• Italian family living in the forest faces court-ordered separation from their children
• Tens of thousands sign online petition demanding their return

The quiet life of a family of five living in a forest in Italy came to a halt after a court issued an order placing the children in foster care.

Patrol cars were sent to transfer the children from their home in the Abruzzo region to a care facility, while the mother remained on-site, with the parents having limited access to their children, according to the family’s lawyer.

The children, known in Italy as Bimbi nel Bosco or "kids in the woods," drew widespread attention after tens of thousands signed an online petition calling for their return to their parents.

The parents, Nathan Trevallion, a 51-year-old former British chef, and Catherine Birmingham, a 45-year-old Australian life coach, were named in a L’Aquila court order as parents of an eight-year-old child and six-year-old twins.

Family lawyer Giovanni Angelucci said the household uses fireplaces for heating, solar panels for light and charging devices, and draws water from a well to avoid microplastics and costs. They also use an outdoor composting toilet instead of an indoor facility.

The family’s situation came to light in September 2024 after all five members were hospitalized for poisoning from wild mushrooms consumed in the forest. Following that, social services and police visited the family, but their lawyer said they did not follow recommendations for regular medical care and schooling for the children.

Trevallion told local media he was shocked by the decision: “They are happy, clean, well-mannered, and well-fed; why separate them?”

Angelucci added that the family plans to appeal the decision next week.

Birmingham runs a life coaching and energy reading business, with her website featuring images of the children and animals, which the court said violated the children’s privacy.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her deputy Matteo Salvini criticized the court’s ruling. Meloni called the removal “alarming,” while Salvini said it was “shameful that the state interferes with private education and personal choices of parents while taking their children,” adding that he intends to visit the family home next week.

The family bought the home in 2021, and Birmingham wrote on her website: “We recently found our forever dream home… With the energy of the place being very special, we welcome people to stay for healing and connecting with nature, eating home-grown and home-cooked vegan food.”

Giuseppe Masciulli, the mayor of nearby Palmoli, condemned the removal, saying as a father he was deeply shocked, but noted the situation could be resolved if the family agreed to certain conditions, such as reinstalling running water and attending weekly school meetings to monitor the children’s academic progress.