Features

This summer the Abbey House Gardens in Malmesbury will again gear up (or gear off) for five more 'Clothes Optional Days'.

The historic abbey, which attracts thousands of visitors each year, is home to one of Britain's most famous naturist couples, Ian and Barbara Pollard.

Ian and Barbara Pollard

Known as 'The Naked Gardeners' the Pollards often garden their five-acre site in the buff but in the past have covered up their privates when the public were about.

But in a trial in the summer of 2005, after warning visitors, the Pollards stripped off for a couple of hours each day whilst the gardens were open to visitors.

The reaction was favourable and the couple, following their appearance on ITV's programme 'Going to Work Naked', made the decision to host the Abbey's first ever nudist's day.

Despite the promotion of the event being kept low-key, hundreds of naturists and members of the British Council of Naturism from across the country headed to Wiltshire to enjoy the gardens "as nature intended".

Clothes Optional Days 2006

Now seen as a landmark occasion, in the history of naturism in the UK, the Abbey House Gardens are again opening up their gates to all-comers both clothed and nude this summer.

The Clothes Optional Days, this year, are on Sunday 3rd June, Sunday 17th June, Saturday 14th July, Friday 17th to Saturday 18th August and Sunday 9th September during normal opening hours.

As in previous years, the day is not exclusively for naturists (and visitors will not be expected to shed their clothes) but clothed visitors are being warned about the event.

For more information on The Clothes Optional Day, at the Abbey House Gardens, click on the link in the right hand column.