Hello and welcome to the Nature Storyteller. Today, we have two very different stories to share with you.

The first story is called "The Magic of the Winter Sky." It is an appreciation of nature at night with the magical dark skies, magnificent stars, constellations, and auroras as we adventure through a Northern forest in the depths of winter.

In our second story, we are trying something that may not be suitable for some of you and is not ideal for younger children.

Storytelling is a way of sharing knowledge and wisdom. However, stories have always been used to express our feelings when something is unjust and wrong.

As a storyteller, it is essential to reflect on the things happening around us, especially those that upset us. It is that energy that motivates us to speak out and take action.

"Alfie's Story" is challenging. However, as an animal lover, I was moved to write it by the uncaring and unthinking ways that some people have towards our animal companions and, more broadly, towards wildlife and the natural world.

Alfie is an XL Bully dog. The government has passed a law condemning all individuals of a breed of dog to death as a dangerous breed. This includes dogs that have been loyal companions and family members and have never caused any concern. It is an archaic and reprehensible decision.

"Alfie's Story" will be told after our main story, so you can decide to listen; either way, I very much appreciate your compassion and empathy.

If you do listen, I hope you see that "Alfie's Story" comes from a sense of injustice, and whilst we may not have an XL Bully, that does not stop us from feeling the pain and suffering from such a decision. I'm sure you, like me, are dismayed by how some people lack respect and understanding of animals and the natural world.

Alfie's Story is a small step in getting the message out to a broader public that it is us humans who cause the majority of the problems, and yet we never seem to learn from the mistakes, and it is always the animals and nature that suffer.

That is wrong and something I deeply and passionately want to see change. I dedicate this story to all the XL Bully dogs that have been needlessly put to sleep due to this decision.