Wildlife group urges guests to ‘costume appropriately’ after naturalist occasion confused for nudist retreat

Twitchers hoping to catch sight of a rare bird may have got more than they bargained for after a wildlife event was mixed up with one for nudists.

Organisers of the Cumbria Nature Festival have urged visitors to ‘dress appropriately’ after their annual gathering for naturalists was confused with one aimed at naturists. 

The event is being staged from May 8 to 10 at a site in Workington and will feature a range of guest speakers and as well as family activities, games and crafts. 

Guided walks, workshops and conservation talks are also on the agenda as well as storytelling sessions for youngsters.

Organisers said the event is dedicated to ‘fostering a deeper connection between people and the natural world’. 

They said they believed ‘everyone should have the opportunity to experience nature-based interactions, and we aim to make these experiences accessible to all’.

But organisers were forced to issue what they called an ‘important clarification’ and offered a refund to anyone to who had ‘booked in error’ following the confusion.

Sam Griffin, a member of the organising committee, said the announcement followed a ‘misunderstanding’ and that ‘we haven’t ultimately had to refund anyone so we’re hopeful our offering has been sufficient to retain their interest, despite imposing a dress code’.

In a Facebook post, the event said: ‘After a recent enquiry we need to clarify – Cumbria Nature Festival is primarily aimed at NATURALISTS… not NATURISTS.

‘Whilst we aim to be as inclusive as possible, and certainly do not judge anyone, we are aiming the event at wildlife enthusiasts. Please do dress appropriately.’

News of the mix up was first reported on local paper website ‘Cumbria Crack’.

Mr Griffin told the BBC the group felt compelled to speak up to prevent any further confusion.

‘People hear ‘naturalist’ and they interpret it as something else. It’s a common misunderstanding, I suppose,’ he said.

‘We’re just wildlife enthusiasts rather than anything else.

‘We’ve had quite a good response to the post – we gained a lot of followers on the Facebook account and that’s generated ticket sales.’

Mr Griffin said he believed Cumbria has lots to offer wildlife fans ‘but is perhaps not given the same attention as other parts of the country’.

‘It’s not just the Lake District National Park,’ he added. ‘There’s a lot going on in Cumbria generally. It’s a beautiful area to explore.

‘The Solway Firth has wintering geese and swans, and the industrial coast has the Small Blue butterfly at Maryport, Workington and Barrow, which is a little gem.

‘The festival will have experts from across the country, but we have a wealth of local expertise as well.

‘The idea is to get everyone with an interest in the natural world together.’

Tickets are £5.

A 2022 survey found 14% of people in the UK – equating to 6.75 million adults – describe themselves as naturists or nudists, up from 6 per cent and 3.7 million in 2011. British Naturism has around 9,000 members.

Mark Bass, President of British Naturism, said: ‘Many Naturists are deeply committed to environmental issues and to spending time in nature, so it is easy to understand why some may have been interested in attending the Cumbria Nature Festival.

‘British Naturism regularly runs activities connected to the natural world, including events focused on conservation and rewilding. 

If the Cumbria organisers wished to explore a collaboration in the future, we would be very happy to help develop a safe, respectful and well-managed activity that reflects our shared interest in the environment. 

‘In the meantime, we wish them every success with their festival. Environmental awareness is an important subject, and initiatives that encourage people to engage with nature are always welcome.’