FROM Dorchester to Honduras, 11 Thomas Hardye pupils are heading for the rainforest.

The A-level biology students have taken on the challenge of trekking in humid conditions for two half days in central America to research cloud forest environment.

It is the second time the school has taken part in the two-week biodiversity project that involves surveying animals and insects, and recording their findings for PhD scientists on location.

Science teacher Matthew Whitbread took part in the trip last summer.

He said: "It was excellent. It's quite harsh conditions - it's like being stuck in a greenhouse with lots of walking, but you kind of forget when you see all the animals you wouldn't normally get to see. Like the Honduran palm viper. It's the experience of seeing a very different country."

The second week of the trip involves scuba diving on the reef.

One of last year's pupils, Eric Topham, was so taken with Honduras that he is going back there this summer to work as a dive master for Operation Wallacea.

Each pupil needs to raise about £2,000 each but working as a team they have already raised £3,000 with cake sales, bring and buy sales and a lot of bag-packing in local supermarkets.

The adventurers' next fundraiser is a ladies' Travelling Trends fashion show at the school on May 15 at 7.30pm.

Everyone is welcome and tickets cost £3 for adults, £2 for students.