Birmingham nudist walk cancelled over safety concerns

A planned nudist gathering at a Birmingham park has been cancelled over safety concerns.

The West Midlands Naturist Association planned its naked walk to begin at Queens Park, in Harborne, on Saturday.

But the event sparked debate on social media, with many people raising concerns over indecent exposure.

Organiser Leah Crowley told the BBC the walk had been called off because “the ignorant abuse online was sometimes threatening”.

She said the situation was “blown out of proportion”, and a nude body should not be seen as offensive.

“It’s quite sad for some people to associate a simple nude body as something offensive when it’s the most natural thing”, she said.

Ms Crowley said: “There are a lot of naturists in this country and I’m sure we are not a minority because some people feel they can’t come out due to ignorance.

“Naturism is more accepted today and continues to thrive.”

Birmingham City Council said while it was aware of the walk, it had not approved or endorsed it.

Councillor Majid Mahmood said the council was aware of the walk and had liaised with West Midlands Police about it.

He said: “The council has not approved or endorsed the gathering.

“We have advised organisers that this is not an ‘event’ with council backing and they have now agreed to remove our logo from any material.”

Ms Crowley added: “More people are rediscovering themselves through the connection to nature and with themselves.

“Nudity is non sexual and it’s the attitude and how someone behaves or dresses which can have that effect.”