Deirdre O Meara 
Tomorrow, May 1st, gardeners and non-gardeners alike will be celebrating World Naked Gardening Day by stripping off and tending to their plants in the buff. This annual event, founded by consulting editor of Nude & Natural magazine Mark Storey and permaculturist Jacob Gabriel, has been celebrated since its inception on September 10, 2005. The event is not heavily invested in, as the founders believe that it will grow on its own from people seeing the value in it. It is also supported by The Naturist Society, Clothes Free International, and the American Association for Nude Recreation.
Kendall Platt, a mum-of-two from Reading, is one of the hundreds of people who will be stripping off to prune her plants tomorrow. In fact, she doesn’t limit her naked gardening to just one day. Speaking exclusively to Fabulous, Kendall says she has always loved to feel the sun on her skin while gardening, even before she knew about World Naked Gardening Day. “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,” she says. “It’s not just about getting your kit off, it’s about connecting with nature.”
While Kendall is happy to expose herself to her shrubs, 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, she appeared on This Morning in the nude, and her experience sparked an unusual interest on her Instagram account. “As soon as the show aired I had so many weird men contacting me,” she says. “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.”
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.”
Kendall, who was recently diagnosed with ADHD, says that gardening helps her feel mellow. “I have found that my followers have discovered that a bit of pottering can really help,” she says. “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.”
Kendall understands that going starkers in the garden can be daunting for some people. “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,” she says. “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 or doing a bit of weeding, their mind will be focused on that task.”
Kendall encourages others to give naked gardening a try, saying that it’s about “really connecting with your body and nature.” She loves going barefoot in her garden and getting her feet into the soil. “It’s a very calming sensation,” she says. “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.”
So if you’re feeling brave and want to connect with nature in a unique way, why not give naked gardening a try? Just be sure to check your surroundings first and remember to wear sunscreen!
