In a great move for openness, there was absolutely no attempt to screen the nudity from the public. Part of the boundary of Abbey House Gardens is a fence of iron railings and some of the garden is overlooked by a footpath from the car park to the Abbey, but the passers-by seemed to look on with amusement or just ignored the goings-on.

As to the visitors inside the gardens, I noticed one group who, I suspect, had a tourist itinerary including  the gardens and who were unaware of the clothing optional nature of the June 4 opening.  Determined to continue according to their timetable, they looked resolutely through or around the nuddies!

All other clothed people seemed perfectly happy to have nakedness all around them (with the possible exception of one of the children who, I suspect, found parents terminally embarrassing at all times anyway). Two clothed women visitors were even overheard commenting favourably on the nudity: "You know, these naturists are sensible.  These trousers of mine are rubbing on my legs."

"Well, dear, you can take them off if you want - nobody will mind."

Similarly the 'nuddies' seemed quite unconcerned about the clothed people.

There was no ban on cameras, and many were happily recording the gardens and, to a lesser extent, one another.  Unlike the normal reaction of horror when a camera appears on an English naturist beach, nobody seemed to mind all this photography.  Picture-taking was very open and as part of that process it seemed the snappers were taking pains not to point their lenses towards anyone other than their partner, others in their party or the plants. And the plants were well worth photographing.  Make no mistake, Abbey House Gardens are worth a visit whatever the day's ruling on acceptability of nudity.  My horticultural knowledge is pretty limited, but even I found a great deal of interest in the gardens - the well-produced and up-to-date guide is recommended.

I was surprised that at least some naturists seemed to spend their whole time just sunbathing on one or other of the lawns.  No reason why they shouldn't, of course, but when there's so much to see and enjoy, perhaps they weren't getting the best return on their entry fee and travelling time? The waterfall was very popular for photo  opportunities, and a few brave souls even took a dip in the Avon, which runs through the lower part of the gardens.

A film crew from Aloha  were also present, gathering material for a brief item to be shown on Channel 4 sometime in August.

It seems that owners of Abbey House Gardens have achieved the happy combination of providing something that people want with something they are happy with themselves and which makes for good business. Similar venues up and down the country would do well to take note and sieze the oppotunity to appeal to 'the buff pound'.  Long may the Pollards prosper.

Abbey House Gardens website 

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