At 3 am the alarm went off and I fought the urge to turn over and go back to sleep, but in my thoughts was little Ashley waiting for his special foal milk. I quickly got dressed and stumbled passed our cat and dog who were totally disorientated by me being up at that time of morning!

I imagined seeing the sun rise at dawn as I drove into work, but instead it was a very dark, cold and windy morning. I didn't see a single sole all the way except a lone badger walking along a country lane minding his own business.

When I arrived to feed Ashley, I first peered inside his stable through the door. Last time I did this, there was a fluffy face staring right back at me. This morning, however, he was sleeping quietly so I got on with making up his two bottles of milk that he's now being given every four hours while he had a chance to wake up.

With a bottle in each hand, I opened the door and Ashley followed me into the middle of the stable and began suckling his milk. Now who could resist cuddling such a tiny bundle of fluff? Not me!

He polished off his first bottle quite quickly and before starting on the second, I gave him a huge big cuddle and straightened up his little winter jacket that he's wearing to help him keep warm.

As I gave Ashley his second bottle of milk, I told him that this was off Dave (my partner) as he'd made a donation of £2 towards a bottle of feed, so if you too would like a mention in Ashley's ear and a cuddle for him, all us volunteers would gratefully pass them on!