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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 17th November 2023
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Train station cat releases charity song for Christmas
All proceeds go to RSPCA and Stevenage homelessness charity Feed Up Warm Up.
Nala the Station Cat’s ‘Meow’ was played on Radio 2.

A cat from Stevenage is hoping for the coveted ‘Christmas No. 1’ slot following the release of her debut charity single ‘Meow’.

Nala, known on social media as ‘Nala the Station Cat’, is already a local celebrity at Stevenage railway station, where she greets commuters as they pass through the station.

However the four-year-old ginger tabby is now receiving national attention after her new song was played on Scott Mills’ BBC Radio 2 show this week.

‘Meow’ was produced by musician Danny Kirsch, who wrote the single with Joe Killington. Nala is also credited as the vocalist and songwriter behind the track.

All proceeds from the song are to be donated to the RSPCA, as well as Stevenage homelessness charity Feed Up Warm Up.

It received its first play on BBC Three Counties Radio on Sunday, before its official release on Wednesday. The music video, which has been filmed on location at Stevenage railway station, is set to be released before Christmas.

The song has already received critical acclaim, with Radio 2 DJ Scott Mills declaring it "quite good" on his afternoon show. Nala and her owner, Natasha Ambler, will be hoping it can challenge fellow charity musicians LadBaby’s five-year streak for the Christmas number one spot.

Speaking to BBC Three Counties Radio DJ Justin Dealey, Ms Ambler said: "We'll start small and hopefully she gets in the charts, but number one would be fantastic".

Nala the Station Cat was unavailable to comment.

You can listen to ‘Meow’ here.

Image © TikTok/The Adventures of Nala

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.