Back in May, we brought you the news that for the first time in a few years, there was going to be a central London Naturist swim! At the time of the launch, the swim took place on a Sunday, but such was the popularity, Saturday night was soon added. I caught up with organiser and host Paul who told me 'The swim is doing ok and picking up after the expected quieter time over the summer. There is a huge trend to book last minute which can be a little disconcerting but we we get there on the day! There has been a lot more gym usage in recent sessions which is good to see.' Let's make good use of it! Find all the details on the BN calendar
Anyone who uses the internet regularly will know that you can't get away from people and companies trying to sell you things. There are some sites that feel like 99% advertising and 1% actual content. We also feature advertisements (although amongst some great content...) across the range of BN platforms but we want to encourage you to check them out. Advertising space is taken by Naturists for Naturists. Let’s support each other and make sure those businesses thrive! Don’t forget to look at the listings on our holidays page. Our friends will really appreciate you clicking on their adverts on this site and visiting their websites. We know they are all ready, willing and able to handle your enquiries about the holidays you may take in the future. Thanks to all of them for the financial support they give us which helps us in the furtherance of Naturism in the UK. If you are a potential advertiser, here are the details of how to advertise.
Our changes to the British Naturism website calendar make it easier than ever to find events that are coming up! In this weekly update we bring you all the links you need to find events, plus news of new events and reminders you about those you might like to go to. If you are an event host and your event needs a boost, then please let us know and we will try to include it. And if you go to an event and have a blast (well, you will), please consider writing about it for this website, BN magazine, as a blog on the Members’ Forum - or all three!
All the links you need Follow this link to find about other ‘special’ events that might need a bit of planning ahead. Want to know what’s happening near you? Add your postcode, set the distance and reveal all the events within that radius.
Don’t forget that there are some events which require no travel - British Naturism’s online events - there are 15 every week! Get fit, chill out and/or chat with other members. You can use the ‘search’ option at the top of the page and find anything you want in events - in fact, the whole website - using a keyword. This is particularly useful for finding repeating events too - for example if you spot a swim you’d like to attend but can’t make the next date, use the keyword search to find the dates for the whole series!
You can also home in on the kind of event you want to find out about! You’ll find calendars dedicated to: Major British Naturism events - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/major/ Special Events - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/special/ The Great British Skinny Dip - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/gbsd/ Naked Heart Walks - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/nhw/ Swims - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/swim/ Sports - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/sport/ Fitness - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/fitness/ Walks - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/walk/ Holidays - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/holiday/ Online - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/online/
Please note: only those events organised through BN are covered by BN’s insurance. Participants in other events should make their own enquiries regarding appropriate insurance cover for that event.
Forgive the provocative title - Flirt is the name of a café and bar in Bournemouth and on Saturday 11 October, we'll be hosting our third naked evening there. Earlier this year, on the second visit, 50 people thoroughly enjoyed the quiz and social evening and we're looking forward to welcoming more people for more of the same in October. Both food and drink will be available. Find out more including how to book your place, over on the BN calendar
If a naked walk in the grounds of an actual real-life castle raising funds for the British Heart Foundation with an optional (and also naked) cream tea in the castle itself weren't enough, a free yoga session has been arranged! The walk takes place next week on 27 September.
We sure get a lot of attention paid to British Naturism and our activities by the media! It's a two-way street - sometimes they come to us, sometimes we issue information - but we have developed such an effective way of dealing with requests quickly and efficiently as well as having so much to talk about that I count at least 20 occasions this summer when BN has been featured in the press - and much of it national. There are organisations and companies far bigger than us - and with larger financial resources - who would give a great deal to have such a profile. And remember that we don't have to pay for it. Thank you to all the media-friendly members who not only help to spread the word, but are willing to be front and centre, loud and proud, talking about Naturism, educating people and bringing understanding - as well as inspiring others to give it a try. Lately we've been trailing a new TV documentary on the Arte channel and many of you will have seen the reference in last week's ezine to my appearance with the 'Naked Chef' on Heart Radio last week. Following a visit by BBC 3 Counties Radio to the Naked Heart Walk at College Lakes in Tring, Hertfordshire which led to a broadcast the following day, the presenter decided also to write an article, and it ended up on the BBC News pages! Well done to all involved, especially Amanda who has only been a Naturist for a matter of months. Members can keep up to date with media activity and comment on it in the Members' Area
Our changes to the British Naturism website calendar make it easier than ever to find events that are coming up! In this weekly update we bring you all the links you need to find events, plus news of new events and reminders you about those you might like to go to. If you are an event host and your event needs a boost, then please let us know and we will try to include it. And if you go to an event and have a blast (well, you will), please consider writing about it for this website, BN magazine, as a blog on the Members’ Forum - or all three!
Highlights This Saturday afternoon - the Great British Skinny Dip at Wigton, Cumbria, hosted by the venue themselves inspired by the first GBSD there 6 years ago - https://www.bn.org.uk/events/event/9287-wigton-gbsd/ Sunday evening - another Naked Heart Walk at Leonardslee Gardens in West Sussex https://www.bn.org.uk/events/event/8995-leonardslee-gardens-naked-heart-walk-2/ and in a couple of weeks time, another - the last of the year - at Devon’s Powderham Castle - https://www.bn.org.uk/events/event/8985-powderham-castle-naked-heart-walk/ As usual, you’ll find plenty of nude swims to go to plus socials, walks, sports events and online events, this weekend and through next week - https://www.bn.org.uk/events/
All the links you need Follow this link to find about other ‘special’ events that might need a bit of planning ahead. Want to know what’s happening near you? Add your postcode, set the distance and reveal all the events within that radius.
Don’t forget that there are some events which require no travel - British Naturism’s online events - there are 15 every week! Get fit, chill out and/or chat with other members. You can use the ‘search’ option at the top of the page and find anything you want in events - in fact, the whole website - using a keyword. This is particularly useful for finding repeating events too - for example if you spot a swim you’d like to attend but can’t make the next date, use the keyword search to find the dates for the whole series!
You can also home in on the kind of event you want to find out about! You’ll find calendars dedicated to: Major British Naturism events - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/major/ Special Events - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/special/ The Great British Skinny Dip - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/gbsd/ Naked Heart Walks - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/nhw/ Swims - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/swim/ Sports - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/sport/ Fitness - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/fitness/ Walks - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/walk/ Holidays - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/holiday/ Online - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/online/
Please note: only those events organised through BN are covered by BN’s insurance. Participants in other events should make their own enquiries regarding appropriate insurance cover for that event.
Don't forget that our final Naked Heart Walk (NHW) of 2025 takes place in Devon in a couple of weeks time. Tickets still available - have you bought yours? Remember that all NHWs are clothes-optional and so there is no excuse not to bring friends and family. It's all in a good cause, for British Naturism's charity partner, British Heart Foundation. The venue is the stunning Powderham Castle with walks around the grounds with castle views followed by cream tea inside the building - and, yes, you can stay naked! Find out more and book your place here!
Twenty six dippers enjoyed the third Great British Skinny Dip (GBSD) event at Findhorn, on the Moray Firth, Scotland, writes organiser Alan Ellison. Two were just out for a walk along the beach when they decided to join in and this inspired another to strip off and run into the sea! This year we enjoyed warn sunshine with a gentle breeze generating some great waves for splashing around. The dolphins didn’t show (again) but a curious seal popped up to see what on earth was going on. On the day, we raised £208.50 for the Findhorn Dunes Trust to support their work in caring for this fragile environment.
This Friday, the 12th September, a new documentary on Naturism will be released on the European culture channel ARTE.tv. This summer we worked with a German production company exploring one of the biggest challenges facing Naturism today – how to engage young adults. While national surveys in both the UK and France show that attitudes towards social nudity are broadly positive, Naturist federations are struggling to attract younger members. Without them, the organisations that protect our freedoms are at risk. The production team collaborated with Jeannette Langner, chair of Get Naked Germany, to set out the problems faced by organised Naturism across mainland Europe, before travelling to the UK to explore the other side of the story – the young Naturists themselves. Leading those conversations is Saoirse Newhouse, a university student who discovered Naturism only recently. This summer she has been creating content for TheNakedTruth campaign and attending most of our events. The crew followed Saoirse to capture her experiences and, crucially, her perspective as part of Generation Z. We have not yet seen the final cut, but we are confident this documentary will ask tough questions and shine a light on the challenges Naturism faces in a changing world. Just as importantly, it will highlight the insights of the generation who must carry the movement forward. Naturism has so much to offer young people – the challenge lies in presenting those opportunities in ways that truly resonate with them. That’s why we were so keen to support a documentary that tackles these issues head-on. Only by being honest can we move forward.
Our changes to the British Naturism website calendar make it easier than ever to find events that are coming up! In this weekly update we bring you all the links you need to find events, plus news of new events and reminders you about those you might like to go to. If you are an event host and your event needs a boost, then please let us know and we will try to include it. And if you go to an event and have a blast (well, you will), please consider writing about it for this website, BN magazine, as a blog on the Members’ Forum - or all three!
Highlights There’s a big GBSD weekend this weekend in Northern Ireland with a camping event preceding the dip at Portstewart. Tomorrow - College Lake Naked Heart Walk in Hertfordshire and a Great British Skinny Dip at Arundel Lido, West Sussex Looking forward to next weekend, there’s a special event, a holistic weekend, at British Naturism Sunfolk. As usual, you’ll find plenty of nude swims to go to plus socials, walks, sports events and online events, this weekend and through next week - https://www.bn.org.uk/events/
***Stop Press*** Tickets for Nudefest 2026 are on sale! Visit nudefest.co.uk to secure your place now. The website will be fully updated soon but we can tell you about some of the entertainment already: Tuesday - Dr Fraggle Band Wednesday - Comedy Night & Boomin Thursday - Dr & The Medics Friday - Dance Anthems with Paul Chuckle (DJ Set) Saturday - Black Lace & Village People
All the links you need Follow this link to find about other ‘special’ events that might need a bit of planning ahead. Want to know what’s happening near you? Add your postcode, set the distance and reveal all the events within that radius.
Don’t forget that there are some events which require no travel - British Naturism’s online events - there are 15 every week! Get fit, chill out and/or chat with other members. You can use the ‘search’ option at the top of the page and find anything you want in events - in fact, the whole website - using a keyword. This is particularly useful for finding repeating events too - for example if you spot a swim you’d like to attend but can’t make the next date, use the keyword search to find the dates for the whole series!
You can also home in on the kind of event you want to find out about! You’ll find calendars dedicated to: Major British Naturism events - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/major/ Special Events - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/special/ The Great British Skinny Dip - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/gbsd/ Naked Heart Walks - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/nhw/ Swims - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/swim/ Sports - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/sport/ Fitness - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/fitness/ Walks - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/walk/ Holidays - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/holiday/ Online - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/online/
Please note: only those events organised through BN are covered by BN’s insurance. Participants in other events should make their own enquiries regarding appropriate insurance cover for that event.
Join host Helen Berriman, BN's Women's Officer, for a new episode of the podcast from British Naturism, dedicated to celebrating and empowering women in the Naturist community. Our podcast is created by women for women, although we warmly invite men to join us and listen as well. In each episode, we delve into insightful conversations, exploring various aspects of Naturism through the lens of womens' experiences. Whether you are a seasoned Naturist, new to the way of life or just intrigued, we aim to educate and inspire. We highlight the experiences, challenges, and triumphs of women in Naturism. Promoting body acceptance and self love, we explore how women across the planet have shed their clothes and freed up their minds, leading them toward a more fulfilling life in all areas; one that no longer keeps them restricted - emotionally, mentally, physically, and in all other ways. In Episode 22 of Women in Focus we return to the Free the Nipple debate, as Helen catches up with Fiona Discombe. Together they reflect on how society continues to police women’s bodies, why television rules still draw arbitrary lines, and what genuine equality might look like in practice. The main conversation is closer to home: Helen sits down with her step-daughter Lizzie for an open, good-humoured discussion about growing up with a Naturist father, navigating labels, and the curious mix of body positivity, confidence and fashion that shapes her life. Lizzie’s outlook — relaxed, pragmatic, and often very funny — offers a refreshing counterpoint to the usual noise around body image. It's reflective without being heavy. It's about ordinary family life, generational differences, and the simple act of growing up comfortable in your own skin. Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts - launching Saturday 6 September https://open.spotify.com/show/6HtAQzJKLzJenc3Jjm9W3O https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/d0d17b7b-51c3-4caa-b890-9c8355289c9f/women-in-focus https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/women-in-focus/id1717263257 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1Y4MelgLcBpA89zbKw7m_UW3xT4_1WZ6
The Autumn issue of our members' magazine is out now! As always, it’s chock-full of news, information, listings and fully illustrated features and articles. Contents include: All the events you can look forward to and a round-up of everything that’s been happening – including a massive bunch of summer events British Naturism Sunfolk – officially open! No Clothes, No Worries: A Naturist’s Guide to Remote Rannoch Moor Reaching the Next Generation: How TheNakedTruth is changing the conversation A New Chapter for BN Media and Marketing Why We Love Being Members of Yorkshire Sun Society How to Swim Wild, by Ella Foote: A book review Sports Round-up: All the latest on BN’s sports activities, including the National Pétanque Tournament 2025 In travel, we check out Gran Canaria, Menorca, New Zealand, Scandinavia – and much more
BN245 will soon be landing on the doormats of members of British Naturism who can also download a digital version as well as downloading all issues of our celebrated magazine back to 2004! There's also a topic open for you to share your views with other members (log in required). Not a member and would like a copy? It’s easy to join us now!
Our second Naked Heart Walk of 2025 at the wonderful Leonardslee Gardens in West Sussex takes place the weekend after next on Sunday 14 September. Around 70 walkers took part in the first clothes-free charity event, back in June, raising a brilliant £1,258 for BN's charity partner the British Heart Foundation. The gardens themselves were in full bloom, with bursts of colour from late-season rhododendrons, camellias, and the iconic rock garden providing the perfect backdrop. Local sculptures dotted throughout the grounds added a creative flair, plus the added treat of a Dolls' House Exhibition. The café offers a selection of drinks and snacks, including delicious vegan and dairy-free options. Find out more and book your place here!
Wellington Naturist Club (WNC) is based 30 minutes North of Wellington, New Zealand’s Capital City, writes club treasurer Andy. The club is accessible from Wellington by road, rail or bus and sits just off state highway two, one of the main arterial routes heading North from Wellington and the Inter-island ferries, and offers an ideal stop over when heading in either direction. We celebrate our 75th anniversary in November 2025, and would love to welcome visitors from the UK and join with them in the many activities planned at the club across the month! The history of the Wellington Naturist Club is, to a large extent, the history of Naturism in New Zealand. The Club’s founder, the late Percy W. Cousins, was also the founder of organised nudism in this country in the 1930s. In the 1930s, Percy and his family embarked on annual clothes-free vacations, 40 miles from the nearest shop, relying on a rifle and fishing line for meat, with other provisions being transported alongside children and camping gear. The growing popularity of naturism after the war led to the official establishment of the Wellington Sun Club in 1950. Following two relocations, the club settled at its current site, and subsequently acquired two adjacent properties. Today, it spans nearly five hectares of serene and picturesque landscape. We offer accommodation options in five high-quality cabins and numerous powered and unpowered camper, caravan or tent sites. Visitors should plan to spend at least a couple of nights as there are many options to enjoy time either at the club or within a few minutes’ walk, cycle or drive from the club. Guests can relax on one of our many high-quality loungers around the pool or bring their own chairs or rugs onto our extensive lawn areas. Our outdoor pool is open most of the year, heated to around 25-30 degrees from November to May. There is also an outdoor Hot tub (39C), Indoor Spa and Sauna. Many sports are available, with members regularly playing Pickleball, Kubb, Three down, and Pétanque. Other equipment available for visitor and member use includes indoor bowls, pool table, table tennis, darts, croquet & miniten. Social events are held regularly. Within at most a twenty-five minute drive, holidaymakers will find plenty to keep them occupied, including Te Marua golf course, right across the main State Highway 2 road; Kaitoke Regional Park, with ancient rainforests and the home of Rivendell from The Lord of the Rings; Riemutaka rail trail, dating from 1878, which is now a gently graded 18 km walk, run or mountain bike ride; Pakuratahi Forest; Wellington River rafting, including Wilderness Whitewater Rafting, Exciting Canyoning, Scenic Family Rafting and epic multi activity packages; Craft Breweries in Brewtown, with award-winning craft beer and food to satisfy any appetite; Mount Climie, a popular trail for backpacking, hiking, and walking; Tunnel Gully, a popular recreation area with native trees, such as kahikatea, matai, rimu and tawa; and Staglands Wildlife Reserve, where visitors can feed and freely interact with wildlife.
Our changes to the British Naturism website calendar make it easier than ever to find events that are coming up! In this weekly update we bring you all the links you need to find events, plus news of new events and reminders you about those you might like to go to. If you are an event host and your event needs a boost, then please let us know and we will try to include it. And if you go to an event and have a blast (well, you will), please consider writing about it for this website, BN magazine, as a blog on the Members’ Forum - or all three!
Highlights There are two big events to look out for tomorrow - a second visit to the lovely Burrows Gardens in Derbyshire and the most northerly Great British Skinny Dip (GBSD) at Findhorn beach in Scotland There’s a big GBSD weekend next weekend in Northern Ireland with a camping event preceding the dip at Portstewart. Regular swimmers at the Worsley, Manchester event (and there always a lot of you) should also note that tomorrow’s swim has been postponed until the following weekend. As usual, you’ll find plenty of nude swims to go to plus socials, walks, sports events and online events, this weekend and through next week - https://www.bn.org.uk/events/ In case you think you might have missed it, the BN ezine team are on a summer break this week...
All the links you need Follow this link to find about other ‘special’ events that might need a bit of planning ahead. Want to know what’s happening near you? Add your postcode, set the distance and reveal all the events within that radius.
Don’t forget that there are some events which require no travel - British Naturism’s online events - there are 15 every week! Get fit, chill out and/or chat with other members. You can use the ‘search’ option at the top of the page and find anything you want in events - in fact, the whole website - using a keyword. This is particularly useful for finding repeating events too - for example if you spot a swim you’d like to attend but can’t make the next date, use the keyword search to find the dates for the whole series!
You can also home in on the kind of event you want to find out about! You’ll find calendars dedicated to: Major British Naturism events - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/major/ Special Events - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/special/ The Great British Skinny Dip - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/gbsd/ Naked Heart Walks - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/nhw/ Swims - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/swim/ Sports - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/sport/ Fitness - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/fitness/ Walks - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/walk/ Holidays - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/holiday/ Online - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/online/
Please note: only those events organised through BN are covered by BN’s insurance. Participants in other events should make their own enquiries regarding appropriate insurance cover for that event.
SW regional events organiser Keith Bowman writes: Come and join me for our first event at The Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery on the evening of Saturday 13 September; a naked visit to this wonderful place and immerse yourself in the history of Devon and surrounding areas over millions of years of evolution. This amazing museum is a little gem hidden away in the narrow streets of Exeter, the county town. Learn about traditions and practices of other ancient and modern cultures around the world over the ages as you stroll through the world cultures gallery with like-minded other guests. Click here for more information including how to buy your ticket! I look forward to seeing you!
We're delighted to bring news of a new Naked Heart Walk for 2025, raising money for our charity partner British Heart Foundation. It takes place at College Lake, near Tring in Hertfordshire on Saturday 6 September. College Lake is one of the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust's flagship nature reserves and supports more than 1,000 different wildlife species. The venue is ideal for a Naked Heart Walk as it is a circular self-guided walk on a gentle footpath with way markers. There is a shop, ample parking and toilets. Naked Heart Walks are clothing optional to encourage attendance - and so you are welcome to complete the walk by yourself or bring friends. There will be three walks to choose from. Find out more and book your tickets here!
TheNakedTruth social media campaign has skyrocketed far beyond what we dreamed of at its launch, giving us an incredible new platform to share the benefits of Naturism and reach people in fresh ways. As of today, TheNakedTruth attracts well over a million hits per month. That’s more visibility than much of our mainstream media engagement, and it’s reaching younger audiences though the channels and in the places where they already spend their time. In fact, 27% of our audience is aged 25–34, and another 27% is 35–44. That means over half a million young adults are engaging with our content every month. Launched in 2024, TheNakedTruth shares short video soundbites on Instagram, telling real stories about Naturism, giving tips for newcomers, and showing the positive impact it has on people’s lives. While some content comes from our seasoned members, the heart of the campaign is led by younger voices, tackling the issues facing their own generation. After a year and a half of steady building, the campaign has reached a turning point. Engagement has surged, content has diversified, and the impact is clear: people are hungry for a better, freer way to live. The big question now is what comes next. We know Naturism can help people improve self-worth, boost mental wellbeing, and find community. With the right opportunities, we have the potential to make a real difference in people’s lives — and that’s worth working for.
Our changes to the British Naturism website calendar make it easier than ever to find events that are coming up! In this weekly update we bring you all the links you need to find events, plus news of new events and reminders you about those you might like to go to. If you are an event host and your event needs a boost, then please let us know and we will try to include it. And if you go to an event and have a blast (well, you will), please consider writing about it for this website, BN magazine, as a blog on the Members’ Forum - or all three!
Highlights Today! A swim at Petersfield Lido and, as usual, you’ll find plenty of nude swims to go to plus socials, walks, sports events and online events, this weekend and through next week - https://www.bn.org.uk/events/
All the links you need Follow this link to find about other ‘special’ events that might need a bit of planning ahead. Want to know what’s happening near you? Add your postcode, set the distance and reveal all the events within that radius.
Don’t forget that there are some events which require no travel - British Naturism’s online events - there are 15 every week! Get fit, chill out and/or chat with other members. You can use the ‘search’ option at the top of the page and find anything you want in events - in fact, the whole website - using a keyword. This is particularly useful for finding repeating events too - for example if you spot a swim you’d like to attend but can’t make the next date, use the keyword search to find the dates for the whole series!
You can also home in on the kind of event you want to find out about! You’ll find calendars dedicated to: Major British Naturism events - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/major/ Special Events - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/special/ The Great British Skinny Dip - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/gbsd/ Naked Heart Walks - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/nhw/ Swims - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/swim/ Sports - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/sport/ Fitness - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/fitness/ Walks - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/walk/ Holidays - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/holiday/ Online - https://www.bn.org.uk/bnevents/online/
Please note: only those events organised through BN are covered by BN’s insurance. Participants in other events should make their own enquiries regarding appropriate insurance cover for that event.
The oppressive heat of the day was dying down as my partner Dave and I reached Dorothy Clive Garden for the August 13 Naked Heart Walk. In fact, the weather was perfect for a stroll around this beautiful landscape, with its shaded paths, waterfall and quirky sculptures peeping out from the greenery. Sixty-one tickets for the event were sold, including seven walk-ins on the night. A great turnout, made even better by the fact that five newbies turned up – two couples and a single person. This is what we BNers like to see! Over £400 was raised for the British Heart Foundation In fact, Dave and I ran into a young couple who run a sauna by a lake near us. We’d encountered them while walking at the lake recently and – naturally – we’d sounded them out about the possibility of a nudie sauna event there. They were intrigued and promised to look into it, which they’re doing. We also talked up BN and – there they were, at their first Naturist event! As we ambled along, we noticed wood carvings of owls and other critters, jauntily painted gnomes, a small building where weddings and concerts take place - and the beautiful stag sculpture overlooking a waterfall. There’s so much more to this fabulous garden than we had time for, mainly because of all the friendly chatting - always a high point of any Naturist outing. Malcolm Lander, a volunteer at the garden, was our host, and his wife Barb served biscuits and hot drinks. “Malc” told me how pleased he was to see this event at the garden – which sounds like there are more walks there in our future!
There are exciting opportunities ahead as the way we promote Naturism evolves. But before we look to the future, it’s worth reflecting on what we’ve already achieved, and what has made that possible. British Naturism is a volunteer-led organisation of just 9,000 members, yet we enjoy a reach and influence that many national bodies would envy. We appear regularly in the media, our views are sought by authoritative organisations, and we are respected as an example of responsibility and safety. Much of that reputation is thanks to the work of our Marketing Manager, Andrew Welch. For over 21 years, Andrew has worked with us as a consultant, bringing both deep knowledge of Naturism and exceptional media expertise. He has made an impact across the full range of our marketing activity, especially as regards membership, developing new initiatives, such as the Great British Skinny Dip, hosting The Forum Live, and even running our big events at one time. He has guided our strategy with great success – securing front-page tabloid features, magazine spreads, radio interviews, television appearances, and even full-length documentaries. Without spending vast sums on paid advertising, we’ve achieved coverage most multinational companies would envy. Andrew has also worked closely with Jen at Studio 27eleven to produce our quarterly magazine – one of our most visible membership benefits – which has become a symbol of quality, regularly earning praise. Five years ago, when Andrew signed what he said would be his final contract, we knew replacing his skills and knowledge would be a significant challenge. Over the past three years, we have explored what the future should look like in a fast-changing media landscape. Although stepping down from British Naturism became less appealing to Andrew, who even bid to continue at full pace, we pressed ahead with a tender process, dividing the work into distinct areas so multiple specialists could be involved. This approach will help protect our future by avoiding reliance on a single person. We are delighted to share the outcome: we have appointed The Shibui Project, led by Lauren Bird in Brighton, as our new marketing team. They bring a fresh, young perspective and a strong focus on social media strategies, alongside a real passion for media engagement. Studio 27eleven will continue to manage our magazine layout, ensuring continuity of its high standard. And importantly, Andrew is not leaving us, he will continue to oversee advertising while also pursuing his own projects. This new structure means we will benefit from a wider range of voices, more creativity, and a reduced risk of disruption if circumstances change. For now, however, we pause to recognise that this ambitious future is only possible because of the foundations Andrew has built over many years. His contribution has been extraordinary, and he deserves our deepest thanks and applause.
Some places still available - come and enjoy great entertainment and great company in a lovely setting on the Welsh borders! There's a pool and sauna and the River Wye and the town of Hay-on-Wye close by. Find out all about it here!
Have you booked your ticket for our annual Naturist Boat Trip on the river Forth? A regular event in the BN SANER region calendar now, it's a brilliant opportunity to sail naked under the iconic World Heritage Forth Bridge, the Forth Road Bridge and the Queensferry Crossing. Our boat has a bar and a heated saloon with open deck spaces, so all weather conditions are covered. It's also a great way to celebrate the finale of Edinburgh International Festival. The event takes place this weekend - Sunday 24 August - find out more and book your place now!
Our second visit this summer to the stunning Himalayan Gardens and Sculpture Park for a Naked Heart Walk in partnership with British Heart Foundation was a great success, writes Mark Simmons The venue is a few miles from Ripon in North Yorkshire and the event run jointly between BN's Yorkshire & East Midlands and North West regions. I was on duty as a ‘Meeter & Greeter’ along with Ron O’Hare, (North West Regional Organiser) and his wife Elizabeth, handing out British Heart Foundation medals to the participants. The walk attracted 74 visitors from all over the North of England, Scotland & the Midlands, raising over £1000 for the British Heart Foundation. The weather promised to be warm and fair, but there was a chilly breeze, the gardens are, after all, some 300 metres above sea level, but this did not discourage visitors from casting their clothes aside. Many people brought a picnic and a mobile refreshments van sold hot drinks and cakes down in the more sheltered valley area near the lakes. YBN's Jonathan Ward was the official photographer and Jon Plummer from local media outlet ‘The Stray Ferret’ based in nearby Harrogate, attended. He wanted to interview a few people for the paper, but despite my suggestion, he declined to join in with the true spirit of the event!! The Gardens are so large that the attendees soon 'disappeared', walking amongst the sculptures and shrubbery along the various paths and trails around the venue! So, this successful second visit went down well, and this Naked Heart Walk venue is becoming a highlight of the region's Naturist calendar every summer. Here’s to 2026! Mark Simmons, (North West Regional Administrator)
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