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/

Sorry to be dense, but how do we tall the difference between a naturist and an exhibitionist or a flasher?

A Naturist is just going about their innocent business, walking, sunbathing or whatever especially if they are in naturist area, whilst it is pretty obvious if a man is engaged in sexual activity.

My problem with all this is that people actually engage in sexual activity in public places, some notorious, and get away with it. Why the focus on a group of people with an established culture that do not represent a threat?

I have been flashed at more times than I can remember, and it has always been very obvious that they were getting sexual pleasure from it. And the Police regard dogging in certain spots as just the way it is. A man recently took his son through the local spot not knowing and went to the local part with the story. It made no difference, the cars still park up in the lay-by by a major arterial road which a car would not park on unless they were accessing that area. The Police continue to ignore it.

If I was walking there and saw 3 naked makes Id be bloody terrified.

Are there signs, seems not apart from one carpark?
Why does someone's need to wander around naked trump the fear of someone just taking a walk?
Yes their are female naturists..are they intimating or down right terrifying to the lone female? no.

Fed up with this shit

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

Then the local police need to review the law! Naturism is NOT against the law.

I’ve come across a naturist couple walking in my local woods. The chap touched his hat in greeting and the lady smiled and said a breezy “afternoon” and DH and I responded in kind. They simply weren’t threatening in any way. I’ve felt more threatened by fully dressed people to be honest.

Bloody hell is no place safe anymore.... Probably not, but the threat to safety isn’t coming from naturists being naturists in a known naturist area. In fact you are likely safer from the real threats to your safety if there are naturists about. They are especially keen to distinguish themselves from the men who are a real threat and will proactively act to protect their reputation, as they have at Studland naturist beach.

Yes I’m fed up with this shit too, but it isn’t naturists who are the problem

It's not ok. If they are in an area that's well signposted so people know they can avoid it then fine. As long as they stay in that area. Walking along a public footpath which isn't their designated area is not ok. And it's not ok for them to take over the whole bloody forest. I'm bloody sick of people with poor boundaries minimising the behaviour of these men. It's fucking shit.

Well the naturists need to be proactive in getting signage to indicate the
bits that they use and be very clear that anyone going outside those areas is not a naturist and perhaps has a different agenda.

@SoundBar

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!

You have hit the nail on the head. I am surprised at some of the responses on here to be honest. I, for one, would find it very disconcerting to suddenly come across a group of naked men (or women for that matter) and I suspect most people would. If an area is clearly marked as a naturist area then we would know to avoid it. I have no problem with people being naturists if that is what they want to do but have absolutely no wish to participate or see it.

@CovidCorvid

Naturism is protected in law, and as such, can be naked wherever they wish to be.

So you can be naked in the high street? This is what I don’t understand. I’m genuinely not being an arse but it’s either illegal or it isn’t. And if it isn’t then someone could legally be naked anywhere as long as they said they didn’t intend to offend anyone?

Would it matter if someone was offended or not? Because previously I’ve read the police told people it was illegal if someone was offended even if that wasn’t the intent….but then I’ve since read contradictory stuff.

Yes, you can sashay down the high street stark bollock naked if you so desire. You are not commiting an offence, but if someone is upset by your lack of clothings, and report you to the police, then it is an offence.

so if no-one reports you, then you can sashay to your heart's delight.

"It's the intent that matters"

It's also the effect. If the act causes distress or alarm then it's indecent exposure.

@fourminutestosavetheworld

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.

Are you sure? I've only ever seen men there. And LOADS of them recently. It's a well know gay meet up area. The problem is they're not sticking to the set area at all, there's a really popular tourist but next to it that they're going in too.

@PaperHalo

For goodness sake don’t go to Thieves Wood

I think it's the Thieves Wood crew fancying a change of scenery.

I've said that even if you don't have intent, but you know it will cause alarm and distress and you do it anyway then surely there is an element of intent.

Well it's probably fair to say that most women when confronted by a naked man would be somewhat alarmed or distressed. Therefore any naturist wandering around in an undesignated area must do so with an element of intent.

Well it's probably fair to say that most women when confronted by a naked man would be somewhat alarmed or distressed. Therefore any naturist wandering around in an undesignated area must do so with an element of intent.

Yep.

@LadyDanburysCane

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

Then the local police need to review the law! Naturism is NOT against the law.

I’ve come across a naturist couple walking in my local woods. The chap touched his hat in greeting and the lady smiled and said a breezy “afternoon” and DH and I responded in kind. They simply weren’t threatening in any way. I’ve felt more threatened by fully dressed people to be honest.

That’s lovely. Now if you’d been by yourself with nobody else about and it was 3 men do you think you might have felt differently?

Because you know before it happened to me if someone had asked how I’d have felt I’d probably have said well it’s a bit daft but they’re not harming anyone. I think until you’re in that position and suddenly realise how vulnerable you are you don’t know what actually you won’t be cool with it in reality.

Are you sure? I've only ever seen men there. And LOADS of them recently. It's a well know gay meet up area. The problem is they're not sticking to the set area at all, there's a really popular tourist but next to it that they're going in too

Oh dear, I presume there’s a bit more going on than just rambling then?

Naked men are flipping hilarious! I find them much less intimidating naked than fully clothed!

In addition, if it IS a gay meet-up, then you defiantly have nothing to fear.

Definitely, even!

I think maybe they should signpost the area so everyone knows where they should be. Then it's fine to say if you don't want to see it stay away. I don't think seeing people walking naked would distress me but I can understand how it could cause others distress.

@thegreenlight

Naked men are flipping hilarious! I find them much less intimidating naked than fully clothed!

^this

If this was 2 years ago and still bothering you I think maybe you are dwelling on it too much.

I also can’t believe how many people are upset by the human body.

And if you don’t want to “have to see a cock”, don’t look at the cock! Despite what many men might think, it’s a relatively small part of the body. Maybe look at an arm, shoulder, or even face instead.

@thegreenlight

In addition, if it IS a gay meet-up, then you defiantly have nothing to fear.

This is true……though I don’t particularly want to come across anyone male or female shagging in the woods!

@SuperSecretSquirrels

If this was 2 years ago and still bothering you I think maybe you are dwelling on it too much.

I also can’t believe how many people are upset by the human body.

And if you don’t want to “have to see a cock”, don’t look at the cock! Despite what many men might think, it’s a relatively small part of the body. Maybe look at an arm, shoulder, or even face instead.

Can’t say I was “dwelling” on it. But it was front page of The Times yesterday so obviously got me thinking about it and I’m annoyed that what’s a really nice wood close to me now seems to be out of bounds.

Yes, but then where will all those naked men go on a Saturday afternoon to do their bird watching?

I also think @SuperSecretSquirrels that you’re spectacularly missing the point. I can promise you I didn’t look at any cock….they were so fat I think it might have been covered up by their beer guts anyway but didn’t look closely enough to be able to say if that was correct or not.

It’s not the naked bodies which is upsetting…..I’m happy to go to a nudist beach. It’s the unexpected naked bodies when I’m on my own in a fairly secluded location and how vulnerable and afraid that makes a lone woman feel.

It’s fairly often that some female lone dog Walker is killed in some woods or another. As a woman news stories like that are at the back of my mind when I go walking. I’m sure these women aren’t attacked by naturists….but they’re often sexually assaulted/raped by men who I assume at some point are getting their dicks out and for all I know may strip off. How am I to know who is who? You only know they were one of the ok ones after you’ve got out the woods without being attacked.

Like people have said on this thread there’s a correlation between flashing and that behaviour spiralling into sex attacks. Some bloke got in the jacuzzi next to me at the gym once and got his dick out and started wanking. Should I have been ok with that as well? I mean it’s only a human body isn’t it?