2021.06.10 Yorkshire Live
A Yorkshire naturist has shared her top tips for anyone tempted to ditch their clothes this summer - and what to do when you meet a naked stranger.
Naturism is becoming more and more popular with over 1,100 people signing up as British Naturism members in the past year.
The sharp rise is believed to be driven by Brits taking a liking to the clothes-free lifestyle during lockdown,
the Mirror reports.
The society claims "social isolation has caused an explosion in naked living" and people have grown accustomed to less clothing and more relaxed outfits at home.
Now that the country is finally experiencing some glorious weather, it might be tempting for some to whip their kegs off.
Donna Price, from Scarborough, is a veteran who runs the Women in Naturism Campaign for BN and works to bump the society's proportion female members up from their current 30 per cent.
"My husband and I got into it by accident when we stumbled onto a nudist beach," she said.
"My husband hates wearing clothes and he wanted to try it. I love swimming, when I got into the water naked I loved it. That sold it for me."
In 2016 the couple found a club in Kent and threw themselves into the pants-off pastime.
"My husband and I don't work anymore and we live pretty much naked unless it's really cold," Donna said.
"Just normal activities but you don't put clothes on. It is very freeing. People tend to make assumptions or judgements, based on what you're wearing. It's a great leveller.
"There is no class, no status or distinctions, you don't feel as if you're being judged. It is very body positive.
"Everyone is the same fundamentally under there, even though we might be unique."
Donna has shared her top tips for those looking to get into naturism this summer.
Be comfortable in your own skin
Donna advises that people take it slowly and build their confidence up if they're concerned about getting naked in public.
She said: "You have to be comfortable in your own skin, and feel as if it's a normal way of being.
"Get used to being naked indoors and then naked in your garden. Most people can't just suddenly go to a naked beach and strip off.
"Do it slowly and gradually."
Go to a designated beach
The law on being naked on British beaches is a bit of a grey area.
It is technically OK to drop your trousers and wade into the sea on any patch of coast, so long as you don't 'harass, alarm or distress others'.
Donna recommends heading to one of the country's many specialist nudist beaches to avoid any opportunities to startle members of the public.
"If you're new to it, I suggest a designated beach," she said. "You won't stand out too much."
