The digital presence of popular YouTube couple Zoe Sugg, aka Zoella, and her fiancé Alfie Deyes has been noticeably absent for several months, leaving fans wondering if they had vanished from the online world.
The pair, known for sharing every aspect of their lives with their followers, have been together since 2012 and have built a massive online empire from their social media platforms.
Zoe, 36, has been absent from social media for nearly six months and last shared a post during the festive period, while Alfie, 32, has dipped in and out of his popular platforms and last posted in April.
However, an update on the couple's life finally came to light recently, revealing that they have been building a donkey sanctuary at their £1,7 million home in West Sussex.
According to local planning documents, Alfie has submitted a planning application to the local council seeking permission to build a tractor parking area, a donkey enclosure and stable, a wildlife pond, and three shepherd huts on a five-acre plot of land they recently acquired.
The application has attracted attention from local residents who have raised concerns about the potential safety hazards and disruption the development may cause, including the construction of 2.1-metre-high boundary fencing and new access gates.
Alfie's planning agent has argued that the huts will be used to store equipment and supplies for the donkey sanctuary, rather than for residential or Airbnb use.
The project has received support from some neighbours who see it as a sustainable and ecological asset, returning the land to its historical agricultural roots.
While Zoe's social media absence remains unexplained, the news about the donkey sanctuary has reassured fans that the couple and their two young daughters are doing well.
