Naturism in the UK is thriving like never before. In 2007 a wide variety of nude and clothes-optional events - some being hosted by British Naturism (BN), some in which BN are participating and lending support - are taking place, for naturists as well as those looking for an opportunity to experience our wonderful lifestyle.
Richard Daniels, British Naturism’s national Chairman said:
“Thoughts of the unreliable climate of the UK often surprise people at just how much naturism there is in Britain, but we always get good days and forecasters are predicting a great year in 2007.
“At British Naturism we have always arranged events for our members and newcomers but nowadays, with the rise in acceptance of our way of living, find that the outside world is beating a path to our door, eager to gain the benefit of the “Buff Pound” and provide facilities for nude events – in some must-see places. They provide great opportunities for us to let more people know how wonderful naturism is. At clothes-optional events, the clothed and the unclothed mingle happily and many of the latter are inspired to give naturism a try. No-one is ever forced to undress and so it is a perfect opportunity for people to come and see what it is all about without any pressure to join in. Whatever their preconceptions, newcomers to naturism adapt very quickly and find that being naked amongst other naked people soon becomes the most normal thing in the world. When it is hot, dispensing with clothes is an obvious and sensible thing to do. Swimming without a costume is something everyone must try at least once.
“If you have never been to a naturist event and experienced the feeling of freedom and instant reduction in your stress levels, and met friendly, normal people, come and give it a try this year - you’ll never look back!
Calendar
BN Marine Conservation Society Coastal Challenge - National
May bank holiday weekend: Saturday 5 – Monday, 7 May
BN are proud to support the work of the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) – the BN President’s Charity of the Year for 2007. Groups of naturists will be taking part in the MCS Coastal Challenge, raising money by walking on naturist beaches and elsewhere.
www.british-naturism.org.uk/pages/pages.asp?page_ID=231
www.mcsuk.org
INF Youth Rally - Norwich
Wednesday, 16 – Sunday, 20 May
Our turn to host this annual global event for 14- to 27-year-olds. 4 days of activities, sideshows and trips with the emphasis on having a good time with friends.
http://www.british-naturism.org.uk/pages/pages.asp?page_ID=234
Clothes-optional days at Abbey House Gardens – Malmesbury, Wiltshire
Sunday, 3 June, Saturday,14 July, Friday,17 and Saturday,18 August, Sunday, 9 September (**Note change of date from Saturday, 8 September)
Five days this year – it just keeps getting better. Owners Ian and Barbara Pollard are opening their gates to visitors who wish to enjoy their beautiful gardens without clothes. As before, it’s open to the public, so it is expected that textile visitors will also be in evidence. Two of the dates are consecutive, so visitors can plan a weekend away and make the most of it.
http://www.british-naturism.org.uk/events/events_detail.asp?event_ID=170
www.abbeyhousegardens.co.uk
Garden of Eden and Nudefest2007 - Cornwall
Friday 22 – Sunday 24 June
The one that no-one will want to miss! A whole weekend of events and activity in Cornwall, including the landmark naturist evening at the world-famous Eden Project hosted by Red Letter Days. BN’s main summer event – “Nudefest2007” - will run close by, all weekend, at Newperran Holiday Park.
Garden of Eden: Saturday, 23 June, 7-11 p.m. Nudefest 2007: Friday, 22 – Sunday, 24 June
www.british-naturism.org.uk/pages/pages.asp?page_ID=246
www.redletterdays.co.uk/gardenofeden
BN beach days
Sunday, 1 July – Fraisthorpe, Yorkshire; Sunday, 8 July - Studland, Dorset; Sunday 15 July – Leysdown; Sunday, 22 July – Morfa Dyffryn, Gwynedd; Sunday, 29 July – Eastney; Sunday, 5 August – Holkham, Norfolk.
Plenty of days at the beach again this year, on some of the most popular naturist spots in the country. There will be plenty of fun and games and light refreshments, but bring your own picnic. If you’ve never been to a British nude beach, this is a good time to try one. Some days are being organised by BN, others by BN’s regions or beach-user groups.
The second BN Alton Towers Naturist weekend
Friday 16 to Sunday 18 November
BN’s big winter event! Following the success of the first weekend in 2006, BN members will again have exclusive and fully nude use of Splash Landings hotel and waterpark at Alton Towers for the weekend with sideshows, activities and events arranged throughout.
www.british-naturism.org.uk/pages/pages.asp?page_ID=249
Sports events
Gala: Saturday 19 May – Rugby; Petanque: Saturday 26 – Sunday 27 May – Orpington; BN Fun Run – Leicester: Sunday 2 September
BN members will compete against each other at the BN Swimming Gala and BN Petanque Tournament, to qualify to represent the UK at International events later in the year. In naturist petanque, Team GB are the reigning world champions. The BN Fun Run is open to all naturists, of ages and abilities.
BN Swimming Gala www.british-naturism.org.uk/events/events_detail.asp?event_ID=159
BN Petanque Tournament www.british-naturism.org.uk/events/events_detail.asp?event_ID=160
BN Fun Run www.british-naturism.org.uk/events/events_detail.asp?event_ID=162
A full list of all events – not just BN national ones – is on our website at www.british-naturism.org.uk/events
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Contacts:
Commercial Manager:
Andrew Welch
020 8123 2269
07774 955138
commercial.manager@british-naturism.org.uk
Notes for Editors
· British Naturism is the UK’s officially recognised naturist organisation. It exists to support and unite naturists around the UK and celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2004, although previous incarnations have been in existence since the 1930s.
· Amongst the aims of BN are to campaign for more naturist places to be made available and to protect naturists against discrimination.
· In the UK, there are over 150 sun clubs, swim clubs and holiday resorts and 11 officially designated naturist beaches, with many more being used regularly by naturists. Membership of BN is around 16,000 people.
· BN co-produced Bare Britain, with Lifestyle Press in June 2005, a guidebook to naturism and naturist places in the UK. It is available in bookshops up and down the country, a landmark step for a book on this subject, and has become a best-seller.
· YBN (Young British Naturists) has a membership of 250 young men and women between the ages of 16 and 30 who get together at clubs and beaches many weekends. They represented the UK at the International Naturist Federation (INF) Youth Rally held in France in 2005 and will be hosting the Rally in the UK in 2007.
· Naturism is good for you. Naturists report improvements in well-being, stress, chronic illness, self-esteem and body image.
· British Naturism have adopted the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) as their President’s Charity of the Year. We are raising funds and awareness and working with them to raise money for their causes. Naturists will be participating in the MCS Coastal Challenge in May 2007.
· For the media, there is a dedicated “Media Centre” at http://www.british-naturism.org.uk/mediacentre which contains useful information for those wishing to write about naturism or feature this wonderful world in their publications or programmes, including a downloadable Media Information Pack. There is also a contact page at http://www.british-naturism.org.uk/contact/ to ensure that any enquiries are directed to the right person and gain an appropriate and speedy reply.
