Thanks, Robin W, for your reply but I do not think that helps with actually registering!
I have NO EXISTING users, but I do want to be able to have them register to become a user!
The current situation appears to force them to become registered users of WordPress rather than a registered user of my bbPress Forum.
The only option I have when I view dashboard>forums is to create a new forum – I see no “roles” or “settings” under that view.
However, under dashboard>settings>forums I see the opportunity to set a role.
I have ticked the Automatically give registered visitors PARTICIPANT forum role which was previously unticked.
By ticking, have I given them access to my Forum when they use the registration link?
Thanks again!