A new podcast sharing the experiences of upland farmers and shepherds in the Cheviot Hills in North East England has been launched by a Durham-led research team.
‘Hefted! Upland Farming Heritage in the Cheviots’ is an eight-part podcast presented by award-winning podcaster Olivia Oldham-Dorrington.
It features shepherds, farmers and land managers exploring how farming traditions have shaped – and continue to shape – the upland landscape of Northumberland.
A short animation accompanying the podcast brings 8,000 years of Cheviot hill farming to life.
The resources are a continuation of ‘Cheviots: Spreading the Word’, a multidisciplinary heritage initiative led by Professor Chris Gerrard of our Archaeology Department.
This two-year study of upland farming and land use in the Cheviot Hills used over 19 hours of interviews plus new historical and archaeological landscape analysis.
The podcast grew from the University’s ‘Inspiring Rural Heritage’ project, which explored how hill farmers help sustain upland environments across the UK and Europe.
In the UK case study, Cheviot hill farmers showed how traditional knowledge and land-use practices adapt to challenges like depopulation and climate change.
The research revealed the depth of local expertise and the long-term continuity of farming traditions in the Cheviots, and how these practices continually adapt over time.
Alongside the podcast and animation, the project team have produced a comprehensive resource pack for schools and community groups.
This includes information displays, role-play activities for children and discussion prompts, co-produced with artist Anthea Wood.
Professor Gerrard said: “This is a resource created by local people for local people but shaped by long-term research into the history and traditions of the Northumbrian borders.
“It’s fun, a little irreverent at times, but also fascinating to see how ancient land uses are being explored again for the benefits they provide for nature.
“We often think of upland landscapes as ‘natural’ and ‘wild’, but they have always evolved alongside farming and the communities who live here.”
‘Hefted! Upland Farming Heritage in the Cheviots’ is available now on Spotify and other major streaming platforms.
Main image shows Professor Chris Gerrard (front) with the Hefted! team at the podcast launch at Wooler Mart in Northumberland, UK.
Animations were created to accompany the Hefted! podcast.
Farmer Sophie Worrall listening to the Hefted! podcast.
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