💌Hello from the Nugget

First up, a big apology from me.

Last week I managed to put the wrong link on the West Fest advert. Quite a few of you clicked it, only to discover that I'd accidentally sent you to last year's festival, which, as some of you may have noticed, has already happened. Whoopsie!

The good news is you can still buy your tickets NOW! Ready for this Sat 27 June

The correct link is here - West Fest Family Music Festival

It looks like a brilliant afternoon. The weather forecast is looking normalish hot rather than "surface of the sun", and it's all for a fantastic cause. West Fest helps support the Molesey night shelter, East Elmbridge food bank, and Bespoke youth & Compassion.

If you love local, this is very much your kind of event. There'll be local bands (including some talented teenagers), a barbecue, bar, bouncy castle, and plenty going on, all set in the lovely surroundings of St Peter's Vicarage Garden in West Molesey. Who doesn’t love a nose round someone else’s garden (or is it just me?)

I hope lots of you will go along, enjoy yourselves, and support a really worthwhile cause.

Tucked away on Walton Road is one of Molesey's most valuable community spaces.

I recently popped into Molesey Library to chat with manager Tammy, who has worked in Surrey's library service for 25 years and managed the Molesey branch for the last five. What quickly became clear is that this is about far more than borrowing books.

First, some reassuring news. Molesey Library is here to stay. There are no plans for closure, and it remains an important community hub used by residents of all ages, particularly families.

Many readers may not know that around 20 years ago there was a threat to the library's future. Local residents came together to form the Friends of Molesey Library, a volunteer group that helped save it. They are still going strong today and host a weekly Coffee Morning every Thursday from 10.30am to 12 noon, with tea, coffee, cake and conversation for just £1.

One of the library's hidden gems is its garden. Volunteers have been growing fruit and vegetables in raised troughs using donated plants and home-grown seedlings. The library would love to hear from anyone interested in helping with the garden or donating spare plants.

There is plenty happening throughout the week, including:

• Story Time – Wed and Sat at 11am & Tues 2.45pm

• Rhyme Time – Fridays at 10.30am

• LEGO Club – First and third Saturdays of each month for children aged 4+

• Thursday Coffee Morning – 10.30am to 12 noon, hosted by the Friends of Molesey Library

• Digital Skills Support – Tuesdays 11am to 1pm and Thursdays 2pm to 4pm, helping residents with phones, tablets, emails, apps and using the internet

• Seasonal activities and workshops, including this summer's Music-themed Reading Challenge

One area Tammy would particularly like to develop is activities for older children and teenagers. Top of her wish list is a Warhammer club. For the uninitiated, Warhammer is a popular tabletop hobby involving miniature figures, strategy games, model painting and storytelling.

The library already has much of the equipment needed but is looking for a local enthusiast who could help run sessions and introduce young people to the hobby. So if you're a Warhammer fan, or know someone who is, Molesey Library would love to hear from you.

The library's Digital Skills Support sessions are another underused resource. Tammy was keen to highlight the fantastic volunteers who run them, helping people gain confidence with phones, tablets, emails, apps and using the internet. If you know someone who might benefit from that support, or a community group that could help spread the word, it's well worth pointing them in the library's direction.

This summer, the library will once again take part in the national Summer Reading Challenge, encouraging children to keep reading throughout the school holidays with a programme of activities and crafts to run alongside it - More info

Tammy told me that footfall dropped when the next door clinic closed around 18 months ago, and surprisingly some local residents still don't realise Molesey has its own library.

That seems a shame, because libraries remain one of the few places where you can spend time without being expected to buy anything. Whether you're borrowing books, attending an event, using a computer, meeting people or simply enjoying a quiet moment, Molesey Library offers something increasingly rare: a welcoming space that belongs to everyone. It is also available for private hire, at excellent rates.

If you haven't visited for a while, why not pop in and see what it has to offer?

Facebook and website here

A CIC Not for profit organisation who’s aim, is to benefit the Molesey Community, is running some fab low cost standing yoga sessions this summer. Contact Oxana for more info - [email protected]

Gardening with Jules: What should you be doing in the garden right now?

Apologies, I forgot that I’d started to give tips and advice on the garden back in February…. A few readers asked when the next update was coming, so here we are. Gardening with Jules is back!

It's been a tricky season so far. We've had a heatwave, plenty of rain, and now another heatwave. Grass has gone green, then brown, and now green again. The good news? Most gardens are tougher than they look. Enjoy the tips below, but do pause any pruning, mowing etc, during the very hot weather, not only for your own safety, but so as not to send the plants into turmoil, they are feeling it too!

My top tips for June/July

🌱 Use rainwater first
If you've got water butts, make the most of them. Plants much prefer rainwater, and it's a free resource.

🍅 Start feeding fruit and veg
We're firmly into feeding season now. Tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes and other crops will benefit from a feed every 7-14 days as they start flowering and fruiting.

🍓 Keep an eye on strawberries
If you're growing strawberries, you're probably in a daily battle with the slugs. Check regularly and pick fruit as soon as it's ripe.

🌾 Don't water your lawn
This is the advice I give every year. Let the grass go brown if it wants to. Lawns are remarkably resilient and will usually bounce back when cooler, wetter weather returns. Save your water for plants that genuinely need it.

✂️ It's preening and pruning season
Most of my time in clients' gardens at the moment is spent deadheading, cutting back, tidying and shaping. It often looks like I've done very little, but somehow a whole garden waste bin gets filled! If you're doing any harder pruning, make sure you give plants a good deep soak afterwards.

Happy gardening, and good luck with whatever the weather decides to throw at us next. If you see me around Molesey looking sweaty and dirty, come and say hi, I love a chinwag about plants!

Huge congratulations to Studio 366, one of The Nugget's founding partners, which has just been crowned Best Wellbeing break in the Muddy Stilettos Surrey Awards 2026.

I couldn't be more thrilled for Zoe and her team, who in just over a year have transformed an empty shopfront in West Molesey into a thriving hub of calm, community and wellbeing.

It's a fantastic achievement and thoroughly deserved recognition for all the hard work that's gone into creating such a welcoming space.

Well done to Zoe and the whole Studio 366 team — Molesey is very proud of you. 👏

A lovely piece of local journalism caught my eye this week.

Oscar Stevens from SWLondoner has put together an article and video exploring East Molesey's thriving antique scene, describing Bridge Road as a "hidden antiques hotspot".

The feature looks at why so many antique dealers have made their home here and includes familiar local faces, including Stuart and John, who many of you will recognise from the shops.

It's a nice reminder that one of Molesey's most distinctive attractions is sitting right on our doorstep.

Read the article and watch the video here:
East Molesey – the hidden antiques hotspot

💌 Do you know a local hero or a “Molesey magic” moment?

Reply to this email, and tell me more.

From coffee mornings to community fairs, here’s where Molesey gathers.

*Event details may change. Please check with organisers for the latest updates. Listings are shared in good faith but may not reflect last-minute changes

National Garden Scheme Open Garden: 5 Pemberton Road – East Molesey · Friday 26 June, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM · Explore a beautiful private garden and support nationwide charities · More info

Live Music with Jade Foster & England on the Big Screen – Molesey FC Clubhouse · Saturday 27 June, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM ·

Midsummer AquaPaddle Hampton-Molesey · Sunday 28 June, 10:00 AM · Friendly paddle on the Thames suitable for all abilities · More info

Hersham Village Market – Special Summer Market – All Saints Church Hall, Hersham · Sun 28 June, 1:30–4pm · A much-loved local market returning for it’s spring special, with goods including free range eggs, honey, plants, gifts and cards. Free parking and a cosy café ·

Molesey Musical Theatre Launch Night – Vine Hall, East Molesey · Wednesday 1 July, 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM · Find out how to get involved in this year's local pantomime and meet the amateur dramatics group · More info

Sun 5 Jul
• National Garden Scheme Open Garden: Juniper House – Beauchamp Rd · 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM · More info

Tue 7 Jul
• Revive Together Café – Refresh Church, East Molesey · 10:00 AM - 12.00 PM · More info

Sat 15 Aug
• Coppernose Supper Club: Best of British Seafood – The Mitre, Hampton Court · 7:00 PM · More info

Sun 20 Sep
• Sip & Sketch – The Wine Room, East Molesey · 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM · More info

From toddler bounce sessions to midweek mischief, here’s what’s happening in and around Molesey

Meet and Greet the Unicorn & Storytime – Molesey Library · Saturday 27 June, 11:00 AM · CANCELLED DUE TO THE HEATWAVE - NEW DATE TBC

Hampton Court House Summer Fête – Hampton Court House · Sun 28 Jun, 12–4pm · Family fun with rides, stalls, live music, STEM workshops and entertainment · More info

Sun 5 Jul
• Great Molesey Hog Roast – St Peter's Vicarage Garden, West Molesey · info to follow

Sat 11 – Sun 12 Jul & Sat 18 – Sun 19 Jul
• Henry VIII's Joust – Hampton Court Palace · More info

Various dates throughout the summer
• Learn to Row Summer Courses – Yr’s 7 - 11- Molesey Boat Club · More info

This section was getting a bit too big to keep here every week!

I’ve created a new page for regular /weekly activities, such as playgroups- Just CLICK HERE to view

I’m finishing this week’s Nugget from a darkened room, with a fan pointed directly at my face, while contemplating what on earth to do with my son for the next two days.

We'll probably be rotating between Walton Library (which I've heard is air-conditioned), supermarkets with particularly enthusiastic refrigeration departments, and Hurst pool, and Excel pool for some dips!

Stay cool, look after yourselves, and remember sweaty is the new chic 🥵

Jules

Founder & Editor

(all the mistakes are mine!)

Email me [email protected] or find out more The Molesey Nugget

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