Living Off-Grid

The Sykes family have lived off-grid for more than 20 years, nestled deep in the Scottish countryside. With no connection to the mains, their only source of power is an electric generator, and home consists of three static caravans surrounded by woodland. Two of the children have spent their entire lives in this remote setting, growing up completely off-grid and immersed in nature. Tara and Lee chose this way of life for deeply personal reasons, including a desire to escape the trauma of their past, which involved difficulties in their hometown. For them, moving off-grid was a form of healing, a conscious decision to build a different life. It's a choice they stand by wholeheartedly and say they could never return to conventional living.

Life for the children is rich with imagination and connection to the land. Their days are spent exploring the woods, staging a “snail circus,” hunting for insects and small creatures, and even playing games involving an air rifle gun and imaginary against imaginary Nazi soldiers. There’s a palpable sense of joy, resilience, and togetherness in the way the family live.