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Daniel Hall

Ben Fogle brings New Lives In The Wild to Northumberland to meet off-grid couple

For some, getting away to the countryside or coast and escaping from the daily grind is something for a staycation or a day trip.

However, there are others who want a permanent escape from the rat race, setting up homes in remote locations across the UK to get away from the pressures of modern life.

And one Northumberland couple who have given up their previous lives to get off-grid have opened up their home to Ben Fogle for the 16th series of New Lives in the Wild on Channel 5.

Go here for more Northumberland news and updates from Northumberland Live

Kezz and Nathalie Petronelli-Stone traded their 'rock and roll' lifestyle to become caretakers of a secluded wood in Chatton, north Northumberland, where they have been living for the past eight years. Their work supports the local timber chain and economy, with the site's timber typically going to mills and buyers from within 15 miles of it.

Presenter Ben Fogle with Kezz & Nathalie (Renegade Pictures (UK) Ltd)

The couple's straw bale house in the woodland cost just £25,000 to build, while there is also a shipping container available to book through Airbnb, where presenter Fogle stayed.

Kezz said: "Yes, our little cabin. It has the most basic facilities and we don't have a kitchen or anything in it. Guests are welcome to barbecue and they can of course buy our charcoal. But other than that we encourage people to go use our local pubs, cafes and restaurants."

Despite being in a stunning location with epic views and having an Airbnb on site, tourism isn't the main focus of Kezz and Nathalie's work. However, it's not completely separate. Kezz continued: "Perhaps on some level it does as our charcoal is available to buy for locals and tourists. Many tourists like to buy locally made products and our ours is no exception. We also take huge pride in the woods we manage.

"Many are part of areas where many tourists will be walking and cycling and it's important to us they look like they're being managed and considerately worked. It all sticks in the mind of the visitors and will play a part in the experience of being here."

Presenter Ben Fogle and contributors Kezz & Nathalie in front of wood burner (Renegade Pictures (UK) Ltd)

Though the business isn't centred around tourism, Kezz and Nathalie recognise the need for a sustainable tourism economy in Northumberland. Kezz continued: "The word (sustainability) gets thrown around a lot these days. I think in the case of Northumberland it's hugely important as we have so many visitors now and we have a fairly limited infrastructure, limited housing for locals and a hospitality industry desperately in need of trained, competent staff.

"Actually, the same can be said of several popular UK destinations and it's important all of them are well supported by the local councils, governing bodies and larger businesses all working together."

During the programme, Ben Fogle helped Kezz and Nathalie with their straw-bale house, got a crash course in felling trees, and learned the traditional art of charcoal making, which is another part of the couple's business.

Ben Fogle outside Kezz and Nathalie's cabin (Renegade Pictures (UK) Ltd)

Kezz continued: "We started doing firewood and a few months in decided it might be fairly seasonal and adding a summer type product might be sensible. We got interested in charcoal and very quickly became obsessed.

"As we learned more we realised how important it was to use the right timber and from where that timber was sourced was of the utmost importance. So we started taking on woodlands and learning more and about that all to help us improve our charcoal.

"Now alongside our woodland management it's the backbone of our business and because of the choices we make in whom we do business with and how it means we are still really enjoying it all."

Ben also delved deeper into Nathalie's mental health and the couple's relationship and how their surroundings have helped them.

Nathalie said: "We can all learn a huge amount from nature. How it recovers, how it provides, the natural world is only real world and we need to listen to it and respect it, to understand it better and work with it.

"I think we can all see how it's changing now and giving our "typical" way of living a huge amount of problems and making us very unhappy. We can do better, and we must!"

Kezz has also reflected on how things have changed for him since moving to Chatton. He said: "I used to travel a lot, now I barely make it past Alnwick or Berwick and I'm perfectly happy with that. I'm older, if I hadn't changed from the younger me I'd be a sad individual wouldn't I? That's incorporated into my life. As I've changed so have my interests, skills and abilities.

"The main thing I've learned is I was such a hypocrite. Traveling around the world on planes singing songs about saving the world and telling everyone to do better and be more mindful. I'd get furious with people who were wasteful, overly ignorant about matters I considered important, it used to really get to me.

"Then, I moved out into the woods and quietly went about doing what was important to me in a way I felt was appropriate. Before long more and more people were hearing about it and writing to us, wanting to visit. If you want the world to be a better place you have to start with yourself."

Kezz and Nathalie don't have a TV and say they're not interested in watching the show. Kezz said: "We were ourselves, like us or hate us, and we know the crew will have done their best to capture that. We've heard from so many people saying that they did indeed get that across because they know us and said it was totally authentic, right down to me smoking and swearing.

"Similarly for Nathalie, she's made no secret of her past and uses it to help herself and others. Takes courage to be yourself, especially when that happens to challenges people's perception of accessible behaviour. Life's too short, be yourself or die trying."

Ben Fogle New Lives in the Wild airs on Tuesdays at 9pm on Channel 5.

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