BGA and licensing

I saw on the BGA website the BGA changed the spin training
requirements. No more required low altitude
spins. Good job, guys. I'm glad they changed it.
I'm over 4000 miles away and I was cringing...

On another note, the site seems to indicate that 20 flights
minimum are required to solo, but that there is no license required.
Is this true? Is there no govt. licence? Then who enforces
the 20 flights? What prevents someone from legally
buying a glider and just hopping in it?

Granted, there is the issue of launching, but one can still
just roll down a hilltop, right? :P

I'm wondering if gliders in Britain are treated similarly to
ultralights in the USA, very little official regulation...

Can someone please write a little about how gliding is
regulated in Europe (including Britain) and how hard or easy
it is for a US chap to come over the pond and glide?

I've prepared a little. So I know not to swat anyone on
the fanny, and I purchased a can of bugger repellent.
Beyond that I could use some advice...
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Mark Boyd
Avenal, California, USA