Wild swimming

By Dinah Sershi

Founder of the Natural Wellbeing company

Talk to any open water swimmer and they will each have a list of very personal reasons as to why they enjoy bathing throughout the seasons but one, that I suspect is common to all, is a sense of community. It is a unique bonding experience bracing cold water together, supporting each other‘s fleeting trepidation and supping celebratory hot tea whilst enjoying the endorphins post-swim. These connections come together in many different ways; friends venturing a new experience together, formal clubs, informal clubs and random meet ups, with each one bringing its own magic to the occasion.

This Spring I was fortunate to become a member of the Serpentine Swimming Club. The ornamental lake that takes centre stage in London’s Hyde Park was the idea of Queen Caroline in 1730. The Serpentine Swimming club was formed in 1864 and the first ladies were allowed to swim when the Lido was established formally in the 1930s. Throughout the decades, the swimmers have attracted the attention of the media where puzzled journalists and photographers seek to understand the pleasure the lake affords. Now I am a member the lake has become a regular addition to my weekly swim where I am awed each time the sun rises over London and shines its warm light on this watery haven in the centre of the Metropolis. One morning, my Serpie joy was captured by a passing photographer and, by chance, I found myself in The Times newspaper, which was quite the surprise, but I love the photograph as it captures the happiness of these occasions.

Last Spring, I spent many a Saturday and Sunday morning in the Hampstead Heath mixed ponds, it was an elixir after the winter lockdowns and I was keen to continue to swim here during the winter months. To do this, I became a member of the Hampstead Heath Winter Swimming Club which was formed in 2005 after a successful court case against the Corporation of London, that allowed members to swim through the winter months. Many may wonder why people would fight so hard to swim in a pond in the middle of winter but those cold swims amongst a community of likeminded people are precious. Surrounded by trees and nestled into the leafy beauty of Hampstead Heath in North London, the pond is the perfect size for winter swimming.

Just like the Serpentine Club, the community is as much a part of the swim as the swim itself and I love the sense of egalitarianism that prevails when everyone is stripped back to only a swimming costume, swim cap or in my case a bobble hat. Towelling flushed red, post-swim bodies, whilst chatting and sharing flasks of tea creates a sense of community that transcends any sense of social status; judge, taxi driver, florist, banker, all bonding over cold water and a cuppa. To celebrate the coming of Spring my friends and I decided to welcome the change of season with a swim in Frensham Great pond. Created in the thirteenth century by the Bishop of Winchester so that he could have fish when visiting Farnham castle, the lake with its shallow clear waters and sandy beaches is a favourite amongst families during the day and open water swimmers in the early morning. I highly recommend packing a picnic and heading to Frensham for a perfect holiday in a day.

With the warmer water, the swimming now changes from shorter to longer swims as I begin to train for the triathlon season. I’m very much an amateur but love each of the swim, cycle, and run activities as well as the friendly, tri community. It’s a sport that is becoming increasingly popular with women over 40 as more women discover that exercise is a very effective way to manage their menopause symptoms. It has taken me a long time to realise that exercising in nature with a supportive community ensures that I maintain a regular dose of happy hormones and a positive balance in my life.

Dinah Sershi is a mum of two, management consultant, kinesiologist, coach, mindfulness, and yoga teacher.