The story of one couple reveals how the move to Cornwall from London impacted their physical, financial and mental health.
Former photographer, Davina Foster, 39, and builder Todd Read Bloss moved out of the capital in 2018, in order to raise their family on 3.315 acre of land they bought next to a cliff in Perranporth, Cornwall.
On tonight’s Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild, they reveal how they live in a bubble caravan with their four children, Michael, 17 and Saffron, 15, who are Davina’s children from a previous relationship, and Ruby, nine, and Harry, three.
The farm makes money raising chickens, pigs, and other animals. Campers pay to set up tents on the land for extra income.
Although the couple may appear to be enjoying a happy life on the surface of things, they admit that the hard work and challenging Cornish winters over many years have had a negative impact on their health and bodies.
Davina said that her family did not have savings, and although they now are financially secure they still face a lot of hardship over the years. Davina also shared that she once woke up in the middle of the night with snow on her mattress after the Beast from East decimated the UK in 2018.
Also, she shared how her bad reaction to antidepressants following giving birth led to a manic episode that saw her being seperated. Todd had a slip disk in his back and was forced to take 12 Tramadols per day.
Davina and her older children are also living on the land plot. Saffron (15, Michael 17) and Michael (15-15), were absent when the episode was recorded (pictured 2019 left).
In tonight’s episode of New Lives in the Wild, Ben Fogle travels to the Cliff of Perramporth, to meet Davina Foster, 39, and Todd Read Bloss, who moved there from London in 2018 with their four children including Ruby, nine and Harry, three
Todd was right and the couple purchased 3.314 acres. Todd taught himself how to farm by reading books about self-sufficiency and farming.
Todd shared that he was suffering from five slipped disks and had lost some mobility due to the back surgery.
The couple regrets not moving out of London despite the setbacks. They refer to London as their ‘nightmare’.
Their life at the edge of the cliff was unlike anything they had imagined before they moved to Cornwall.
Davina stated to Ben that it was “incomparably different.” “We didn’t know that when we moved to Cornwall, we’d be moving so significantly,” Davina said. She added that she fell in love with the land after it was offered to her.
“We knew that the land would include a lot of camping and farm, so we bought it as a plot of land. It could not have been more perfect, as we wouldn’t have ever gone into agriculture, said the mother of four.
Davina admitted that the winters were hard, particularly the first one on the cliff in 2018, was difficult.
“The winds can make you feel very sad. These winds can sometimes be very, really tough. We couldn’t even access our land one winter because it was so wet.
“But, what we actually had to do was park on the closest street which is still approximately 10 minutes walk away and then walk home with the children climbing the edge rail. That continued for most of the winter. This was Harry’s first year of life, and the mother-of-4 added.
“The winters can make you feel very down.” You can lose everything that you did in spring or summer. Once you have the Spring and Summer back, it’s easy to remember why you are here.
‘When the Beast from East arrived, my first impression was that there was snow under my mattress. The keyholes were actually broken. It was absolutely ridiculous,” she stated.
Since moving to Cornwall, Todd and Davina have faced financial setbacks as well as the harsh Cornish winters.
All four children of the couple are educated at school. Ruby and Harry were among them. Davina acknowledged on the program that she must pay school fees, uniforms, and other expenses.
This was a breaking point for Davina, who said: ‘I just remember thinking ‘it’s March, and there’s snow on my bed, what the hell are we doing?’.’
When Ben asked Davina what kept her family in Cornwall during the harsh winters, she candidly answered that it was because they had no other options.
“It’d have been great to just stay here all year, but it’s where I live. We knew very early that we had to persevere if we wanted to make this work.
“And I believe you commit to doing something. You can’t just say “oh, we don’t love it” and expect this to be a success. She said that you must be strong.
Ben said to the mother of four that it almost sounded just like Todd and Davina are being held prisoner on their patch of land.
Davina said that they had also faced precarious financial times in the past as well as tough weather.
“We used to have money saved aside, but it’s not possible for me to pretend that there is any. Financially, it has been very difficult over the years. However, we are making progress. The finances have stabilized, she said.
Davina stated that although the couple has faced many challenges since moving to Cornwall, they are not regretting their decision to move to the city.
“I believe that within three years, our family will have enough food. But we’re a family that has needs.
She added that “We don’t homeschool the kids”, she explained, adding, “Clubs need to paid for, and uniforms still require to be paid.”
Davina and Todd don’t want to be like other people living off the grid.
We don’t want to have a totally money-free existence. Davina said that she wants to build a successful, sustainable business.
Todd shared this sentiment with Ben when he said: “The council knows exactly where they’re at and what they’re doing.”
But the builder-turned-farmer, who taught himself how to take care of his small holding, admitted it has taken a toll on his health.
Two years ago Todd was diagnosed with five slipped disks, which is a back condition that occurs when tissue between bones presses against the nerve.
The man admitted that he waited for back surgery until the problem was resolved. He then decided to visit the hospital.
“I kept going with it and I got so sick that I had to take 12 Tramadols every day. I felt completely zombied,” he said.
Ruby, a trampoline enthusiast, attends school in the mornings while her parents are at the farm. She then returns home each night to liven up the farm.
These two couples live in static caravans that they have built on their plot of land. They are trying to achieve food security. Campers also pay to stay on he farm during the summer
“I was able to cry on the floor, so Davina needed to dial an ambulance,” he said.
“It was terrible, almost one year of Tramadol. The doctors removed some protruding discs. He said that they took four centimetres from the base of mine spine. “I can’t lay on my back anymore.”
He admitted that the surgery had limited his mobility and it was difficult for him as well as Davina.
He said, “You have to always do all the work and it was not easy, and it wasn’t easy for Davina. Me being out of service so long, it wasn’t easy,’
It makes me feel quite useless. That is because it’s my job here. The physical aspect and the strength. He said that if we were to employ someone else it would not be feasible.
Todd’s lack of help from Todd made Ben feel anxious about what the future holds for the farm. He said that the couple were’skating in very thin ice’.
Davina opened up about her bad antidepressant experience that led to her being sectioned.
Following the birth her son Harry, Sertraline was prescribed to her and she experienced hyper mania.
Davina said that they have been in a ‘tragic financial situation’ since their move to Cornwall.
Todd shared that the labor he did on the farm was hard on him. After slipping five discs, he needed emergency surgery.
Ben was told by her that on a very demanding weekend while Todd was gone, she didn’t sleep or eat for 48hrs.
Davina finally saw a doctor five more days later. He told Davina that her mental issues were the result of Sertraline’s adverse reaction, and that anti-depressants caused her manic episodes.
Davina shared with Ben that she felt the impact of this experience on herself and her family.
She said, “When I reflect on some of the experiences we went through, it’s hard to believe that we are still standing.”
The couple said that despite these setbacks they did not regret leaving the rat race and moving to Cornwall.
Davina and Todd reside in several caravans, which they built together.
Five years ago they purchased the land. There was no infrastructure and fencing.
For the first couple of months, there was no water supply on the property. But they soon got it.
Ben also heard their explanations about how they live off solar and wind power.
Todd and the couple take care of 100 rescue chickens, ducks and porks. Todd also told Ben that he read books on small holdings and self-sufficiency.
The family makes money selling their pigs to the market. Todd is a vegetarian. However, Todd and the other members of their extended family eat meat and raise their chickens.
Davina, a mother to four children of mixed race, spoke with Ben also about institutional racism in larger cities.
She said, “Just the fact I managed to grab my son at nearly 17 years old without ever having to be stopped or searched, as sad to say it might sound, that’s enough for me to leave London.”
Ben asked her if she felt that “the darker your skin is the more likely you will be stopped?” Davina confirmed that she believed so.
‘I have to be honest and say that it’s about not the color but non-white and black.
“And this is what’s funny. Moving to Cornwall means that there’s less racial diversity. However, it has meant that we have been able escape from institutional racism which seems more prevalent in urban areas. It’s north London, it’s south east London. I was there growing up, it was something I knew, it was what we all witnessed, she explained.
“In the city, you’re more than a number. It’s much easier to connect here. She added that everyone knows everybody.
Ben said he felt’shielded” from Davina, her family and the difficulties they faced.
Todd stated that he still enjoys the city, even though it was a “nightmare” for him.
“When I was living in London, I worked for a construction company and had to drive two hours each day to get to work. Because I left as soon as my family got up, and returned as their bedtime was approaching, I rarely saw them.
He said, “I used never to get a train seat, so I would take my little folding stool with me, it was just too much trouble.”
The couple admits they sometimes disagree, but Davina says they are complementary.
“I love the fact that you make one complete person or several one-and-a-half people,” she stated, adding Todd and Todd would be “lost without them.”
Tonight at 9pm, Channel 5’s Ben Fogle airs New Lives in the Wild.