A seven-year-old boy is doing laps of his garden for a whole month to save his favourite wildlife park.

Starting yesterday – the first day of the month – Noah Rayfield, of Iwade, near Sittingbourne, is planning to walk each day until he completes 24 miles, which is equivalent to the distance from his home to the Wildwood Trust in Herne Bay.

Noah, a huge animal lover, wanted to do his bit to raise much-needed donations for the park, which has about 40 kinds of native animals including bears, wolves and wild boar, during the Covid-19 crisis.

He said: "I love animals and like to make sure they are well looked after.

"I've been visiting Wildwood with my family for a few years now and this is the first place I want to visit once lockdown has ended."

Noah's mum, Michelle, added: "When he sets his mind to a task, he does not like to fail so he is already incredibly excited to achieve something new."

So far, he has raised more than £220 of his £100 target.

The challenge has been welcomed by the Wildwood Trust, where it costs more than £11,000 a week to feed and care for its 120-plus animals – and that’s just the animal side of running the park.

With no visitors because of the lockdown, it is a huge challenge to meet.

Director general Paul Whitfield said: "We can hardly express how much it means to us, when a young local like Noah decides to support us in this way.

"It is absolutely heart-warming."

He added: "Children like Noah are the future of British wildlife and seeing his love of animals brings us hope in this time of crisis."

To support Noah and Wildwood Trust, click here.

To find out more about Wildwood Trust, click here.

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