Molesey Resident’s Association

MRA Gardening Notes: Foxes, Squirrels, Drought and the Occasional Thief

In addition to the sudden spurt of weeds which we all suffer from, the Molesey RA gardening team is having to deal with some unusual problems. Cllr Ernest Mallett has been trying unsuccessfully to stop a fox from digging up the plants in the West Molesey War Memorial Garden. After any manuring or watering the fox will be there digging away for worms. There are now only 3 of the original 20 plants left, and Ernest is planning to replant with small rose bushes protected inside palisades. This is the system that Wendy Guest (leader of the RA’s Fleetside team) and her helpers, have used to protect her flower planting under the road signs around the Fleetside estate.

The increasing number of grey squirrels in Molesey have also been active. They like tulip bulbs and the only way to protect them before the shoots emerge is with tough netting held down with paving slabs. Both Ernest and MRA Chairman Stuart Selleck have had squirrels in their lofts, and nothing shifts them. If they get into a loft they eat through the soffit boards, collect the insulation into a big heap and settle down to 5-star comfort.

During the hot weather we have had to ferry watering cans to the Molesey Police Station Green and the Bridge Road Horse Trough to keep the Spring bedding plants going, but sadly some of the plants have disappeared in the night. We don’t know who is taking them, but thankfully it is only a few plants.

Wendy’s Fleetside team has also been continuing to work on two long-standing problems. They are trying to keep the Dead River and River Mole clear of floating pennywort, and they have been tackling the brambles, nettles and litter on the 36-acre Molesey Heath. If you have been to the Heath before it is well worth a visit. The main access is at the end of Approach Road, and through the old Molesey Sewage Farm site (now a delightful wild grass area) and then upwards to the top of what was until the mid-1970s the old Council Tip! This is now a wild landscape which includes a small lake. There are paths which are kept clear, and it is fairly easy walking.

Town Clocks

As part of the events to mark the Millennium in 2000, the MRA, with some financial support from Elmbridge Council, put up three Town Clocks, one in Creek Road on the Emporium building, one in Walton Road at Kents the chemists and one in Central Avenue on what is now a general Greengrocers shop. These clocks were each driven from a special controller to make changing the Winter to Summer time easy. The controllers have now needed updating and the 2 clocks in Creek Road and Walton Road have had newly installed controllers fitted by Ernest Mallett & our MRA Treasurer, Colin Bocking. They will shortly complete the installation at the clock in Central Avenue, which is not running too well at present.

The Mayor of Elmbridge for 2019-21, Councillor Mrs Mary Sheldon, was delighted to present a cheque for the fantastic sum of £22,722.21 to Elmbridge Mencap, the charity she had chosen to support during her Mayoral term of office. The funds were raised with various events including a Ladies’ Luncheon and a Charity Ball. Sadly COVID-19 curtailed more fundraising but the local community and businesses were generous with their donations. The funds raised will enable Elmbridge Mencap to commence work on their Sensory Garden at Burview Hall. Councillor Mary Sheldon had pledged to help Elmbridge Mencap increase their specialist facilities for the benefit of more people in the borough by developing a piece of derelict land into a Sensory Garden. In presenting the cheque to the Trustees and Chair of Elmbridge Mencap, Cllr Mary Sheldon said “I am delighted that I was able to contribute to this project which will provide a wonderful outdoor experience at Burview Hall for children, adults and the elderly, including those with autism, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease as well as those with learning disabilities. Funds are still being raised for the Sensory Garden and the Elmbridge Mencap website will direct you to their new initiatives. I would like to thank everyone who has helped – their generosity has been overwhelming.” Paula Walsh, Chair of Elmbridge Mencap, “On behalf of all the clients and friends of Elmbridge Mencap, I would like to thank the Mayor and her Consort for their hard work in raising such an incredible amount of money towards our project, as well as raising vital awareness of the work that Elmbridge Mencap do in the community. Our sincere gratitude to everybody who helped and supported the Mayor.”

The character of Yorick is best known as the dead jester represented by a skull in William Shakespeare's play Hamlet …. but now we find he is not, in fact, dead at all. Yorick, The Court Jester is on the road pioneering a new kind of comedy called stand-up. When this fails, he is persuaded by his tavern wench girlfriend, Bess, to return to Court to get his old job back.

This one act play runs approximately 45 minutes.

Auditions will take place on Sunday July 11th in The Barn Theatre : To register interest go to: www.thebarntheatremolesey.co.uk/auditions