If you're looking for a way to spend your evenings as the nights start drawing in (it's getting dark as I type this and it's only 8pm), then how about doing some knitting or crochet to help working horses and donkeys?

The Brooke is looking for people to knit and crochet!  They've created exclusive knitting and crochet patterns so that you can make a donkey!

You can donate your donkey back to The Brooke to help them raise money for the horses, donkeys and mules who are working so very hard to help their owners and communities at the moment.  

They have other ways you can help as well, such as having a clear out and selling your stuff for The Brooke, holding a virtual quiz, make some arts and crafts to sell, and share the delights of your garden - all ways to raise money for horses, donkeys and mules.

Click your needles and head off to The Brooke to find out more. 

If you can't be with the one you love: send them a bear hug.

And Animals Asia gives you the chance to do just that, literally to send a bear hug to your loved ones!

Send a bear hug 
Give the bear sanctuaries with Animal Asia your support!
©Animals Asia

Animals Asia rescue bears who have been trapped by the dreadful bear bile industry.   Bears love hugs, just like we do – and so the bear sanctuaries Animals Asia have in China and Vietnam are really important to them. 

Today, I sent 5 people I love Bear Hugs!   It’s easy to do.

Send a bear hug today!

This bear is having a blissful time in the pool
Visit Animals Asia's You Tube Pages

When you send a bear hug, you can also help real bears by making a gift.   They are asking that, if you can, please make a donation of £5 for each hug you send – and then they can help real bears!   You can make a donation in £, $, Euros, Australian $ or Hong Kong $.

Don’t miss it!   Meet the Bears on Natural World

Tonight, (that’s BBC2 at 8pm UK time, 4 November 2019), Natural World takes a look at the habits of a family of bears in “Meet the Bears”. 

The programme looks at the skills they need to learn to survive, such as finding food, raising their cubs, facing rivals and habitat loss.

It introduces bears in all their different forms from the spectacled bear to the sloth bear, the polar bear and the grizzly bear.

The footage should be quite something to see and there are short clips to enjoy while we’re all waiting.

Hugh Bonneville is the narrator.  If you miss it, the programme should be available on IPlayer shortly after viewing, and there’s the most beautiful gallery of pictures you can take a look at here.

Visit Meet the Bears’ website here 

You’ll find a list of bear charities here.

PS The week after, on 11 November 2019, Natural World looks at Saving the Orangutan.