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Hefting is a traditional method of managing flocks of sheep on large areas of common land and communal grazing. Initially, sheep had to be kept in an unfenced area of land by constant shepherding. Over time this has become learned behaviour, passed from ewe to lamb over succeeding generations. Lambs graze with their mothers on the “heaf” belonging to their farm instilling a life long knowledge of where optimal grazing and shelter can be found throughout the year.

On many tenanted farms there is a ‘landlord’s flock’, which goes with the farm whenever there is a change of tenant. This ensures that the land continues to be successfully grazed by its resident ‘hefted’ flocks of sheep.