LITTER-picker Laura Thomas is not just helping her hometown of Halesowen get cleaner with her efforts.

For the young university student’s efforts are also helping to raise vital funds to help a local urban farm which serves Halesowen, Quinton, Frankley and surrounding area.

Laura is a student at the University of the West of England in Bristol but found herself back in Halesowen because of Covid.

As a Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Science she is well aware of how Covid is having a massive impact on the finances of zoos and city farms so she decided to do sponsored litter picks in Halesowen and Bristol to raise £1000 for the Woodgate Valley Urban Farm and Bristol Zoo.

The Farm is enjoyed by many local residents. It promotes farming and gardening and provides a green space, a great community atmosphere and volunteering and work experience opportunities to help people gain valuable life skills.

Bristol Zoo is helping endangered species like African penguins, western lowland gorillas, blue-eyed black lemurs, Lord Howe Island stick insects, lemur leaf frogs and many others through bresding programmes, habitat restoration and research

Both the zoo and Farm are charities, so they rely solely on the public for their income.

To donate go to https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/funds-bristol-zoo-and-woodgate-farm?utm_term=8G45Emqyy