TIM Street's day job involves dealing with big companies in the City.

But from his greenhouse in Long Newnton he has used his hobby to launch a micro business that could change the lives of people on a far off island.

A first consignment of orchid plantlets is on its way by boat to St Helena in the South Atlantic, where they will be nurtured until they are fully grown and sold back to Orchid Touch, the business Tim has set up.

The seed of his idea was planted as his hobby grew. A specialist in starting up businesses - his last was for a major Swiss re-insurance company - he applied his skills to turning orchids into a cash crop for the British dependency.

He said: "I put a map of the world on the wall and went through dozens of different territories that could grow the orchids. I was looking for the perfect climate of warm, wet summers and mild winters. I was looking also for an area that was politically and socially stable."

Added to that he wanted the scheme to have as small a carbon footprint as possible.

In fact the island has several micro climates which Tim is going to try out. If the pilot project succeeds he wants to expand production to 25,000 orchids on a 2.5 acre site that will provide more employment and training.

When the shipment of 24 flasks each containing 15 plantlets docks in St Helena at the end of a two-week sea trip a co-operative of eight growers will take over. The adult cymbidium plants will be sold back through Fairtrade.

Tim explained: "Basically I am going to create a business structure for them where they flourish. They will be able to sell the orchids back to me once the cycle is complete. I will have to bring them into flower."

For more on the story see this seek's Wilts and Glos Standard.