Heritage is not a commercial club but a 'members' club owned and run by its members. It was started at the height of World War II.  This was not uncommon at the time, and a strong statement of freedom and health.

For many years it was heavily wooded and there were no boundary fences. Heritage members would swim in the local lake in the National Trust wood.

It has been developed by us from wooded forest into a wonderful parkland over several acres.  Set in 'greenbelt' land, we are now properly protected from development around us, though the commercial woodland around gets cropped from time to time.

We are a complete cross-section of society. A short time ago we looked at our own membership, and we reflected the local employment and social profile.

'The Telegraph' devoted a whole page to World Naturist Day 2001. Its highly sceptical reporter finally described naturists as consistently the most friendly and normal group of people he had ever come across - the sceptic was converted!

'The Times' had an article late January 2002 about a naturist holiday in Crete - (an unusual naturist first choice.) It said:

  'The nicest surprise was the other people we met. They were intelligent professionals, and interesting to talk to. No Sixties anachronisms here. And they were all having a great time' 

and more interestingly perhaps: 

'I was also surprised that it was often the women who instigated a naturist holiday.'  

Its a good report - not least because it explains that at first she:

  'cringed at the thought of baring all in front of strangers'

  but then  

'Finally the moment came when we just had to grin and bare it. ..., as we approached the pool, I felt more self-conscious with my clothes on.' & 'Vritomartis was the most benign setting in which to experience naturism for the first time, and I was glad I had tried it.'

In February 2003 COSMPOLITAN published an excellent four page article. This was reproduced in the Daily Mail extolling the fun of naturism in Lanzarote. Describing the holiday of three young women ( whose male partners were obviously  nervous about naturism ) the writer Hannah Borno says: 

' I 'm elated. I'd never believed myself capable of spending a whole afternoon relaxing with no clothes on.' 

Later in she adds 

' I'm loving naturism and chat excitedly to Jon about how egalitarian it is' .... 'I experience an overwhelming sense of freedom'. 

Hannah has been converted as nearly everyone is. The article did note that the tendency is for young people to go abroad on naturist holidays rather than stay in the UK. Heritage is one of the few places that this trend is reversed.

In September 2004 the Telegraph reporter and family went to Arna near Biarritz for a holiday. He and his son loved it - errr ... she didn't.

"My wife’s idea of public nudity is leaving the house without her Chanel wristwatch. In her life experiences catalogue, naturist camps are firmly filed under “N” for “not on your nelly”.

But from him:

"Best of all I loved the convenience of wandering down to the beach or the swimming pool without the faff of changing in and out of wet swimming costumes or sandy shorts. But of course the person who enjoyed it the most was the one with the fewest preconceptions, four-year-old Ben. He loved playing all day in the safety and simplicity of the natural camp. He made friends, tried out a little French and swam his first outdoor length. He even brought back a great souvenir from the trip – his very own sun-kissed nudie bum-bum."

And his wife never got into naturism  ..... 

"a life experience to be filed away under ''A’’ for “absolutely never ever again"

So try our quiz and see if you are a 'not on your nelly' or someone who could find it a great experience. 

At Heritage our youngest member is a few weeks old - our oldest active member is just short of 100 years old. Typically you may be a family couple between 35 and 55, probably with children - some of whom have grown up. But we have lots of younger members both with and without children and increasing numbers of young couples who don't want to wait for annual holiday to relax in the sun.

We have over 400 members (including children) and many visitors. Just under 10% of our membership is single. Our Youth membership has just started. We positively encourage families and young children. There are several cases of three generations being members. 

We value our older members. Over 20% of our members are retired and many of these have been members for over 20 years. Warm sun, good company and lovely grounds provide a secure haven from the rush of life.

In late August we devote the club entirely to children and families with a wide range of fun things to do -  such as letting the children practice 'First Aid' - our casualties (above) never walked again!

A healthy, active club truly reflects the wider world. Heritage draws in people from all walks of life: builders, lawyers, electricians, accountants, doctors, teachers, office workers, mechanics, engineers, programmers, police and armed services, managers, nurses - etc ....

The club is gender balanced, though we do have just a few more ladies. We are firm believers in Equal Opportunities and disability is no barrier to enjoying naturism. We are installing ramps and soon all the club will be easily accessible to wheelchairs etc. 

We value the skills members bring to the club. We have an active jazz band  with bookings from all over Surrey and Berks. 

Our in-house caterers turn our social events into feasts. We are not licensed, and you are free to bring your own drinks to the club.

We even manage to amuse the teenagers - (well not always). Discos, table footie and TV seem to keep them quiet(ish).

Whether it is keeping the pool crystal clear, keeping the grounds looking good or doing the plumbing - our own members bring expertise and experience.