Hefted! Upland Farming Heritage in the Cheviots is a podcast series about hill farming heritage in the Cheviot Hills. This episode delves into the role of technology in shaping hill farming heritage in the Cheviots. From drones and no-fence collars, to scythes and shepherds’ crooks, this episode takes a broad view of technology, exploring how people over time have always invented new tools and techniques to allow them to achieve different goals.

This series was produced by Olivia Oldham-Dorrington, in partnership with Durham University and with funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (grant AH/Z507520/1).

The music was composed and performed by Alistair Anderson, and our series artwork is by Anthea Wood. Thank you also to Caroline Smith for her help with research, and to Chris Dalglish and Chris Gerrard for their contributions.

Links and resources

• An evidence review update on the effects of managed burning on upland peatland biodiversity, carbon and water. Natural England, 2025.
• Prescribed Heather Burning on Peatlands: A Review of Ten Key Claims Made About Heather Management Impacts and Implications for Future UK Policy. Heinemeyer et al, 2025.
• Effects of Moorland Burning on the Ecohydrology of River Basins. Brown, LE, Holden, J and Palmer SM, 2014.