To think the RSPB shouldn’t say if you don’t want to see naked men stay away from the woods/public footpaths?

[CovidCorvid]

So 2 years ago I visited Sherwood forest and was by myself in the forest when I came across 3 naked men. Which was a little unsettling for a woman by herself. It was in a quieter part of the forest so at that moment nobody else about and I hadn’t seen anyone for a while. On a public footpath.

I spoke to some (clothed) men about it further along the path and they said it’s a common occurrence and that the police are frequently getting called and tell them to get dressed.

It’s in the news currently as larger groups of naked men have been seen again. Seems the main areas they stick to are managed by the RSPB who seem to be encouraging it. The land may be managed by the rspb but they’re public footpaths, not a pay as you enter nature reserve. The bit I actually saw the men in wasn’t the rspb bit but there’s no fence/demarcation between them.

RSPB say if you don’t want to see naked men then stay away! Ffs. Why is it the naked men get to ruin things for other people? The police say it’s illegal if someone is offended. 🤷‍♀️

www.visitsherwood.co.uk/plan-your-visit/naturism-on-rspb-reserves/

I have no issue with nakedness, its the way we were born to be fair. The british are so victorian about it.

I know I'm spectacularly missing your point here, but why would anyone want to roam around an insect-infested forest naked?

The RSPB link provides a very measured and logical explanation. If it doesn’t satisfy you, take it up with them. Although God knows why it’s so difficult for you to just stay away from the bit of the forest where you’re likely to encounter naturists.

I also think the RSPB advice is very measured. They are balancing the needs of the wider public with the rights of the naturists who have been using that very quiet part of the forest for decades. They call for compromise and consideration, and provide a map that shows where naturists might be encountered. On balance, I think naturists have fewer places to roam than the rest of us so think YABU (although can understand why you were shocked when you came across them).

@QueenofDestruction

I have no issue with nakedness, its the way we were born to be fair. The british are so victorian about it.

Oh well, if you don't have a problem with it, it's obviously fine.

I often go walking by myself and would feel very unsettled if I came across a group of naked men. And it's telling that it's men, not women, who are doing this and being prioritised. Another example of how "public" space is actually male space.

I often go walking by myself and would feel very unsettled if I came across a group of naked men. And it's telling that it's men, not women, who are doing this and being prioritised. Another example of how "public" space is actually male space

@GCAcademic are you sure it really was all men? It may be an exaggeration from OP. Naturists tend to police themselves and if there was a group of men up to no good they would be the first to take it to the police as it's in their interest.

It's men and women. They've been walking there for decades. The RSPB refer to 'tolerating' naturism in certain very quiet areas of the forest so I don't think they are actively encouraging it.

@torquewench

I know I'm spectacularly missing your point here, but why would anyone want to roam around an insect-infested forest naked?

I know, 🤷‍♀️ I’m bad enough when I get a bite on my ankle….can’t imagine how bad a bite on your genitals could be!

I wasn’t actually in the rspb bit when I came across them so seems like they stray out of that bit. Looking at the map they certainly weren’t in the bit which says “naturism permitted”. They were in the sherwood country park bit…actually that’s still managed by the rspb but shouldnt be the nudist bit.

I’d never heard of it been an issue before I saw them so didn’t know to avoid. I haven’t been back since. But I’d like to……it’s a nice forest with nice walking , good bird watching, slightly away from the more touristy bits round the major oak so no screaming kids, etc. It’s also where I’d need to go through if I wanted to cycle from sherwood to clumber park which is a lovely bike ride

To be fair to the RSPB, naturists aren't all men. I imagine there'll be plenty of women too.

The RSPB is not exactly encouraging them either, just stating some of their land is known to be used for such things and that there are expectations. I don't know much about nudist beaches, but I'm guessing they're very similar - a bit shocking if you stumble across one, but nothing outrageous going on if you stuck around to observe.

It was certainly all men who I encountered. 3 of them.

So can anyone who wants to walk naked down the town high street?

RSPB say if you don’t want to see naked men then stay away! Ffs.
They're saying that if you don't want to see naked people, stay away from the naturist bits. Which is fair enough.

I do have a problem with public nudity, specifically when it is unexpected. I wouldn’t have a problem with a naturist beach but if I’m walking on a public footpath I absolutely do have a problem with what is essentially flashers. It’s an offence. I walk alone a lot, naked men are intimidating when alone in isolated areas. My daughter walks our dog alone and walks with small groups of friends. It’s absolutely not appropriate for adult men to be showing their penises and testicles to adolescent girls, idgaf that they were born naked.

I’ve been to a nudist beach before and didn’t have an issue with that. But the beach I went to was very secluded. You wouldn’t have random people passing through accidently.

@CovidCorvid

So can anyone who wants to walk naked down the town high street?

No. Naturists who have been using a quiet RSPB site for decades can continue to do so. Making stuff up doesn’t make you right, OP.

what do you think will happen to your 'adolescent girls' if they saw a naked man though?? whats your fear?

@TooBigForMyBoots

RSPB say if you don’t want to see naked men then stay away! Ffs. They're saying that if you don't want to see naked people, stay away from the naturist bits. Which is fair enough.

But if you look at the map the rspb manage the whole of Sherwood Forest….including the main bits by the major oak. The area I saw them was to the bottom left of the purple bit….which is the main Sherwood Forest and not where the rspb say they should be. So seems like they’re everywhere in that area. So yes, stay away from the whole of Sherwood Forest if you don’t want to run the risk of seeing someone naked.

@CovidCorvid

I’ve been to a nudist beach before and didn’t have an issue with that. But the beach I went to was very secluded. You wouldn’t have random people passing through accidently.

but you, yourself said it was a very quiet part of the forest....not exactly flaunting themselves by the cafe were they? sherwood is huge

I’m not making stuff up….I was asking a question as I don’t really get the difference when both are public footpaths where people who may not want to see naked people will be walking. 🤷‍♀️

The local police have in the past been quoted as saying it’s illegal.

Then report it to the police. 🤷‍♀️

I think I’d have been less alarmed if they had been flaunting themselves by the cafe as at least there would have been other people around….safety in numbers, etc.

I'm confused then. You're happy to go to a beach where men you don't know will be naked around you, but it's not okay in another secluded setting?

I get that it can be an unpleasant surprise to stumble across naked people, but this would just as likely happen to unwitting passersby at the coast as in a forest.

The RSPB are just following the law. There’s not much else they can do.

If it was clearly marked like a nudist beach would be then I could say they had the right to be naked.

But if there's no clear warning signs then I would have to say it's inappropriate.

The nudists have to give people who do not want to see them, a fighting chance to stay away!

I was in Sherwood Forest two years ago and didn’t come across any naked men thankfully, but we did get covered in ticks and that was with our clothes on!