These days it seems like everyone’s twittering about Twitter, and in this new weekly column we delve behind the stories of some of our favourite Shropshire tweeters to find out more about them.

We’ve assembled an eclectic mixture of intriguing twitterers this week, beginning with @MarchesTV, a pioneering new project which aims to help preserve the unique culture of the Marches.

It was the brainchild of former London film and television professional, Miguel Ferros, who moved up to Hay on Wye twelve years ago with his family.

Marches.tv, which is due to launch next year, will provide media training with a focus on web content production and video to secondary schools, colleges and community groups across Shropshire, Herefordshire, Powys and the Welsh Marches.

“I’m very interested in rural economies and finding ways to help sustain them,” explains Miguel.

“I wanted to bridge the gap between the industry’s very old population and a very young population, and create a programme of media training that would enable local individuals and communities to launch and sustain themselves as a business using these new skills.”

Miguel believes there are numerous benefits in learning how to create and produce interactive content like videos, the greatest being the preservation of local history and culture.

“One of our main aims is to help preserve the spoken word, our dialects, our experiences and our local culture through video and audio content. It’s an online record of our history.”

Miguel says he’s been using Twitter ‘in anger’ for the past month but his work has finally paid off, and he’s been delighted to discover the benefits of the site.

“I was planning to attend business networking meetings in Shropshire over the coming months but thanks to Twitter, I’ve already met several vital contacts, including my gardening presenter, who’s from Powys!”

Over in Shrewsbury, beauty product emporium @NiceCreams, run by best friends Fay Bailey and Nicola Jewell, has also landed on Twitter.

Nicola, a former tax accountant, and Fay, who used to work for English Heritage, came up with the idea for Nice Creams when they were both working in Birmingham.

“We used to meet up every day in our lunch hour and go to the beauty counter at Harvey Nichols,” says Fay.

“There were always so many gorgeous products and we thought it was a shame we couldn’t get them in Shrewsbury, so we decided to open our own shop selling cult beauty brands.”

Nice Creams opened on Wyle Cop in 2004, and is an Aladdin’s cave of niche brand lotions and potions ranging from Bumble and Bumble to Dr Hauschka.

“Dr Hauschka’s Rose Day Cream is probably our most popular product,” says Fay.

“But if I had to recommend one thing in particular it’d be our L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil – it’s leaves skin sweet-smelling, smooth and gorgeous, and you can shave your legs with it!”

Meanwhile, Gobowen-based events company @SaltEvents, run by Heather Noble, is helping local businesses to raise their profile through tailored events and product launches.

Heather, an experienced events planner, decided to set up her own business in February this year after being made redundant.

She offers a range of services for small to medium-sized businesses around the West Midlands, the Heart of England and parts of Wales.

“My main focus is to help businesses improve their professional image,” says Heather.

“In the current climate everyone needs to up their game, yet often don’t have the resources available – which is where I come in.

“I can assist in organising all kinds of events, from the smallest corporate entertainment event to a new product launch, breakfast seminars for clients, awards dinners, golfing days or school open days to name just a few.

Heather says Twitter has been an extremely useful resource so far.

“With so many people working alone in remote locations across Shropshire and the border counties, anything that can help promote a sense of community can only be a good thing.

“I have also discovered some great people with whom I may never have made contact.

“Twitter provides me with a support network that, although faceless, I know will try to help me if I need them.

“That’s pretty special in this day and age!”

By Lara Page