Why a Cheltenham Couple Traded Their Three-Bedroom Home for a Garden Treehouse
From the street, the detached 1950s three-bedroom house in suburban Cheltenham appears entirely ordinary. Yet, step inside, and the absence of a television, sofa, or traditional bedroom setup reveals a remarkable story. Since 2020, homeowners Phil Campbell and his wife Kathy Farmer, both aged 65, have spent nearly every night sleeping in a rustic 'treehouse' nestled at the bottom of their garden, transforming their daily routine and outlook on life.
A Nightly Retreat to Nature
Their evening ritual begins early. Instead of conventional relaxation, they light a fire in their living room, sit on the floor for spinal health, enjoy conversation and music, and by 8pm, Phil heads to the treehouse to 'light the path' and warm the bed—acting as a 'human electric blanket' for Kathy, who joins him an hour later. They typically fall asleep within minutes, lulled by the sounds of a nearby river and wind in the trees.
This unique arrangement originated during the pandemic, inspired by Kathy's idea to maximise fresh air exposure. Starting with a camping bed in June 2020, they initially planned to sleep outdoors only until Christmas Eve but found the experience so enriching they never returned indoors permanently. Their only exceptions are nights spent caring for their baby granddaughter.
Health Transformations and Lifestyle Changes
The couple's shift outdoors coincided with significant health challenges for Phil. In 2020, while donating blood, he was diagnosed with polycythemia vera, a rare blood cancer causing excessive red blood cell production. Despite the seriousness—risking heart attack, stroke, or death—Phil maintained a positive mindset, describing himself as 'very upbeat.'
Alongside prescribed therapeutic phlebotomies, Phil and Kathy embraced breathwork, meditation, cold water therapy including ice baths and wild swimming, and trained as Wim Hof Method instructors. Remarkably, Phil's required phlebotomy frequency decreased from every two weeks to none, and two years ago, he received news his cancer had completely disappeared—a recovery he attributes to their lifestyle changes.
Phil now feels fitter and healthier at 64 than he did at 50, while Kathy has lost three stone, crediting breathwork rather than drastic diet changes. Their approach contrasts sharply with peers discussing retirement, medications, and wills. 'All we want to do is have fun,' Phil laughs.
Adapting to the Elements
Their treehouse, open on two sides, has been refined through trial and error. After soggy initial nights, they built a pallet platform with a mattress and added sheepskin for insulation. They've endured temperatures as low as -12°C without issue, their bodies adapting through cold exposure. Phil even foregoes shoes year-round, venturing barefoot to supermarkets and restaurants, though Kathy insists he wears them for dog walks to avoid muddy footprints indoors.
The couple wake naturally to dawn choruses, never needing alarms, and describe feeling rested and replenished daily. Kathy calls it a nightly 'mini holiday' that eliminates agitation and repetitive thoughts, while Phil enjoys watching squirrels and deer from bed. They've even slept through treacherous storms, unaffected as they don't follow news reports.
Embracing an Unconventional Path
Their lifestyle has confounded friends and family, who've benefited from hand-me-downs like their bed and a large television Phil gave away after finding nothing worth watching. They run a business, Tribal Breath, offering breathing workshops and cold water therapy, and enjoy activities like the Five Tibetan Rites in fields at dawn and 'chunky dunking' (skinny dipping) on UK holidays.
When asked if they'll return to a conventional bedroom, both nod affirmatively—but only if 'someone comes to get us,' possibly 'the men in white coats,' Phil jokes. For now, they continue their 'barrel of fun,' proving that sometimes, the best room in the house isn't in the house at all.
