wisw:wild_swimming

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wisw:wild_swimming [2026/01/02 20:58] – [Wild swimming] asimongwisw:wild_swimming [2026/01/02 20:58] (current) – [What is wild swimming?] asimong
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 > "My preference is swimming in the sea. I find the sea is more liberating, wild and good fun rather than plodding up and down a pool." — Jo Brand. > "My preference is swimming in the sea. I find the sea is more liberating, wild and good fun rather than plodding up and down a pool." — Jo Brand.
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 'Wild' swimming is the only term that covers what we're talking about, really. It's not just 'swimming' because that includes indoor swimming pools; it's not 'outdoor swimming' because that includes lidos and outdoor pools; it's not 'swimming in rivers and lakes', because it also includes seas, oceans, lochs, pools, reservoirs, gravel & sand pits, old quarries, estuaries, firths, ponds, streams and anywhere else you can swim in nature - and then the name would be a bit too long. Wild swimming nails it. 'Wild' swimming is the only term that covers what we're talking about, really. It's not just 'swimming' because that includes indoor swimming pools; it's not 'outdoor swimming' because that includes lidos and outdoor pools; it's not 'swimming in rivers and lakes', because it also includes seas, oceans, lochs, pools, reservoirs, gravel & sand pits, old quarries, estuaries, firths, ponds, streams and anywhere else you can swim in nature - and then the name would be a bit too long. Wild swimming nails it.
  
-{{ http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/wild-swimming-cove-2.jpg 640 360}}+{{ http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/wild-swimming-cove-2.jpg }}
  
 In the early 20th century there were outdoor swimming clubs all over the UK, but they slowly died out as indoor pools were introduced, and our waterways became more polluted. Back then it didn't seem at all eccentric to swim in nature, as it still doesn't on the continent, where lakes often turn into lidos in summer. In the early 20th century there were outdoor swimming clubs all over the UK, but they slowly died out as indoor pools were introduced, and our waterways became more polluted. Back then it didn't seem at all eccentric to swim in nature, as it still doesn't on the continent, where lakes often turn into lidos in summer.
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 Also, British water bodies are generally less polluted than they were 50 years ago, as manufacturing industries have been exported to the Far East. Whatever that means for the global environment or our economy, it means cleaner rivers, lakes and coastal seas in the UK, which is one of the reasons that wild swimming is taking off again - although agricultural runoff and sewage discharges are a problem, so it's best to [check the state of water bodies](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/water-pollution-uk-where-wild-swimming) before swimming in them. Also, British water bodies are generally less polluted than they were 50 years ago, as manufacturing industries have been exported to the Far East. Whatever that means for the global environment or our economy, it means cleaner rivers, lakes and coastal seas in the UK, which is one of the reasons that wild swimming is taking off again - although agricultural runoff and sewage discharges are a problem, so it's best to [check the state of water bodies](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/water-pollution-uk-where-wild-swimming) before swimming in them.
  
-{{ http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/wild-swimming-cap-1.jpg }}+{{ http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/wild-swimming-cap-1.jpg } 
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 ## What are the benefits of wild swimming? ## What are the benefits of wild swimming?
  
  • wisw/wild_swimming.txt
  • Last modified: 2026/01/02 20:58
  • by asimong