A new exhibit will be making its presence felt at this year's County Show - when the Orkney Village opens its doors on home soil for the first time.

Ten marquees will be set up to create a showcase for some of the finest arts and crafts produced in the islands.

"They'll stand side by side, effectively creating an Orkney avenue in the midst of our biggest agricultural show," said John Clarke, who heads the Orkney the Brand marketing initiative.

"The concept of bringing local producers together to form an Orkney Village has proved highly successful at events like the Bath and West Show and the Game Fair staged recently by the Country Landowners' Association.

"Now, for the first time, people in Orkney will be able to see the village in action and gauge for themselves why a distinctive showcase like this works so well."

Mr Clarke suggested setting up an Orkney Village to the organisers of the County Show and was delighted by their enthusiastic response.

As a result, Orkney Enterprise helped the Orkney Agricultural Society to buy the marquees and the distinctive signs used to create the village.

Funding support came from Orkney the Brand and the Community Economic Development (CED) Programme, an EC initiative designed to support rural areas.

Orkney Enterprise development manager Maureen Shearer said: "The Orkney Village has been an enjoyable experience for visitors - and a productive venue for local companies - at major events elsewhere in Britain.

"We thought it was a great idea to create a similar presence at the County Show - a centrepiece where local people and visitors can appreciate a wonderful range of Orkney products."

The firms taking part at the show are Ortak, Ola Gorie, Tait & Style, Hume Sweet Hume, the Quernstone, Fursbreck Pottery, Handprints, Moonspinners, Orkney Handcrafted Furniture, MS Woodturning and the Wheeling Steen Gallery.

Lizza Hume, from Westray-based Hume Sweet Hume, said: "This will be a brilliant showcase for some of the finest arts and crafts Orkney produces.

"If we exhibited individually we'd hope to make an impact. But bringing us all together will generate a much bigger wow factor. It will really highlight the tremendous quality of what's being produced here."
Fraser Anderson, from Orkney Handcrafted Furniture, has just made a successful visit to the Game Fair at Broadlands in Hampshire.

"I was showing my Orkney chairs as part of the Orkney Village and I know from experience just how big an impression it makes when a range of producers exhibit side by side," he said.

"I'm delighted this will be happening at the County Show as well - I think even local people will be surprised at the wealth of Orkney products on show."