Trows, Shetland's indigenous 'little people' are to be celebrated with two new projects over the coming years.

One of these projects is transnational and will be led locally by the Shetland Folklore Development Group.  Other partner regions involved are Ireland, the North Highlands, the Western Isles and Skye and Lochalsh.  All participating regions will select folklore which will be collected together to create a common and accessible archive.

The main aim of this project is to explore new and exciting models of interpreting folklore to celebrate and promote regional culture locally, nationally and internationally and raise awareness of folklore heritage in the community.

Little serious attempt has been made so far to exploit the obvious possibilities of promoting Shetland's Trows but this project will examine the potential for marketing Trows and a range of 'Trowie' products to residents of Shetland, visitors and the wider public in general. 

David Cooper from the Shetland Folklore Development Group, said: "In the modern world it is important to revitalise folklore and the storytelling tradition as well as familiarise people, including young people, with their own folklore, and that of other regions, in its widest context.

"This helps to enhance people's own cultural identity by getting them acquainted with their own roots and traditions.  We have had a great response from the public so far to this project including some wonderful images and little stories.  We would always welcome more however and if you have anything you'd like to say or to show us then e-mail us at trows@hotmail.com"

Funding for this project will come from Shetland Enterprise £9,841 and LEADER+ £24,748.  Applications for funding are also being submitted to Shetland Islands Council, Shetland Amenity Trust and Shetland Arts Trust.

LEADER + is the European Community initiative with the purpose of supporting innovative social and economic development in rural areas.  The initiative is managed locally by Shetland Enterprise. 

Katrina Wiseman, Shetland Enterprise's LEADER+ Coordinator, said: "This project will help to develop folklore as a cultural asset in Shetland, in particular for museums and the community. 

"Shetland Folklore has been promoted in an ad hoc manner over the years with no concerted effort to promote it locally or internationally.  There is a growing market and interest in the field of culture and folklore within the Highlands and Islands."

The project also has the potential to develop economically with products for the tourism industry, it will develop a small range of merchandise and promotions involving music, illustrations, model figures, storytellers, a touring exhibition, and the development of trails of 'known' Trow locations.

It will bring Shetland's most popular folklore stories to the community and continue the tradition of oral storytelling by producing an exhibition for the Shetland Museum, an illustrated book of stories with a CD of Trowie Fiddle music and will develop prototype model Trows.

Trows are land dwelling fairies, and on the whole they are not friendly beings, although their mood varies according to how they are treated.  Trows are at their most dangerous at Yule time.  At one time it was a custom to "sain" (bless) children at this time to protect them from Trows for the coming year. 

They are small, ugly creatures, usually not more than three feet in height but some people believe Trows can alter their appearance to look like a regular humans.  There are dozens of accounts of sights and sounds of Trows in Shetland. 

They are generally mischievous and can cause a great deal of havoc and distress but they are not altogether nasty and will repay a good deed by a human many times over. They are said to remain grateful forever and people who help the Trows are often said to have good luck for many years afterwards.

They are said to enjoy music and dancing and would often lure fiddlers into their Trowie Hadds (hiding places) to entertain them.  They live in the hills and there are many references to doors opening into the hillside and the Trows being inside. 

Many burnt mounds and chambered cairns were, and indeed are, known as Trowie knowes.  These were reckoned to be hollow inside, were where Trows lived and were said to mark entrances to their world.

The second project celebrating the Trows will allow for the creation of a "Trowie knowe" within the Shetland Museum and Archive galleries.  Local musicians, storytellers and young people will supply material to be used in the Trowie knowe.

The project will be managed by Shetland Amenity Trust in consultation with the Shetland Folklore Development Group and is aimed at increasing the number of visitors to the museum, particularly young people.

The project is being funded by Shetland Enterprise £3,668; LEADER+ £12,000; Scottish Arts Council £2,500; Esme Fairbairn Trust £2,500 and Shetland Amenity Trust £6,000.

Jimmy Moncrieff from Shetland Amenity Trust, who are responsible for the Museum and Archives, said: "Trows are unique to Shetland and they deserve to be celebrated as a special part of our folklore.  Norway has its trolls, we have Trows and it is fitting that they will feature in the new Shetland Museum and Archives."