BROMSGROVE civil engineering student Helen Bovey is all set for the trip of a lifetime to work on environmental projects in Belize, Central America.

The 20-year-old will be spending 10 weeks in the country - including eight weeks on a Trekforce expedition helping out on conservation projects.

She will be part of a group of 40 who will be split up into teams and allocated different projects which could include building observation posts for park wardens, clearing trails or building educational facilities to re-educate and retrain poachers in new skills to replace their old, illegal trade.

Her trip has been made possible by sponsorship from local firms and a student travel grant from her university through which she has raised a total of £3,000.

Currently studying civil engineering at Nottingham University, Helen said the trip would enable her to broaden her skills and travel in a country that was not on the usual package holiday list.

"I have always loved travel, but previously have only been on conventional family holidays," she said.

"I am really looking forward to seeing Belize and working on projects that will make a real difference to their environmental and conservation work."