A HAMPSHIRE nature reserve has received a boost after a donation from a Romsey cafe.

The Park Cafe, in Memorial Park, has raised more than £800 for Fishlake Meadows, which is run by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.

The money has been raised by the cafe selling food for customers to buy in order to feed the ducks.

With a total of £850 raised, the funds will go towards the Trust's ongoing plans to manage and improve the wildlife haven, including a new engagement programme to get the community and local groups involved in learning more about the wildlife on their doorstep.

Cafe workers Sally Lamb and Sandra Rispin said in a joint statement that they wanted some of the rarest birds to benefit.

They said: "We are delighted to have raised such a large amount, and we wanted the nature reserve at Fishlake to benefit, as there is such a wide variety of wildlife including some of our rarest birds.

"As a business we think it's really important to support local projects."

The nature reserve was previously owned by Bellway Homes but was transferred to Test Valley Borough Council as part of the Oxlease Farm housing scheme.

The wildlife trust was appointed last year by the council to manage the site and nature reserve for wildlife and people.

Steph Watson, fundraising officer at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, said: "The support of local businesses is invaluable to our work protecting wildlife and wild places.

"We're incredibly grateful to the team and customers at The Park Cafe for their generosity."

The reserve covers around 60 hectares and supports more than 150 species, including hunting osprey and the elusive bittern and migratory cuckoo.

It is also home to otter, water vole and 24 species of dragonfly.