At the Pond: Swimming at the Hampstead Ladies' Pond

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And I have noticed that the male ponds on Hampstead Heath are frequented by men in very small swimming shorts. Traditionally, access to the ponds was free and swimmers could pay voluntary contributions. The CoLC maintains mandatory fees were necessary to sustainably fund upkeep of the ponds.

Hampstead Mixed Pond welcomes everyone over the age of 8, as long as you are a strong swimmer. Men, women, and kids can all enjoy this pond together, so it’s a great family activity. However, an adult must accompany children between the ages of 8 and 15. Yes, there are cold showers at the ponds. These are not showers like you find in leisure centres though and are very basic outdoor ones. Are there Changing Facilities at Hampstead Ponds? The Kenwood Ladies' Pond was officially opened in 1926 following the popularity of the Mixed and Men's Ponds. There were few trees on the Heath in those days and the ponds were unfenced and so drew crowds of men and children who would come to watch the ladies bathe. By 1929 naked sunbathing on the meadow above the pond was no longer permitted and dogs had to be tied up outside. The water can be extremely cold, even in the autumnal months, so only venture in if you’re a confident swimmer.In her teens my daughter became a much stronger swimmer than I ever was, and she often went to the pond with her friends, but I usually went alone, with a book and sometimes a sandwich. In the 70s, some of us sunbathed topless, which was officially frowned upon, though the lifeguards usually turned a blind eye. I went once or twice with an older lesbian friend who had once been a Cistercian nun, and, briefly, a nudist: I don’t think she liked swimming but she liked the ambience, with its strange mixture of permissiveness and purity. But I loved to lower myself down the rungs of the ladder and launch myself into the silky waters of the pond. There was something magical about the unplumbed depths, the moorhens, the dragonflies, the waterlilies, the willows, the floating rings and rafts. But the romantic light in which the Ladies’ Pond is seen is only a half-truth: it’s a man-made reservoir on a heath with a rich history of who can and cannot access it. Lifeguards are on hand to ensure everything goes smoothly, but try to look after yourself first! Are the Showers Warm? Although the Hampstead Heath swimming ponds are open all year round they do open and close at different times throughout the year. I found out about this book through my interest in its authors and through my fascination with Hampstead Heath. I still can hardly believe the mysticism that surrounds the Kenwood Ladies’ Pond, which made this book a must read for me.

A small but wonderful collection that shares the joy of the Ladies’ Pond … At the Pond is a series of essays about a body of water but these essays are about so much more than that.’ – Outdoor Swimming Society Ladies' Pond on... mingis mõttes kõige tavalisem metsajärveke. minu jaoks lihtsalt üks jadas Vasula järv-Nikerjärv-Vahejärv-Palojärv - kohad läbi mu elu, kus olen enim armastanud ujumas käia. (Tartust pärit ja Aegviidus suvitanud lapsena pole ma meres- ega jõesujumist kunagi nii kõrgelt hindama õppinud kui üht korralikku järve, aga samas, mis iganes parajasti käepärast on, eks ole. pole mulle võõras ükski Tallinna mererand ega Pirita jõe erinevad sopid. basseinis ujutakse kui üldse, siis talvel.) Combining personal reminiscence with reflections on the history of the place over the years and through the changing seasons, At the Pond captures fourteen contemporary writers’ impressions of this unique place.

When the Men’s Pond protest happened, the small group was led by one woman – and founding member of the #ManFriday movement – Hannah Clarke. In the Daily Mail coverage of the small event, Clarke was quoted at length as being “articulate, measured in her language, and solidly middle-class”. Her father is a retired Army major, magistrate and Tory councillor; her mother has also been a Tory councillor in the Home Counties for almost three decades. Her husband worked in finance. She’s never protested before, she told the reporter, but finally she has a cause. Instead, I’d recommend choosing a nice grassy area before you head in for a swim. This way, you can relax and get super toasty, go for a dip, and then return to your spot to sunbathe. Although, please be careful of your belongings! 5. Expect a Bit of Nudity Yes, you will need to pay for entry as you enter the ponds to swim. Can you Swim in the Hampstead Ponds? A joy to read – perfect for when you need an escape from the stresses of everyday life.’ – Culturefly

kõigist neist lugudest jäi mu jaoks enim kõlama... naise suhe ta enda kehaga läbi elu ja aastate. ja veega. kõik need kirjeldused, mis tunne täpselt on sellesse vette astuda või hüpata, mismoodi tundub esimene ja mismoodi järgmised tõmbed, kuidas kirvendab välja tulles nahk ja kuidas täpselt kleepuvavõitu vesi sellelt maha voolab (see vee kleepumise teema on läbiv! ei ole ta nii kleepuv midagi mu meelest, tavaline järvevesi. aga eks see ongi tavalisest basseiniveest erinev). kuidas talvel tuleb ujumiseks vahel jäässe rada sisse murda ja suvel tuleb peale tohutu talveigatsus. ja peaaegu mitte keegi ei jäta mainimata mõnd kohtumist udusulis pardipoegadega või etteheitva pilguga haigrut, kes sind mingi puunoti pealt jälgib. Make sure you have a towel and warm clothing for afterwards. Sip a hot beverage, and warm up with plenty of layers. I usually went alone, with a book and sometimes a sandwich. In the 70s, some of us sunbathed topless, officially frowned upon’: Margaret Drabble. Photograph: Alun Callender/The Observer Margaret Drabble: ‘We like to think of the watery world hidden beneath us’

Kenwood Ladies' Pond

A survey conducted by the Kenwood Ladies’ Pond Association in January, before the second cost rise, found the charges had affected affordability for 58% of 600 respondents, more than half of whom swam less often as a result and 25% of whom could no longer afford to swim at all. Fourteen women, from various ages and ethnicities, reminisced their time swimming at Kenwood Ladies' Bathing Pond. Their memories are divided into four seasons, starting from winter to autumn. Each woman has their own experience with the Pond, but they all can agree that the Pond is their second home. If a sense of belonging is a book, then At the Pond: Swimming at the Hampstead Ladies' Pond fits the description. Every essay describes how each woman feels welcomed; as if they're part of something--that they belong, no matter what time of the year or where you came from. Here, in the Pond, they can forget a bit about their mundane life and just existing. And that's powerful enough to me (note that I'm quite jealous since there's no pond or river to go wild swimming near me). There’s something wild and anarchic about the pond. It may be managed by the Corporation of London, but it remains a place of wildness and freedom, a beautiful sanctuary, and that’s very precious. One day, when they’re older, I hope to take my granddaughters there. So Mayer: ‘I am not alone: many trans and non-binary people swim in the Ladies’ Pond’ Although the contributors vary in age, outlook, nationality and even gender - one of the writers now identifies as trans or non-binary - the same themes tend to come up again and again. The importance of nature, especially in the metropolis of London. The need for courage. The feeling of belonging to a special experience that is both historical and timeless. The feeling of being challenged, soothed but also ‘held’ by the water. The duality of becoming both more and less aware of your body - of its pains, its imperfections, its possibilities. A joyous collection of essays celebrating the sanctuary of the women’s pond on Hampstead Heath.’ – New Statesman

Yes, there are small changing rooms but do not expect leisure centre quality. Is it safe to swim in Hampstead Ponds?

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But the experience has changed fundamentally in the last year. Many said the new regime had eliminated spontaneity and ruined the ambience and inclusive ethos of the ponds where everybody was equal. There’s a deep sense of a loss to the community. In a statement to VICE, a Guardian spokesperson said: “The editorial remit is to engage with the important issues of the day, and never shy away from difficult subjects.” They add: “We have put a lot of work into diversity and inclusion in the last two years, and we will continue to do all we can to support the rights of trans and non-binary people through our employee policies.” kuidas ja miks ja kas üldse kirjeldada eesti keeles raamatut kohast, mida enamus eesti lugejaid ühest küljest pole iialgi kogenud ja teisest küljest, kui kogeksid, kehitaksid ilmselt õlgu, et mis siin erilist? For more information on the opening times of the Hampstead Heath Swimming Ponds have a look here! 6. Keep an Open Mind!