Despite the fact that there are goats, pigs, sheep, turkeys, ducks, geese and quail on their 22-acre smallholding, Paul and Michele Tomlin are adamant that they are not trying to emulate The Darling Buds of May. The main thing they have in common with Ma and Pa Larkin is their love of animals and ability to work round the clock to ensure their farm pays its way. The couple bought Southdown Farm, Witney, in 2009, having spent several years looking for land in the Witney area. They considered it a dream come true when they discovered that David and Doris Burton were selling their land, though their first few nights were spent kipping down in a caravan without any heating in temperatures of -7C.

Southdown Farm was so named because the Burtons kept Southdown sheep. Paul and Michele do keep sheep and now have Southdowns amongst their flock but their main aim is to raise goats and produce soft and hard goat’s cheese, goat’s milk and goat meat. They are even working on a blue vein goat cheese for a local restaurant.

Paul says he finds goats such intelligent creatures; he likens them to dogs who know their names and come when called. Yes, he accepts they are inclined to eat everything that comes their way, but their amazing digestive system allows them to digest almost everything that takes their fancy.

Their Golden Guernsey goats with their long ginger locks that require constant grooming are Flora, Hetty and Hanna. These are definitely their golden girls who have now been joined by show champion pedigree male Russo and several Toggenburgs, along with several Saanens and Anglo-Nubians, amongst the calmest and most mild mannered of the dairy herds. All their goats have been given names and to identify their age, each year these names begin with a different letter.

The milking parlour has been adapted and reinstated to milk goats and the old cowshed has been repaired and upgraded to form a large airy indoor area for them to live when the weather is bad. The couple are now installing several large refrigeration units to store their cheese, which with the help of enthusiastic volunteers they are building themselves.

The farm includes a small shop where their goat’s cheese is stocked. There’s no shop assistant as such, though there is usually someone around to help if help is needed. “People rather enjoy purchasing their goods from the farm and if they want a tour they can have that too, though everything is jolly muddy at the moment”, said Paul, who delights in introducing people to the animals.

Their cheese is made from raw unpasteurised milk which means it is packed full of beneficial bacteria and enzymes that are killed off when milk is pasteurised. Both unpasteurised goat’s cheese and milk are the perfect alternatives for people who can’t tolerate cow’s milk. The only problem with raw goat’s milk and is that it can contain the listeria bacteria that is not safe for pregnant women unless boiled or cooked before it is consumed.

You reach Southdown Farm by taking the Crawley Road off West End, Witney. There is no official time when the farm shop is open, as there is always someone around.