An Italian court has ordered the removal of three children from their British-Australian parents, who were raising them off-grid in a wooded area in Abruzzo, central Italy. The decision has ignited a fierce debate in the country over alternative lifestyles and the role of social services.
The family—Nathan Trevallion, a former chef from Bristol, and Catherine Birmingham, a former horse-riding teacher from Melbourne—bought a dilapidated property in Palmoli in 2021. They aimed to raise their children, Utopia Rose, eight, and six-year-old twins Galorian and Bluebell, as close to nature as possible, growing their own food, using solar power, and homeschooling them.
The case came to light in September last year when the entire family was hospitalised after eating poisonous mushrooms. Subsequent investigations found the dwelling to be “dilapidated, in terrible hygienic conditions and lacking the necessary utilities,” according to a court document. Last week, the juvenile court in L’Aquila upheld claims that the children were suffering “serious and harmful violations” of their rights and ordered their removal. The children were taken to a church-run facility, with their mother allowed to stay but both parents having limited access.
The court noted the family lived in “housing hardship” with “no social interaction, no fixed income,” no toilet facilities, and the children not attending school. The parents have given interviews generating public support, with thousands signing an online petition to keep the family together. Trevallion described the removal as “a great heartbreak” and “the worst night of my life,” adding, “We live outside of the system … this is what they’re accusing us of. They are ruining the life of a happy family.”
The case has sparked political controversy, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressing “alarm” and ordering an inspection, while Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini compared it to a kidnapping. The couple’s lawyer, Giovanni Angelucci, said they would appeal, claiming the judge’s report contained “falsehoods,” particularly regarding schooling. Sociologist Chiara Saraceno questioned the focus on this family when “so many impoverished children live in houses,” asking, “where are the social workers?”
