The Friends of the Dymock Poets are planning a midsummer weekend based at the historic manor house of Hellens, Much Marcle.

The event will take place in June and will co-incide with Hellens' involvement in the National Gardens Scheme.

The society, which has already used Hellens for several high profile events, is hoping to gauge the level of interest in the weekend by the end of this month.

If all goes to plan, Andrew Bannerman will present a selection of verse and song with the theme Gardens as the Bowers of Love.

He will cover a lot of ground, from the Book of Genesis to the poetry of D H Lawrence.

Organiser Suzette Hill said: "Andrew will read, Brian Wright will pluck the lute and Carolyn Chadwick will sing. It should be quite a summer idyll."

Before then, on Saturday, March 20, and in association with the Ledbury Poetry Festival, the Friends of the Dymock Poets will enjoy A Day of Poetry at the Market Theatre.

One of the highlights will be a discussion of Edward Thomas's poetry by the writers and critics Edna and Michael Longley.

Thomas was one of the Dymock Poets, the group of friends who lived and stayed in the area prior to the First World War. Thomas was killed during the war.

Further details on 0845 458 1743.