“So what should you do? First of all, on the first Saturday of May, find an opportunity to get naked and do some gardening. Do so alone, with friends, with family, with your gardening club, or with any other group collected for that purpose”
World Naked Gardening Day lands on the first Saturday in May – in 2016 that’s the 7th. The movement, (acronym WNGD) was founded and organised by Mark Storey, consulting editor for Nude & Natural magazine and permaculturalist Jacob Gabriel, as a project of Body Freedom Collaborative (BFC). They also have links to the World Naked Bike Ride Day, and the fun and subversive guerrilla gardening movement.
Naturism has experienced a real resurgence in recent years, with London even opening a nude restaurant, Bunyadi. The French Tourist office are offering nude only getaways, there’s a NudeFest in Somerset, and naturist communities continue to open in America. Actress and PETA spokesperson Alicia Silverstone is a big fan of naked gardening, as was Bohemian socialite Edna St. Vincent Millay.
Tips and Tricks
Protect Yourself
“If I’m gardening naked and if I need to have a hat on or shoes on, that’s fine. People are pretty rational about that stuff. This is not a religion.” – Mark Storey, Founder of the movement.
Naturism can mean you get sunburnt is some really interesting and painful places. High SPF sun cream is an absolute must. When it comes to sun (and nettle) protection, even the founder encourages people to wear hats, shoes and gloves if necessary. Bug spray is another near necessity for au naturele pruning and growing.
Respect Others
Some sites, not affiliated with the official WNGD group, suggest doing your naked gardening in your local park or in the street. This is likely to result in a call to the either the hospital or the police, depending on how generous the onlookers feel; depending on the area, people may be more vocal in their complaints!
Remember that public nudity outside of designated spaces is classed as indecent exposure in the UK and you can and will be arrested if you try it. The best place to participate is on private property. Even then, it’s a good idea to consider your neighbours. If you have a high, sturdy fence, go for it! If you have a 3ft fence and next door’s kids have a trampoline, it might not be such a great idea.
