Couple who quit jobs to live off-grid face financial ruin from neighbours trends now
A couple who quit their jobs as vets and moved to Wales to live 'off-grid' now face losing their carbon neutral home in the countryside after neighbours bought an entire road to cut off their access.
Matthew and Charis Watkinson uprooted their lives in Romford, Essex, in favour of a fresh start on a remote farm in Pembrokeshire countryside in 2016.
Their self-sufficient farm, described by Mr Watkinson as 'a glorified recycling junk yard', includes a person-powered washing machine and a gas cooker that functions on horse manure. They also have solar panel for electricity and a biodigester for gas, meaning they only have to pay for council tax.
Living on a zero carbon farm protected the family from soaring energy prices and the cost of living crisis, while its remoteness also provided a shield from the Covid pandemic.
Charis and Matthew Watkinson, pictured with their children Elsa and Billy, gave up their jobs as vets in Essex seven years ago and moved to Pembrokeshire, south Wales, where they built Beehive Farm
Their self-sufficient farm has been described by Mr Watkinson as 'a glorified recycling junk yard'
But their new life is now under threat from nightmare neighbours who are seeking to block off access to their home.
A previously unregistered right of way, the access lane to their dwelling, has been purchased by a retired couple who are threatening to sue for trespassing and harassment.
Mr Watkinson told MailOnline that the row over the access is a 'personal vendetta' and argues that the retired neighbours have spent tens of thousands of pounds on an issue that is 'not a worthwhile cause'.
The couple, who have two young children Elsa and Billy, were able to begin living their green dream thanks to the Welsh Government's One Planet Development Policy.
The scheme allows families to build houses on green-belt land as long as they operate on zero carbon - a target they must hit within five years.
Mr Watkinson said: 'We have been here six years now. We are now living a very sustainable and low impact lifestyle. We have been shielded from energy price hikes, Covid, and the cost of living crisis.
'We have been very glad to be up here. The house is a glorified recycling junk yard. We have a horse lorry, a camper van, but it is all perfectly functionable.'
'There was opposition when we first moved, but once we received planning permission, we thought we would be left alone.
'We were not being questioned just on the plans, it was a character assassination. We hoped that would go quiet, but that has not been the case. Once we hit the five-year target of being carbon
