The case of the family that was left without the children they were raising in a forest in Italy, alongside horses, donkeys and chickens. Meloni's reaction
Italian authorities have separated the children of a family living in isolation in a forest in the Italian region of Abruzzo. The court motivated the decision by “risks for the children's physical and mental integrity” and the lack of normal living conditions.
The family lived in a forest in Italy PHOTO: Catherine Birmingham
The life of a family of five, known as “Bimbi nel Bosco” (“children of the forest”), changed after the court in L'Aquila decided to place the family's three children in a care center run by a church.
The family lived in an isolated cabin in the woods with horses, donkeys and chickens, using solar panels and water from their own well, avoiding connection to urban networks, according to CNN.
“We recently found our dream forever home. The energy of the place is very special, we bring people to stay for healing and awakening, connecting with the wild, outside and inside, eating organic vegan food, cooked and home grown,” she wrote on his blog Catherine Birmingham, the mother of the children.
PHOTO Catherine Birmingham
Police patrols were sent to pick up the children – an eight-year-old boy and two six-year-old twins – and take them to a welfare structure. The mother currently lives in the same place, but the parents have been allowed only limited contact with the minors, according to the family's attorney.
The parents, Nathan Trevallion (51), a former professional British chef, and Catherine Birmingham (45), an Australian life coach and former equestrian trainer, were criticized for the conditions in which they raised their children.
The court pointed out that the family lived in “poor conditions, no social interaction, no fixed income, no toilets and no school attendance by children”.
The couple denies the allegations and claims that their financial situation is stable and that their lifestyle choice is a personal choice. According to their statements, the two moved to Italy attracted by the landscape, the community and the possibility of living a simple life outside the urban environment. The family lives in a wooded area, adopting a vegan diet and self-sufficiency-oriented routine.
The lawyer states that the home was heated with stoves, powered by solar panels, and water was drawn from a well to avoid microplastics. The toilet – ecological, compost type – was in the yard.
“We wanted a different life for our children and decided to live in the forest. We want to be here with them and our animals“, say the parents.
PHOTO Catherine Birmingham
The family's plight came to light in September 2024 after all five members were hospitalized for poisoning after consuming wild mushrooms in the forest. After this incident, the family was visited by social service officials and law enforcement.
“They're happy, they smell good, they're well-educated and well-fed; why break that bond?“, said the children's father.
The mother had published photos of the family and the animals, but the court found that they violated the children's privacy.
The decision caused strong reactions at the political level
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni categorized the measure as right “alarming”, and Matteo Salvini stated that “the decision of the authorities is shameful”.
“It is shameful that the state is concerned with the private education and personal choices of two parents who found Italy hospitable, and yet steals their children”said Matteo Salvini.
Giuseppe Masciulli, the mayor of the nearby town of Palmoli, condemned the removal of children from the family.
“I am a father and I was deeply shocked by the situation”he told CNN, adding that he believed the situation could be resolved if the family promised to comply with certain requirements, including the reinstatement of running water and weekly meetings with the local school to assess the children's academic progress.
Angelucci's lawyer announced that the family will appeal the court's decision.
