A POND is one of the features being created in the new-look arable area at this year's Great Yorkshire Show.

The water feature is intended to further increase the range of wildlife in the area and demonstrate different aspects of conservation planting.

Both novel and traditional crops will be showcased during the event in Harrogate from July 8 to 10.

Crops such as crambe, camelina and borage will feature alongside varieties of winter wheat and winter barley, and there will be wildlife and organic plots.

The arable area first became a feature at the show seven years ago and has gone from strength to strength.

This year the aim is to enable farmers to assess the merits of three different regimes - traditional, novel and organic - against their current cropping. The majority of the plots continue to show cutting edge technology, with different rates and types of fertiliser, fungicides and growth regulators.

Updated: 11:08 Saturday, May 17, 2003