Dawn Hackett has run the Cheese Box in Whitstable for a decade.

But this year, she took the unconventional decision to sell her Alexandra Road home and move with her 16-year-old daughter to a field in Marshside.

It’s an idyllic spot, situated on rolling hillside between Herne Bay and Thanet.

But the family is not alone - they have 100 goats for company.

“I sold my lovely beach house in Whitstable, and invested in 6.5 acres of land, with just stables and a little barn,” said mum-of-two Dawn.

“At the moment we’re living in a caravan, but I plan to do an eco-build and have a very small house above the barn, so I live above the animals.

“I have a daughter and a 21-year-old son, who have been a wonderful help,” she said.

“Especially considering how I suddenly sold our home and said ‘right, we’re moving out to a caravan’.”

Dawn now plans to start a small-scale goat dairy.

After buying Sandy Meadows Farm in September, she bought 53 full-grown Nubian goats from a pedigree herd in Lancaster.

In March, they gave birth to 47 kids that are now gambolling on the hillside – and many are now for sale as pets or for breeding.

“Goats are just fabulous, hilarious creatures,” said Dawn.

“They’re beautiful, and they’re more intelligent than dogs.

“I’ve always wanted to make goat’s cheese, since I was a small girl. My grandad was a farmer, and I think that drew me towards it.

“The dairy should be properly up and running by next summer, and it will be the only one in this part of Kent.”

She will sell products – goat’s milk, goat’s yoghurt, handmade goat’s cheese, and even manure – directly from the farm, which will be named Marshside Dairy. Some products will also be supplied to her popular cheese shop in Harbour Street, Whitstable.

Dawn plans for her dairy to be completely bio-dynamic – a method of agriculture based upon the lunar cycle, and other rhythms of nature.

“Although it will be a professional dairy, people will be able to visit us to buy products direct and to see the animals,” she said.

“It won’t be a petting zoo, but people who need healing can come to be with the goats, and parents can bring children experiencing stress and anxiety.

“We’ll be doing yoga and reiki and tai chi up here too. It will be a very holistic place.”

The 53-year-old also believes passionately in the health benefits of goat products.

“We hope people will be excited about the animals, but also about nutrition and having more goat milk available.

“It’s harder to find but much better for you.

“Goats feed off leaves and shrubs – so they have much more of a protein base in their milk than cows do.

“It’s much more similar to sheeps milk, or human.”

“We’ve got a beautiful place here, and we’re so excited to be able to have people to visit us and enjoy these gorgeous animals.”

For more information, email thecheesebox@hotmail.co.uk.