Discovering Nature Through Foraging

The Naked Forager! In 2022 me, my partner Sadie, Macclesfield's' Naked Neil and classical musician Hannah teamed up to become the first people to cycle naked from John O Groats to Lands End, raising money for Rewilding Britain and MIND. Nature connections and mental health, to intertwined and vitally important things. After that I ran a 12 month project of forages and photoshoots to produce a novelty charity fundraising calendar, The Naked Foraging Calendar. Only, a lot more happened than just some calendar photoshoots. People came with their stories and it was part of their journey of body acceptance, and I documented it in the book.

Am I happy to be naked? Yes, I am very comfortable in my skin. Have I been naked on any of my non-naturist forages? Yes, but only after checking that everyone was comfortable with it because me and Sadie spotted a golden photo opportunity for the calendar. Is anyone expected to get their kit off on a forage? Absolutely not! No one should ever feel pressure to do anything they are not comfortable doing.

Foraging and Body Positivity

A Journey of Connection

The book chronicles a year of foraging adventures and photoshoots, culminating in the creation of the 'Naked Foraging Calendar', aimed at raising awareness and funds for Rewilding Britain and MIND, two charities who's values are close to my heart.

Nature connections and our natural environment is so important for our future. Rewilding Britain says "think big, act wild". So that is what we did on our 1000 mile naked cycling mission! Our connection with nature isn't just about free food and physical sustenance - although that is a huge part of it - it is also about mental wellbeing. During the pandemic my life turned upside down with bereavement, divorce, career change and struggling to become self employed and living in a partially converted van while I renovated a narrowboat to live on. A lot of things at once! I experienced a breakdown that is hard to measure, but one thing I did go through was that I simply didn't want to live any more. These thoughts were a daily presence in my mind for 18 months, and for 18 months I cried every day for at least 5 or 6 hours while I was working on this boat that I am sitting in now.

These things MUST be talked about. These things are a normal part of life and discussion about them must not be reserved for times of crisis management. I think that it is difficult for men in particular to ask for help - we were raised to be strong and offer a helping hand, not reach out feebly asking for one. Except, mental health is not a weakness. It is normal. So many of us agree. It should be discussed, openly.