News and Articles

Nachos for Naturists

Nachos for Naturists

As BN's culinary correspondent I was delighted to attend the latest naked pop-up restaurant. After the huge success that naked restaurants have had in Bristol in the last year it was really pleasing to have one in the South East. Robert and Pauline the organisers found an unusual venue in the form of a tea room called We R Cakes in Hertfordshire. Sarah, the resident chef, is used to putting on special Pop Up evenings with various themes and for us it was Mexican. All 26 tickets were sold and we sat down to a really excellent meal. 
The evening was so much better than our evening at Bunyadi, the naked pop up restaurant in London two years ago. The food was tastier and in greater supply. It was also a far more sociable occasion with diners able to mix freely. Sarah and her staff had not catered for a Naturist group before and they enjoyed the event as well. Before the evening had ended Sarah was suggesting themes for the next nude dining evening. 
In the last eight months I have attended a naked bike ride, naked theatre, naked art gallery and now a naked restaurant in the region. It's all beginning to seem quite natural... the way it should be.
Andy Wyman
 

 
Main Photo by Calum Lewis on Unsplash

A fabulous day at Abbey House Gardens

A fabulous day at Abbey House Gardens

What a fabulous clothes optional day June 24th was at Abbey House Gardens, with temperatures rising to over 20 degrees,  around 350 people came through the garden's gate, not all were Naturists, first in was a coach load of tourists who stayed until nearly lunch time!
As you can imagine the lawns were soon dotted with, mainly naked, bodies enjoying the peace and beauty of these lovely gardens and the Coy Carp Café was kept busy all day serving tea/coffee and a slice of cake
Will the next clothes-optional day at Abbey House Gardens on July 22nd match this wonderful day?

How are you coping with the heatwave?

How are you coping with the heatwave?

You know that temperatures are soaring over Britain when at least one national newspaper prints a picture of a young woman sunbathing in her bra and pants during her lunch hour, taking advantage of the weather and adapting to her circumstances.
Or perhaps she's using a modicum of common sense? When it's cold, it's intuitive - and socially acceptable - to keep putting on layers until you are warm enough. So, on days like today when it's sweltering and we are sweating in our clothes, feeling mighty uncomfortable, irritable and unable to concentrate, it should be equally acceptable to do the opposite; remove layers until you feel cool again. That probably means all layers, until all that protects you is your own skin. Surely it's not just Naturists that see the sense in that? 
Sadly, decades of social conditioning about what's 'right' or is 'appropriate behaviour' (and what's not) in our society possibly mean that the woman in the picture consciously kept her underwear on when it would have been more sensible to take it off too. We're all (broadly) the same underneath and yet we cling to small strips of fabric even when we don't need to for the sake of 'modesty'. The purpose of clothes is to keep us warm and dry, and you don't need either aspect during a heatwave. You may be reading this and thinking of the social status conferred by what we wear, but do you really need that artificial boost to the ego when you are relaxing in the sun? 
Naturism is also perfectly legal and we've also just published this article that shows how we've worked with the police to make the situation even clearer. Sunbathing naked in your garden is an easy way to start - and so what if the neighbours can see? How can anyone argue with your desire to cool off in the most sensible way?
There's plenty going on in Naturism in the UK and there's a lot more activity than just sunbathing. Check out our event pages and places to go and find your perfect way to celebrate the sun - and yourself. Millions of people around the world have discovered the wonderful feeling that comes from spending time without clothes, come and join them. Nothing's better!
 
Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash

Cornish cream - the South West enjoys a hot rally

Cornish cream - the South West enjoys a hot rally

Along with the the rest of the country, Cornwall basked in glorious sunshine at the weekend and was perfect for the BN South West Rally at Lower Poulza Post, near Bude on the North Cornwall coast.
When the former site owner Bernard Clarke passed away last August, there was some doubt in members minds as to whether the site would continue, but Tilly, Bernard’s daughter, along with volunteers have worked tirelessly to provide a beautiful venue with level pitches, hook-ups and excellent facilities and is a real gem.  The word is “We are open and thriving”
20 members attended the rally coming from Wales to Wilshire, Devon and Cornwall. We occupied 11 pitches for the complete weekend of sunshine, with BBQ’s, garden darts and a Cornish Cream tea (cream on top!) to celebrate BN’s Ladies Day and to finish a brilliant weekend.
Nudefest was a regular topic of conversation with many saying they hadn’t attended before or not since we changed sites, we expect some booking from those keen to meet up again.
Check out Lower Poulza Post website.

BN beach day at Studland

BN beach day at Studland

The super summer weather has been allowing us to make use of the great beaches this country has to offer. Despite what many people think, it is perfectly legal to strip off on any beach, a beach does not have to be 'official' or 'designated' for Naturists to be able to use it. Of course, it is easier to select those ones that have been used for costume-free sunbathing over many years - you are likely to find more like-minded people and those who might want to complain about normal human beings enjoying the sunshine stay away.
Colin wrote in about his day at Studland:
My partner Anne and I went to the BN beach day at Studland and despite cloudy weather forecasts we had bright sunshine most of the day. It was Anne’s first visit to Studland or in fact any BN event and she was pleased to see how good the beach is. Great to be welcomed with a coffee at the BN gazebo.
Thanks to Colin and Anne for the picture too.

Rude Health supports the Great British Skinny Dip

Rude Health supports the Great British Skinny Dip

We’re delighted to announce that  top food and drink company Rude Health are now supporting the Great British Skinny Dip! Stripping things back to the essentials and being healthy in your skin is what the Great British Skinny Dip is all about so it’s a great combination. 
The Great British Skinny Dip takes place every year in #septembare, and we’re always looking for venues. Please let us know if you can help.
Do something exhilarating…
 

Policing Naturism - BN engineers a major breakthrough

Policing Naturism - BN engineers a major breakthrough

At the turn of the century, lobbying from Naturist groups - including BN - persuaded the lawmakers to exclude Naturism from the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (SOA) for England and Wales. It seemed like a victory, but in practice, it was a considerable disappointment that not much changed in how Naturists were treated by the police. 
It’s a pleasure to now bring you the news that long, hard work and negotiation over many years between BN’s legal team and the authorities has generated a wonderful result - for all Naturists.
Firstly, here are some extracts from the House of Lords amendment 343A of the Bill which the Government accepted and placed into law as Section 66 of the SOA. It was made plain that it was to deal with flashing.
Baroness Walmsley:
My concern in this part of the Bill has always been to protect naturists going about their perfectly harmless business and to prevent their falling foul of over-zealous police officers and magistrates. My amendment should also protect naturists from mischievous members of the public who might seek to use Clause 70 as a defence against accusations of voyeurism.
Lord Lucas:
We are here trying to deal with flashers - disgusting characters they are. We are not trying to deal with someone who for some other reason exposes his genitals. I would especially cite in this context the streaker. I do not want someone who streaks at a Lord’s cricket match stuffed on the sex offenders’ register. That is not a sexual offence; it may be due to a bit of alcohol and exuberance, but has nothing whatever to do with intentionally offending the public and ... we should require that someone knows and intends that someone should be caused alarm and distress. Just because your maiden aunt, whom you know shrieks at the sight of a naked ankle, happens to see you and you know that she happens to be around should not stop you sunbathing in the nude in your own garden if that is what you want to do.
In summing up the position for the Government, Lord Falconer made the situation abundantly plain:
Do we intend to catch the streaker? No, we do not.
Do we intend to catch the Naturist? No, we do not.
 
Sexual Offences Act 2003 - The failures in policing
So, it had been made clear by Parliament that Section 66 of the Act was to deal with ‘flashing’. Streaking and Naturism were specifically excluded. Unexpectedly, however, the Police interpreted any call to them from the public prompted simply by the sight of someone naked, as the caller being caused by ‘alarm or distress’. If that didn’t work, they sometimes fell back on section 5 of The Public Order Act 1986, where no intent, nor motive, nor guilty mind is required.
Public Order Act 1986 – Wrongly targeted
Section 5 of The Public Order Act was created to deal with people who joined in riots without forethought, possibly people who who wouldn’t ordinarily become involved in violence or theft, and for hooligans running amok creating a climate of fear. They have no motive for their actions and here lay a difficulty in prosecuting these plainly criminal actions because the law requires mens rea, in other words a motive to complete the conditions for a crime to be committed, and the Act addressed this loophole - and rightly so. But should it include Naturists? Naturism was never mentioned, never included nor ever intended by Parliament to be addressed by this Act.
In 2010 we (Peter and Christine) were ourselves tackled by our local police over garden naturism following complaints to us by an intrusive and bigoted neighbour, but we persuaded the police to accept that Naturism, along with simply being seen by someone when naked was, in fact, lawful. EC members were aware of our success and later requested that we assist a rambler who had been walking naked across the fells in the Leeds area in 2012. In this case the judge in the initial hearing decided that the walker was guilty under section 5, but we worked with him and his barrister on his appeal which was successful. He was fortunate in having extremely skilled representation. The outcome of this case gave us our first insights into how we could address errant policing. We recognised the procedural errors being made by the force and considered how we could reach every police officer in the land, which at that time wasn’t possible.
We considered other ways and came up with two. One lay in campaigning to change public attitudes so that people didn’t immediately call the police when seeing a naked person and we worked on all branches of the media with the Campaigns team. The other strategy was to stop arrests if we could, but if not, then perhaps we could ensure cases didn’t go to court by preventing charges being raised by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). BN sent a letter to The Director of  Public Prosecutions with a request for him to review the situation and, once he had appreciated the erroneous arrests being made, he issued guidance to Prosecutors. Much of that letter was taken verbatim and is used today as the formal CPS guidance in England and Wales. It made a significant change in charging and policing. We attended several cases in 2012-15, often accompanied and supported by BN member Andrew Calow. Since September 2013 when the guidance was issued arrests for Naturism have virtually disappeared.
A hiccough along the way
In 2014 the government set about reforming the Anti-social Behaviour laws. This was nothing surprising as the existing law hadn’t been working properly and ‘ASBOs’ were being mocked. Anyone could buy an ‘ASBO’ from a card shop or market stall for almost anything: failing to wash dishes, staying out late, whatever. In truth this was the measure of the Act itself. There wasn’t anything in it that wasn’t already dealt with under The Public Order Act 1986 or other existing law.
The draft of the new Act was vague and introduced strange new ideas such as action being taken if matters were thought to be ‘just and convenient’ which is absolutely meaningless in daily life. According to The Human Rights Conventions anyone must be aware that they are committing a crime before they do so and must also be aware of the scale of penalty they will face if they go ahead. Testing whether something was ‘just and convenient’ meant that people would be judged after they had done something to find out if the law had had been broken or not! Another attempt was made by seeking to use the wording ‘nuisance or annoyance’. Well, let’s face it, we can all think of things we find a nuisance or annoyance - it doesn’t and shouldn’t make them criminal. We worked with members of both Houses of Parliament and were instrumental in changing the law on tackling anti-social behaviour and it must be demonstrable that it addresses a harm categorised as ‘harassment, alarm or distress’. This legal phrase is longstanding, has a particular meaning within the law and is well tried and tested in the courts so prosecutors, defending solicitors and barristers and police officers all know what it means. Under Anti-social Behaviour Act it is possible to issue a Community Protection Notice (CPN), but it would seem to be structurally impossible against Naturism as Section 66 of The Sexual Offences Act was predicated upon the proposition that the human body does not create ‘Alarm or Distress’ of itself.
Over the next four years there were only occasional cases. Often they were in more unusual circumstances like doing home maintenance at the front of the house, or driving across a town. When anything reached court we liaised with barristers and attended court proceedings making clear that British Naturism was following the proceedings very closely. We realised that The Equalities Act of 2010 afforded Naturists with a protected status, as much as say Buddhists and Pagans who have communities, land and follow a “Philosophical Belief” though they have no deity, and included this as an element in cases. The prosecutions all failed so we reasoned that we were in a position to take our findings to the Justice System itself and hold discussions on the general procedures for policing.
In the Dark
We felt that often it was a training issue; a police officer who rarely if ever encountered Naturism was using his or her own judgement and common sense when dealing with a complaint, because he or she was not aware of what the law says in this tiny and unfamiliar area. The Government had created a College of Policing during the passage of earlier legislation and this seemed to be the natural place for updating any training issues. Getting an updated briefing into the Policing Manual now seemed a good way forward, so we arranged a meeting with the highest ranking officer in the College of Policing.
That meeting was very positive and constructive. There was a clear understanding at the highest level of what had gone wrong and why, and a recognition of the need for training improvements for frontline officers and control room staff in order that complaints could be responded to appropriately. Months of delicate negotiation followed, where we presented possible approaches to training and they were run past various committees and their legal department. This kind of thing always takes much patience and time. However, in April this year we reached a mutually satisfactory solution, and the resultant preamble and “decision tree” for dealing with complaints about public nudity has been uploaded to the Police Training manuals. A successful and amicable conclusion!
Harnessing the Internet
The BN membership card carries the link to a ‘Policing’ page on the BN website which takes a Police Officer/duty solicitor straight to the Police website where there is “chapter and verse” on public nudity and which makes it abundantly clear that no further action need be taken in cases where someone is being a Naturist or where there is no inappropriate behaviour. It differentiates the passive nudity of Naturism from that of sexual offenders, people trying to cause trouble for others, or those who may have mental health issues, and details appropriate police responses to fit each case.
The Changes
The police have agreed that intentional and active use of genitals to aid abusive behaviours falls under Section 4A of the Public Order Act. They are intentional acts which require no interpretation. They also agree that Naturists must be treated equally with others. This is of considerable benefit to police officers as they are called to complaints by the public and rightfully expect that there is some mischief to which they will have to attend; normally unpleasant. Until now they have had no guidance, training or resource to rely upon and have ended up in confrontations which sometimes have gone to court only to find that the case is lost and the state has been obliged to repay all legal costs.
Much of our work has been in addressing Section 5 (the section without intent) of the Public Order Act, and obtaining recognition that this cannot be applicable to Naturism as there is no activity that is directed towards anyone. In consequence, consideration of Naturism by police officers under Section 5 has been removed from the training system. At last, it's recognised that Section 5 of the Public Order Act simply doesn't apply to Naturists!
It has taken many years, and there MAY still be occasional mistakes; to err is be human after all. But we are reassured that we can deal with any error quickly and probably on the spot via web links and smartphones. We hope that this initiative will give rise to much greater security provided that members are sensible, sensitive to others and their personal space, and never accept that Naturism is wrong nor accept a Caution for it!
 
Peter and Christine Wright, BN legal team
Blog: https://www.bn.org.uk/blogs/entry/1560-policing-2018-onwards/
Thanks to Donna and John for the picture illustrating the simple - and lawful - pleasure of being naked in the open air 

The BN Members’ Holiday to Corsica

The BN Members’ Holiday to Corsica

Under an hour from Bastia lies the Naturist resort of ‘Tropica’, a vast, natural area of parkland on the seafront in Corsica and where we’ve just returned from another successful BN Members’ Holiday. Guests stayed in modern, well-appointed bungalows in lush green surroundings, a 3-minute walk from the very long (6km) naturist beach on the east side of Corsica. This truly relaxing environment led to a wonderful week where we were ‘at one with nature’. Tropica has its own beach bar, but there is also a bar and separate restaurant at nearby Club Corsicana and a delightful ‘favourite’ of our group called ‘Chez Rose Marie’ reached on foot along countryside/beach tracks by the river where you are greeted by the a chorus of frogs croaking and bird song in the morning or in the evening.   
Activities included a BBQ at the site owner’s (rather splendid) house along the beach, where we swam in a huge pool; an early morning stretch session accompanied by relaxing music and bird-song; a trip to the other-worldly Roman remains and modern sculptures on the hilltop plateau at Aléria; a drive into the mountains where pink villages decorate the dark green hillsides; and a morning at Naturist resort Riva Bella where we met donkeys and llamas before a stroll on the beach. During the days we swam in the clear sea with sand underfoot, walking along the sandy beach or taking a stroll along meandering countryside tracks - where walking without clothes was possible. Some also chose to relax with a massage from Marielle on the beach, who was accompanied by her beautiful companion Max, a pure white Labrador who sat quietly by her side. We dined as a group most evenings, enjoying quizzes and card games - and great company. This was a gentle, relaxing, captivating week of escape that we were all very sad to leave.
There are more BN Members’ holidays to come this year, check them out!

BN216 - Summer 2018

BN216 - Summer 2018

As always our members' quarterly magazine s a great read, full of news, views and reviews, all brought to life with full colour throughout.   If you are a member of BN you can download a digital copy - as well as all BN magazines back to 2004. In this issue we're covering:
Get fit, get naked - we take a look at the many different opportunities there are to keep fit - from cycling to Yoga to Tai-Chi, there's a whole new world out there!
A review of our Bournemouth and Blackpool weekends
Naturism in Northern Ireland - getting busier…
Naked Dining - Bristol organiser Will tells us how his venture came about - and it may just whet your appetite for some of the other similar ventures that are happening this year!
Naked Theatre - we review the recent production of Skin Deep that was clothing-optional for the audience
Naturism and veganism - is there a correlation? Jane discusses.
Looking for holiday ideas? Check out our reviews of recent group holidays to El Portus, and our Austrian ski-ing trip - as well as member reviews from Portugal, Croatia, Kos and Montenegro.
Judith Stinchcombe looks back over her time as BN Chair, and remembers some of the highlights of her time.
Comprehensive listings of clubs, swims and events
…and much more besides.
BN Magazine is available to members only and issued four times a year as part of your annual subscription. If you are not a member, you can join us and get your own copy and other benefits as well.

NKD - what a weekend!

NKD - what a weekend!

The first ever NKD closed its doors on bank holiday Monday to rave reviews.
NKD is British Naturism’s youth and family festival and welcomed around 150 guests over the weekend. The weather was amazing, three days of splendid sunshine
There was loads to do from the Holi-style paint fight to the massive 25m long slip ‘n’ slide, campfire sing-a-longs to laughter yoga.  There was a great night out at Splashdown waterpark. Everyone got involved.
The best thing about NKD though was the people. A new, younger community was forged, families bonded, we laughed, played and sang together.
The NKD spirit is truly alive and will return May 24th - 27th 2019.
Get it in your diary now!
 
See the pics! BN Members can access galleries of images from all events, including NKD and Splashdown (log in required)

Our Vritomartis members' group holiday

Our Vritomartis members' group holiday

A group of 15 flew out to Crete with Chalfont Holidays to join the BN group holiday. Emerging over the mountain top and driving down the hairpin bends, avoiding the goats (who wander everywhere) we were all aware of the spectacular view before us as we arrived at the stunning coastal resort of Vritomartis. 
At this lovely hotel we either enjoyed sitting on the verandas or dipping into the super large pool, both with stunning views of the sea, or we joined in the plentiful hotel activities; pétanque, archery, shuffleboard to name a few. We ran our own BN aqua class in the afternoons with lots of ‘noodle’ fun, and had several ‘BN only' group trips including one to the local village Chora Sfakion where we enjoyed a lunch at our host’s family taverna. One morning we ventured further afield to the ancient parts of Anopolis followed by a splendid and plentiful lunch with raki that didn’t stop flowing, and on another day to a war museum followed by delicious tastings at a winery. 
The more adventurous of our group ventured out with the hotel party for challenging spectacular gorge walks and a jeep safari. The hotel entertainment ran every night with even a little Greek dancing thrown into the mix. On a couple of early evenings we were kept guessing with Andrew’s quizzes while drinking some excellent local wine.  
The week went quickly, but the memories will last.
Fancy a group holiday? Find out all about those to come this summer and beyond

It’s the BIG BN Bank Holiday weekend!

It’s the BIG BN Bank Holiday weekend!

Nothing on this weekend? Let's keep it that way...
It's one of the busiest weekends of the year for Naturists in the UK - what will you do?
 
May 25 - May 28 - Dorset
NEW for 2018! NKD, youth and family clothes-free festival
 
May 25 - June 1 - Yorkshire
Nudestock IX - camping and activity weekend, now in its ninth year
 
May 26 - Dorset
Naked night at Splashdown Waterpark, Poole
 
May 27 - Somerset
Naked dining in a Pullman carriage. Optional camping nearby.
 
Check out our calendar and see this map for ALL the naked activities this weekend and throughout the year…

My six reasons to be naked

My six reasons to be naked

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 the bodies! 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

Naked Dining Mexican-style

Naked Dining Mexican-style

***Update 5th June - last few places available***
Ay carumba! Naked dining - it’s all the rage! Following success in Bristol, we now gather for a wonderful unclothed Mexican restaurant experience in Datchworth, Hertfordshire, between Stevenage and Welwyn, on Saturday 16th June, starting at 7:00 pm.
It's the same day as the Cambridge World Naked Bike Ride with plenty of time for riders to finish the ride and make their way and extend the nude time...
Check out the details including how to book. Places are limited, so please don’t delay.

A Blackpool beach day

A Blackpool beach day

BN enjoyed another fabulous day on the beach at St. Anne's near Blackpool with 31 people enjoying the Bank Holiday weekend sunshine.
A few of us had walked down to the sea around three-quarters of a mile out. 'Concerned' members of the public had called the police and the powers that be decided to send a couple of officers to have a chat with us. They were brilliant. Very much on our side and told us they were aware of our event. When we originally met with the council and police a couple of years ago they said they would inform officers when we were meeting. Good to know it's still working. They left with a copy of the BN Public Place Naturism Guide, but they both declined an invitation to our swim that night. We also had a visit from a reporter from Andy Mitchell from Radio Wave and the Blackpool Gazette.
Let's see if we can get even more attendees at our next beach picnic on the second of June!
 
A slightly sun kissed George
 
 
Photo by Jan Romero on Unsplash

The Gathering gets underway

The Gathering gets underway

What started as a weekend event in Scotland for Naturists six years ago has turned into a major international event and sell out, now attracting a record 132 guests, spending between two and eight days in the gateway to the Scottish Highlands.
Hundreds of guests over the years have now put Dunoon firmly on the Naturist circuit and most importantly the local community now accept Naturists as welcomed and respected tourists enjoying boat trips, garden visits and walks in the countryside - without clothes, and without hassle.
Guests will enjoy a packed programme of activities both in and out of the event’s base, the Glenmorag hotel, including evening entertainment and the now traditional Burns in the Buff dinner. 
https://www.bn.org.uk/calendar/event/3768-the-gathering/
BN Members can follow the action as it unfolds on the BN Members' forum

Naked dining in a Pullman carriage

Naked dining in a Pullman carriage

The opportunities for doing day to day activities continues…we now bring you a naked dining experience in  'The Carriage' at The Old Station Inn, Hallatrow, Somerset.
Between Bath, Bristol and Wells lays The Old Station Inn and Carriage restaurant. The Hotel, originally commissioned for the now closed Hallatrow Railway station was built in the 1920s and is a fine example of the architecture of the period.
With obvious links to the railways it also features an old Pullman carriage as its restaurant, which has been lovingly restored to all its former glory. This was modelled on the iconic Royal Scotsman's dining car and is both elegant and welcoming.
Places are selling fast, so book your place now!  Make a weekend of it and stay nearby at Cam Bridge Barn.
Sunday 27th May from 7.00pm
Find out all the details including how to book

The wetter… the better….

The wetter… the better….

Another busy night at Stoke Waterworld on Saturday saw over 300 Naturists gathering for a night of waterpark madness. A good night was had by all with one of the youngest turnouts BN has ever had! YBN were out in force.
A good number of families showed up too, and Waterworld doesn’t disappoint with a great mix of slides, play areas and 'tough mudder’-esque monkey bars and leaping lillypads! There really is something for everyone including those who just want to relax and enjoy a drink and food from the poolside bar.
If you missed out we are back at Waterworld later in the year for the finale of The Great British Skinny Dip on the 29th September.
If you can’t wait till then and love a waterpark then you are in luck – Splashdown happens the late bank holiday weekend in May (May 26th) in Poole, Dorset. Buy your tickets now!

A new photo project - can you be involved?

A new photo project - can you be involved?

Well-known to members of BN, and highly regarded, Laura Dodsworth author/photographer of ‘Bare Reality’ and ‘Manhood’ is embarking on her next project - and you can take part in it!
It’s also the subject of a documentary being made for Channel 4. Burning Bright Productions are looking for women to speak about what being a woman is to them, told through their life experiences and their bodies.
If you think you have an interesting story or view point you would like to be included then please email your interest to womanhood@BBprod.co.uk and a member of the team will be in touch to talk through what it involves.

SKIN DEEP – a review

SKIN DEEP – a review

A clothes-optional performance at Stockwell Playhouse Theatre, London
It was with some trepidation that I approached the clothes optional performance of SKIN DEEP at the Stockwell Playhouse.  I have reviewed shows at some very peculiar venues and sat on all kinds of seating including sandbags, but I have always worn clothes. How would I manage with my notebook without a good lap to rest it on? In the event, of course, I undressed and sat on a theatre seat and wrote in my notebook as usual.  The theatre holds 181 people and was almost full on the 27 April which was the only night when nudity was encouraged. Most of the audience was completely nude with just a few in some kind of clothing. Many in the audience are BN members and when I spoke to them they came from a variety of places. One had come from Birmingham specially to see the show, others are members of clubs and a lot just read about it on social media or via the BN members’ forum. It was good to see a scattering of females although the audience was substantially male – young and middle-aged, just a couple of seniors around. I was delighted to observe a long queue for the Gents toilets as I waltzed straight into the Ladies’!
And so …on to the show.  There are four young men,  William Frazer, Adam O’Shea, Nick Brittain and Daniel Timoney, together with a well-endowed and attractive young woman known as Diana played by Shani Cantor, who examine our attitude to our bodies. The patter and songs look at issues covering body image. They talk about when they were young – one of the young men had severe spots, another speaks about not being chosen for the football team while one complains about being too fat.
There are some very good songs which illustrate the performers’ concerns.  I particularly liked Size Doesn’t Matter. Love Me for Who I Am is moving while My Foreskin and Me is most amusing. This latter song follows a close examination (on a screen) of the lower part of Michelangelo’s David. Director and Choreographer Adam Scown manages his performers expertly and is well served by the cast.  The young men sing pleasantly and dance - in a variety of styles - extremely well.  Shani Cantor has a great voice and puts across her songs with lots of feeling and meaningful glances at the audience.  Words and music are by Chris Burgess and he has a good line in innuendo and sexual asides. The references to nudism and gay jokes went down particularly well with this audience. The set design is good with excellent lighting on display. 
The performers are quite camp with some explicit displays. There is a well-danced and amusing number where the males hold giant fans in strategic positions which the audience really appreciated. The grand finale with the actors prancing around as nature intended is well worth the price of the entrance ticket. The show should please most people and if you can catch another clothes optional performance such as the one at the Edinburgh Fringe, so much the better!
Carlie Newman
Find out more about the show and future dates. Every venue is allowing BN Members to use the concessionary discount code.
 

Naturism on the Finca, Despatches From an Olive Grove

Naturism on the Finca, Despatches From an Olive Grove

Naturist Kevin Wheeler shares his experiences about making a stone 'mas' habitable on his own Finca in Spain.
There is nothing better than a hot day on a British naturist beach. The problem is that there are just not enough hot days in the typical British summer. I am privileged to live on a farm with a private sheltered garden in beautiful part of Devon, but in forty years of Naturism I have seen no great improvement in the weather. So I am writing this in Spain. 
Four years ago I decided to try to buy a place somewhere sunny. A villa with a pool, or an apartment by the beach would be nice. The problem is that my spare cash would not run to either one. I needed to do this on a very limited budget. Time share would not work for me, I need more than two weeks a year in the sun!  Then I heard about fincas.
The Spanish word finca has many translations, Google Translate suggests land, property and estate. My finca is fairly typical, it is an olive grove. Two acres of terraced land on the side of a mountain. There is a stone building with one room inside. We Brits might call it a shed! Traditionally these houses were lived in for a short time when the land was worked or during the harvest. Mine still had a section where the donkey would have stayed. These buildings were very well made and would have been warm at night and cool by day. If you buy one that is a hundred years old it may not be quite so weather-tight.
I pictured myself sat naked outside such a house with a drink just soaking up the sun. Today that is precisely what I am doing. Then later on I will take a stroll among the trees.
A quick word about Spanish law, it is lawful to stay in these buildings, but most Spanish authorities will not give formal consent for them to be lived in permanently. Nonetheless many intrepid Spanish people and expats do live in them. One thing is sure, they make great and perfectly legal holiday homes.
So where exactly are we? Well very close to the frontier of Catalonia and Aragon. The nearest settled community is Maella, which must be a town as it has a town hall, but it is the size of a British village. It is an historic town and is best known as the birth place of Pablo Gargallo the noted Spanish sculptor.
As is frequently discussed elsewhere, the Spanish constitution includes the right to public nudity. When on the finca we only dress by day when we need to limit our exposure to the sun. Public nudity is not really an issue here as we never see anyone except for visiting Naturists who have their own fincas in the area.
Sitting naked in the virtually-guaranteed sunshine can be the principal pastime for six months a year.
The temperature here often gets into the high thirties in June, in July and August it can reach 40. I have been asked “What can you wear at 40 degrees?” My answer is water. Get in it, or get it all over you. One of the things I did on my first visit to the finca was to install a plunge pool. It is only a very simple design but it makes an amazing difference.
Then there is swimming in the local river. There are four rivers in the area, but for me it has to be the Algars. It has sink holes so you can swim even when the river starts to dry up. There are small fish who show no fear when you swim with them. The surrounding countryside is stunning. The banks are gently sloping and covered in small pebbles. It is like being at the beach.
On the subject of beaches, my nearest Naturist beach is the amazing El Torn at Hospitalet del Infant.  El Templo del Sol is the Naturist camp site which is on the cliff above the beach. The reviews of the camp site are mixed but everyone loves the beach. A review on Trip Advisor called it one of the best naturist beaches in Europe. About a kilometre of beautiful golden sand and shingle. The water is usually calm, clear and warm even in May. The back of the beach is fringed with pine forest. It is very popular, but never feels too crowded. There is a very good tapas bar on the beach which does not seem at all out of place. This is not a commercial, but explains why my friends and I love it. It is quite a way from the finca, but well worth the drive.
An average day here often begins with an early start to carry out any work that needs to be done before the sun rises fully above the surrounding hills. This is the cool time of day, the temperature is around 16 - 18 degrees which is very comfortable for working. Equally this is a great time for walking around the finca and enjoying the amazing countryside views.
When the sun hits the finca fully, a couple of hours after sunrise, the temperature rises quickly. Breakfast time, then settle down with a book for some sunbathing and frequent dips in the pool. Alternatively head out for a day on the beach.
Around 1 pm to 3 pm is a good time for swimming in the river. Local people seem to observe the siesta and will tend to go to the river around 4 pm. So mad dogs and Englishmen have it to themselves in the early afternoon.
Grocery shopping for a supper of fresh local produce on the way back to the finca and there is still time for a few hours sunbathing.
Many expats like to take a walk in the evening, if you are en casa this is when you may get a visit from the neighbours.
There is quite an active café and bar culture in Maella. There is a good chance you will see friends in the local tapas bars at lunch time and in the bars in the evening.
My nearest neighbours, one Dutch and two British, stay on their fincas for several months a year, and one lives there full time. I must admit to envying them when it is time for me to return home.
The mountain climate in summer has been a revelation, the day carries on getting hotter well into the evening. You can leave the beach as the day cools, drive up the mountain and find that when you get home it is hotter than when you left the beach. There are often a couple hours more sunbathing if you need it.
When I wrote this, it was my third summer visiting the finca, I get five weeks holiday a year and I spend it all here. I have a week in May, June, and July and two weeks in September. That way I have five months a year which feel like summer.
Sunbathing, swimming, local wine and the Mediterranean diet, my Spanish naturist hideaway is a great place to be.
Like so many people of my age I caught the DIY bug back in the eighties. As a younger man I was very keen on knocking down walls, fitting breakfast bars, stripping floors and painting or varnishing almost everything. So I can still tell one end of a screwdriver from the other.
I have been able to carry out a fair amount of work on the house myself. When I first took it on, I described the building as a shed. Now it has had work done on it and it is upgraded to a habitable shed.
It is important to note that any substantial work here needs permission from the town hall. I was advised by the estate agent that I needed a concrete floor inside and a patio outside. This would provide a clean area in which to stay, work and relax. That proved extremely good advice, it was a big job and I was not keen on mixing concrete in the summer heat. This was a task for a local builder. He arranged the necessary permission to restore the building and carried out the agreed work. All this was done in the spring, before my first planned stay on the finca. I was very pleased with the result. From that point on I have done the work myself.
During my first visit I noticed that the roof was sagging a bit. So as a temporary measure I reinforced it from below and replaced a few broken tiles. That at least kept it water proof for the first few years. I was not sure how much longer my temporary fix would last. The major project this year has been to rebuild it. I have had a great deal of help from visitors who are staying on the finca and a friend from a neighbouring finca.
The traditional roofs in this area are the pan tiles which you see in older Spanish buildings. Below this is a layer made from rushes and soil. All this is supported on wooden beams. The rushes are around four feet long and about as thick as the bamboo we would use for growing runner beans. They are mostly split in half long-ways. They are woven into a panel and laid on top of the beams. On these there is a thick layer of soil, possibly applied wet. If you can imagine a wattle and daub wall on its side you will have the picture. The tiles rest on the soil.
In the long term the rushes start to break up and a constant light rain of dust and small stones falls from the ceiling. To be fair the roof here may be more than a hundred years old, so it has done really well.
I don’t know where I would get the rushes, I am fairly sure that I would not be allowed to cut them from the river banks, and I did not fancy spending days splitting them so instead I decided on a wooden ceiling.
A word about wood. There are pine trees growing on most mountain sides, but it is not permitted to cut them as they are a protected plant species. I imagine they are an important wildlife habitat. As a result I understand that most of the timber in Spain is imported. This means that it is not readily available and when you can find it, it comes at a high price. As a British farmer I am used to wood being relatively affordable, so I was surprised to find that it is actually more economical to buy the timber in the UK and have it shipped to Spain.
With all the materials on site and the work force prepared each day by having had a very substantial breakfast we got started. The old roof was dismantled taking care not to break the tiles. A lot of broken rushes and soil were hauled away in the wheel barrow. Then new timber planks were fitted and tiles rested on top. The entire job took four days, but has been well worth the effort. The roof is now secure and the ceiling looks good in a rustic way.
I had expected that one of the major DIY jobs would be going “off-grid”.
There has been a great deal of discussion in the British press recently about living off grid. Experts tell us that it may hold the solution to increased use of renewable energy. They seem to be promoting large banks of very expensive batteries linked to equally expensive solar panels and wind turbines. Personally I am entirely in favour of renewable energy, from our farm in Devon you can see six windmills and there are another eight within a mile or two. There are also three substantial solar farms nearby, in my view they are all necessary and when properly planned they blend nicely into the countryside. Of course there are those who will disagree.
What I am not so sure about is the high cost of renewable energy in the UK. Life off grid here in the Spanish countryside is a far simpler affair, I often think the planners would do well to look at the way rural communities live. When you are up a mountain off grid is your only option. There are no mains electricity, gas, water, or drainage here. There are some truly enormous arrays of wind turbines and solar installations serving the Spanish mains, but it is the small scale local systems which interest me.
Going off grid has proved to be much less complicated than I had thought.
In many parts of Spain bottled gas is the most popular choice of energy to cook with, this applies even in town. Most garages therefore sell gas. The sale of gas is regulated in Spain, to buy the first bottle you need a license. After that they exchange an empty bottle for a full one as we do at home. Gas takes care of the cooking. I could not survive out here without a steady supply of cold drinks. A fridge is essential, this also runs on gas.
The next question is water. As everyone knows you cannot drink the tap water in much of mainland Europe, so we all buy vast amounts of bottled water. Go to any supermarket and you will find that everyone’s trolley is half filled with bottles of water. You also need water for other purposes and there are no mains taps where I am. Being British I thought about a bore hole. I made enquiries much to the amusement of local people who told me that you can drill as far as you like, there is no water under these mountains. I have since learned that at least one person has tried, they now own a very deep, very dry hole. I now have a rain water harvesting system which gathers water during the winter. This consists of metal roofing sheets on a timber framework with gutters leading to water tanks. These are the caged plastic type known in the UK as IBC tanks, in Spain they call them cubes. I have four tanks which when topped up by the occasional summer storm hold enough water to see us through. This system is at the highest point on the finca, well above the house. By the time it has come down the hill the water pressure is about the same as it is at home. The taps run quickly and we can have a good shower. We also collect water from the house roof for the pool.
Heating the water is surprisingly easy, simply run it through a black pipe. This is solar heating at its most basic. I was warned by the locals that this will provide water which is too hot to handle, it is certainly true that from mid-day and all afternoon it is necessary to mix it with some cold water, so we bury blue pipe to carry the cold water and use black pipe laid along the ground for hot water.
At the same time I set up the shower. This is outside. I made a privacy screen, which no one uses. Showering in the great outdoors is described by some visitors as one of the highlights of the stay, it is like something out of a shower gel commercial.
A hot water storage tank would probably improve the system, but so far we have not needed it. Instead we have learned to have our showers and do the washing up when the water is hot. It is all part of adjusting your lifestyle to match the environment and the natural patterns of the day rather than trying to do things the other way around as we are often obliged to at home. I think this fits in well with the naturist philosophy. Very occasionally we also do some laundry such as beach towels, but living the way we do there are very few clothes to wash! There is more than enough hot water for all these tasks.
The drains are even easier. The ground here is parched in summer. A simple, shallow soak away will take all the used water. The nearest trees respond with richer, greener leaves and bigger fruit. Hopefully as a result they also support a few more insects and birds. This way of life encourages us to think carefully about waste and to recycle as much as possible on the finca, if the water is no use to us perhaps it will benefit the wild life.
Naturally there is another kind of drain needed when you are making a holiday home miles from the nearest loo. A composting septic tank takes care of that. I won’t go into detail about it here, suffice to say that it provides a hygienic solution to a potentially tricky problem.
This leaves the electricity. I only need power for the phone, the camera, and some lighting. The car will charge the first two.
It was therefore a priority to install solar lighting. Solar electricity presents two main problems. The set up cost can easily run into hundreds of pounds and in one local case a system with computer controlled solar tracking panels cost tens of thousands. The second concern is that solar panels have been targeted by thieves in some parts of Spain. Thankfully that has not been an issue in our area, touch wood!
My preferred system is much simpler. Four lights, each connected to its own very small solar panel (about the size of a smart phone) no controllers or inverters, the batteries are inside the lights. The whole system cost less than twenty pounds and the first parts of it have now lasted for four years and counting.
The finca is now as off grid as it is possible to get and the system is mostly self-sustaining.
I would not want to give you the impression that we have only been working this week. We have stopped to go swimming in the river almost every day and we have had a day down at El Torn, our nearest naturist beach. Now that the work is done we will be back on the beach tomorrow.
 One question that sometimes arises, “Is it safe to do DIY without protective clothing?” Or in the case of BN members “In no clothing at all?” I think it depends which tools you are using. Personally I draw the line at dodging sparks from the angle grinder.
A little understanding of DIY is a good thing on the finca, but not essential. Neighbours are usually generous with their advice and quick to lend a hand. They have usually got the one tool I forgot to pack. Alternatively there are local builders who will handle it all for you, if you prefer to sit back and relax.
The building work is done, and we have a few bottles of wine in the fridge. I think it is time to call it a day
 

‘Can our staff be naked too?’

‘Can our staff be naked too?’

Dine Naked Bristol founder (and BN member) Will explains how the venture came to be, and some of the surprising things he’s been asked by venues.
What happens if you drop hot food? and Do I have to arrive at the venue naked? are two of the most common questions I’ve been asked about naked dining. Another one is Why naked?
For me, the answer comes from the World Naked Bike Ride. For the last few years, I have coordinated the ride in Bristol. It was a hugely rewarding role. Riders told me how they went from being nervous and self-conscious of their bodies beforehand, to having their fears evaporate within the first minutes of the event. And afterwards they reported a greater sense of positivity and pride in their bodies.
I wanted to find another way to share this feeling. Having been to a few naked dinner parties with friends, I wondered if naked dining would have wider appeal.
It’s a simple idea – to book out an entire restaurant, pub, or function room for people to dine whilst naked. The diners would enjoy the same food and drink that would normally be served there, at roughly similar prices. There’d be no photography, and we’d welcome people who are under-represented at many naturist events, such as women, people with disabilities, and BAME (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic), and LGBT+ people. I wrote up these principles as a mini-manifesto. I set up Facebook and Twitter accounts, and tweeted about my plans. Most diners probably don’t use Twitter, but nearly all journalists do: the tweets were mentioned in the local press, and then I hurried to start contacting venues.
Several places ignored my emails, but I had no negative responses. Some responded positively, so I arranged to visit them for a chat. I told them we’d sell tickets in advance; that we’d provide towels for diners to sit on; that we’d make it clear it was a non-sexual event. At one venue I was told that their staff had been talking about the naked dining idea, and they wanted to be naked too!
All three events so far have sold out within a few days. And we’ve had a diverse mix of diners, with more young people and women than at most naturist events I’ve been to. At the last event, a couple came along because it was at their local pub and sounded fun, despite them never having experienced social nudity before. Journalists have taken part and written positively about their experiences. One finished her account by saying, ‘The evening has flown by and I don my clothes with almost as much reluctance as I had taken them off hours prior.’ And indeed, the managers of one venue joined in the nudity while hosting us. It made for a very welcoming atmosphere. It sounds like they really enjoyed it too - they're hoping to come along as customers to the next event! We’ve even had a diner coming to Bristol all the way from Edinburgh for our naked lunch!
These are small events, and I don’t plan to run more than one a month. But it’s great that they’ve got people in Bristol and beyond talking about their attitudes to nudity and bodies. I’m sure Dine Naked could work in other cities. Already, Dine Naked Brighton has started contacting potential venues.
If you fancy giving it a go where you live, I am happy to share ideas and resources. Get in touch at hello@dinenaked.co.uk and check out facebook.com/dinenkd and twitter.com/DineNaked

Our nude run - open to all

Our nude run - open to all

Runners at British Naturism’s Nudefest’s 5k and 10k runs won’t be worrying about sporting the latest, fashionable running gear, they will be wearing the most natural and ergonomic outfit - nothing!
Nudefest is a week-long clothes free festival held in Somerset. During the week nearly 100 different sessions, events or types of entertainment will be held and one of these is a naked run.
On Saturday 14th July runners will complete over either one or two 5k laps. The run is open to non-Nudefest guests, so if you’ve been looking for a change to your daily routine of pounding the same old pavements, it could be for you.
The run is completely within the grounds of the site - a large rural area complete with a number of idyllic lakes.
Naked runners will receive a medal and certificate for taking part and can have an official photograph taken of themselves to prove they have completed a ‘naked’ run.
Runners are advised to wear suitable footwear and women can choose to wear a bra. Changing rooms are available and runners can stay for the day and enjoy the festival site which has a well stocked bar, catering facilities and entertainment till late.
Find out more at https://www.bn.org.uk/calendar/event/4111-5k10k-run-at-nudefest/
..and if you can’t make this one (or even if you can) check out another nude 5K at the Naturist Foundation in Kent, in May https://www.bn.org.uk/calendar/event/3874-5k-run-naturist-foundation/

The Naked BBC Podcast

The Naked BBC Podcast

BBC launches new podcast about body image and nudity - with naked reporters
Jenny Eells and Kat Harbourne, reporters at BBC Radio Sheffield, are baring all in an innovative series of podcasts for the BBC. The two women (pictured) want to explore issues around body image and nudity to find out why people are so prudish about their bodies and why many people, particularly women, aren’t more body confident. By recording each episode naked they encourage a more open conversation with their guests - who are also naked - and one that confronts the taboos about nudity. They plan to record one of the episodes at a Naturist event.
“I’ve never been scared of being “in the nip” as it were but chatting to a mate in the buff with nothing but a microphone to cover our modesty was a challenging prospect to say the least,” says Jenny.
“And that’s before we got any guests involved! For me being naked isn’t really an issue but I know that’s not the case for everyone and I wanted to try and find out why.  Before we started recording, I wondered if conversations with no clothes on could be, quite literally, more revealing. And from the frank, open and honest chats we’ve already had with amazing women from all walks of life – they most definitely are!”
“I don’t particularly like getting naked, so at points I’ve wondered why we’re putting ourselves through this!” explains Kat. “For as long as I can remember, I’ve not felt confident about my body. In my thirties I decided it was time to change this and question why so many of us feel the same way. Why ARE we ashamed of what’s beneath our clothes? Why do we spend so much time worrying what other people think? Why don’t we celebrate the amazing things our bodies are capable of? I can’t wait for people to hear the astonishing stories we’ve recorded with brave, funny and brutally honest women.”
With the Naked Podcast series Kat and Jenny hope to inspire a generation of people to feel more self-assured and proud of what is underneath their clothes.
The station will also run a series of stories about body image and identity across their programmes throughout the week beginning April 16th. Catch a (naked) interview with BN member Mark on the Rony Robinson show on Wednesday 18th April at 2.30pm.
The podcasts will be available to download for free from http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts from that date too.

Bare With Me - the East End Film Festival

Bare With Me - the East End Film Festival

We were approached at the end of 2017 by filmmakers Natasha Coleman and Stephen Noble, looking for subjects to feature in a short film they were making. The film discusses how people find and feel about social nudity and aims to explore how confidence in our own bodies and respect for others prevents the objectification, and in extreme cases harassment, that plagues society. The result is ‘Bare with Me’ and it has been accepted into the East Film Festival and airs on April 26th.
The category is ‘Defying Gravity’ which features eight films. The struggle is real. Whether they are fighting against capitalism, social injustice and prejudice, or challenging social assumptions, the protagonists of these films are real survivors facing forces sometimes stronger than gravity. Keep your head up, will ya?
BN member and participant in the film, Mark says:
‘Making this film was really uplifting and great fun for all of us. Body acceptance is a serious subject that we all really cared about so we developed the project together and really invested ourselves. It was striking to see the film crew realising how their own fears were limiting themselves and that maybe there was a better way. We are really pleased to have the film selected to be featured in a film festival by a group with no vested interest in social nudity. It shows the increasingly broad recognition of the value of body confidence. Explaining why we participate in naturism and the huge potential for psychological and societal benefit will hopefully result in naturism having a positive impact on a much wider audience.’
 
Bare With Me
UK | Natasha Coleman & Stephen Noble | 7 min
What’s happened to nakedness? For those that seek out social nudity in their day to day lives, nakedness breaks down barriers, gives back choice and builds a trusting community where naked is normal.
Find out more and buy tickets 
@EastEndFilmFest @natashajcoleman @stephenforshort