Botany in the buff! Britons bare all to connect with Mother Nature as they take part in World Naked Gardening Day
- First Saturday in May sees brave planters celebrate World Naked Gardening Day
- First Naked Gardening Day celebrated in 2005 before spreading across globe
- Organisers say day is 'liberating' but it is meant to be comedic and non-politicalBrave Britons have stripped nude to celebrate World Naked Gardening Day today - despite a Bank Holiday washout bringing chilly weather.
The first Saturday in May sees countless brave planters rush outside wearing no clothes at all to carry out their weeding, planting and trimming.
The first World Naked Gardening Day was celebrated in 2005 before rapidly spreading throughout the world.
Its organisers - which include co-founder and product lead Mark Storey, the consulting editor for Nude & Natural magazine - say the day is 'liberating'.
Brave Britons have stripped nude to celebrate World Naked Gardening Day today - despite a Bank Holiday washout bringing chilly weather
The first Saturday in May sees countless brave planters (one pictured) rush outside wearing no clothes at all to carry out their weeding, planting and trimming
The day is also praised for offering participants (one pictured) Vitamin D and a head-to-toe tan
They said in a 2011 interview that 'nude gardening is second only to swimming as an activity that people are most ready to consider doing nude'.
But while it does have links to nudist movements centering around body acceptance, its founders say the day is meant to be comedic and non-political.
The day is also praised for offering participants Vitamin D and a head-to-toe tan.
But those taking part today are unlikely to have caught the sun as Saturday's weather brought rain and strong winds.
A weather warning is in place for Monday with gusts of up to 60mph forecast in Wales and the south coast of England, while showers will continue to batter the country.
The first World Naked Gardening Day was celebrated in 2005 before rapidly spreading throughout the world. Pictured: One woman celebrating the day today
Kirsty Ward, 32, (pictured) of Lincoln, peeled off in her allotment clutching a strategically placed giant rhubarb leaf to spare her blushes
Temperatures will remain low for this time of year with highs of 14 degrees which drop overnight to -1C and some will see patches of sun amid the wet and windy weather.
But that didn't stop some participants who braved the chill.
Kirsty Ward, 32, of Lincoln, peeled off in her allotment clutching a strategically placed giant rhubarb leaf to spare her blushes.
She added: 'Glad those rhubarb leaves are big enough this year'.
In a previous similarly saucy snap, she had shown off some secateurs, saying: 'Just trimming my bush'.
Keen gardener Kirsty, who grows her own fruit and veg, says it is 'liberating' being in the buff in her allotment once a year for World Naked Gardening Day
But while it does have links to nudist movements centering around body acceptance, its founders say the day is meant to be comedic and non-political. Pictured: One man celebrating World Naked Gardening Day today
She said: 'At first you feel quite nervous about it but honestly it's so liberating being outside without your kit on. Everyone should give it a go.
'Everyone has a great laugh. Just be careful of the thorns and nettles.'
Kirsty - who did not provide a surname - was among dozens of brave Britons who got their kit off for the annual event.
Glenn Roberts, who emerged from his shed with a spade protecting his modesty, warned: 'If you go down to the allotment today, you're sure of a big surprise...'Keen organic gardener Nikki Jones, of Southampton, joined in the fun posing with a colourful carmellia.
Not to be outdone, her mother-in-law, mother-of six Sindy Prankard shared her own racy snap online.
Poppy Douglass, 49, shared shots of herself watering her plants in Banbury, Oxfordshire, in the nude.
She said: 'Enjoy your garden and love the skin you are in!'
On their website, organisers urged people to 'tend their portion of the world's garden unclothed as nature intended'.
On their website, organisers urged people to 'tend their portion of the world's garden unclothed as nature intended'. Pictured: One Briton celebrating the day todayThey said: 'Why garden naked? First of all, it's fun!
'Second only to swimming, gardening is at the top of the list of family-friendly activities people are most ready to consider doing nude.
'Moreover, our culture needs to move toward a healthy sense of both body acceptance and our relation to the natural environment.
'Gardening naked is not only a simple joy, it reminds us - even if only for those few sun-kissed minutes - that we can be honest with who we are as humans and as part of this planet'
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