Hefted! Upland Farming Heritage in the Cheviots is a podcast series about hill farming heritage in the Cheviot Hills. In this episode, we learn more about the broader hill farming way of life, and how this has changed over time. From subsistence farming and self-provisioning, to the use of peat for fuel; from the role of women on farms to the social lives of those who live in the hills, to the rise of recreational access by visitors, this episode unpacks the heritage of life beyond farming in the Cheviot Hills.

This episode’s title is taken from William Wordsworth’s 1810 travel guide for the Lake District, which we thought also suited the Cheviots. 

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

• Data sinks, carbon services: Waste, storage and energy cultures on Ireland’s peat bogs. Bresnihan, P and Brodie, P, 2023.
• Guide to the Lakes. William Wordsworth, 1810.