‘No nudists please’: Warning to festivalgoers after mix-up over naturalist event in Cumbria
A nature festival in Cumbria has been forced to insist that “dress is recommended” for attendees after confusion led to a family event attended by naturalists being mistaken for a naturalist meeting.
Cumbria Nature FestivalThe event, held near Workington between May 8 and 10, offers participants the chance to appreciate “the unique natural beauty and ecological richness of the country.” [the] Organizers explain that this means the event is aimed at “NATURALISTS, not NATURISTS”.
In an email IndependentA festival spokesperson said: “This is a family event and we want people to feel safe and comfortable here, so clothing is recommended. Although the site is a festival site, there is still wildlife and clothing is a barrier for a small number of people.” [creatures] this could be like a bite!”
Organizers have offered refunds for nudists who booked tickets by mistake, but also said: “If people turn up naked we will ask them to put on some clothes and learn more about the wildlife in Cumbria! Maybe we’ll encourage more people to become naturalists.”
Admitting that any genuine misunderstanding was “something that natural history societies in the UK have to deal with all the time”, the spokesman said: “There hasn’t been a lot of confusion,” adding that it was probably due to “a typo in a reply to one of our Facebook posts”.
“After all, naturist and naturalist sound like pretty similar words, even though they mean very different things,” they said.
Featuring live music, talks by environmentalists, guided nature walks and craft workshops, the festival aims to “inspire conservation and appreciation” for the natural world and local environment in Cumbria.
“As a biodiverse county with many different habitats and species, we want to showcase this to the people of Cumbria and offer the opportunity to bring nature even closer to people,” the spokesman said.
“It is vital that people become more connected to the world around them,” they added.
“The natural world provides everything we need – food, water, clean air – and without a functioning environment we are in trouble. Nature is not something different from us, we are part of nature and it is important to recognize this.
“Coming to the festival will show you what’s out there, on your doorstep, in your garden, and learn how you can get involved in helping nature.”
