| FREEDOM TO ENJOY OPEN WATER | River and Lake Swimming Association | SAFETY THROUGH INFORMATION | ||||||
| Swimming legally | Trespassing | The HSE | Occupiers Liability |
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'This is the world of outdoor swimming, where rivers, lakes, ponds,
coves and even lidos are being rediscovered and celebrated. Advertisement Wild, or outdoor, swimming is quite simply
the thing to do this summer. It chimes perfectly with our craving for a simpler, more honest way of life. It's free
(or cheap) and fun. It's also deliciously uninhibited: there's something about the silkiness of natural water that
almost demands that you strip off your clothes and slide in for a spot of discreet skinny-dipping, however strait-laced
your everyday persona. It is cousin to organic food, nephew to slow living and brother to our collective yearning for
the wild' Dont miss Top 50 places to swim outdoors by Adrian Tierney-Jones, published in the Telegraph 9th August 08 Wild swimming on the BBC Green website View the recent BBC Breakfast Show item on wild swimming |
A common prominent feature in publications advising on water safety are
warnings of the dangers posed by immersion in inland waters which, according to some:- remain extremely cold even on a hot day - never warm up, even in summer - are surprisingly cold only a few inches below the surface - especially cold in deep lakes - may feel comfortable in the shallows but becomes extremely cold in the centre of lakes and more. Whereas some inland water temperatures, rivers in particular, can fall below 15C during the summer, the majority of lowland inland waters in the UK are at between 15C (‘a bit chilly’) and 20C+ (‘lovely and warm’) - sometimes from as early as May. Moreover, once heated by the sun, lakes and slow flowing rivers can stay surprisingly warm days after the weather has turned cloudy. Having said that, not only is there an undeniable problem with feeling cold in the water - it is one which swimmers must be alerted to and take note of. Although water temperature is a major contributor, the problem is not the temperature per se. Click here to find out what are the real, hidden dangers and how the inclusion of inaccurate information and sweeping statements in safety advice, can cost lives. [Picture from Wild Swimming by Daniel Start] |
Participation in some other popular leisure based watersport and coastal activities. are given as: 2.21% canoeing, 1.09% small sail boat activities, 1.19% motor boating cruising, 1.12% angling (from boats), 2.27% angling (from shore) and 12.21% Coastal walking Furthermore, participation in outdoor swimming increased by 1.75% (from 10.74% to 12.49% of the population) between 2005 and 2006 – the largest increase of participation in any watersport. By comparison, Spending general leisure time at the beach increased by 0.99%, angling from the shore by 0.34% and canal boating by 0.25%. The 4.1 million who swim outdoors in the UK average about 7 swims per year thus creating 28,660,840 ‘swimming events’. Of those, 16,915,562 are in the sea and 11,745,278 in inland waters. Swimming constitutes the highest number of inland water events followed by angling from the shore (8,366 783), rowing (3,844,669) and canoeing (3,012,295). Clearly, whichever way one looks at the figures, swimming outdoors is the most popular UK watersport. It is therefore extraordinary that the activity is, at best, totally ignored by Government bodies, local authorities and other public bodies. Too cold to swim in English rivers - well, what about Scotland? |
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Don't miss Tom de Castella review of the new books in the Financial Times Click here Swimhiking is based on a simple idea: instead of leaving your clothes on the shore, take them with you in a swimsac.More... See also BBC TV item WILD SWIM By Kate Rew Wild Swim is a lovely book in all its aspects. Its tone accommodates comedy, glee, beauty, discomfort and hard fact. More... WILD SWIMMING By Daniel Start Daniel's book is a 'must have' for seasoned wild swimmers who will be introduced to scores of new magical swimming holes all over the UK. More... |
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Petitions for a change in the current LGO system Following our experience with the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) in connection with Bury Lake we have joined the growing campaign to make the LGO truly independent and accountable and make its recommendations legally enforceable. There are currently two petitions to the Prime Minister. One by Wilma Wright at Click here which runs until 6 November 2008. The other, by Graham Crane Click here which runs until the 17th September. Local authorities are those mainly responsible for the loss of UK's traditional inland bathing sites. The current lack of a meaningful complaint procedure gives these authorities unacceptable power . Please show your support by signing the petitions. See also the LGO Watch website. |
The Great North Swim
- Saturday 13th September in Lake Windermere. Full details can be found on
the website. It promises to be a fantastic day and is open to elite swimmers (who will set off first) as
well as to those new to outdoor swimming. The event is part of the Great Activity Campaign which is intended to get
people out of their chairs and into activity!Great Pier Swim - Saturday 27th September This will be the first open water event of its kind to be held in Southend-on-Sea. Havens Hospices have teamed up with the great Southend pier which is the longest in the world, to put on this unique event. The challenge is a 3k open water swim from Southend Pier. For more information or to book visit www.havenshospices.org.uk or call 01702 220356 jcurtis@havenshospices.org.uk This will be a fundraising event for Havens Hospices which incorporates Fair Havens Adult Hospice and Little Havens Children's Hospice. Fair Havens cares for adults suffering cancer and other life threatening illnesses through its In Patient Unit, Day Care Centre, Community Macmillan team, Hospice at Home and Bereavement Services. Little Havens provides respite and end of life care for life limiting children and their families from across Essex. It will cost nearly £5 million this year to ensure the care continues, with limited government funding. The charity relies heavily on the generosity of the public and businesses through kind donations, fundraising events, charity shops and gifts in wills. |
| More swims on the Outdoor Swimming Society (OSS)
website. Organising a swim in your area this summer? Contact us and get it publicised here |
There is now little doubt that the attitude of some UK organisation towards
swimming in natural water, inland water in particular, is not only unique - it looks increasingly irrational and obsessive.
Take, for example the following extract from the official website of the Yosemite National Park in the States MORE....
Take, for example the following extract from the official website of the Yosemite National Park in the States MORE....
 'For water safety advice talk to the cool people in swimsuits not to the wet people in grey suits' [Pete Roberts - famous for not being the founder of the RoSPA Admiration Society (RoSPAAS), 2007] Click here to discover how the health and safety merchants manipulate the media. |
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Extracts from the judgement in the Tomlinson v Congleton BC HSE clarifies scope of 'Blue Book' Heath ponds court victory Environment Agency clarifies its attitude to swimming |
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 So who are the Health and Safety Bonkers? Click here to find out. |
The Pooling Resources Group has been set up to help people campaigning for their local pools Local authorities, concerned at the rising cost of energy, are looking for savings. With every swim costing on average £5, and being subsidised to the tune of £3.30 (so swimmers only pay £1.70 per swim) they are fully justified in doing so. Among proposals being considered are: lowering the temperature, delaying refurbishment plans and even closure of some of the UK's 5,200 pools. There is of course, as our members are very well aware, a much cheaper alternative to heated pools. It just needs to be permitted! Do we really need to tell Richard Caborne the Sports Minister? Surely in hot weather provision for outdoor swimming, perhaps in depth-restricted areas of lakes could be considered. There'd be no heating bill to pay. Read about the joy of open air pools in Lidos for cool kids published in the Times on June 18, 2007 Click here for links to lido and other media articles. |
Campaign to save Broomhill pool |
Black Park Click here 
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Bury Lake Following the latest legal clarifications of operators liabilities regarding swimming in open water there is no longer a justification for keeping traditional inland water bathing sites, such as at Bury Lake, Rickmansworth closed to the public. More.. |
Opened in 1938, Broomhill Open Air Swimming Pool has been central to summer leisure activities for many
generations of Ipswichians. The Pool building is one of the most attractive Lido style structures in Britain
The pool is the only Olympic sized open air pool in Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex and offers the only 5 metre diving
board in the county. In addition to its appeal to recreational swimmers, many local groups have used Broomhill Pool
for a wide range of water sports including Live Saving Training, Canoeing and even Dinghy Sailing.| RALSA is an association of clubs & individuals representing wild swimmers. Membership is free and we make no demands. Please join us to show your support[Click here] |
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Please contact us by emailing to: yacovlev@hotmail.com Media enquiries: 0151 428 3990 (9 till late) 0793 0810 316(M) Postal address: 26 Baroncroft Rd. Woolton Liverpool L25 6EH |
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