A STUDENT from the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) has been helping to plant hybrid coconuts in the Philippiness.

As part of a work placement for her degree in International Business Management, RAU student Holly Voorspuy has been working on a coconut plantation in the Philippines.

Planting and assessing 12,000 new hybrid coconut palms, Holly is working under the supervision of RAU alumnus Simon Denby.

His Lionheart coconut agritech is the most recent of a number of projects Simon has set-up around South East Asia. It aims to provide coconut sugar and oil, as well as other products to be sold at local markets.

Holly said she was "lucky" to have Simon as a mentor, and went on to explain how the project works with local communities.

She said: “Lionheart currently have 12,000 hybrid coconut palms in their nursery, which will be planted within the next six months – the contracts for this are pages long and must be signed by everyone; from the town mayor to the tribesmen.

"This has given me a fascinating insight the local tribes, and the ways in which their lives have been positively impacted through the social responsibility programme.”