Sandy grew up on her mum and dad’s dairy farm in Shurlock Row near Twyford where he milked Jersey and Guernsey cows. During her early years, she came to love horses and enjoyed competing with them. The horses had to share her affections during her teens as she became an avid follower of northern soul music. This involved many a late-night trip to Wigan casino!

In 1983 she met Andy and a year later they married. After living together in Woodley for 4 years they moved with their 1-year-old daughter Nia to Three Mile Cross. The house had a small paddock at the back which allowed Sandy to rekindle her passion for animals. First came the chickens, followed by pigmy goats, a pony and finally two calves. In amongst this their son Liam was born.

Having rapidly outgrown the small paddock, Sandy and Andy decided to take a plunge, sold the house and moved their family onto a smallholding with 30 acres near Hook. The collection of animals then flourished with the addition of dairy goats, rare breed cattle, sheep, horses and a pet pig. As well as running a children’s mobile farm that they both took around local schools, Sandy used to help her cousin Anne who makes cheese, with turning her cheeses in the maturing rooms.

Barkham Blue has a very distinctive appearance. Made in an ammonite shaped round, it is covered in an attractive natural mould-ripened rustic rind. The deep yellow moist interior is spread with dark blue-green veins. It has a rich blue taste, smooth buttery texture with a melt in the mouth flavour, without the harshness associated with some blue cheese.