I’m a gardener & prune my bushes in the buff – men send weird messages & my kid’s teacher is my neighbour but who cares
MANY of us would be pretty shy when it comes to sunbathing in the garden, all too aware of the prying eyes of nosy neighbours.
However, nosy neighbours may want to draw their curtains tomorrow as many gardeners will be stripping off to celebrate World Naked Gardening Day.
This event is held every year, and gardeners and non-gardeners celebrate by going out in their gardens and doing the chores naked.
And mum-of-two Kendall Platt, who lives in Reading, says she will be one of hundreds stripping off to prune her plants – and in fact she doesn’t limit it to just one day.
Speaking exclusively to Fabulous, Kendall says: “Before I was even aware of World Naked Gardening Day I’d always got my kit off to do the gardening because I love to feel the sun on my skin.
“The way I have designed my garden means that when you walk among it you can feel the plants brushing against your skin and there’s really no better feeling than that.
“It’s not just about getting your kit off, it’s about connecting with nature.”
But while Kendall is more than happy to expose herself to her shrubs, she admits that she does have to be wary of her surroundings.
“I do have to be a bit careful as my garden is overlooked from both sides and I’m covered enough so I wouldn’t make anyone uncomfortable,” she says.
“My daughter’s teacher lives on our road and I’m sure that I have given her a giggle from time to time!”
Kendall hasn’t been shy about sharing her love of Naked Gardening Day.
In 2021 Last year she appeared on This Morning in the nude and says that her experience sparked an unusual interest on her Instagram account.
She explained: “As soon as the show aired I had so many weird men contacting me.
“I was like, for God’s sake, like clearly you’ve not even listened to my message which is actually nothing about being starkers.
“They all got blocked and if anything it just inspired me to spread the message about the benefits of gardening naked further.
“It’s about really connecting with your body and nature.
“I love going barefoot in my garden and getting my feet into the soil and stuff like it’s a very calming sensation.”
Kendall says that she understands better than anybody that going starkers in the garden can be more than daunting.
She says: “Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had two babies and I am probably more conscious of my body now than I’ve ever been.
“If I was just laying in the sun, I might be thinking, ‘Oh, God, are people looking at me?’
“But in my own back garden while I’m de-weeding or tending to my flower beds I hardly notice what I’m wearing so it might as well be very little at all.
“I know some people can be a bit apprehensive but I really believe once they get into gardening, whether they’re sowing seeds, whether they’re doing a bit of weeding, their mind will be focused on that task.”
Kendall has built up a loyal following on Instagram, where she shares the benefits of mindful gardening.
“I had never been that into gardening initially but when I moved house, I knew if I wanted a nice outdoor space I’d have to get on it,” she says.
“However, I always viewed it more as a chore to tick off rather than something enjoyable.
“But at the time I was working in forensics and it was incredibly stressful and I quickly realised when I was out in the garden my mind was quiet.
“I was recently diagnosed with ADHD so I had a very busy mind, but when I am in the garden I just feel so mellow.
“I have found that my followers have discovered that a bit of pottering can really help.
“Before I discovered gardening, I was smoking and drinking a lot more to deal with my emotions.
“I was making unhealthy life choices, whereas now I know all I want to do is get in the garden and even if it’s for 10 minutes, I’m going to feel better than I did before.
“So come World Naked Gardening Day you’ll definitely find me stripping off – as long as the sun is shining
“But even if the wind is up maybe I’ll find a little sheltered spot and get involved because after all it’s all a bit of fun.”
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What is World Naked Gardening Day
This event is held every year, and gardeners and non-gardeners celebrated by going out in their gardens and doing the chores naked. Besides it being an event, World Naked Gardening Day (WNGD) is an organisation founded by consulting editor of Nude & Natural magazine, Mark Storey and permaculturist Jacob Gabriel.
It was founded on Saturday, September 10, 2005, in collaboration with Body Freedom Collaborative (BFC). It is not something which had huge investments made into it, because the founders believe that this clothing freedom day will grow on its own from people seeing the value in it.
A website was initially created but the growth of the event happened from the participation.
This event is also supported by The Naturist Society, Clothes Free International and the American Association for Nude Recreation. It also became a collaborative project with Naturist Education Foundation, Inc. in 2012.
This event is described as “an annual tradition that celebrates weeding, planting flowers and trimming hedges in the buff.
“While it’s linked to a movement of nudists who promote wholesome and unashamed acceptance of the human body, the day is meant to be funny, light-hearted and non-political.
“The founders also said that “besides being liberating, nude gardening is the second only to swimming as an activity that people are most ready to consider doing nude.”