Rail passengers have shown stirring support for a station café and its green ambitions for an East Hampshire community.

Bentley Station Pop Up Café has raised more than £2,800 for plans to transform a former recreation ground into a community orchard and wildlife meadow.

The impressive sum – fuelled by early mornings, generous local support and lashings of tea and coffee – was raised in just under four months as the volunteer-run café only opened in June.

The initial idea was to turn the waiting room into a fundraising café from 6.30am to 8.30am every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning.

It’s now become a firm part of village life with users being served hot and cold drinks, pastries and other treats in return for a donation.

“When we started in June we didn’t know how people would respond,” said Jade Bower, who helped organise the pop-up café.

“To have raised more than £2,800 already is fantastic, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who stops for a coffee, puts something in the donation pot or supports us in other ways.

“But what has been just as lovely is seeing the café become part of people’s mornings.”

“You get to know the regulars, meet people you might never normally speak to and have some really good conversations,” said pop-up café volunteer, Sue Chissell.

The money raised will help the Bentley Green Community Group to realise its vision of transforming the village’s former Old Recreation Ground into a welcoming, natural community space with heritage fruit trees, areas of native wildflower meadow and other habitats for wildlife.

The team is grateful for the support of The Milk Club, Artefact Coffee and Hampshire Community Rail Partnership, together with the local businesses and individuals who have generously sponsored and supported the initiative.

For more details visit www.bentleygreen.uk