I was thinking more of the National Cycle Route but you are, of course, correct.
Oh dear the lies are building and the petitioner is obviously going to stir things up as much as possible. Here is an article now in the Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/08/05/walkers-cyclists-sherwood-forest-upset-merry-band-nudists/?fbclid=IwAR0JcpHyApoLxsfndTSGXyoYXFarCCaxNGcJglndJWVxJ6nDXqBDo0LKYn8
At least the RSPB and council spokespersons were able to give a very concise rebuttal.
Maybe it's the nature of the internet but interesting to see how many negative comments also include anti-European, anti-lockdown, anti-Guardian, anti-all-sorts-of-other-things sentiments. Funny what personal hang-ups some people will pin to naturism.
Seeing a national paper put such a bad spin on it all does put me off a little bit, perhaps it's best not to take too much attention of that echo chamber of outrage and go by personal experience that tells me everything is fine with walking naked at Sherwood.
The petition seems to have attracted some national news coverage
It’s a pretty biased view presented although it does quote that being nude in public is not an offence
It’s also hit the front page of the Times in similar vein, giving the petition complainant centre stage. (No link as The Times is behind a pay wall, but the front page is on the BBC website where it’s legible). The unfortunate side effect of this hitting the national headlines is bound to be hordes of press photographers haunting the area, not to mention the silly tabloid stories that will come with them.
Noli illegitimi te carborundum
Warhol's 15 minutes of fame
Made the Mail as well.
'I figure life's a gift and I don't intend wasting it. You never know what hand you're gonna get dealt next.' Titanic.'Shine as a glow worm if you cannot as a star.' Thomas Andrews, shipbuilder.
'We'll miss the matinee but we'll make the night show.' The Greatest Show on Earth 1952.
Having witnessed this type of behaviour myself, while walking naked I can understand the woman (if she exists) being upset.
What I find disturbing are the reactions of others that assume that, as you are a naturist then by default you are a pervert. Is it not their own perceptions and inner thoughts that makes them lean towards those perversions? In their minds at least. Unable to accept the sight of a human body in it's natural state, do these people dress in the dark, bath in swimming costumes and have someone wipe their arse for them.
Having seen this guy (lets assume it's the same one) back in June, should I have reported it to the police? Or does this situation give support to my reasons for not doing so? This is exactly what I feared.
I did report it to the RSPB warden a couple of days later, perhaps it should be mentioned that a naturist previously reported this pervert to them.
This Robert Robinson (made up name) is out for his 15 minutes of fame as was Peter what ever last summer. May be the same person, who knows.
Should we carry on as normal with a daily walk or lay low for a while till the dust settles?
I see the petition is up to a mighty 29 today. RR must have got all his family to sign it up to now.
If we were to sign it but leave positive comments in our favour would they be published? Any one seen the actual petition to see if comments are viewable?
I also note that the latest paper article includes various comments posted on line through trip adviser etc over a number of years.
A Google search "naked in Sherwood Forest " will bring up many of the paragraphs reported here. Lazy reporting at it's best.
I see, according to the DM, there are "hoardes" [sic] of nude men (well, groups of up to 12) "running amok". Other forest-goers have been "shocked and scared", even though they can only raise "one incident last month" when a cyclist was allegedly flashed by a man in the bushes (never happens anywhere else in the country, of course).
Happily both the RSPB and the city council are quoted at some length saying there's nothing wrong. ANd browsing through the comments I'd say the majority are sympathetic to the naked visitors.
Noli illegitimi te carborundum
@tribalbrit https://www.change.org/p/nottinghamshire-county-council-stop-promoting-nudity-at-sherwood-forest
There was also something about it on Radio Nottingham, well presented though very short. and the times radio did an interview with Andrew Welch of BN. It has been in the mail, the times even in hard copy and several other on line media. So far only 33 people have voted which considering the media coverage is exceedingly low. Andrew was able to put the record straight and make it clear that naturists are not breaking the law and we have been walking the forest for many years.
New local media report here :
There is a long thread about this on the BN forum and my impression is that it is being dealt with.
How effective it will be in nailing all the lies is a moot point as once they get a headstart it is an eternal catch-up job. (cf. 9-11 truthers)
JOhn
Do not do unto others as you would that they should do unto you. Their tastes may not be the same.
George Bernard Shaw, Maxims for Revolutionaries
Part of the problem is the constant repeating of the incorrect advice put out by the RSPB and repeated in the media that anyone "feeling harassed or distressed" by the sight of a naturist should report it to the police. This is presumably where the petition raiser got his incorrect information.
As we know, there has to be intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress for it be considered as a possible offence.
New local media report here :
Nice to see many of the comments from locals go along the lines of 'so what?'.
Typical these news articles quote one review out of 724 on Tripadvisor, with only two other negative reviews featuring the words 'naked' or 'nude'. I find that quite illustrative of the strength of feeling on the matter, it'd be good if that was pointed out prominently in the responses.