit the nine-to-five and I am now Women in Naturism Campaign Coordinator for British Naturism and a writer for Body Freedom International. These days, you’ll often find me with fewer clothes than my husband! 
When I was raped at aged 14, I felt I must have done something wrong for it to happen to me. I struggled with the lengthy court case and my behaviour became erratic, skipping school and developing an eating disorder. The whole episode shaped my views on sex and nudity for years to come. 
Fast forward to 2015 when social media reunited me with an old school friend, Simon - now my husband. We began chatting online. There wasn’t any romantic interest at that time as we were both married but eventually both our marriages ended. Quite early into our relationship, Simon revealed he liked to live a ‘clothing-optional’ lifestyle. I didn't understand what he meant by that. I mean, I take my clothes off to have a shower or to be intimate but that's all. When he moved in, the reality sunk in. I returned home from work early to find him sitting at his desk completely butt naked! I swore a lot, called him a weirdo and walked out. I was actually disgusted that he could be naked in my house where my young daughter (8) could see him at any time. I wanted to protect her (and myself) from any unnecessary viewings of the penis! A few ‘robust’ conversations followed over the next few months and we agreed that he would cover up, especially when my daughter was around. I still felt uncomfortable knowing he was going to be naked at home whilst I was out but could also see that his desire to be clothes free wasn't going to go away so we reached that compromise.
Meanwhile, I was having issues with my weight. I was a size 14 but wanting to be the size eight teenager he knew at school. Simon showed me that he loved me irrespective of size but over the next few years I ballooned to a size 20, weighing in at over 15 stone. Something had to change. 
I was at home on furlough for 6 weeks and I had the time to make proper, healthy meals from scratch. I reduced portion sizes and my weight dropped. I plucked up the courage to put my new bikini on and soak up some rays in the garden. Simon took some pictures and for the first time in ages, I wasn't repulsed. It inspired me. I answered an advert for lingerie models of any age or size and was accepted. I couldn't believe there was a market for the mature curvy woman! My confidence soared and I could see that the world was ever evolving and the days of the ‘ideal’ image was disappearing.
I went along to a Naturist event at Max’s Garden in West Sussex with Simon. I really didn't want to be a part of it but in order to be supportive wife, I agreed to go along - on the understanding I could keep my clothes on. An art session was organised where I was the clothed model being drawn by naked people. I didn't know where to look! Ever the professional, I was there to do a job so I got on with it. Afterwards we hung around and just chatted to people. I soon forgot about their bits and bobs and I felt a bit daft—not to mention hot—in my dress. Bracing myself, I took it off … and NOTHING happened! The world kept turning, nobody stared or judged. In fact, I even walked around the resort without my clothes. Never had I encountered a group of such friendly, down-to-earth people and would never have dreamed that this environment would liberate me, not only from clothes but from my body issues. 
Since that day, I have understood the feeling and empowerment body acceptance gives you. I finally accept the skin I'm in and actively encourage others to give it a go. 
Here’s what Simon says:
“I have always had an on-off relationship with clothing. As a teenager I would wait for my parents to go out and strip off for the day. I married my first wife when I was still very young and she did not condone any form of nudity, so I repressed it for many years. However you can’t hide part of your nature forever. When that marriage started to break down I looked for my own space and to ‘find myself’ again. I discovered there was a label I could use - a ‘Naturist’. I also found out about the World Naked Bike Ride, and my first ever socially nude experience was in the Exeter WNBR in 2011. I quickly decided this was my space, and even got involved with setting up Plymouth Sun Club in 2012.
I don’t think Helen was prepared for the reality of a clothes-freedom. She had grown up and lived by typical societal beliefs regarding nudity - that it was either sex-related, amusing, or disgusting. To find me naked at home upset her, and I felt awful for it. I again tried to repress my desire to be nude for the woman I was falling in love with, and, once again, would wait until I was alone to undress. But it upset me greatly that I had to hide part of myself from the woman I wanted to build my forever-partnership with. Her attitude upset me, as I could see that her own body image struggles would be addressed by Naturism. In the winter it was easier, but I found myself with a constant struggle in the summer months. I allowed myself to be caught, thereby keeping the conversation alive. After a few years together she recognised that her society-based views on nudity were not necessarily true, and made allowances for me to go nude in limited circumstances. She still thought it was weird though, and said she loved me ‘in spite’ of me being a Naturist. I smiled, but that did hurt.
After the bikini and lingerie photo shoots I could see an opportunity to show her the joy of nudity - talking to someone will only take them so far, they have to experience it for themselves and found the event at Max’s Garden. I fell in love with her all over again and our life together leapt to a new level of happiness that day and has only been getting better and better ever since.
To this day I continue to marvel at the transformation she has allowed herself to go through - an incredibly brave thing to do, and I’m honoured she placed her trust in me to take that initial leap of faith. For it does take an immense amount of trust for a non-Naturist to try Naturism. I continue to be so very proud of her.”
Not only did my attitude towards nudity change, it had an impact on the rest of the family too.  Simon has two daughters (21 and 19) and I have a 15 year old who has had Simon (and his Naturist ways!) in her life since she was eight years old. Here’s what they say about it:
Meredith (21)
“Having grown up with a Naturist father, Naturism and nudity to me is simply something that exists. I may not identify as a Naturist myself but I am not bothered or perturbed by the naked human body in a Naturist environment and I’m happy to bare all if I wish, it’s simply a fact of life. Because of this, in my time knowing Helen and having her in the family, seeing her mindset shift from one of reluctance and fear, to being open and accepting of Naturism has been incredible. Seeing someone close to you becoming comfortable in their own skin and loving their body for what it is, is simply wonderful.”
Indeed, Meredith has joined us at a retreat and been happy to get involved herself. She has even featured in some of our “Naked retro gaming nights”.
Lizzie (19)
“You don’t question what’s normal to you. Growing up, dad was often naked around the house and as a kid I thought nothing of it. Even as I got older and started to realise it may not be what everyone’s parents do, it still never bothered me. It just gave me a different, healthier view of nudity—being unbothered by someone not wearing clothes makes life easier. I have no problem telling my friends that my Dad’s a Naturist when it comes up and that no, I don’t care if they walk in on me  when I’m changing. I find that my generation, or at least the people I associate with, do not care. Granted, they may not start stripping too, but rewriting a lifetime in instilled ‘modesty’ may take a moment. Helen wasn’t into it at first, and look at her now. Now my dad and step-mum are both Naturists. In the nicest way possible, I don’t care. I’m just glad he’s found someone to share his passion with.” 
 
Lizzie is comfortable to be around the two of us when we are sans clothes, comfortable in the skin she is in and happy to be nude herself sometimes. In the early days, it was me that felt awkward if either of the girls walked around topless.  My, how things have changed!
 
Dilara (15)
“My parents are always naked. When it first started happening I thought it was very strange but then they taught me that the idea is not anything sexual, it is a way to express yourself and the confidence that you have. People get this conception mixed up and automatically jump to the conclusion that it is sexual however it really isn’t. I am not a nudist nor will I ever be (I do still find the notion kinda embarrassing) but I am not going to judge what my parents choose to do. My mum is actually helping people with mental health problems and eating disorders involving nudity which is really good.”
She’s come a long way too.  From getting used to seeing her stepfather naked, she then had to deal with her own mum getting naked!  She at first couldn’t understand my change of heart. so I eased her in gently and explained why I was doing it and what people were getting out of it.  She completely understands the difference between nudity and sex and sees my new role as a positive one.  I have seen her confidence soar too and although she’s not into nudity, she has become more body positive herself.
Helen’s Mum (74)
Although not into Naturism myself, I have been amazed at Helen’s transformation. She has gone from hiding herself away in baggy jumpers to embracing body freedom and helping others.  I’m very proud of her.
Helen Berriman
helen.berriman@bn.org.uk
 

 
 

The Forum Live - interviewing Dan Whicker of Cypress Cove

Next week's (7 February) guest on the Forum Live will be Dan Whicker, Director of Sales and Marketing for one of the best-known family-oriented Naturist resorts in the US - Cypress Cove Nudist Resort near Orlando, Florida, USA.
We'll hear from Dan about the work he does in enlarging the Cypress Cove brand and attracting new visitors, and learn all about the resort and its facilities and watch a slide show of images.
Dan was formerly the executive director of the American Association for Nude recreation (AANR), and joined the Cypress Cove team in 2018 playing an integral role in helping the resort to navigate the pandemic and changing times. Despite those difficulties, Dan says that Cypress Cove has hardly “missed a beat,” even seeing increases in first-time visits and a renewed interest in Naturism locally.   
Dan works hard to get Cypress Cove, and Naturism, exposed to more audiences. One example is Worn Stories, a documentary series on Netflix, in which Dan convinced producers to use Cypress Cove for the first episode, appropriately titled “Community.”
Dan is also hoping to publish a science fiction novel with something for everyone, which includes themes of body image and acceptance. Find out more at danwhicker.com.
Reserve your place now...

 

The Forum Live: Interviewing Lucy Holden

Next week's (31st January) guest on the Forum Live will be writer Lucy Holden.
Lucy first came to our attention a few years ago when she wrote a piece on the largely-unplanned winter she spent at Naturist resort/village Flevo Natur in the Netherlands. That experience led the Evening Standard to commission her to take a lockdown-enforced staycation at a Naturist place in the UK last summer. Lucy, accompanied by her friend Rosie plumped for Apollo Sun Club near Brighton and the resulting article was one of those that really stands out for us - a hugely-positive, myth-busting, actually-this-is-terrific report on Naturism that makes people desperate to try it.
We'll talk to Lucy about both of those experiences, and hear about her book 'Lucid', a 'memoir of an extreme decade in an extreme generation', to be published on February 3rd.
Remember that The Forum Live no longer requires pre-registration and you can join through the members section of the British Naturism Shop

Volunteering for British Naturism - Walking on Sunshine!

The title is taken from the song Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves (1985) and help describe how it feels to be a Naturist AND a volunteer,’ says BN’s Volunteering Officer, John Gelder. ‘So, here are some examples of how to GET INVOLVED, feel good and feel alive.
Get on Board
Becoming a member of the Executive Committee is an exciting opportunity to benefit the organisation and really make a difference. It can be a hugely rewarding, important and exciting role. You not only give your time, skills and experience to a good cause, but you can learn new and useful skills too, and be at the heart of the leadership of British Naturism. 
It’s important to encourage a diverse range of skills, experience and different approaches on the EC as it helps us carry out important work to the high standards that our members expect. 
Get Campaigning 
Do you also have a passion for campaigning about Naturism, promoting social nudity as a healthy lifestyle and normalising public nudity? If so, there are campaigning roles ideal for you! 
We are currently recruiting for a new Campaigns Officer who’ll be responsible for leading and coordinating the development of new and existing campaigns that promote and normalise Naturism and social nudity as a healthy lifestyle. 
There are also opportunities to join our team of Local Campaign Coordinators across the UK, who are responsible for leading and/or contributing to new and existing campaigns in a particular locality, including their planning, implementation and evaluation. You will support and increase opportunities for members to be involved in campaigns such as Just One Person, and the Great British Skinny Dip and for developing opportunities for those new to Naturism to participate in taster activities and clothes optional events. 
For our campaigning roles you will have good coordination, planning and project management skills; campaigning and event management skills (or
a willingness to acquire them); and experience of, or an enthusiasm for, successful campaigns and/or promotional work. You will also need a willingness and an ability to talk about Naturism with others in a public arena. 
Get down to the beach
There’s always a great deal to do in terms of ensuring that information on our Naturist beaches - suitable travel routes, parking, access, safety and facilities - is accurate, up-to-date and informative. We also need to coordinate access to local beaches, promote their use by Naturists and the general public, maintain contact with local authorities, landowners and others that manage access to beaches and lobby for more and better signage. 
To tackle this, we need a team of volunteer Beach Officers, based across all regions, covering designated beaches or coastline, who could take this work forward. Besides having a knowledge of Naturist beaches in your area—or a willingness to acquire it—good research and recce skills and an enthusiasm for promoting Naturism will help.
So, if you like walking on sunshine, and this role is something that interests you, then please consider whether you could volunteer. Over the coming months there won’t be many opportunities for you to sit and enjoy the sun but you will have ample opportunity to scout these glorious locations to ensure information on how to access them can be made available to others so that they can find sun, sea and sand next year. 
For more information on these and other roles, please visit our Volunteering Opportunities pages on the BN website or contact Volunteering Officer, John Gelder
 

The Forum Live Debate - Where will British Naturism be in 10 years time?

It is the time of year when we all make plans for what we want to achieve in the year ahead.  This seems the perfect opportunity to take an even longer view and consider where we want to be in 5 or 10 years time.  How do we want to normalise and promote Naturism?  What relationships do we want with other bodies and organisations, and which ones?  What activities should we be undertaking to reach that 10-year goal?  In The Forum Live Debate we will discuss all of these issues so that we can collectively devise some objectives that will inform our activities for the year ahead.
Hopefully we will see lots of members join the conversation to shape British Naturism into the organisation that YOU want to see!
Come and tell us what you think…reserve your place now

The Great British Skinny Dip returns to Northern Ireland

We're delighted to announce a date for another skinny dip in Northern Ireland. Last summer, between 80 - 100 people gathered on the two mile golden sand beach at Portstewart Strand raising over £1700 for the British Heart Foundation (NI). 
Such was the success that the event is being repeated on the 4th September - so you have plenty of time to plan, to raise money and to encourage your friends to get involved!
The GBSD schedule for 2022 is already building, with many dips already arranged in Cumbria and the first dip of the year later this month in Yorkshire.
Trash the trunks! Bin the bikini! Scrap the swimsuit! ...and enjoy a life-affirming, exhilarating experience.
You can find out all about the Great British Skinny Dip, and how we are supporting the British Heart Foundation plus access helpful resources including a Fundraising Kit, over on our dedicated Great British Skinny Dip website. Don't forget to sign up for the newsletter!

Now booking ... The Gathering!

The Gathering is the flagship weekend event hosted by British Naturism's SANER (Scotland and North of England, incorporating Northern Ireland) region - and 2022's event is now open for booking!
Held for the second time at Waverley Castle, south of Edinburgh, in May, it promises to be another activity-packed, fun-filled event. This year, there will also be the addition of a swim at a local venue.
Find out more and book your place now!

The Forum Live - interviewing Lucy Leonelli

Avid readers of the latest BN Magazine will be aware of A Year in the Life - Adventures in British Subculture by Lucy Leonelli, a new book to be published next week in which Lucy charts her experiences with a variety of UK-based groups and activities. One chapter is dedicated to her visit to a British Naturism event. 
I'll be interviewing Lucy on next week's The Forum Live - 17th January.
Lucy Leonelli is a self- proclaimed social tourist with an unquenchable thirst for exploring, experiencing and understanding the world’s most colourful subcultures and communities. Born in Bristol, she lived in London for a decade before moving to California in search of the sunshine. She now runs executive recruitment for a technology firm in Silicon Valley and lives in Berkeley, California, with her husband Mathieu, their sons Fox and Archer, and T-Rex the corgi. A Year in the Life - Adventures in British Subculture is published by Unbound.
Reserve your place now...
 

Nudefest is back and booking...

Following a record breaking re-book, tickets for Nudefest are on sale for the 2022 edition which returns to Thorney Lakes in Somerset from the 4th - 11th July.   Expect a week of fun in the sun including live music and partying nightly, daily activities from sports and fitness through to archery and rock climbing. You can choose between a 7-day break arriving on the Monday ahead of the main festival opening or a 4-night festival break Starting on the Wednesday.   Nudefest welcomes over 500 Naturists each year from all across Europe and is open to all Naturists with British Naturism and INF guests getting a discounted rate.   Full details are available at https://shop.bn.org.uk/pages/nudefest   Tickets are limited and are going fast! Already 65% of pitches are taken!

New appointment! South West region co-ordinator

It gives me great pleasure to announce the co-option of Andy Dyer as the new Regional Coordinator for the Southwest Region.
After careful consideration of options, the South West committee have elected to follow the path of many other regions in uniting the roles of Regional Chair and Regional Coordinator.  This approach allows an effortless flow of information between those working at Regional and National levels and ensures that local contributors are well represented.
Andy says:
I consider that I have been a Naturist since I was 16; although I only found a name for it from H&E magazine a few years later. I used to enjoy walking on the North Downs near my home, discovered Brighton Beach and after moving to Bath for work, Studland Beach. During this time, I joined the Singles Outdoor Club as an entry to CCBN but being in my twenties I did not join in any of their activities. Most weekends I joined a small group of people camping on farms across the country, which occasionally featured in H&E and once on the local Sunday lunchtime news! Unfortunately, Naturism took a back seat as the kids grew up, but I re-joined BN in 2016 and attended BN events (including Nudefest, Bournemouth, Splashdown, Alton Towers). During last summer I was a volunteer Assistant Warden at BN Sunfolk. I have also enjoyed non-BN events such as NudeCamp 2021, New Year's Eve at Clover Spa, Dine Naked Bristol and Oxford meals and am a member of Aquasol swim.  But mainly, I have met a lot of nice people!
I hope that there will be rallies, solos weekends and Great British Skinny Dips this year across the region; Clubs, swims and campsites are welcome to contact me if they would like to get involved. More details will be provided soon in a new regional newsletter. You can sign up for your own regional news at www.bn.org.uk/membership/newsletter-preferences.
I will be inviting South West members to help (locally or region-wide) in whatever way they can. I look forward to hearing from any SW members who wish to contact me. 
andrew.dyer@bn.org.uk

Account

Navigation

Configure browser push notifications
Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.