| British Naturism | |
| Abbreviation: | BN |
| Status: | Non-profit organisation |
| Purpose: | Naturism in the UK |
| Location: | 4 Pavilion Court, 600 Pavilion Drive,Northampton |
| Region Served: | UK |
| Membership: | UK naturists |
| Leader Title: | President |
| Leader Name: | Mark Bass[1] |
| Main Organ: | Executive Committee |
| Affiliations: | International Naturist Federation |
| Leader Title2: | Chair |
| Leader Name2: | Colin Taylor |
British Naturism (until 2009, Central Council for British Naturism) is a members organisation with both individual and organisation members. It promotes naturism in the United Kingdom, and it is recognised by the International Naturist Federation as the official national naturist organisation in that country.
According to non-statutory guidance issued by the Crown Prosecution Service—
Naturism is used to describe the activities of persons who espouse nudity as part of their lifestyle. Whilst many naturists will restrict their activities to specially designated areas and/or places where there is a tradition of naked activity, such as nudist beaches, others may wish to enjoy nudity more widely.[2]
According to the guidance a balance is to be struck between the naturist's right to freedom of expression and the right of the wider public to be protected from harassment, alarm and distress.[3] [4]
As a member of the International Naturist Federation, British Naturism adopted the 1974 Declaration Agde that states that naturism is:
a way of life in harmony with nature, characterised by the practice of communal nudity with the intention of encouraging self-respect, respect for others and for the environment.[5]
British Naturism traces its origins to 1891 when a short lived society called the "Fellowship for the Naked Trust" was formed in British India.[6] This trust had ideals and principles very similar to many later organisations.
The Camp was the first naturist club to be established in the United Kingdom. It was set up by someone known only as Moonella and existed at a country house near Wickford in Essex between 1924 and 1927. It was later replaced by a new venue called "The New Camp" near St Albans.[7] This and several others were able to form the British Sun Bathers Association in 1943.
Harold Booth published articles pertaining to naturism in many magazines at the turn of the century, and in 1922 the English Gymnosophical Society (EGS) was formed as a direct result of his work. It had a site in Wickford, Essex, which it used during the summer, and in winter it held meetings in London. By 1926 the EGS was renamed the New Gymnosophy Society and had a site at Bricket Wood, Hertfordshire which has subsequently been used by many different clubs.
The oldest club still in operation is Spielplatz which was founded in 1929 by Charles Macaskie and his wife Dorothy. It consists of 12 acres (4.9 ha) located in the village of Bricket Wood, in the English county of Hertfordshire.
Concurrent to this, naturism was also practised at the Welsh Harp in Hendon, apparently from as early as 1921. From this sprang the National Sun and Air Association which ran national advertisement campaigns, as well as running a gymnasium in Westbourne Grove, London. By 1937, membership of this society was running at over 2000.
In 1943 the British Sun Bathers Association (BSBA) was formed and became recognised as a national federation of clubs, which by 1951 had 51 member clubs or groups. However, by 1953, personal and ideological differences led to the formation of the rival Federation of British Sun Clubs (FBSC).
Both organisations existed until their merger in 1964 to create the Central Council for British Naturism (CCBN). By 2006, CCBN was usually referred to as 'British Naturism' but officially changed the name to 'British Naturism' at the 2009 AGM. In 2022 it claimed a membership of about 9,000. [8]
British Naturism has sought legal and political protection against discrimination for naturists in the United Kingdom, where an opinion poll in 2008 estimated the number of people describing themselves as naturist or nudist at 3.7 million.[11] It also runs public facing campaigns, including Women in Naturism, which supports and encourages women to try naturist activities, Bare all for polar bears[12] which seeks to raise money for environmental conservation and The Great British Skinny Dip,[13] which encourages costume free swimming events to be run, not just by naturist clubs, but also public pools, spas, lidos and natural settings such as lakes. During the pandemic in 2020 British Naturism sought to build interest in naturism though a series of online events, including a public-facing charity event entitled "The Great British Take-off". In 2023 they appointed Helen Berriman as Women's Officer[14] and later that year she launched their first podcast, Women in Focus[15] which proclaims to be "dedicated to celebrating and empowering women through naturism".[16]
In April 2018, British Naturism announced that in discussion with the senior officer at the police college a mutually satisfactory solution was reached, and the resultant preamble and "decision tree" for dealing with complaints about public nudity has been uploaded to the Police Training manuals.[17] British Naturism argues that Naturism is protected as a philosophical belief under the Equality Act 2010. The Crown Prosecution Service issued guidance in 2013 updated in 2019,[2] which, among other things, confirms that section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 is unlikely to apply in cases of passive nudity. Serving police officers now have advice online and in their training manual.[18] Using nudity for "intentional harassment, alarm or distress" remains an offence under section 4A of the Public Order Act 1986.[19]