Defra will be highlighting some of the region's successful farm diversification businesses at this year's Northumberland County Show at Corbridge on 30 May.

Staff from the Rural Development Service (RDS), which delivers grant schemes on behalf of Defra, will be on hand to explain to the public how to apply for funding under the Rural Enterprise Scheme (RES) and the Vocational Training Scheme (VTS) among others.

To demonstrate how the grants can help farmers diversify, short profiles of businesses that have already received help will be on display at touch screen terminals on the show stand.

Advisers will also be highlighting how agri-environment schemes, such as Environmental Stewardship(ES), are helping to preserve and enhance the rural landscape.

The profiles to be featured will include:

* Nigel and Lynn Dudgeon at Conundrum Farm, near Berwick, who used RES funding to establish a popular farm visitor centre boasting the Conundrum Farm Trail, a fly fishery, barn shop and licensed restaurant. They also used funding from the Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS), with additional support from English Heritage, to launch the Halidon Hill Battlefield Trail, offering visitors an insight into the 1333 battle between the English and Scots.

* A new network of bridleways in the Tees Valley that were created as a result of a partnership between local farmers who signed up to Defra's CSS, RDS, the Tees Forest, Redcar and Cleveland Council and the Countryside Agency. The network, which extends to almost ten kilometres, earned the farmers a Riders Charter Award, presented by the British Horse Society.

* Sisters Jill Cheesmond and Dawn Larn teamed up with their parents, Ned and Val Cheesmond, to create a new relaxation haven on the family's High Hill House Farm, Ferryhill with the help of RES funding. They extended and converted a farmbuilding to create the new day spa offering a range of skincare, spa and holistic therapy treatments in luxurious surroundings which include an aromatherapy room, sauna, infrared and white light room and a pool.

* Branxton Village Hall, in north Northumberland, was given a new lease of life after a £68,000 RES grant was awarded to carry out renovation work which has allowed the hall to be used for a whole range of activities and to build new links with other neighbouring villages.

RDS in the North East is also organising a special competition for younger visitors to draw a mural depicting how they see the countryside. The best entries will be used to create a poster for use across the region.

All those who take part will be entered into a prize draw to win a two-night stay in a "wigwam" at Borewell Farm, Northumberland, home of the award-winning Pot-a-Doodle-do activity centre, set up by farmers John and Christine Whiteford, who have benefited from RES support and have a CSS agreement on the farm. The holiday must be taken before the end of June this year.

RDS has also teamed up with its partners English Nature and the Countryside Agency, who will unite under a new agency Natural England in 2007, to host a stand focusing on Open Access in the region.

Large areas of open access will be launched in the region on Saturday (28th), in beautiful areas like the North Pennines and Northumberland National park. The staff on the stand will be able to give landowners and walkers information about these areas. This is a new 'right' and there may be misconceptions about what can and cannot happen, so come along and find out for yourselves.

James Milner, an adviser for the Rural Development Service in the North East, said:

"Farmers and members of the public are invited to visit the Defra stand and learn more about the valuable work taking place in the North East to help preserve our beautiful landscape as well as increase and safeguard incomes in rural areas.

"We look forward to receiving yet more innovative ideas that people may have to develop existing rural businesses or launch new ones."