BUSINESS champions are being sent into action to show rural bosses how to change direction and save the county's precious landscape.

Under a training scheme developed by Lantra and the Learning and Skills Council for Kent and Medway (LSCKM), hundreds of rural workers have been taught to look at non-farming aspects of land-based industries.

It aims to sustain the rural economy by showing farmers there are others ways of survival while keeping their role as guardians of the countryside. The scheme follows widespread fears that farm closures will damage the landscape we know and love.

Now a group of rural "business champions" have been chosen to spread the message. They completed an in-depth course, including a residential section at Lantra's headquarters in Kenilworth, with a presentation ceremony at Parsonage Farm, Throwley, near Faversham.

The 600-acre farm, an example of Lantra's campaign, gave up its dairy herd and replaced milk production with a centre for conferences and small business.

John Godden, Lantra's regional development consultant based in Ashford, said there was a great lack of understanding about the rural and land-based sector. It was more than farming and horticulture.

He warned: "Without people looking after the countryside and the landscape, we won't have any tourism."

Tony Allen, LSCKM business development director, presented certificates. He said the land-based sector was important to Kent "but changing and changing fast”.

Farmer's daughter Rebekah Smith, 29, is working on the Kent High Weald Project. There had been no chance of making a living on her family's farm so she had moved into conservation work. She said the course had increased her personal development and improved her confidence.

"I enjoy instructing and training and there is a place for linking farmers and the conservation industries. I feel I can be part of that."

James Lutener, a top fruit farmer, now specialises in accounts and IT for rural firms. He said: "Too many businesses don't know what's going on or it they do they don't know where to go next. We can help them."