Environment

Naked Gardeners Welcome Visitors to Abbey House Gardens

by Paul Conneally | March 20, 2010 at 07:08 am

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Mid-March sees the UK's country homes and gardens re-open for the tourist season. Abbey House Gardens is no exception but visitors with an eye for horticulture will get more of an eyeful at Abbey House than at other country houses as owners gardeners Ian & Barbara Pollard prepare to meet their guests naked.

The couple have become famous as the 'Naked Gardeners' and can ofeten be seen carefully tending their garden in the nude as visitors take in the atmosphere and beauty of the Abbey House gardens.

The gardens are situated in the ancient English town of Malmesbury in Wiltshire right beside Malmesbury Abbey. Although some might be attracyed to the gardens for a sight of the famous naked gardeners themselves most are there to see the gardens which hosts the largest private collection of roses in the UK and offers gardening inspiration from the displays of spring flowers such as tulips, and crocus through the summer rose season to the colours of autumn. Whatever the season Ian and Barbara minus their clothes and always willing to unselfconciously offer advice and answer visitors garedning questions.

Vistors are generally asked to wear clothes but there are clothes optional days where anyone can walk around the gardens naked. On clothes optional days vistors can choose to wear or not to wear clothes and many naturist and nudist gardening enthusiasts take the opportunity to visit the garden on these days. Although the UK weather might not always be condusive to going naked there is a thriving British naturism scene.

Around the world attitudes to those who choose to garden in the nude vary with neighbours not always taking kindly to views of nudity from next door but apart from upsetting some viewers it is often not against the law if in one's own garden. Many feel it's a matter between you and the plants – backyard privacy.

Those that want to keep abreast of goings on with the Naked Gardeners in the Abbey House Gardens can follow them on their blog:

The Naked Gardeners Abbey House Gardens Malmesbury
The Abbey House Gardens open to the public for the 2010 season on Sunday March 20.

Former property developer Ian Pollard has been a keen naturist since his early 20s but had to persuade wife Barbara to give naked gardening a go.

"Eventually I tried it and it feels lovely to have the sun on your back and to feel the plants while you are working in the borders," said Mrs Pollard.