This, as is usual in many contexts, is the noisy minority posing as the silent majority yet again.

Well! I go away for a few days and not only has my regular walks become fodder for the national tabloids, the bloody cows are back on the common too. Must have sorted the pollution worry out or in some parts at least.

Very quiet, no signs of any gutter press.

As The Tibetan Hat says the replies in the local press are pretty positive.

The one about the woman is from about 3 years ago. Not 5th of August as reported. 

I see it has a mention on Mumsnet now.

What amuses me is the vial language on some of the posts, I assume from women, if the title is anything to go by.

These mums are quite happy to wright and read this language but have severe problems with their little children seeing a naked body.

So their children will grow up with body issues and a filthy mouth. Not a worry though, it would seem. 

If it’s on Mumsnet we’re all doomed, Captain Mainwaring, doomed I tell ye!”

On the BBC website too: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-58120317

Anyone else starting to feel intimidated about doing an entirely legal activity they've enjoyed for years?

I like to look for reasons for hope and the fact that with so much of the national news media picking up the story, the rather pathetic petition has gained a very pathetic 65 signatures (presumably some of them duplicates or from disgusted in Tunbridge Wells types who never visit Sherwood). Reasons to suppose the RSPB can take the long view that this well all blow over.h

The charity I work for has been on the wrong end of culture war petitions and stuffy outrage from some parts of the press, it didn't change what we did at all and we still benefit from making those decisions which were the right things to do.

Hopefully the news cycle will shortly move on and this will all have died within a couple of weeks. The longer-term fallout could come from some well-meaning RSPB board member or local councillor who feels the need to “do something” and revives it at the next committee meeting. Despite the minimal interest in Mr Grumpy’s petition he may yet get his way. Sadly. 

The County Council has never promoted nudism in the first place so they can't stop. It's a bit like that old question "Have you stopped beating your wife?"

Also RSPB have not put out a pretty reasoned statement about it which covers all points and is slightly less anti-nudity than the notices which they put up.

There will be more to come before it blows over. You will get the press and  television having walk about looking for footage and an interview. After that it will blow over.

My fear is it will encourage more perverts to the area.  It's like naturist beaches.  We all know any beach can be naturist and being naked on one if quiet isn't likely to be a problem.   Even the quieter of listed unofficial ones are fine.  However go to some of the more well known spots and there's a significant chance of getting w*nkers watching from a distance (etc).  They tarnish our reputation, and naturists dislike seeing such activity just as much (if not more) as the general public.

I'm pleased at least that there has been official statements about such inappropriate behaviour being illegal, but it would be better if organisations like RSPB has a better message explicitly distinguishing it from naturism.  E.g. instead of saying "naturism is tolerated" (a poor choice of word IMO), I'd prefer something like "sexual acts are not permitted and should be passed on to the police, but simple nudity and naturism legal and permitted".

Perhaps one of us needs to start a counter petition asking for naturism to be openly encouraged. The whole problem with the causing offence thing is that it is too subjective and that there are some folk whose whole ethos seems to be, to be offended whenever possible.

@woodland-wanderer Doesn't matter. The notices put up are incorrect, as is the wording of the petition. There is only a possible offence if there is an intention to cause HAD. 

Just being harassed, alarmed or distressed (or claiming to be) doesn't make it an offence.

I understand that the County Council has put out a statement to the effect that they are legally unable to forbit naturist walking.

Posted by: @gwalterj

I understand that the County Council has put out a statement to the effect that they are legally unable to forbit naturist walking.

It doesn't appear so. There is no reference to this matter on the Notts County Council website that I can locate, especially in the News section going back to the beginning of July. If individual councillors have made comment to the press, these won't be included, so nothing 'official' from the Council. 

It would be good if they put out a statement pointing out that naked walking is legal and differentiating it from those engaged in criminal acts - even better, in the interests of inclusivity, they promoted the benefits of naturism in a similar vein to how they support other activities and interests.

Posted by: @simon1000

It would be good if they put out a statement pointing out that naked walking is legal and differentiating it from those engaged in criminal acts - even better, in the interests of inclusivity, they promoted the benefits of naturism in a similar vein to how they support other activities and interests.

I can't ever see them doing that but they have said in Nottingham live that naturism is lawful and there is nothing they can do about it.

Nottingham County Council’s communities chief Mick Allen said: “Naturism in appropriate circumstances is legal, and we are not therefore in a position to ban naturists from Sherwood Forest. https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/nottingham-news/nudists-spotted-in-sherwood-forest-5750256