Members of a prominent Hampstead Society have had a “serious discussion” about bringing sheep back to Hampstead Heath, Heathman has heard.

A couple of members sitting on the Heath sub-committee of the Heath and Hampstead Society apparently proposed the idea after flicking through idyllic historic pictures of the animals grazing peacefully on the open space.

But the idea was dismissed because of fears that rampant teenagers would spray-paint the animals, Heathman has been told.

Sheep have not grazed on the Heath since 1956.

Michael Hammerson, who sits on the committee, said the idea often comes up “whimsically” in conversations but he says it is never considered a serious proposition. “I wouldn’t object to it, it would be a nice way of mowing the grass,” the Highgate Society stalwart said. “But I suppose people would complain of sheep robberies.”

In 2010, the City of London Corporation, which runs the Heath, said it would try and bring the creatures back after half a decade in their strategic management plan.

The move was supported by Hampstead’s own Bill Oddie, but plans now seem to be on the baa-ckburner.