You're right and it certainly didn't make for a relaxing day.

I e-mailed Natural England (since they are the lease-holders for the beach below the mean high water line) for clarification of their position on naturism on the beach at Holkham.

Here is the reply I received:

Dear Noel

I can confirm that Natural England and the Crown Estate are supporting Holkham Estate’s decision to ban naturists and that the ban will also apply to that section of the beach leased from the Crown Estate by Natural England.

Regards

Michael Rooney
Senior Reserves Manager

NNR East Delivery Team
Natural England
Scolt Head Boatshed
Harbour Way
Main Road
Brancaster Staithe
Norfolk  PE31 8BW

Tel.01485 211171

www.naturalengland.org/holkhamnnr

Bit here from the Naturist Action Group:

http://naturistactiongroup.org/2013/07/holkham-naturist-beach-closure-or-just-the-suspension-of-official-endorsement/

I haven't seen much in the way of reports from naturists who've visited Holkham since the ban, whether they've stripped off as usual etc.

My local naturist beach - Fairlight, lost its 'official' status some years ago yet there were a several hundred happily naked people there on both days last weekend. So, hopefully the lack of 'official' recognition will turn out the same at Holkham and other places without it and clothing won't make an unwelcome comeback!

The BN site indicates that there is quite a lot going on behind the scenes by several very hard working BN officers - working for all naturists.

We have to be patient on this one I think

Davie  8)

Quite agree Davie, the last thing needed is any rash precipitate action. Behind the scenes activity often looks as though nothing is happening from the outside., but several bodies are behind the ban at Holkham, and delicate diplomacy will be required to resolve the situation.

Agree with Davie and Col of course.

The forces of darkness in the form of Natural England, The Holkham Estate, the Police and the Crown Estate do seem very strong and united and totally immune to reason.

The BN team are very tenacious however. 

I understand that the BN Beach Day at Holkham on 11th August is going ahead as planned.

Yes the BN Beach Day on August 11th is going ahead as originally planned.

the beach day on sun 11 Aug is going ahead and the more who attend the better please see http://www.bn.org.uk/campaigning/holkham.html for more info this is an important legal issue  which could be devastating to naturists in the uk

http://www.bn.org.uk/community/ccs_files/campaigns/holkham_handout_130807.pdf

The issue is that new management of the estate are basicley putting there own ideals on to the use of the beach and naturisam is not one of them due to a small number of reports of pepole standing and looking around whilst nude

IMPORTANT

If any Naturist Corner member, who is not a BN member, is actually going and supporting the BN Beach Day on the 11th Aug, would they please contact Admin via the Contact Page tab.

Many thanks.

I sent an email to Holkham estate pointing out that they were discriminating against a minority. I got a bland rep[ly back telling me I was getting news I didn't want to hear. I was also told that inappropriate behaviour also took place behind the non-naturist area, mainly by men.

I emailed back asking why they didn't work with the naturist community as per Studland. I also as the behaviour was also taking place behind the non-naturist area, mainly by men why the estate were not banning men but were blatantly discriminating a minority group.

Strange but I've had no reply to these points

Davie  8)

Sadly I can't get to Holkham today, but you're all in my thoughts. Good luck everyone. 🙂

So, what happened at Holkham?

Not a lot in short.

It was only ever intended to be a gesture of defiance toward the Holkham Estate by holding the BN Beach Day as originally planned and ignoring their silly  'ban on nudity'.

Few people from BN turned up but that has to be put into the context of there being few people in general on the beach. As so often happens on the east coast it was bright and sunny but the wind was cutting. I arrived just as everyone else was packing up to go home but a couple stayed behind and I managed to spend say half an hour naked. I was not spoken to by any of the wardens but I gather that Andy, one of the two who remained on the beach and a fellow club member, was spoken to in the morning by a warden accompanied by a Community Police Officer. He complied with their request to cover up under protest. Quite rightly in my humble opinion as if he had been arrested it would probably not have been for being naked - which would never have made it to court -  but for some other public order offence.

A little disappointing that so few managed to make it but Holkham is rather remote and at this time of year so many people are away for holidays etc. Though a big gesture would be satisfying on the emotional level I fear that the nitty-gritty , painstaking work undertaken by BN - to check facts and gather information so that they can challenge and rebuff statements the Holkham Estate have put out is the only realistic way forward.