Enjoy the gardens as nature intended


For the fourth consecutive year, Malmesbury, Wiltshire’s, Abbey House Gardens, which are open to the public throughout the spring and summer, will be open also on special days to visitors who wish to enjoy the beautiful gardens without clothes. Five such days have been arranged this year, the first being Sunday 31 May, coinciding with World Naturist Day.


Being naked is not obligatory and so, as before, it is expected that clothed visitors will mingle with those who have chosen to undress. Light refreshments will be available but visitors are welcome to bring their own picnic.


Ian & Barbara Pollard said:

"It seems to us that seeing one another naked in relaxed, non-personal circumstances more often, might help to dispel the notion that nudity must have something to do with sex and help some of us overcome some of our insecurities. As allowing our skin the benefit of sunshine in a sensible, controlled way is essential for good health then we're crossing our fingers for dry
sunny weather on Sunday."


British Naturism will be supporting and attending the event. Commercial Manager, Andrew Welch, said:
“We’re indebted to Ian and Barbara for hosting clothes optional days, which provide an opportunity for naturists to enjoy the beautiful grounds of Abbey House Gardens. It’s great also for those who are curious about clothes-free living to find out more and give it a try if they wish. There are often misunderstandings about those who wish to wear nothing, but mixing with clothed visitors in previous years has shown us that it’s all in the mind.


Two of the dates are consecutive, with a gap of one day before a third, so visitors can plan a long weekend away and make the most of it. There is plenty to do in the area around Abbey House Gardens and there are lots of places to stay, not far away.


Media attendance in the morning of the days is welcome - please make contact in advance to find out more.


Visit Abbey House Gardens website for details of the gardens, other local tourist spots and an accommodation list. See the British Naturism website for further information and dates of all the clothes optional days this year.




- ENDS -


Contacts:



BN Commercial Manager
Andrew Welch 01753 481527
07774 955138
commercial.manager@british-naturism.org.uk


Notes for Editors


· British Naturism (BN) 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 its predecessors have been in existence since the 1930s.


· Amongst the aims of BN are to campaign for more places to be made available for naturism and to protect naturists against discrimination and Victorian attitudes to the human body.


· Fact – simply being naked in a public place is not against the law. Various pieces of legislation and common law are often mentioned in connection with naturism but they are not relevant.


· In the UK, there are over 130 sun clubs, swim clubs and holiday resorts and 12 officially designated naturist beaches, with many more used regularly by naturists. Membership of BN is around 13,000 people with around 15,000 more being members of clubs affiliated to BN. The calendar of naturist events – not all run by British Naturism – is packed for 2009. There are also thousands of UK naturists who enjoy holidays and beaches in the UK and abroad without being members of recognised naturist organisations.


· YBN (Young British Naturists) has a membership of 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 2009 held in Italy following Holland in 2008 and hosted the Rally themselves in the UK in 2007 – see our YBN pages for details.


· Naturism is good for you. Naturists report improvements in well-being, stress, chronic illness, self-esteem and body image. It’s also a sensible choice of dress when the weather is warm. Naturists are normal people. The only difference between activities inside and outside of naturism is the dress code. See FAQs about naturism.


· It is a fallacy to believe that naked children are any more at risk of abuse in a naturist environment. In addition, unaccompanied children are not permitted in naturist places and the community spirit that pervades ensures that a watchful eye is present. Despite the perception, there are far fewer problems in naturism than in more “public” places where children and adults mix. Mindful of the need to be aware of child protection issues, however, BN have a robust child safeguarding policy, a code of practice, and have a Child Safeguarding sub-committee that meets regularly and runs workshops on the subject, sometimes to groups from outside the naturist world.


· For more information on British Naturism, please visit our website at
www.british-naturism.org.uk/. For the media, there is a dedicated “Media Centre” at
www.british-naturism.org.uk/mediacentre/, which contains useful information for those wishing to write about naturism or to feature this wonderful world in their publications or programmes, including a downloadable Media Information Pack. There is also a contact page, to ensure that any enquiries are directed to the right person and gain an appropriate and speedy reply.