EXCLUSIVE Women's rights campaigners storm male pond at Hampstead Heath in false beards, wigs and moustaches in protest over self-ID rule at ladies-only pool

Daily Mail​

06-05-2025

Women's rights campaigners stormed the male pond at Hampstead Heath shouting 'no goolies in our poolies' in protest over bosses refusing to ban trans women from an adjacent ladies' only pond following the Supreme Court ruling.
Around 30 female protesters wearing false beards, wigs and moustaches descended on the male-only pond on Bank Holiday Monday demanding to be let in because they self-identified as male.
But they were met by security guards and police who locked a gate to prevent them from entering while insisting that protests were not allowed.
The protest was organised after officials from the City of London Corporation which runs the ponds in Hampstead Heath north London ruled that trans women or men who identify as women could continue swimming in a nearby ladies' pond.
Protesters demanded that the Corporation now ban trans women or men identifying as women from using the ladies' only pond following the Supreme Court ruling that the legal definition of a woman should be based on biological sex.
Waving placards declaring 'Let Women Swim' and 'No Peens in our Pond,' the women protesters marched on the male natural bathing pond loudly singing: 'The law says no. Men must go. No goolies in our poolies.'
On a day they dubbed 'Bank Holiday Man-Day', dog walkers and visitors to the Heath looked on bemused as the women then gathered on the edge of the pond singing: 'If the person has a penis, he's a man.'
After being denied entry, the women remonstrated with a police officer standing behind a locked iron gate demanding that they be permitted entry because 'we are men.'
Amy Desir, a gender-critical campaigner who organised the protest, insisted: 'If you allow trans women or men who identify as women into the ladies only pond then why can't us women, who identify as men, just for today, be allowed into the male only pond? '
Another protester screamed: 'I'm very manly. I have short hair and flat shoes. Let me in.'
A third shouted: 'Let us lads in.'
The police officer smirked and then admitted that he was a bit confused, particularly over which pronoun to use asking them: 'How should I refer to you all?'
The women replied: 'Sir or gentlemen or he or him. Or even your lordships,' leading to widespread laughter amongst those involved in the standoff.
As protesters remonstrated and joked with the officer about their 'manliness', five of them broke away, jumped over a wooden fence and dived into the chilly water of the male-only pond as their supporters cheered and clapped.
Ms Desir, who was wearing a bright, oversized novelty swimsuit was one of the first to breach the pond's defences.
She told MailOnline: 'We are not transphobic, we are pro-women and want to maintain safe spaces for women. The City of London Corporation is in breach of the law because only biological women should be allowed to use the women's only pond.
After swimming for around 20 minutes, the female protesters jumped in the air and waved to their supporters
'The Corporations self-identity policy is driving women away from the women's pond. They don't feel safe there anymore because of transwomen or predatory men being let in because they say they're a woman.'
She added: 'The whole situation is ridiculous. People who in the eyes of the law are not women are being allowed to use the women's pond and that is disgraceful.'
Hannah Clarke, who also jumped into the male pond, said: 'The Supreme Court has made the definition of a woman categorically clear and that's somebody who is born a woman. The City of London Corporation should be complying with the law, it's as simple as that.'
After swimming for around 20 minutes, the female protesters jumped in the air and waved to their supporters while standing on a wooden platform that jutted out over the men's pond.
Venice Allen, who shivered after leaving the pond and was drying herself with a towel thar read, 'Let Women Swim,' told MailOnline: 'The water was very cold, but it was worth it. This is a very important protest to fight for women's rights.
Ms Desir, who was wearing a bright, oversized novelty swimsuit was one of the first to breach the pond's defences. She was joined by Ms Clarke
Venice Allen (pictured), who shivered after leaving the pond and was drying herself with a towel thar read, 'Let Women Swim,' told MailOnline: 'The water was very cold, but it was worth it. This is a very important protest to fight for women's rights.'
'We will be returning until the women's pond is once again exclusively for women.'
The UK's sole women-only natural bathing pool became a flashpoint in the trans debate after the City of London Corporation adopted a 'self-ID' policy in 2019, meaning trans women or men identifying as women can use the female changing rooms and swim there.
It has chosen to stick with this policy despite the Equality and Human Rights Commission advising that trans women should not use women's facilities in workplaces or public spaces following the Supreme Court ruling.
The City of London Corporation has said that it is 'carefully considering the judgment' while awaiting statutory guidance from the Commission.
A spokesman for the City of London Corporation told the media: 'These accusations are completely false. The City Corporation is compliant with existing UK law.'