Good morning, Surrey. Simon here! This is Inspired Surrey.. and we’re back!

We’ve been on an extended break, there’s a tiny team of us that put this together for you guys, we’ve been at it since August 2024, and we need a little break sometimes! 😃 We hope you missed us!

In today’s Inspired Surrey:

• SummerFest is back 🌭

• Denbies Plant Fair this weekend 🍇

• The World’s oldest woman lives in Surrey 👵

• What’s on Guide for this weekend 📅

Let’s get to it.

Surrey Beats & Eats SummerFest is BACK, baby! 🌭🐾

Surrey, brace yourself — Beats & Eats SummerFest is coming to Nonsuch Park this May Bank Holiday, and it’s bringing the kind of vibes you’ll be talking about all summer. We’re talking three days of live music, epic food, and downright chaotic fun (the good kind). And yes, your dog’s invited too 🐾.

🗓️ When?
🕺 24–26 May 2025
📍 Nonsuch Park, Epsom KT17 2DL
🎟️ Free parking, dogs welcome, and totally family-friendly!

🎤 Who's on stage?
Brace yourself – it’s a full-blown throwback party with:

• The Wanted 2.0

• Aston Merrygold (yes, from JLS!)

• Toploader (you will be dancing in the moonlight)

• Let Loose, RPJ, Sweet Female Attitude & more!
  Oh, and the fab Saint Clair is hosting 💁‍♀️

Hungry? Oh, you will be. Expect sizzling street food, drool-worthy cookery demos, and a chili-eating competition that’ll separate the spice-lovers from the spice-pretenders. All washed down with your favourite drink from the buzzing festival bar. 🍔🌯🌶️🍹

But wait, there's more: live wrestling matches (yes, actual body slams in a field), a chilled-out wellness zone for when you need to reset your chakras, and two huge stages keeping the energy sky-high from noon ‘til evening.

🤠 BONUS: Country Monday!

And don’t even think about skipping Monday, because 26th May is going full Country Music takeover. Picture this: two stages of boot-scootin’, line-dancin’, guitar-strummin’ action that’ll make you want to buy a cowboy hat and move to Nashville. It’s gonna be a hoedown, Surrey-style 🤠.

Bring your mates, your nan, your little ones, and your four-legged bestie. This isn’t just a festival – it’s a full-on celebration of music, food, fun, and sunshine-soaked memories. We’ll see you there, dancing like no one’s watching and definitely eating more than one portion of loaded fries.

🎟️ Check out the full programme and grab your tickets here.

@InspiredSurrey 📸

A beautiful Cherry Blossom at St Nicolas Church in Great Bookham.

📸 @surrey_snaps | 📍 Great Bookham, Surrey

Tag @InspiredSurrey to get your photos included!

World’s Oldest Woman Lives in Surrey – Meet 115-Year-Old Ethel!

Surrey’s very own Ethel Caterham has officially become the oldest person in the world at an awe-inspiring 115 years and 252 days!

Living at a care home in Lightwater, Ethel now holds the Guinness World Record title following the passing of Brazil’s Sister Inah.

Born in 1909 — when Edward VII was still on the throne — she’s lived through two World Wars, the sinking of the Titanic, and even beat Covid at age 110.

Her secret? “Never argue, listen, and do what I like.” Honestly, iconic. 👑🎂

🌿 Plant Lovers, Rejoice! Denbies Plant Fair Is Back This May

Got a soft spot for succulents? Obsessed with alpines? Or just love a good plant pun and a mooch around beautiful greenery? Then don’t miss the Denbies Plant Fair on Sunday 4th May at the stunning Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking 🍇🌿

Running from 10am to 2pm, this FREE event is a dream day out for gardeners, growers, and anyone who’s ever impulse-bought a houseplant they swore they’d keep alive this time.

Expect a blooming lovely lineup of specialist nurseries, including:

• ZCsucculents (for the spiky little cuties)

• Stonepit Nursery, Rotherview, and Beechbridge Plants

• Surrey Alpine Garden Society

• Bags by Jayne (because your plants deserve accessories, too)

• Plus, Enterprise 19 and Charleshurst Farm Nursery

You’ll also find the brilliant folks from Surrey Plant Heritage running their own stand. Whether you’re a pro, a total beginner, or just need advice on why your peace lily hates you, they’ve got you covered.

And the best bit? Entry is totally free, there’s loads of parking, and all proceeds raised by the Surrey Group go straight to Plant Heritage – the UK’s only charity dedicated to conserving our country’s rich horticultural heritage. So yes, buying “just one more plant” is technically charity work 🌱😉

📍 Denbies Wine Estate, London Rd, Dorking, RH5 6AA
🕙 Sunday 4th May | 10am–2pm
💸 Free Entry & Parking

Make a morning of it, grab a cuppa, and get inspired — and hey, maybe pick up a new leafy friend (or three). Your windowsill will thank you.

👉 Snag your spot here

We Are Now On Instagram 📸 

If you are on Instagram, please follow @inspiredsurrey if you can. It would be much appreciated. The account was only started recently, so we still barely have any friends/followers, I’d very much appreciate a follow!

Thank you so much to everyone who followed us! You’re the best! 😊

The Digest 🗞️😀

Baa-rilliant news for curious kids: Pupils in Surrey and Sussex are getting the chance to literally bring the farm to school, thanks to the South of England Agricultural Society’s adorable “Loan a Lamb” scheme. A ewe and her lambs are dropped off for a week of hands-on learning, teaching children not just how wool and food are produced, but also the importance of animal welfare and sustainable farming. At St Mary’s in East Grinstead, the visit sparked lessons in maths, ICT, and more — all inspired by a few fluffy guests in the playground. 🐑📚

A major solar farm proposal in Fetcham has been switched off by Mole Valley councillors, despite planning officers warning the refusal could be overturned and cost taxpayers thousands: The 49.5 megawatt project, which would’ve powered around a third of Mole Valley homes, was deemed too close to ancient woodland and an inappropriate use of green belt land. The developers argued the clean energy benefits outweighed the “modest impacts”, but concerns over losing local farmland and the long 40-year site life won the debate. For now, it’s back to the drawing board — or the grid. ⚖️🌾

Woking just got a much-needed lifeline from the government, with confirmation of financial support to help tackle its sky-high debt ahead of a potential shake-up of local government across Surrey: The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government has promised an initial cash injection to help with repayments starting in 2026/27, plus ongoing help with asset management and expert advice. While there’s still a long way to go, council leaders say this marks a positive step towards recovery — and a more stable future for local services. Read the report here. 🏛️💷

What’s On This Week 📅

East Surrey

🤠 The Nonsuch Town and Country Show
Nonsuch Park, Epsom, Sunday 4th, 10:00am | More info

🎙️ Soul of a Woman
Ivory Lounge, Reigate, Sunday 4th, 7:00pm | More info

🤿 Big Scuba Day Out
Mercers Lake, Redhill, Sunday 4th, 9:30am | More info

🎤 Retro Night & Karaoke
Metropolis, Epsom, Friday 2nd, 7:00pm | More info

🎉 Beyond 30 Presents.. Daytime Clubbing
Fever & Boutique, Epsom, Saturday 3rd, 4:00pm | More info

🧶 May Day Market
The Old Barn Hall, Great Bookham, Saturday 3rd, 10:00am | More info

🛠️ Fetcham and Bookham Repair Cafe
St Mary’s Church Hall, Fetcham, Saturday 3rd, 10:00am | More info

🍻 Dorking Westival
Several Dorking Pubs, Dorking, Friday 2nd-4th, 7:30pm | More info

West Surrey

🕺 Boogie Days
G Live, Guildford, Saturday 3rd, 3:00pm | More info

🎸 Rock 4 Refugees
The Holroyd Arms, Guildford, Sunday 4th, 3:00pm | More info

🪕 Live Swing Music
Folly Hill, Farnham, Friday 2nd, 6:30pm | More info

🐶 Dog Show
Millbrook Animal Centre, Chobham, Saturday 3rd, 10:00am | More info

🌼 Spring Contemporary Craft Fair
RHS Wisley, Woking, 1st-5th May, 9/10am | More info

🍺 The Local Beer & Cider Festival
The Lucan Pavilion, Laleham, Saturday 3rd-4th, 11:00am | More info

🎶 Kate Bush Experience
Thames Side Brewery, Staines, Sunday 4th, 4:00pm | More info

🏎️ Brooklands Auto Italia Gathering
Brooklands Museum, Weybridge, Saturday 3rd, 8:00am | More info

Weather

Friday

25° 🌡️ 9° | ☀️ | Keep that suncream out, it’s going to be another sweltering day! It won’t quite be as hot as yesterday, but it will be very warm. High pollen count, so for those of you with hayfever, don’t forget the antihistamine.

Saturday

21° 🌡️ 7° | ⛅ | The weather begins to cool down a bit from Saturday, highs of 21° are expected, and it will be overcast. There’s a small possibility of some rain in the afternoon, but it’s unlikely.

Sunday

16° 🌡️ 4° | ☁️ | Sunday it takes a big old drop, down to 15/16 degrees, cloudy all day, it is dry though to wrap up the weekend!

Thank you! 👍

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