A nature festival in Cumbria has been forced to clarify that attendees should wear clothes after a mix-up led some to believe it was a nudist event. The Cumbria Nature Festival, held from 8-10 May near Workington, is aimed at naturalists, not naturists, organisers stressed.
In a statement to The Independent, a festival spokesperson said: 'This is a family event and we want people to feel safe and comfortable here, so clothes are recommended.' They added that clothing also provides protection from wildlife, noting: 'There is still wildlife present, and clothes do tend to act as a barrier to the few creatures that might like a nibble.'
The festival offers live music, talks by conservationists, guided nature walks and crafting workshops, with the goal of inspiring conservation and appreciation for Cumbria's natural environment. The spokesperson emphasised the importance of connecting people with nature, stating: 'The natural world provides everything we need – food, water, clean air – and without a functioning environment, we are in trouble.'
Organisers have offered refunds to any nudists who booked tickets in error, but said they would ask anyone arriving undressed to put on clothing and learn about wildlife. The confusion likely stemmed from a typo in a Facebook post, with the spokesperson noting that 'naturist and naturalist look like fairly similar words even if they mean very different things.'
