In 2005 there was a single experimental clothes optional day. In 2006 there were three and then a fourth was added.
To all who have left comments on the Naked Gardeners website discussion forum
We are holding a clothes optional day at Abbey House Gardens in Malmesbury on Friday August 19 [2005]. During our normal opening hours of 11.00 - 5.30 members of the public, may, if they wish, remove their clothes while in the gardens on that particular day only. Visitors will not be expected to remove their clothes – this is a matter for personal choice. At 5.30, when the gardens close to the general public, we shall be inviting members of CCBN only to stay on in the gardens to hear a talk and to continue their visit until 7.30 p.m. at which time the gardens will close to everyone. Our usual admittance fee of £5.50 per adult, £4.75 concessions, £2.00 children (5 -15) will apply. There is no additional charge. Light refreshments in the form of beverages, cakes, biscuits and ice cream are available in the gardens – more substantial refreshments can be found in the town just 2 minutes walk from the gardens entrance.
Parking is recommended in the Long stay car park (currently free to park) at the foot of Malmesbury’s ancient hill on the north side and adjacent to the gardens. You can follow the brown signs on the outskirts of town to find the Long stay car park or please see our website for further information www.abbeyhousegardens.co.uk. There is also a short stay car park on the hill top but this is 2 hours only for which there is a fee.
Cameras will not be allowed in the gardens on clothes optional day and members of CCBN will be on hand to offer advice and generally help the day to go smoothly by perhaps guiding some visitors around areas close to our perimeters for example, which may be designated ‘Clothes Only’ areas.
I have advised the local police of the event along with our Season ticket holders and our neighbours but beyond this the promotion of the event will be quite lo-key - apart from contacting those who have expressed interest in making a visit to us on such a day. We do not plan any wider press until perhaps after the event although CCBN are making the event known to members.
We have chosen a Friday as it is not usually our busiest day of the week, but also made it a date during the school summer holidays, not least in the hope of warm weather, but also to allow for families, who would like to take the opportunity of visiting together, to do so.
There is a list of local accommodation on our website – www.abbeyhousegardens.co.uk and I believe the nearest naturist orientated accommodation is at Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire about 40-50 minutes drive away.
We are keeping our fingers crossed for a fair day and hope that perhaps the event may be of some interest to you. Whatever else you will find Malmesbury a fascinating place with its old abbey, historic architecture, pubs, restaurants, shops, museum and river walk.
It was a great success and it was hoped that it would be repeated in 2006. In December BN published a report and announced that it would be repeated not just once but three times and on Saturdays and Sundays. The dates are 4 June, 18 and 19 August.
I had some reservations at first as I set off under grey skies and a gentle drizzle to visit Abbey House Gardens, - but by the time I got there the sun was shining brightly, and so off with my clothes at once. It was a rare pleasure to wander freely round the gardens with so many like minded folk - some bare, some clothed - but all in peaceful co-existence.
Refreshments were provided, and Ian and Barbara Pollard wandered round chatting to their visitors, naked too, of course. The gardens are in two parts;
formally set out flower gardens on the hilltop beside Abbey House and then quite extensive woodland paths down the hillside to a stream, with many happy surprises - a bridge, a waterfall and an amazing welded model of a fish with boots on, all surrounded by specimens of plants and trees from around the world.
It was certainly a memorable day out, both for the pleasure of visiting the garden and for the opportunity to see for oneself how happily the clothed visitors and naturists mixed.
The whole event was such a success that I feel sure that there will be more naked days in the garden, and I look forward very much to visiting again.
Tony Baldwin.