Attendees at Nudefest, the UK’s biggest annual gathering of naturists, performed a naked haka earlier this year, to welcome the Rugby World Cup. But lovers of the unclothed lifestyle had less to celebrate last week when it was revealed that the week-long celebration of British nudity, held each year in July, is facing an uncertain future.

Nudefest has outgrown the Cornish holiday park that has been its home for the past eight years on account of the burgeoning popularity of social nudity.

An Ipsos Mori poll carried out in 2011 found that 6 per cent of British adults considered themselves nudists or naturists, and exponents say that interest in the lifestyle has continued to grow. There are about 130 private naturist clubs in the UK and adherents claim benefits ranging from a sense of liberation to higher doses of Vitamin D.

British Naturism, which boasts almost 10,000 members, says it is struggling to find a suitable site for Nudefest 2016.

“A lot of holiday-park owners might immediately dismiss it [Nudefest] because it’s naked people,” said Andrew Welch, British Naturism’s commercial director. “But it’s a much nicer experience than they might think. Staff do not undress as a rule – they’re welcome to and it has happened – but generally they keep their clothes on and they have a great time.”

Mr Welch admits the stigma surrounding naturism persists. “Some people have been brought up to be modest – whatever that means. The main thing to bear in mind is that the stigma comes from a lack of understanding and education – people may think it’s unsightly, but once they have hosted one of our events they always ask us back.”

A suitable Nudefest venue must be able to handle a packed week of naked activity that includes jogging, archery, yoga and boules, a firm favourite among naturists. There needs to be accommodation or camping space for 500 people and, ideally, facilities such as indoor and outdoor swimming pools as well as a bar to host the event’s legendary midnight discos. “If you’ve never done a naturist disco you really must,” said Mr Welch. “With all the bits jiggling it’s really wonderful and you don’t have to go outside to cool down.”

While a “small proportion” of park owners have an issue with naturists, they’re in the minority, said Mr Welch. A more common problem is the practical difficulty of combining a handful of clothed holiday-makers with hundreds of naked ones.

“The usual problem is that the owner can’t guarantee us exclusive use of the site,” he said.

World Naked Bike Ride (2011) Show all 9 1 /9 World Naked Bike Ride (2011) World Naked Bike Ride (2011) People take part in the World Naked Bike Ride in London June 11, 2011. Reuters World Naked Bike Ride (2011) A woman prepares to take part in the annual "London World Naked Bike Ride" event in central London on June 11, 2011. Now in it's eighth year, the event has seen participation grow from 58 in 2004 to 1,200 in 2009. Taking a route that passes many of London's most famous landmarks, the ride allows those participating to decorate their body with messages of protest against oil dependancy and motor vehicle usage. Getty Images World Naked Bike Ride (2011) Naked cyclists take part in the World Naked Bike Ride to protest against cars, gas emissions and agressive drivers, in Mexico City on June 11, 2011. Hundred of cyclists on the nude took part in the demonstration riding their bikes through the main streets in Mexico City to highlight the vulnerability of cyclists on the road and to protest against the dependency of oil sources. Getty Images World Naked Bike Ride (2011) Naked cyclists take part in the World Naked Bike Ride to protest against cars, gas emissions and agressive drivers, in Mexico City on June 11, 2011. Hundred of cyclists on the nude took part in the demonstration riding their bikes through the main streets in Mexico City to highlight the vulnerability of cyclists on the road and to protest against the dependency of oil sources. Getty Images World Naked Bike Ride (2011) A man repairs a puncture as he takes part in the annual "London World Naked Bike Ride" event in central London on June 11, 2011. Now in it's eighth year, the event has seen participation grow from 58 in 2004 to 1,200 in 2009. Taking a route that passes many of London's most famous landmarks, the ride allows those participating to decorate their body with messages of protest against oil dependancy and motor vehicle usage. Getty Images World Naked Bike Ride (2011) Three men take part in the annual "London World Naked Bike Ride" event in central London on June 11, 2011. Now in it's eighth year, the event has seen participation grow from 58 in 2004 to 1,200 in 2009. Taking a route that passes many of London's most famous landmarks, the ride allows those participating to decorate their body with messages of protest against oil dependancy and motor vehicle usage. Getty Images World Naked Bike Ride (2011) Naked cyclists take part in the World Naked Bike Ride to protest against cars, gas emissions and agressive drivers, in Mexico City on June 11, 2011. Hundred of cyclists on the nude took part in the demonstration riding their bikes through the main streets in Mexico City to highlight the vulnerability of cyclists on the road and to protest against the dependency of oil sources. Getty Images World Naked Bike Ride (2011) Naked cyclists take part in the World Naked Bike Ride to protest against cars, gas emissions and agressive drivers, in Mexico City on June 11, 2011. Hundred of cyclists on the nude took part in the demonstration riding their bikes through the main streets in Mexico City to highlight the vulnerability of cyclists on the road and to protest against the dependency of oil sources. Getty Images World Naked Bike Ride (2011) A woman takes part in the annual "London World Naked Bike Ride" event in central London on June 11, 2011. Now in it's eighth year, the event has seen participation grow from 58 in 2004 to 1,200 in 2009. Taking a route that passes many of London's most famous landmarks, the ride allows those participating to decorate their body with messages of protest against oil dependancy and motor vehicle usage. Getty Images

Nudefest, despite its name, is not exactly a bacchanalian affair. “We don’t do anything that you wouldn’t see anywhere else,” said Mr Welch. “We’ve had life drawing classes and war-gaming and a local lady does massage all week.” There are nude excursions, too, including visits to a brewery in Truro and a memorable after-hours visit to Newquay Zoo.