News and Articles

Have you seen what we're up to?

Have you seen what we're up to?

At British Naturism, despite the unusual circumstances, we're having a great time and we want everyone to come and be part of it!
Online events
We've launched a programme of online events with something that you can be involved in every day from the comfort of your own home - or wherever you may be! They include yoga, fitness, aerobics, a cooking workshop, meditation, discussions, guest interviews and brilliant gatherings like the weekly coffee morning and Naked pub where you can meet and chat with other Naturists. We've hosted special events such as afternoon tea, life drawing and a drum festival, with plenty more to come. They will also continue when the lockdown ends - look out for an announcement next week!
Membership increases
The popularity of the online events has also led to the number of new members joining doubling since the beginning of lockdown. There's also been an increase in the number of people renewing AND a number of ex-members returning. Spotting the great opportunities we are providing to the Naturist community, many of those new members are people from overseas.
The Great British Take Off
We launched a new event in May - The Great British Take Off - aimed at encouraging people to experience the wonderful feeling of being naked. It was a busy day and great success with loads of media coverage bringing social nudity to the masses in a very positive way. We also raised over £3000 for our Charity of the Year, British Heart Foundation.
Hitting the Headlines
Hot on the heels of many articles and interviews (including prime time TV) in connection with our submission to the Hate Crime commission, Naturism and Naturists have benefited TWICE since and have had the press beating a path to our door - and finding us very willing to tell the world. Firstly, the news that our membership was rising during the pandemic and then the Great British Take Off. We were on prime time TV (again) and reported in many national newspapers - including the banner headline one day in the Daily Star. We've lost count of the radio interviews we've done and the number of countries we reached. Find all the links on our members' forum (log in required)
Acquiring our own site
In March, the land belonging to The Sun-Folk Society just north of London became the property of British Naturism and we have big plans which will benefit members and Naturism in the UK.
Campaigns
Our ongoing campaigns including Women in Naturism, the Great British Skinny Dip and Just One Person are all helping to spread the word and helping Naturists to feel more comfortable about telling other people and inviting them to try.
Keeping busy with BN
We been working hard to provide resources, entertainment, information and activity:
Read over one hundred articles on our news pages about a wide variety of Naturist and Naturist-related subjects, added to almost every day. There are also Inspiring, first-person stories from Women in Naturism
Follow us on social media - we're active on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter
The members' side of our website is chock-full of interesting stuff. Naturists are currently discussing and debating a variety of topics - not all related to Naturism - and finding information, viewing images from events and elsewhere, reading blogs and more.  It also contains a variety of interesting and useful downloads including full copies of BN Magazine back to 2004! It all comes free as part of a British Naturism annual subscription. 
Not using the members' are of this website? Here's a guide on how to log in and use the member's section of the website and a new Quickstart Guide to help you find your way around...
Summer magazine
BN224 is at the printers and will be sent to members soon. There are a large number of terrific features - covering the Solstice, discovering Naturism and BN, taking family to events and on holiday, Naturism as the solution to body-confidence, the legality of sunbathing in the garden, naked walking, plus news and listings of all that is going on.
Naturism Guide
If you haven’t already, download our new 2020 Guide which contains masses of information…
 
If you are a member of British Naturism, then thank you. We hope you are getting a lot out of your membership. 
If you're not a member, then there's never been a better time to join. It costs less than £4 a month.
 
Photo by Nicolas Tissot https://unsplash.com/@nft
 

From the archive: My skinny-dipping year

From the archive: My skinny-dipping year

A nice one from 2019...
 
‘I've always been one to strip off and jump into water, and have found myself more comfortable with the less I had to wear. Last Summer, more than any before, I found myself on a mission to swim naked in the sea as often, and for as long as into the year, as possible,’ says Ged Deignan
It really became a thing with the onset of the long, glorious, hot summer we experienced. I had been able to swim for most of the summer. A friend had joined me on holiday in Essex, and at midnight on the first night we walked along the shore at Frinton-on-Sea, up past the higgledy piggledy village of small white holiday huts, and on up the ‘Naze’, as locals called it. It was a warm moonlit night and we found ourselves on a deserted stretch of beach, with no buildings or any sign of life in sight. Although not strictly a Naturist spot, the gently folding waves upon the pebbled beach, were calling to us. We soon found ourselves stripped off in sea water that held the warmth from the intense summer sun. The feeling of being one with nature was magnified under the spotlight of a full moon. We spent a long time in the water, swimming back and forth, talking about life the universe and everything. It was like dancing a gentle waltz with nature.
The actual naturist beach is further along the coast from there, south of Clacton-on-Sea at St. Osyth. It is a shingle beach with sand-dunes and beyond that marshland, rich with wildlife. The far end of the beach is fenced off by a Nature Reserve. It can be accessed from a nearby holiday park, and then a long walk along the shingle beach, which can be hard going after a while. Alternatively, follow the seawall along, and as the tarmac path is replaced by sand, cut across the dunes which will take you out near the start of the naturist section. We spent most of the holiday swimming there. 
I've been back a few more times since, whilst working in the area. One stormy day in Clacton, I had decided that after work I would just drive home to Southampton, without going for a swim. After all, the sea would be just too rough. When it came time to leave, the storm was blowing itself out and the rain had stopped. I thought I'd see what it was like on the beach one last time. As I had expected and hoped for, it was completely deserted. The sea was still very rough, the wind was blowing a gale, yet still it was warm and not unpleasant. As a swim was out of the question, I settled for a brisk walk. I stripped off, and headed for the waters edge and then along the shore. With the angry, white waves grabbing at my ankles, the wind blowing me about, the energy needed to move forward whilst completely naked, was not something I'd experienced before, and I found very invigorating. 
Eastney beach in Portsmouth is not the most pretty to look at. Although there is a splendid view out across the water towards the Isle of Wight, the beach itself is overlooked by a decaying abandoned military installation. This does not take away from its popularity with the local naturist population - I found it to be more crowded through the summer than the rest of the long curving beach down to the south pier.
So for a quieter time, I headed towards Hill Head and Meon beach, south of Titchfield. This long stretch of beautiful coastline, sits at the foot of tall eroding cliffs. Here I soon got to know the regular naturist folk, who had their own spots dotted along the shore. One lady known to everyone who frequents the beach, was kind enough to invite me to join her social network of naturists.
As an ex-competitive swimmer herself, she sometimes seemed disappointed at my lack of stamina in the water. My amateur status was also shown by my tendency to just run into the sea and start swimming. I was quickly pulled up for this, and told the correct procedure was to enter the water slowly, then to just stay still, allowing the body to acclimatise, before using my muscles.   
I am an author and my idea of finding somewhere to write, was only partially achieved. Little writing was done, as we spent long hours in interesting and varied conversations, in between bursts of swimming in the sea. It is ironic that most of the writing was done at the noisier, busier, Eastney beach. As the summer gave way to autumn, the swims became weekly at best, but I was pleased to still be in the sea through October and into November.  
To see me through the winter, I joined a couple of clubs, the Halcyon and Barton naturist swims. I’ve met some great people and enlarged still further my network of naturist friends. The weather now being against me, I was happy to keep up the exercise that I had become accustomed to, indoors.
My friend with whom I enjoyed the midnight swim in Essex, invited me to join her on a short break and walking holiday in Cornwall.  We arrived in the little picturesque fishing village of Polperro at night, in the middle of a raging storm. Although the weather was still blustery, the next day we were able to follow the little acorn symbols that indicated the coastal path. From a cliff top just outside the entrance to the cove, we looked down upon a large rock pool, that the locals described as being a popular natural swimming pool. I immediately wanted to strip off and go in.  At first, the way down was not obvious, but we then came across a stairway that had been carved out of the rock itself, clearly many, many years ago. This haphazard descent was broken with a landing, half way down the cliff face. Here we met a couple of people, stood taking in the spectacular view. Having joined them in conversation for a while, I grew impatient, and so announced my intention to strip off and go into the pool. I carefully made my way down and picked a pathway across the rocks to the pool. The advice I had been given about how to enter cold water, and about staying still, came to mind. And so I entered. Then came straight back out again. It was cold, as in really cold! Nature did not feel so friendly, and was a reminder of the total respect that she deserves. I turned and tried again. This time It didn’t feel so cold as my body had begun to acclimatise, and I was able to go right in. I spent some time in the pool swimming back and forth, I climbed out on the seaward side, and explored the rocks that were out of sight from the cliff path. The November sun was still strong enough for this to be a pleasant experience, and at times I felt too warm more than anything.
And so my year was complete. Just one more date I had an eye on, and that was New Years day. Having set a new record for how cold I can go, I was confident that I would be able to do this. I posted a message on the BN forum, inviting people to join me for a New Years swim in Portsmouth. I received a few kind messages of support, and one other person turned up on the day. Being on January the 1st, I’ve now started a whole new Skinny Dipping Year…
 
 

British Naturism: Sunfolk - an update

British Naturism: Sunfolk - an update

Friday 13th of March 2020 proved to be an unusually auspicious day for naturism.  In a major new undertaking for British Naturism, we took over The Sun-Folk Society and its land and property.  This unprecedented move will secure the future of the Sunfolk site and its character, and will present opportunities which we expect will form a central tool in the advancement of naturism in the years ahead.  The property will in future be known as “British Naturism: Sunfolk”, and we aim to make the property into a modern naturist leisure and event space and set the gold standard for naturist locations in the UK.
 
The Sunfolk site is situated at How Wood in Hertfordshire, between St Albans and Watford, at the junction of the M1 and the M25.  It is one of three naturist sites in the area and sits adjacent to Spielplatz.  As well as setting the standard for naturist experiences, our aim is that the site will be at the forefront of environmental facilities, and we are already consulting other large environmental groups on how to make the site eco-friendly.  This will be helped by the fact that Sunfolk is only a 15 minute walk from the nearest railway station.  The close link to public transport not only reduces the impact of visitors on the carbon footprint but means that the site will be accessible to everybody.  It is often lamented that naturist facilities are so remote that they are unavailable to those without cars, and avoiding that limitation was a key factor in our decision making.
The Sun-Folk Society itself is one of the oldest clubs in the UK, founded in 1931.  Arguably it is the perfect representation of the origins of UK naturism.  It’s a beautiful site, bordered by a spinney of woodland, featuring sizeable lawns, a camping area and a modern covered swimming pool, alongside a timber clubhouse full of character.  The longevity of UK naturism is a powerful campaigning tool, it demonstrates that naturism should be taken seriously and is not a passing fad.  The fact that our facility will be underwritten by nearly 90 years of history will prove that.  The design and development of the site will celebrate and showcase the legacy we have inherited.  That means that as the site is brought up to modern standards, those features will blend seamlessly into the natural environment.  This is not about building a functional eyesore, we envisage a location where naturists can escape to enjoy nature and good company.
We had grand plans for a spectacular opening about now, but COVID-19 has rather limited that option, so full access is not likely to be achieved until 2021.  However, we are not easily discouraged and have used the enforced closure as an opportunity to press ahead with some heavy redevelopment and safety work that would have stretched over a few years in normal circumstances.  The site will be improved in a number of phases, so we expect it to be great when we open but it will get even better over time.
The question that people will be asking is “How and when can I visit?”.  Precise details are still being worked out, and all aspects are likely to evolve over the next few years as the site develops, but we can give you a glimpse of the future now.  British Naturism: Sunfolk won’t be a club, it will be a naturist location.  You won’t join Sunfolk, you’ll join British Naturism, and Sunfolk will be accessible to all of our members, and members of other Naturist federations.  We envisage that day and overnight passes will be available to members with competitive pricing that ensures that the site will be financially self-sustaining. Your guests will also be welcome, and we are looking at the best way to allow people who are curious about naturism to come and give it a try.  Such a move would raise attendance levels, and therefore help keep the entry price for our own members down, so there are benefits for us as individuals and for naturism at large.  We would hope to have the site open and accessible continually throughout the summer months and will have small-scale events such as workshops and family days throughout the year.  There is a lot of detail here and things will be introduced in phases and adapt over time, but you can already see that we are thinking ambitiously.
The self-sustaining business plan is important.  Sunfolk will be a tremendous asset but we must make sure it does not unduly divert effort or resources from our other activities, such as our national events or campaigns program.  Campaigning in particular is an area that we expect to benefit from Sunfolk.  The proximity of the site to London and the excellent transport links can make the site a campaigning hub.  If we are meeting influencers and policy makers, we will be able to host the talks on our site, so delegates are surrounded by naturists in a stunning environment.  A first-hand experience of how great naturism really can be will have a huge impact on the perceptions of those we want to persuade.  When we open up the site to first time naturists, Sunfolk will shape the community around it as people join in, and that is really what campaigning is about.
So that is our vision.  Sunfolk is, and always will be, a great location for naturism, and a hugely important asset for British Naturism.  It will be a place that we can be proud of.

The Forum Live - interviewing Mark Walsh

The Forum Live - interviewing Mark Walsh

Our programme of online events continues to stimulate, to attract new members (and new naturists) and to bring the media to our door. There's great news coming that they will continue after lockdown - look out for the announcement and further details.
Earlier this week I was delighted to welcome Pat and Leticia from the Irish Naturist Association which attracted the largest audience yet for the Monday night Forum Live session.
Next Monday, I'm talking to BN's events manager Mark Walsh, the power behind our events both actual and online. Since Mark's arrival on the BN scene, the event programme has grown in volume and quality, thanks to his energy and experience. I'll be asking him about how our events are created, from venue choice, through booking bands and entertainment and the less glamorous though crucial aspects like the work involved in running an efficient and professional ticket sales website! We'll have a good chat about the online events too - and look into the future of them. I hope you will join me.
...but you don't have to wait until Monday to be part of this new and exciting (and popular) online event community. 
Tonight (Wednesday) there is Naked Laughter Yoga with Eva plus a conventional yoga session that, unlike most sessions, is open to everyone.
On Thursday you can join Katharine for calming meditation, and Roy who will put you through your paces in a fitness class.
On Friday we make our weekly visit to or very own watering hole, The Bare Arms, aka the Naked Pub
On Saturday work up a sweat with Sheryn's aerobics
On Sunday - another yoga session with Georgia 
And to kick off the new week with a Coffee Morning (Starbutts? Café Zero-Clothes?) and a catch up with like-minded people.
 
See you there!

Didn’t we have a lovely time...!

Didn’t we have a lovely time...!

The Great British Take Off, held on Saturday 16th May,  immediately established itself as an instant classic and one that will surely become an annual event.

We ran a number of online sessions and were pleased to welcome hundreds of people who between them attended a naked fitness class, a naked yoga session and our special event, ‘Pimms On the Lawn’. 

Many of the attendees were brand new to British Naturism membership and in some cases, new to Naturism too. Some were inspired to join us having heard about the event from the huge media attention that we reported last week. Since the beginning of lockdown we've seen over a 150% increase in the number of new members in 2020. A warm welcome if you are one of them!

Many people happily embraced the charitable angle to the event and found it made it easier to tell friends and family. Fees paid to BN by attendees to the online events will be added to the donations and so at the time of writing we have raised over £3000 for the British Heart Foundation and the figure keeps rising.  Thank you to everyone who took part.

Thanks also to everyone who sent their pictures in showing how they were celebrating The Great British Take Off. It's not to late to submit yours - take one today if you can!

But it is not game over.  If you missed the GBTO or joined in and are keen to do more, then please feel free. You will find a large number of resources and a friendly welcoming community on this website.  It is also easy to join us or sign up for our Newsletter to get more.

The Forum Live - interviewing the INA

The Forum Live - interviewing the INA

We're delighted to announce that our guests for the Forum Live discussions session on Monday 18 May will be Pat Gallagher, President, and Leticia Medina, Events Co-ordinator from the Irish Naturist Association. The session will start with a slideshow presentation and follow with the opportunity to ask questions.
https://irishnaturism.org 
I'm looking forward to it and to welcoming you all - please make sure you book for this session and all those happening this week!

Pat Gallagher

The Great British Take Off - Today's the Day!

The Great British Take Off - Today's the Day!

I’ve got nothing on today, how about you?
#greatbritishtakeoff
And so the day arrives! Today’s the day that we encourage everyone to strip down to nothing to enjoy the liberated and exhilarating feeling that comes from being naked.
If you can do it in the fresh air and sunshine then that’s great. If not, whack up the heating and do it indoors…
We’ve loved the attention! The British media have not hesitated to promote this event far and wide. We’ve appeared on TV, contributed to stories in national newspapers The Sun, Mail Online, iNews and The Daily Star, helped many regional and local newspapers and websites to feature the details and it’s been mentioned to millions by Philip Schofield and Steve Wright. There’s more to come too…
Here’s a reminder of what it’s all about:
 
 
And by the way, it’s perfectly legal. By all means tell the neighbours, but there is no need to warn them even if you are overlooked. So long as you are not revealing yourself with the intention of upsetting people, it's fine. We’ve been hearing this week from our members that neighbours are thinking of joining in….
It's also for Charity. BN are supporting British Heart Foundation in 2020 and you can be sponsored to 'Take Off' or make a donation. Maybe this will help you if you are taking that first nude step outside, or to encourage people to join in with you.
We’ve launched some additional online events for today with the event hosts donating their time for free to raise money for BHF. IN addition to the usual Saturday programme, there’s fitness, yoga, and ‘Pimms on the lawn’.
In between times, here’s a few ideas of what you could get up to (all in the buff, of course…):
Sunbathe, read, sit in the hot tub, take afternoon tea (or something stronger), have BBQ, do some weeding or watering, paint a fence, clear out the shed, play games, kick a ball around, throw a frisbee, do a jigsaw puzzle, hang out the washing, wash windows, listen to a podcast or audio book, do the housework…
We’d love to hear what you are doing today. Please let us know on any (or all!) of the following sites:
BN Facebook
BN on Twitter
BN's Instagram page
and send any photos to this address
And the fun goes on…
It will still be legal tomorrow, and the day after…so keep the momentum going and check out bn.org.uk for everything else that we do. Hopefully, it won’t be long before we can gather together again - being a Naturist with other people is even better than doing it alone. You can even join us, sign up for news and become part of a vibrant community.

Only three days to go...

Only three days to go...

I’ve got nothing on this Saturday, how about you?

Only three days to go until The Great British Take Off on Saturday 16th May 2020, an initiative from British Naturism which will see people all around the country stripping down to nothing to enjoy the liberated and rewarding feeling that comes from being naked in the fresh air and sunshine.

GBTO in the news
It didn’t take long for the Great British Take Off to take off itself. Our press release was sent to our media contacts on Monday and there have already been a number of newspaper features, with plenty more attention to come including local radio interviews. Website ‘The Resident’ decided that it was the No.1 activity this weekend! You can read it here, together with the others - and the list will surely grow (log in required).

We also took the step of sending the press release and an explanatory note to the press offices for police forces nationwide, making absolutely sure they know about the Police College guidelines. 

NEW online events
We’ve launched some additional online events for Saturday with the event hosts donating their time for free to raise money for The British Heart Foundation, the BN Charity of the Year. There’s fitness, yoga, and  ‘Pimms on the lawn’. Find all the existing online events here - there's something every day!

Daily dose
We’re reading that vitamin D might help with the Covid-19 virus. We’re also reading there has been a run on vitamin D in the shops. But that’s nonsense! Vitamin D comes free from the sun - protect yourself: strip off and boost your vitamin D!

#worknakedwednesday
…and finally, don’t forget that today is #worknakedwednesday, so if you aren’t celebrating already, then please feel free to join in…you have nothing to lose but your clothes...

Introducing BN's new Vice Chairman

Introducing BN's new Vice Chairman

I’ve been asked to write a few words  to ‘introduce’ myself to readers following my recent appointment as vice chairman. This role has been vacant for some time, so I have been able to step into this position without being formally elected, but I look forward to standing for election in line with our constitution in 2021
I’m proud to have been a member of British Naturism since the beginning of 2018. In this time, I’ve been lucky enough to meet and speak with many other members who have given me far more confidence as a naturist, and helped me to understand why naturism is such an important part of my life
I’ve had some great experiences as a British Naturism member over this time – skinny dipping in the Lake District, climbing mountains with other members in the Scottish Highlands, competing at the INF swimming gala in Paris and samba dancing at Nudefest - to mention just a few of the highlights.
I enjoy naturism in lots of different ways, but especially in the great outdoors – you’ll often find me participating in naturist walks with NatRam and other groups, or seeking out remote beaches, lakes and rivers for a spot of wild swimming
I’m originally from the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset (Studland was my local beach as a child), but I now live in Central London with my partner Shaun. Shaun is also a naturist, so I’m lucky to be able to share many of my experiences with him.
Outside of naturism, I work in a management role for a major national retailer and sing classical music for a number of different choirs in London and across the South of England – you might even see me popping up on TV for the Last Night of the Proms every now and again!
Although I work in the private sector, there is long history of public service in my family, so it is important to me to be able to make contribute to those organisations that are significant for me. As such, I was keen to get more involved in helping to manage British Naturism when the opportunity came up
In my role as vice chairman, I’ll be supporting members of the British Naturism Executive Committee to ensure that our organisation is effectively and efficiently managed, that it takes decisions that are consistent with its objective to promote naturism in the UK and that it grasps opportunities to become more successful and relevant to existing and future generations of naturists
A lot of my work as vice chairman will be ‘behind the scenes’, but I’ll also be helping out with a couple of higher profile projects such as the development of the British Naturism Sunfolk site and the relaunch of the British Naturism shop. I look forward to meeting and hearing from even more members in my new role, but if you’d like to know any more about me or my role or to share your thought with me, you’d be most welcome to get in touch.
Jon Williams
jon.williams@bn.org.uk.

The BN Ezine - are you a subscriber?

The BN Ezine - are you a subscriber?

News and updates are coming thick and fast these days from British Naturism and with all our various channels it can be difficult to keep up...
Did you know that we issue a regular newsletter that comes straight to your inbox, which contains everything you need to know? During lockdown we're issuing it about once a week.
Anyone can subscribe (and easily unsubscribe if you decide to later) and make sure you don't miss out on what's happening...
Visit our newsletter sign up page to find out more and also access an archive of our previous newsletters.
 
Photo by Taras Shypka on Unsplash

A Great Week Ahead...

A Great Week Ahead...

Amid all the uncertainty about the future, you can be sure of a stimulating programme from British Naturism. As I write, we're enjoying a full weekend of online activities including yoga, naked pub, a drum festival and aerobics and can look forward to more this week...
Already confirmed: 
Monday - Coffee Morning and The Forum Live discussion - The History of Nudity (well, the one the school books don't tell you about...)
Tuesday - Fitness, drum meditation and a special talk on rowing the Atlantic - naked of course!
Wednesday - Naked Kitchen, laughter yoga and a yoga class open to all
Thursday - Meditation and fitness
Friday - The Naked Pub. There's also a member-run quiz night.
Saturday - aerobics
Saturday is also the day of The Great British Take Off with our online event, 'Pimms on the lawn', with more still being arranged...
Do keeping checking back as we're adding more events all the time...

The Great British Take Off - 16th May

The Great British Take Off - 16th May

I’ve got nothing on this Saturday, how about you?
The Great British Take Off on Saturday 16th May 2020 is an initiative from British Naturism (BN), the UK’s organisation for Naturism, Naturists and Naturist places which will see people all around the country stripping down to nothing to enjoy the liberated and exhilarating feeling that comes from being naked in the fresh air and sunshine. Science also tells us that it can make you happier!
Anecdotal evidence suggests that during the lockdown, people around the UK are a) dressing less, if at all, b) looking for things to do and c) in these unprecedented times, keen to throw out the rule book and try new things. The restrictions mean that people will be participating at home, but that's actually a wonderful place - what could be more relaxing than being naked in the comfort of your own space?
It's perfectly legal to do so. By all means tell the neighbours, but there is no need to warn them even if you are overlooked. So long as you are not revealing yourself with the intention of upsetting people, it's fine. Check out this helpful article on naked sunbathing in your garden.
It's also for Charity. BN are supporting British Heart Foundation in 2020 and you can be sponsored to 'Take Off' or make a donation. Maybe this will help you if you are taking that first nude step outside, or to encourage people to join in with you.
We're also hosting a special 'Pimms on the lawn' online event during the afternoon for all participants to come together from Cardiff to Colchester, Plymouth to Pitlochry and everywhere in between.
A BN spokesman said:
'People have always enjoyed the thrill of a skinny dip or the relaxation of a spa but social isolation has caused an explosion in naked living. For many, working from home means working naked, and nude sunbathing seems to be the new national pastime. Naturists know that it's only social convention that makes wearing clothes seem essential but people who try it for the first time realise that it feels great. Human beings weren't designed to be wrapped up in clothes 24/7 and yet that's often how we are even when it's more sensible not to be. It's easier not to dress, it saves on the laundry - and it's really good for you and a lot of fun! This could be the perfect opportunity for those that like the idea, or those who live with a Naturist partner but have been hesitant, to have a go. You'll wish you had done it years ago!
Business has been booming at BN with a 100% increase in new members since the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis. Our programme of online events has been welcoming guests from around the world'
 
Further links:
British Naturism home page
British Naturism online events page
British Naturism events website
Inspiring Naturist stories:
Fabulous at 50
My 6 reasons to be naked
7 reasons why you deserve to hang out naked in your own home
A perspective on body image
A personal journey
From Hatred to Love in 8 short weeks
Why 7 days without clothes was so worth it
 
Further information plus press contacts and images from andrew.welch@bn.org.uk 

Keep even busier with BN!

Keep even busier with BN!

We're having a super time at British Naturism and hope that you are enjoying it too. Our programme of online events keeps growing and we're getting great feedback about the events we've hosted.
Last Saturday's tutored Life Drawing class was a wow and the results show what a talented bunch we are. Members can see some of them in the forum gallery. 
 
We've added three new events which we want to bring to your attention. Find the details including how to book over on our online events page.
Thursday 7 May 2pm - Join BN Member Kyle, aka Boy M5, for an hour of live acoustic music over an afternoon cuppa
Saturday 9 May 3pm - Be part of an utterly bonkers, glittery and sparkly online drumming festival!
Tuesday 12 May 4pm - hear BN Member Jooles talk about taking on the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Rowing Challenge...
 
BN members can join in the chat about them and all the other online events on the forum and have a look here if you need more inspiration on what you can do with BN these days...
 
 

From the archive: My six reasons to be naked

From the archive: My six reasons to be naked

A super article by Sheryn, from May 2018, but the truth is timeless...
Talking to a gym buddy the other week, she asked me where I go to swim and I told her it was at the Naturist Club in our village. She looked at me with amused interest whilst inadvertently covering her clothed chest with both arms in a protective way. This is often the reaction I see when telling another woman. It is as though she believes the very mention of naked swimming makes her clothes see-through and indicates an instinctive vulnerability. Many say, ‘I couldn’t do that’.  
I understand for many Naturists that just ‘being naked’ is what they crave, and to do everyday activities in the nude. I don’t feel that need - for me clothes can be preferable on many occasions. The reason I choose the clothes-free option to swim and do other activities is because it makes sense. I hope that looking at it from this perspective may help others outside who struggle with their own nakedness to see that there are sensible reasons not to wear clothes on occasion, reasons that seem to have been forgotten by the clothed community in this country.
Comfort
You don’t know until you try. All my childhood and adult life until these latter years I struggled with tight uncomfortable swimming costumes. Some are even padded which is odd when you think about what a ‘swimming’ costume is for, and they are often uncomfortable when being dragged by water or when sitting in a sauna.  Being in a sauna means sweat, lots of it, all being soaked up in that tight clingy cloth and padding! It is far more comfortable and sensible to get back to basics, and not put that costume on in the first place.
Cleanliness
We all know that viruses, yeast, and bacteria love to live in warm, moist places. Keeping on a wet costume means it’s rubbing up against all the bits you have covered and can lead to infections. You may notice when abroad that some people seem to wear costumes as all round clothing options; going from beach, to the pool and drying in the sun, then slipping on a sarong or shorts over it to go to lunch or the shops, picking up everything in the atmosphere along the way and then back down to that costume for another dip in the pool later…. let’s not stop to think too much about what is then being dragged through the water alongside thebodies! For us, we take the clothes off, have a quick douse before slipping in the water to swim - and into cleaner pools because of it.
Cost
I know I am really lucky to have a Naturist club near to me, but when I sat down and worked the finance out, I realised my membership of the club, where I generally swim twice a week, works out far cheaper than swimming in the local public pool. It really is what some would term as a ‘no brainer’.
Space
When on holiday at a Spanish Naturist resort recently we wandered from ‘our’ beach to another on the ‘clothed side’. It was a sunny weekend admittedly, but that beach was packed and noisy.  You could not put a pin between people and sunbeds and all their ‘stuff’. I could not wait to retreat to the tranquility, back to the more comfortable side where I could reach out and touch the space, feel the calm, hear the sea and breathe in the experience.
Ambience
Not only do we benefit from space, but also from that lovely relaxed atmosphere that envelopes us at our chosen resorts, beaches, clubs. There is usually a physical natural beauty combined with the sense of well-being that seems to surround us in these environments. It is as though we have found the complete escape from the stresses of everyday life. 
Safety
This one comes as a double whammy.  
Personal safety - I can be stark naked around stark naked men and women and I have never felt safer in my life. The community is respectful and considerate. When everything is laid bare, there is nowhere to hide. That brings a sense of comfort and even freedom. It does seem surprising really. Why would being naked make you feel safe? I think it is because in a naked state everyone is equal and no one appears dominant or threatening. You could also say everyone is equally vulnerable. Whichever way you look at it, it leads to a safer place to be.
Security - I am far more easygoing when mixing within the community about belongings. Perhaps it is because we mix freely, talk to each other and feel comfortable with each other, but I certainly never worry that anything will go missing. Quite the opposite, people look out for each other. Obviously ‘no pockets’ means there is nowhere for anything to be hidden! Whatever the reason, I do not worry about theft or about my belongings when I am within the community, which I certainly do when I am away from it.  
 
‘You are brave’ my friend said, ‘I still couldn't do it’.  ‘Not brave’ I said, ‘it really is just better.’ I hadn’t mentioned the ‘Naturist’ word once. My friend may not choose to try a naked dip, but at least she understands why I do. You don’t need to use the often misunderstood ‘Naturist’ label when common sense and a logical, sensible approach speaks for itself. 
Sheryn
 
Photo by Darius Bashar on Unsplash

Your naked weekend starts here...!

Your naked weekend starts here...!

For those of you who are losing the ability to remember what day it is...it's Friday.
And for those of you who are losing their desire to get dressed at all during these crazy times, there's loads of activities to keep you from being bored...
Friday - there's naked yoga this afternoon and a member-led quiz* tonight before the Naked Pub opens its doors again
Saturday - is World Naked Gardening Day, so take the opportunity to get those essential jobs done wearing sturdy boots, thornproof gloves...and nothing else. Grab a pencil and join our first online Life Drawing class before getting your blood pumping with a naked aerobics session...
Sunday - plenty of time today to chill - and book all your online classes for next week and beyond, before setting down to another yoga session in the evening...
 
* Quiz details here - log in required

 

What people are saying about us...

What people are saying about us...

Up to now, we’ve done all the talking about our online event programme. It's time we let our guests speak up instead...
Find the details of the events here, and get booking!
 
Naked Yoga with Georgia
Just completed my first Naked Yoga session with Georgia - it was fabulous fun and harder work than I thought! Loved it - want to take part every week now!
Planning ahead and being greedy I hope these online classes continue after the lockdown. Really enjoying the Yoga and feeling the benefits already. I keep saying this but. Thank you very much Georgia and BN  for this.
Another excellent Yoga class. I found that one a lot tougher than last Sunday, which was good. Really liking Georgia's simple explanations and manageable routines, with more challenging options available to push yourself a bit further.
I love the fact that she encourages us to rest when we need to and gives alternatives to the moves,  to either simplify them or make them more intense. 
Aerobics
Massive thanks to Sheryn for the aerobics session. Apologies for showing my almost total lack of coordination but I felt I was getting better towards the end of the session (it may not have looked like that). 
Well, that set me up for tea and thanks for permission to have an evening drink! I will definitely have to work on the co-ordination. Have also booked until the end of May.
We would just like to add our thanks Sheryn to all the others. Thanks for a great session. We are looking forward to the next one.
We're so loving the online initiatives - thank you Sheryn for a great class.  We'll be back for more!
Naked Kitchen with Pam
Thank you, another great event and I’ve a tasty cheesecake in the fridge. can’t wait to try it.
Fitness (for non-fitties)
Thanks Roy for another good session today - muscles getting less stiff each session! Looking forward to Thursday.
Another great exercise session, Roy! Many thanks for doing it and to BN for holding it.
Really good workout. Thanks Roy. Wow, that was challenging but I really enjoyed it.
Naked Laughter Yoga 
Thank you - tonight’s laughter yoga session was so much fun. It’s the first time I’ve done anything like this and I’m  definitely going to do it again.
Meditation
Wow Drum meditation was a delight. Took me to wonderful place away from this dark place. left me quite emotional. Really want to explore this more, looking forward to the next session.
Pub chat
Hey, thanks for the great pub evening! It was great to meet so many people. Haven't been able to have a good chin wag for a while now.
Thanks for a lovely pub evening everyone - really good chat and the all the best people.
I really enjoyed our first night in the pub. It was a great venue and really ended the night off well. 
It was lovely to see some friends and to meet new people who i'm sure will become friends too
Coffee morning chat
It certainly does get varied. The topics I was involved in included photography, cleaning, Extinction Rebellion and modelling. 
Joined my first coffee shop chatter this morning and really pleased I did . Met and chatted to many people I had never seen before . We had varied discussions from the weather, what we are doing during lock down, how we got involved with BN.
Just spent another wonderful hour chatting to some very nice and interesting people. Thank you. 
See you all next week.
Discussion with Andrew
Watched the Zoom online debate this evening with Dr Keon West. I found it very interesting and full of positive things in terms of Naturism.
 

Take Two: Interviewing Stéphane Deschênes

Take Two: Interviewing Stéphane Deschênes

A blip in the space-time continuum on Monday night caused our planned session to be postponed but I'm delighted to announce that Stéphane Deschênes will be my guest next Monday evening (4th May 2020).
Apologies to those of you who logged on and were disappointed. I heard many good comments from attendees about the interesting discussion on First-time Naturist experiences. 
So, to Monday 4th - in his time, Stéphane has been President of FCN, the Canadian Federation and the FCN representative at the INF, taking other INF roles too.
However, he is probably best known for being both the power behind the popular Naturist Living Show and the owner of Bare Oaks Family Naturist Park with its world-leading mandatory nudity policy - even the staff are required to be naked, and he has no shortage of applicants.
Please join me at 7:30 BST (GMT +1) for what promises to be a fascinating session. 
Book your place for this session and all the other BN online events at https://www.bnevents.co.uk/onlineevents.
 

 

It's #Work Naked Wednesday...

It's #Work Naked Wednesday...

Another week passes - a pretty amazing week for British Naturism with another huge increase in new members, ex-members returning and guests from overseas joining our online events.
Hosts of all those events have been working naked and none more so than Pam who added to her national newspaper fame last week with radio interviews and yesterday, a TV show.
#WorkNakedWednesday has also gone global with people around the world stripping off as they toil. We were delighted to see this tweet from our friends at AANR West 
We also remembered this excellent article about spending time at home without clothes, what to expect and why you will thank yourself for doing it!
If you are having a great time with #WorkNakedWednesday and want to record it, do send in your photos...

I want the world to know...

I want the world to know...

Discovering Naturism is often a turning point in people's lives. New Naturists tell us all the time how great they feel, how they now can't imagine life without the opportunity to be happily naked and be part of such a strong, welcoming, non-judgemental community. 
It's all good...but when it comes to talking about it to others we suddenly get shy and hesitant, worrying about what people will say and what they will think of us. It's not surprising. Decades of social conditioning has made most people believe that there is something wrong with simple human nudity and that anyone who wants to be naked - let alone naked with other naked people - is weird, provocative, perhaps even dangerous.
We've been encouraging people to get over those fears with our campaign to tell 'Just One Person'. Don't 'come out' to everyone you know in one go if that doesn't feel right, just pick someone that you can talk to - a friend, a member of your family, a neighbour, a work colleague - and tell them what you like to do on a hot afternoon. 
It's working really well. Most people are finding it not only liberating that they finally don't have to keep something they feel so good about to themselves, and getting surprisingly positive reactions. Sometimes they find the people they are telling enjoy being clothes-free too! 
BN members can post their experiences on the members' forum (log in required) and thus encourage others. Success breeds success.  
 
Here's a few of the recent forum posts:
We have a footpath across a field by our back fence which I hadn't seen used for years.  Since lockdown a few local dog walkers have started to use it and seen me in my back garden doing the gardening naked. No adverse comments, just polite conversations over the fence. I think most people are fairly tolerant of naturism.
 
I have been using Twitter for many years but had only, in the last year, decided to start following some of the more well-known naturist Twitter users - our naturism is not something we particularly broadcast.  This didn't seem to cause any reaction so I have now started to "like" posts that I found interesting which prompted a query from my brother as to why I was liking tweets from a "naked woman in Florida.” It will be interesting to see where this line of family conversation leads.
 
Whilst staying with a couple of friends at the weekend the conversation got round to our new camper van and where were we going to go with it. So we talked about plans to go to Acorns, Nudefest and a number of different naturist campsites across France. One of the ladies was extremely interested in the naturism, asking a lot of questions, all in a positive way and seemed quite keen. 
 
I attended a photography event and took the opportunity to wear a T-shirt that both displayed the new "British Naturism" logo and promoted the BHF Naked Heart Walk. Promoting our activities led to some very positive conversations and enthusiasm for what British Naturism is currently doing. One person I spoke to used to work as a life guard at Alton Towers many moons ago and spoke enthusiastically about what great guests we are compared to other patrons. In his words, they could have given us the keys and gone to the pub, we were such trustworthy guests. 
 
I accidentally left my BN membership card in my car when it went in for a service.  I got the knowing look from the lads but one plucked up courage to ask me about it and is interested in attending a swim with his partner. It is amazing how a simple action can spread the word without any effort. 
 
During the excellent BN Bournemouth weekend we went to a local gallery. The twenty-something sales girl asked us what we were doing in Bournemouth. So we told her we were there for a weekend of naked dining and dancing to live bands. Her reaction, 'that sounds really cool!'.  
 
This week I sat down with another work colleague and told them about being a naturist. Again they were very positive about it, asked lots of questions and left with a BN 2020 guide. They then thanked me the following day for telling them all about it. I'll be ordering some more guides as I only have a couple left now.
 
I keep BN flyers in my car and give them to anyone who shows interest whist I am at trade fairs selling guitar stuff, and sometimes wear a BN T-shirt. The T-shirt is a conversation starter. "What does BN stand for?". That's what might be called a segue…
 
We were having the flat roof at home re covered today. The builders weren't here for long before they discovered a naked man lives here and it wasn't long before they were talking to me and treating me the same way they would if I was dressed.
 
I told The Ramblers when I answered their request to advise them why I engaged with their ‘Don’t lose your way’ campaign action to identify all paths across every grid square in England and Wales. I gave three reasons: Government threat to make trespass a criminal offence, towpaths and other industrial paths, and quiet paths that are mostly used by Naturists. 
 
Just emailed the company HR director agreeing to be furloughed from the middle of April. Amongst the positives I highlighted in not having to go into work for the next two and a half months was to tell her that the washing machine wasn't going to get a lot of use as I was at least looking forward to spending most if not all of the time in the nude! Later, I made an expenses claim and had a similar conversation with a woman in the finance department. Her reply? ‘Me too!' I find clothing so restrictive! 
 
I belong to a ramblers’ group and was leading a walk recently when I said to another person in the group how much I enjoy naturism. They told me one of our fellow walkers that day was also a naturist. I spoke to her and we had a very pleasant conversation about our wonderful world. I am so delighted that at last someone in my circle of friends and acquaintances shares my passion!

New events for our online community

New events for our online community

There are now an amazing number of regular online events available from British Naturism. There's something every day. They're proving extremely popular and helping people to cope through the lockdown. There's huge variety - yoga, fitness, meditation, discussion, interviews (including this one with world-renowned Naturist Stéphane Deschênes tonight), coffee mornings, pub nights, and bake-along demos. Some of our members have also organised dinner parties and quizzes. The best bit is the strong, cohesive community of Naturists coming together to enjoy them. That's been seriously enhanced by our many visitors from overseas. The event programme is also hitting the news headlines!
...and we're not done yet. We're working away in the background on some others too and we'll bring you details as soon as we can. What we can announce is - NEW this week - is a Life Drawing session on Saturday 2nd May.
We've certainly seen an increase in new members since we launched the online sessions and we're delighted to welcome back many members from the past who have rejoined to be able to take part. If that's you - thanks! Please do tell your friends what they are missing - even the non-Naturist ones! 
 
Image: Mark Bass

From the archive: Science proves Naturism is good for you

From the archive: Science proves Naturism is good for you

From February 2017 - but, of course, timeless! Further research has since been carried out. We look forward to bringing you the results!
 
It's what we've been saying for years!
Brilliant new research shows that Naturism boosts self-esteem, happiness and life satisfaction.
Here's an article from the Daily Mail http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4156788/Being-naked-makes-happier-bodies.html
...and the research paper itself http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10902-017-9846-1
... and a video made by the researcher.
 
Picture credit: Sskips

The world Zooms…but BN grabs the headlines

The world Zooms…but BN grabs the headlines

It’s been quite a few days for the promotion of Naturism in the media and the activities of British Naturism and some its members has been at the forefront of it.
Ok, so there isn’t a huge amount of news around at the moment and the media are looking for ways to divert and entertain their readers, but all the same, it’s great they choose to focus on the nude world.
The two main items were Pam Fraser’s interview published and lavishly illustrated in The Sun in which she promoted her role and that of others in our new online event programme. 
And if that weren’t high profile enough the following day the significant increase we’ve seen in new members joining us since the start of the lockdown was front page news - literally - in the Daily Star.
There have also been positive and supportive reports on a nude Atlantic rowing team, a naked cyclist, a naked man drumming in the street, Amanda Holden stripping off and trampolining and more. There’s also more to come as the newspaper articles have led - as they always do - to requests for radio interviews from British Naturism.
Members can visit the Nudity Reported in the Media topic on the BN forum and find links to these and many more (log in required).  It’s a great way to keep up with what’s happening when you’ve nothing on!
 

The Forum Live: Interviewing Stéphane Deschênes

The Forum Live: Interviewing Stéphane Deschênes

I'm delighted to announce that my guest next Monday evening (27th April 2020) will be Stéphane Deschênes.
In his time, Stéphane has been President of FCN, the Canadian Federation and the FCN representative at the INF, taking other INF roles too.
However, he is probably best known for being both the power behind the popular Naturist Living Show and the owner of Bare Oaks Family Naturist Park with its world-leading mandatory nudity policy - even the staff are required to be naked, and he has no shortage of applicants.
Please join me at 7:30 BST (GMT +1) for what promises to be a fascinating session. 
Book your place for this session and all the other BN online events at https://www.bnevents.co.uk/onlineevents.
 

 
 

It's #WorkNakedWednesday again!

It's #WorkNakedWednesday again!

Yes, we know you've all given up on wearing clothes right now, but just in case you haven't, or know someone who might need a nudge, here's our weekly initiative to help you...
Don't forget that it's perfectly legal to be naked in the UK and very clear because of work that British Naturism volunteers have carried out.
Here's a reminder of what it's all about:
Give your birthday suit an airing 
We've all got a body under our clothes - it's nothing to be ashamed of. You're probably not bothering to get fully dressed, if at all, these days, so if you've never tried it, take that extra step today. 
Strip into something more comfortable 
You'll be joining millions of people around the world who have already discovered the exhilarating freedom that comes with being naked and who have also found that their self-esteem increases as a result. This survey showed how being naked can make you happier.
See more of your friends (online, at least - but you can also pave the way for the future...)
Spread the word - see how your friends and colleagues feel about adopting #worknakedwednesday with you...a top reason why people get involved in Naturism is the social context and the welcoming, vibrant, happy and healthy community it creates. Feel free to post about it on social media #worknakedwednesday.
If you are having a great time with #WorkNakedWednesday and want to record it, do send in your photos...thanks to everyone who has already done that...here's a couple of them for you.

 

Looking to the future

Looking to the future

Our online event programme is winning lots of friends - including new members and Naturists from outside the UK - it's wonderful to see. It seems we've hit on something and it's highly probable that they will continue when we are all granted our freedoms again. We're always working on the programme and so you will see new events added as time goes by. Find the full list on our events website and make sure you book your place! There is no limit to how many you can sign up for and we're booking many weeks into the future...
Will Naturism change as a result of the lockdown? Will people realise there are far more serious issues to rail against than a person's sensible, rational decision not to wear clothes? Our discussion session tonight is entitled 'The Future of Naturism'. We look forward to hearing your views.
 
Photo by Drew Beamer on Unsplash